geal
/kʲal̪ˠ/
The English word white is translated into Gaelic as geal. Wiktionary also lists bàn and fionn.
Meaning: color (noun)
Ways to say it
| Gaelic | IPA |
|---|---|
| geal | /kʲal̪ˠ/ |
| bàn | /paːn/ |
| fionn | /fjũːn̪ˠ/ |
The term is used to describe the color white and can also mean bright or light-colored.
Which one should you use?
geal is the most common word for white and often implies brightness or light. bàn is typically used to describe a pale or whitish color, often used for skin or light-colored objects like a house. fionn is specifically used to describe fair hair or a pale complexion.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective geal changes its ending to geala depending on the gender and number of the noun it modifies.
How do you pronounce it?
/kʲal̪ˠ/
Did you know?
- The word fionn is not just a color but is deeply tied to legendary figures, such as the mythical warrior Fionn mac Cumhaill.
- The Gaelic word for white, geal, shares an ancient ancestor with the English word 'glow' through the concept of shining.
Examples in context
- Tha cat geal aice.She has a white cat.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use geal with a noun.Tatoeba #1515504 by Cainntear, translation #813309 by papabear
- Bha brògan geala oirre.She had white shoes on.This sentence shows the form geala used with a noun.Tatoeba #770500 by marloncori, translation #316163 by CK
- taigh bànA white houseThis sentence shows the use of bàn to describe an object.
- An t-uisce ghealThe white water
- Culaith bháinA white suit
- Geataí bánaWhite gates
- Tá an sneachta fionn inniuThe snow is white today
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Isla and Angus are looking at a piece of paper.
- IslaA bheil an pàipear seo geal gu leòr?Is this paper white enough?
- AngusTha, tha e geal.Yes, it is white.
- IslaChan eil mi ag iarraidh rud leanainn a bhàthadh.I don't want anything else to be hidden.
- AngusTha e math, Isla.It is good, Isla.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “white” translations and entries geal, bàn, fionn, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bàn, fionn, geal, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
