seanair
standard
The Scottish Gaelic word for "grandfather" is seanair.
It is the ordinary word for a grandfather on either side of the family.
Meaning: father of one's parent (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
Sean means "old" and the second part is athair, "father", so seanair is literally "old father".
How does it change in a sentence?
After mo the first sound softens, so "my grandfather" is mo sheanair. The plural is seanairean.
Did you know?
- The matching word for a grandmother is seanmhair, built the same way from sean and màthair.
Examples in context
- Tha mo sheanair a' fuireach ann an Inbhir Nis.My grandfather lives in Inverness.
- Is e seanair math a th' ann.He is a good grandfather.
Example conversation
Sine tells a friend about her grandfather.
- SineTha mo sheanair ceithir fichead bliadhna a dh'aois.My grandfather is eighty years old.
- AiligA bheil e gu math?Is he well?
- SineTha, tha e gu math.Yes, he is well.
