uan
/ũãn/masculine
The Gaelic word for lamb is uan.
uan is used to refer to a young sheep.
Meaning: young sheep (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Scottish Gaelic (Alba), the word bèalaidh is also used for lamb.
How does it change in a sentence?
uan is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/ũãn/
Did you know?
- In certain traditional Gaelic contexts, calling someone an 'uan' could be used as a term of endearment, much like 'lamb' or 'sweetheart' in English.
- The Gaelic word uan shares a common prehistoric ancestor with the English word 'lamb' and the Latin 'agnus' through a root meaning 'lamb'.
- In many Gaelic-speaking regions, the word for lamb is deeply tied to traditional pastoral poetry and song, where the animal often symbolizes innocence or vulnerability.
Examples in context
- Gheibh mi uan aig an t-seann bhaile.I'll get lamb at the old village.
- Tha an uan beag.The lamb is small.
Example conversation
Catriona and Callum are visiting a farm.
- CatrionaA bheil uan an seo?Is there a lamb here?
- CallumTha, tha uan beag an seo.Yes, there is a small lamb here.
- CatrionaIs e an uan as brèagha a rinn mi!It is the most beautiful lamb I've seen!
- CallumTha e glè chudach.It is very cuddly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lamb” translations and entries uan, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries uan, CC BY-SA 4.0.
