Tighearna
/ˈtʲʰijərˠn̪ˠə/masculine
To say Lord in Gaelic, meaning God, use Tighearna. The same word also means a lord, a member of the aristocracy.
Tighearna is used in prayers and religious language for God. Written as tighearna, it means a lord or aristocrat and it is also used as a title, as in Tighearna Mac Dhòmhnaill, Lord MacDonald.
Meaning: God (name)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Tighearna is a masculine noun. When you address the Lord directly in prayer, it takes the vocative form a Thighearna, O Lord. As the subject of a sentence, the Lord is an Tighearna.
How do you pronounce it?
Tighearna is pronounced /ˈtʲʰijərˠn̪ˠə/, with the stress on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- In Gaelic, the word for 'lord' is closely tied to the word for 'house', as early lords were defined by the household or estate they governed.
- Historically, the title Tighearna was not just a rank but indicated a specific legal relationship of protection and loyalty between the lord and his clansmen.
- The word Tighearna is a cognate of the Irish tiarna and the Manx çhiarn, showing how the term for 'lord' remained consistent across the different Goidelic languages.
Examples in context
- Am freagair Thu m'ùrnaigh, a Thighearna?Wilt Thou answer my prayer, O Lord?a Thighearna is the form used to address the Lord directly in a prayer.
- Tighearna Mac DhòmhnaillLord MacDonaldTighearna Mac Dhòmhnaill shows the word used as an aristocratic title.
- Fàilte ort, a thighearna!Welcome, Lord!
Example conversation
Mairead and Hamish are praying together.
- MaireadA Thighearna, tapadh leat airson a h-uile nì.O Lord, thank you for everything.
- HamishAmen. Tha an Tighearna coirich.Amen. The Lord is righteous.
- MaireadTighearna, guidh sinn gu h-uile duine.Lord, we pray for everyone.
- HamishAmen, a Mhàiread.Amen, Mairead.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lord” translations and entries Tighearna, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Tighearna, tighearna, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
