gualann
/ˈɡ̊uəl̪ˠən̪ˠ/feminine
The English word shoulder translates to Gaelic as gualann. Wiktionary also lists slinnean.
Meaning: joint between arm and torso (noun)
Ways to say it
| Gaelic | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| gualann | /ˈɡ̊uəl̪ˠən̪ˠ/ /ˈɡ̊uəl̪ˠiɲ/ (Lewis) |
feminine |
| slinnean | masculine |
The term refers to the joint between the arm and the torso.
Which one should you use?
There are two forms for this word: the feminine gualann and the masculine slinnean.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the plural of the feminine noun gualann, use gualainn.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈɡ̊uəl̪ˠən̪ˠ/
Did you know?
- The masculine form slinnean is also used to describe the 'shoulder' or edge of a road. This provides a spatial sense of a boundary or a raised rim.
- The Gaelic term for 'shoulder' shares a root with the Manx word geaylin, demonstrating the ancient linguistic connection between Ireland and the Isle of Man.
- In many Gaelic-speaking communities, the way one says gualann can act as a subtle indicator of which specific 'Gaeltacht' or dialectal region the speaker originates from.
Example sentences for Gaelic are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Callum and Eilidh are at the gym.
- CallumAn robh do gualann a' dèanamh pian?Was your shoulder hurting?
- EilidhBà, bha e beagan sgìth.Yes, it was a bit tired.
- CallumNa cuir cus uiread air an t-uallach.Don't put too much on the load.
- EilidhTha thu ceart, Callum.You are right, Callum.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shoulder” translations and entries gualann, slinnean, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
