airgead
/ˈaðakʲət̪/masculine
The English word silver is airgead in Gaelic.
airgead refers to the metal silver. In many colloquial contexts, it is also used to mean money.
Meaning: metal (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Irish Gaelic, airgead is the most prevalent term for silver.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word changes to airgid when used in the genitive case, such as when expressing 'of silver'.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈaðakʲət̪/
Did you know?
- In traditional Gaelic folklore, silver was often believed to have protective properties against malevolent spirits and fairies, making it more than just a currency.
- The Gaelic word airgead shares a common ancestor with the Latin word argentum, which is why the chemical symbol for silver on the periodic table is 'Ag'.
- The Gaelic word is a distant cousin to the Welsh word arian, as both stem from the same Proto-Celtic ancestor.
Examples in context
- An d'fhuair tú an t-airgead sin?Did you find that silver?
Example conversation
Callum and Isla are looking at jewelry in a shop.
- CallumA bheil an fáinne seo ann an airgead?Is this ring made of silver?
- IslaTha, is e airgead glan a th' ann.Yes, it is pure silver.
- CallumTha e glé dheagh.It is very nice.
- IslaIs e an t-airgead as fheàrr a th' ann.It is the best silver.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “silver” translations and entries airgead, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries airgead, CC BY-SA 4.0.
