geal
/kʲal̪ˠ/
In Gaelic, the word for white is geal. Wiktionary also lists bàn and fionn.
Meaning: color (noun)
Ways to say it
| Gaelic | IPA |
|---|---|
| geal | /kʲal̪ˠ/ |
| bàn | /paːn/ |
| fionn | /fjũːn̪ˠ/ |
The term white in Gaelic can be expressed in several ways depending on the specific quality of the color you are describing, such as brightness, paleness or hair color.
Which one should you use?
geal is the most common word for white and often carries the connotation of brightness or light. Use bàn when you mean white in the sense of being pale or light-colored, which is often applied to things like skin or buildings. Use fionn specifically to describe hair or complexion, meaning fair or light-colored.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective geal changes to geala when it modifies a feminine noun in the nominative case or a plural noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/kʲal̪ˠ/
Did you know?
- The word bàn shares a common root with the Greek word phānós and the Sanskrit word bhānú, both of which mean 'bright' or 'light'.
- The word fionn is used for fair hair and complexion, and it is also the name of the legendary giant and warrior Fionn mac Cumhaill.
- In Gaelic poetry and song, geal is often used to evoke a sense of purity or divine radiance rather than just a visual shade.
Examples in context
- Tha cat geal aice.She has a white cat.This sentence shows how to use geal to describe a cat.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 feminine or plural noun.Tatoeba #770500 by marloncori, translation #316163 by CK
- taigh bàna white houseThis sentence shows how to use bàn to describe a house.
- Leabhar bànA white book
- Bha na cloinn uile fionnAll the children were fair-haired
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Eilidh and Angus are looking at a piece of paper.
- EilidhA bheil an pàpaper seo geal?Is this paper white?
- AngusTha, tha e gu geal.Yes, it is quite white.
- EilidhCanam an t-solas a bhith geal.I want the light to be white.
- AngusTha an solas geal a-nis.The light is white now.
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.
