loch
/l̪ˠɔx/masculine
The Irish word for lake is loch.
loch is a masculine noun used to describe a body of water.
Meaning: body of water (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
To say 'the lake', use an loch. When referring to multiple bodies of water, the plural form is lochanna, so 'the lakes' is expressed as na lochanna.
How do you pronounce it?
/l̪ˠɔx/
Did you know?
- In Irish folklore, lochanna are often depicted as gateways to the Otherworld, where the water serves as a thin veil between realms.
- The word loch is a cognate of the English word 'lake', both descending from the Proto-Indo-European word *lókus.
- While English speakers use 'loch' specifically for Scottish lakes, in Irish, it is the standard word for any large body of water, whether it is a lake or a sea inlet.
Examples in context
- Tá lochán álainn ann.There is a beautiful lake there.
- Rinne mé siúlóid timpeall an locháin.I took a walk around the lake.
- Ar an loch sin?On that lake?
- Tá an loch go deas.The lake is lovely.
Example conversation
Niamh and Cian are planning a day trip.
- NiamhAn bhfuil loch ansin?Is there a lake there?
- CianTá, agus tá sé mór.Yes, and it is big.
- NiamhAn féidir linn snámh sa loch?Can we swim in the lake?
- CianIs féidir, a Niamh.We can, Niamh.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lake” translations and entries loch, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries loch, CC BY-SA 4.0.
