sgadan
/ˈs̪kat̪an/masculine
The English word herring is translated into Gaelic as sgadan.
The term refers to fish in Clupea.
Meaning: fish in Clupea (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈs̪kat̪an/.
Did you know?
- In the Highlands and Islands, the sgadan was historically so vital to the economy that it was often referred to as the 'silver of the sea'.
- The word for herring in Gaelic is closely linked to the Old Norse word 'skata'. This reflects the historical influence of Viking-era seafaring and fishing culture on the Gaelic-speaking coasts.
- Historically, the arrival of the sgadan in Scottish waters signaled the beginning of the most intense period of labor for coastal Gaelic communities.
Example sentences for Gaelic are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Callum and Catriona are at a fish market.
- CallumA bheil sgadan agad an-diugh, a Chatriona?Do you have herring today, Catriona?
- CatrionaTha, tha sgadan ùr an seo.Yes, there is fresh herring here.
- CallumSgoil sgadan cuimhneach, mas lung.A bit of herring please.
- CatrionaSeo an sgadan dhuibh, a Callum.Here is the herring for you, Callum.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “herring” translations and entries sgadan, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries sgadan, CC BY-SA 4.0.
