iolaire
The Gaelic word for eagle is iolaire.
iolaire is used to refer to any of the large carnivorous birds belonging to the family Accipitridae.
Meaning: any of several large carnivorous birds in the family Accipitridae (noun)
Did you know?
- The word iolaire can be used metaphorically in Gaelic poetry to describe a person of great nobility or a warrior with an intense, penetrating gaze.
- The word iolaire shares a distant phonetic ancestor with the English word 'eagle', though they have evolved through very different linguistic paths.
- Gaelic lacks a separate word for 'golden eagle' and 'white-tailed eagle' in basic conversation, using iolaire as a broad term unless specific descriptors are added.
Examples in context
- Tha mi a' faicinn seabhag.I see an eagle.
- Tha an iolaire gu math mòr.The eagle is very large.
- Is e iolaire e.It is an eagle.
Example conversation
Eilidh and Callum are hiking in the mountains.
- EilidhSeall air an iolaire sin!Look at that eagle!
- CallumCàlyum, a bheil e ag ithe?Callum, is it eating?
- EilidhCha tuitionn mi, ach tha e brèagha.I don't know, but it is beautiful.
- CallumTha iolaire an Alba gu math crìonaich.The Scottish eagle is very impressive.
