abhainn
/ˈãvɪɲ/feminine
The Gaelic word for river is abhainn.
abhainn is used to refer to a large stream that drains a landmass.
Meaning: large stream which drains a landmass (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
abhainn is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈãvɪɲ/
Did you know?
- In Gaelic culture, a river is not just 'blue', but is often described as 'black' dubh or 'white' geal depending on the riverbed and the foam.
- Many place names in Scotland and Ireland contain the word abhainn or its derivatives, often appearing as 'Avon' in Anglicized maps.
- The modern word abhainn was originally the dative case of the word abha, but over time it replaced the original nominative form entirely.
Examples in context
- Tha Tom a' fuireach ann an taigh beag nach eil fada bhon abhainn.Tom lives in a small house not far from the river.This sentence shows the placement of abhainn in a sentence describing proximity to a river.Tatoeba #11098464 by janTuki, translation #6662731 by CK
- Bhí mé ag siúl in aice leis an abhainn.I was walking beside the river.
- Tha an abhainn gu math mhòr.The river is very large.
- Tha sinn a' coimhead air an abhainn.We are looking at the river.
Example conversation
Eilidh and Hamish are walking in the countryside.
- EilidhSeall air an abhainn sin!Look at that river!
- HamishTha i glancudromach.It is crystal clear.
- EilidhAn urrainn dhuinn coiseachd an abhainn?Can we walk along the river?
- HamishTha sin na bheachd math, Eilidh.That is a good idea, Eilidh.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “river” translations and entries abhainn, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries abhainn, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
