tuar ceatha
[ˈt̪ˠuəɾˠ ˈcahə]masculine
The English word 'rainbow' can be translated into Irish as tuar ceatha or bogha báistí.
Meaning: multicoloured arch in the sky (noun)
Ways to say it
| Irish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| tuar ceatha | [ˈt̪ˠuəɾˠ ˈcahə] (narrow) | masculine |
| bogha báistí | [ˈbˠou bˠaːʃˈtʲiː] (Munster, narrow) [ˈbˠau ˈbˠaːʃtʲiː] (Connacht, narrow) |
masculine |
Both terms refer to the multicolored arch seen in the sky after rain.
Did you know?
- In Irish folklore, rainbows are sometimes linked to the púca or other supernatural beings who might hide treasure at the end of the arch.
- The word bogha in bogha báistí comes from the Old Norse word bogi, showing the deep influence of Viking settlers on the Irish language.
- The phrase tuar ceatha literally describes the 'presage of the mist' or 'omen of the clouds', rather than focusing on the colors of the arch.
Example sentences for Irish are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Cian and Siobhán are looking out the window after a storm.
- CianSiobhán, féach ar an tuar ceatha!Siobhán, look at the rainbow!
- SiobhánÓ, tá sé go hiontach, a Chian.Oh, it is wonderful, Cian.
- CianAn bhfuil óir ag bun an tuar ceatha?Is there gold at the bottom of the rainbow?
- SiobhánNíl, ach tá sé go hálainn.No, but it is beautiful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “rainbow” translations and entries tuar ceatha, bogha báistí, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bogha, tuar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
