uisge-beatha
noun
In Scottish Gaelic whisky is uisge-beatha, which literally means "water of life". People also shorten it to uisge, though that word alone usually means plain "water".
Meaning: whisky (noun)
Ways to say it
| Gaelic | Note |
|---|---|
| uisge-beatha | noun |
| uisge | short form |
The full form uisge-beatha is the one to use if you want to be clear. A glass of whisky can be called glainne uisge-beatha.
When do people say it?
The English word "whisky" is a shortened form of the Gaelic uisge-beatha. The Irish form is similar, and both come from the same Celtic expression.
Did you know?
- Islay has the Gaelic name Ìle and is known for its whisky.
Examples in context
- Tha uisge-beatha math an seo.There is good whisky here.
- Aon ghlainne uisge-beatha, mas e do thoil e.One glass of whisky, please.
- Tha an uisge-beatha seo gu math sean.This whisky is very old.
Example conversation
A guide called Alasdair shows a visitor, Tom, around a small distillery on Islay.
- TomDè an t-ainm a th' air a' bhòtal seo?What is the name of this bottle?
- AlasdairSin uisge-beatha à Ìle.That is whisky from Islay.
- TomTha e fìor mhath.It is really good.
