Ways to say it
| Gaelic | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| gaol | /kɯːl̪ˠ/ | masculine |
| gràdh | /kraːɣ/ | masculine |
| spèis | /speːʃ/ | feminine |
| rùn | /rˠuːn/ | masculine |
gaol is the usual word for love, and it is the one in the everyday way to say I love you, Tha gaol agam ort. gràdh is heard in phrases like gràdh mo bheatha, the love of one's life. rùn is another word for love or a beloved person.
What does it mean word for word?
Tha gaol agam ort is built as there is love at me on you, which is how Gaelic expresses I love you.
Which one should you use?
gaol is the general word for love. gràdh leans toward romance and endearments. spèis means respect or esteem rather than deep romantic love.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
gaol, gràdh and rùn are masculine nouns, while spèis is feminine. After some words gaol changes its first sound, as in trom ghaol.
How do you pronounce it?
gaol is pronounced /kɯːl̪ˠ/. It starts with a sound between g and k and has a long vowel made with unrounded lips.
Did you know?
- The word rùn is a versatile term that can mean a 'beloved' in a romantic sense, but it is also the standard word for a 'secret' or a 'mystery'.
- The word gràdh shares an ancient root with the Sanskrit word gūrti, which means 'praise' or 'benediction'.
Examples in context
- Tha gaol agam ort.I love you.Tha gaol agam ort. is the standard way to say I love you.
- Ghabh i trom ghaol air.She fell madly in love with him.Ghabh i trom ghaol air. means she fell madly in love with him.
- 'S tusa gràdh mo bheatha.You're the love of my life.gràdh mo bheatha means the love of my life.Tatoeba #879035 by Cainntear, translation #508620 by CM
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hamish and Isla are talking about their family.
- HamishTha gaol mòr againn air an an t-uile.We have great love for them all.
- IslaTha sin fidheil, a Hamish.That is loyal, Hamish.
- HamishIs e gaol a thasgaidh an t-teaghlach.It is love that binds the family.
- IslaTha mi ag aithghearr an sin, a Hamish.I agree with that, Hamish.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “love” translations and entries gaol, gràdh, spèis, rùn, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries gaol, gràdh, rùn, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0, Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
