deilf
The Irish word for dolphin is deilf.
Meaning: aquatic mammal (noun)
Did you know?
- In traditional Irish storytelling, dolphins were sometimes viewed as shapeshifters, capable of taking human form to interact with people on the shore.
- In some older texts, a dolphin might be described as a 'mhadra na mara', meaning 'sea dog', a term used to reflect their playful and mammalian nature.
- The Irish word deilf is a linguistic cousin to the English word 'dolphin' because both trace their roots back to the Latin delphīnus.
Example sentences for Irish are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Niamh and Cian are looking at the ocean.
- NiamhSeo, féach ar an deilf!Look, look at the dolphin!
- CianTá sé an-luas, a Niamh.It is very fast, Niamh.
- NiamhIs é an deilf an animal is fearr liom.The dolphin is my favorite animal.
- CianTá mé ag coinneacht leat, a Niamh.I agree with you, Niamh.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dolphin” translations and entries deilf, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries deilf, CC BY-SA 4.0.
