duilgheadas
masculine
The Gaelic word for problem is duilgheadas. Wiktionary also lists staing.
Meaning: difficulty (noun)
Ways to say it
| Gaelic | Note |
|---|---|
| duilgheadas | masculine |
| staing | feminine |
The word is used to denote a difficulty.
Which one should you use?
There are two forms: the masculine duilgheadas and the feminine staing.
Did you know?
- In Gaelic, a mathematical 'problem' is expressed as ceist, which literally translates to 'question'.
- Because duilgheadas can imply a spiritual or emotional weight, it is sometimes used metaphorically to describe a 'burden' on the soul.
- The word duilgheadas shares a root with words for 'difficulty' in other Goidelic languages like Irish, showing a prehistoric commonality in how these cultures described struggles.
Examples in context
- Tha duilgheadas mòr agam.I have a big problem.
- An bhfuil duilgheadas agad leis an rionnach?Do you have a problem with the machine?
Example conversation
Isla and Hamish are discussing a broken appliance.
- IslaA bheil duilgheadas ris an t-inneal?Is there a problem with the machine?
- HamishTha, tha duilgheadas ann ris.Yes, there is a problem with it.
- IslaAn urrainn dhut e a chàradh, a Hamish?Can you fix it, Hamish?
- HamishFeumaidh mi lorg cuideachaidh.I need to find some help.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “problem” translations and entries duilgheadas, staing, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
