Gaillimh
/ˈɡal̠ʲə/feminine
Galway is the name of a city in Ireland, known in Irish as Gaillimh. Wiktionary also lists Cathair na Gaillimhe.
Meaning: city in Ireland (name)
Ways to say it
| Irish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Gaillimh | /ˈɡal̠ʲə/ (Galway) | feminine |
| Cathair na Gaillimhe | feminine |
While Gaillimh is the general name for the place or the county, Cathair na Gaillimhe is used specifically when you mean Galway City.
Which one should you use?
Gaillimh is the general name for the location or the county, while Cathair na Gaillimhe is the specific way to refer to the city itself.
How does it change in a sentence?
Gaillimh is the genitive case of the name, which is used after certain prepositions or to indicate possession.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈɡal̠ʲə/
Did you know?
- The city of Gaillimh actually takes its name from the river that flows through it, the Abhainn na Gaillimhe.
- The city of Gaillimh is one of the most prominent hubs for the Gaeltacht, the areas where Irish is spoken as the daily community language.
Examples in context
- Tá mé ag dul go Gaillimh amárach.I'm going to Galway tomorrow.
- Tá mé i Gaillimh.I am in Galway.
- An bhfuil tú i Gaillimh?Are you in Galway?
- Is cathair iontach é Gaillimh.Galway is a wonderful city.
Example conversation
Aoife and Cathal are planning a weekend trip.
- AoifeAn bhfuil tú ag dul go Gaillimh?Are you going to Galway?
- CathalTá, táim ag dul an t Sathuairn.Yes, I am going on Saturday.
- AoifeAn féidir liom teacht leat?Can I come with you?
- CathalIs féidir, beidh sé go hiontach!You can, it will be wonderful!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “galway” translations and entries Gaillimh, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Gaillimh, cathair, CC BY-SA 4.0.
