bròg
/b̥ɾɔːk/feminine
The Gaelic word for shoe is bròg.
bròg refers to a protective covering for the foot.
Meaning: protective covering for the foot (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of bròg is brògan, which means shoes.
How do you pronounce it?
/b̥ɾɔːk/
Did you know?
- The shift from meaning 'breeches' to 'shoes' is a rare example of a word completely changing the body part it describes.
- In some Highland traditions, the bròg was considered a luxury item, and the poor often went barefoot or wore simple wraps of cloth and hide.
- The word bròg actually shares its origins with the Old Norse word for 'breeches' or 'trousers', rather than a word for footwear.
Examples in context
- Tha an bròg ùr.The shoe is new.
- Tha an bròg glas.The shoe is blue.
Example conversation
Isla and Callum are getting ready to go outside.
- IslaA bheil thu air do bhròg a lorg, a Callum?Have you found your shoe, Callum?
- CallumChainn, tha bròg air chall.No, a shoe is missing.
- IslaSeall fo an t-imleib.Look under the table.
- CallumAye, seo i a-nis!Yes, here it is now!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shoe” translations and entries bròg, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bròg, CC BY-SA 4.0.
