bleideag
/ˈb̥letʲak/Lewis, feminine
The English word snowflake is translated into Gaelic as bleideag. Wiktionary also lists leòmag and pleòiteag (North Uist, Benbecula).
Meaning: crystal (noun)
Ways to say it
| Gaelic | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| bleideag | /ˈb̥letʲak/ /ˈpʰletʲak/ |
Lewis, feminine |
| leòmag | /ˈʎɔːmak/ | feminine |
| pleòiteag (North Uist, Benbecula) | feminine | |
| slathag | /ˈs̪l̪ˠa.ak/ | feminine |
| lòineag | /ˈl̪ˠɔ̃ːɲak/ | feminine |
| clàdan (Tiree, Mull, Islay, Kintyre) | masculine | |
| clòimhdeag (Lochaber) | feminine |
The term refers to a crystal of snow.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The form bleideag is specific to the Lewis dialect. In North Uist and Benbecula, you may use pleòiteag. In Lochaber, the form clòimhdeag is used. In the areas of Tiree, Mull, Islay and Kintyre, the masculine form clàdan is used. Other forms include the feminine leòmag, slathag and lòineag.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of the Lewis form bleideag is bleideagan. The plural of leòmag is leòmagan. The plural of slathag is slathagan. The plural of lòineag is lòineagan.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈb̥letʲak/
Did you know?
- Depending on which island or region you visit in Scotland, you may encounter up to eight different words for a 'snowflake'.
- Gaelic utilizes a variety of diminutive suffixes to create these words, effectively describing a 'snowflake' as a 'little bit of snow'.
- In Gaelic, the words for 'snowflake' often share roots with terms for small flakes or fragments, reflecting a focus on the physical texture of the snow.
Examples in context
- Tha bleideag air an uinneag.There is a snowflake on the window.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “snowflake” translations and entries bleideag, leòmag, slathag, lòineag, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
