coigreach
/ˈkʰɔkʲɾʲəx/ [ˈkʰɔkʲɾʲʌx]
The Gaelic word for "outsider" is coigreach.
The term coigreach refers to someone who is not part of a specific community or organization. In a general sense, it is more commonly used to mean a "stranger" or a "foreigner".
Meaning: one who is not part of a community or organization (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word coigreach literally translates to "stranger" or "foreigner".
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun coigreach is used for both the singular and plural forms.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkʰɔkʲɾʲəx/ [ˈkʰɔkʲɾʲʌx]
Did you know?
- If you are a coigreach in a traditional Gaelic setting, you are entitled to the status of aoigh, meaning 'guest'. This social rule mandated that even a complete stranger be provided with food and shelter.
- While English uses 'outsider' for many contexts like business or sports, calling someone a coigreach in Gaelic often implies they lack a 'clann' or kinship group, which was the fundamental unit of social security.
- The word coigreachas is used to describe the internalised sense of alienation or the feeling of being an outsider, rather than just the external state of being a stranger.
Examples in context
- Ní sheasann siad go minic le daoine ó thaobh amuigh.They don't often accept outsiders.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry coigreach, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
