dearg
/d̥ʲaɾak/
The English word red is translated into Gaelic as dearg or ruadh.
Meaning: colour (noun)
Ways to say it
| Gaelic | IPA |
|---|---|
| dearg | /d̥ʲaɾak/ (Lewis) /d̥ʲɛɾak/ |
| ruadh | /rˠuəɣ/ |
Both words can mean the color red or be used as adjectives meaning red. However, they are used in different contexts. Use dearg to describe the standard color red, such as the color of liquids or physical objects. Use ruadh to describe a reddish-brown hue or specifically to describe someone with red or orange-brown hair.
Which one should you use?
dearg is the standard term for the color red, used for objects like books or liquids like wine. In contrast, ruadh is a more specific term used for a reddish-brown shade or to describe the color of hair.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Scottish Gaelic, ruadh is the term for red. In Irish Gaelic, the term for red is generally dearg or ruadh.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/d̥ʲaɾak/
Did you know?
- The word dearg is actually a distant relative of the English word 'dark', both tracing back to a root meaning 'to dim' or 'to darken'.
- The term ruadh is used in Welsh as 'rhudd', showing the close linguistic connection between the two Celtic languages.
Examples in context
- 'S e rìbhinn ruadh mhaiseach a th' innte.She's a fair red-haired maiden.This sentence is useful for seeing how to describe someone with red hair using ruadh.
- Òlaidh ise fìon dearg.She will drink red wine.This sentence shows the use of dearg when describing the color of a liquid like wine.Tatoeba #5768335 by Catriona, translation #5768336 by Catriona
- Tha an leabhar aice dearg.Her book is red.This sentence demonstrates the use of dearg to describe the color of an object like a book.Tatoeba #5768376 by Cainntear, translation #3148908 by CM
Example conversation
Callum and Eilidh are looking at paint samples for a room.
- CallumDè an dath a tha thu ag iarraidh?What colour do you want?
- EilidhTha mi ag iarraidh dath dearg.I want the colour red.
- CallumA bheil an dearg seo ro dhomhainn?Is this red too dark?
- EilidhCha e, tha e sgoinneil.No, it is brilliant.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “red” translations and entries dearg, ruadh, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dearg, ruadh, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0, Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
