uinneag
/ˈɯɲak/feminine
The Gaelic word for window is uinneag.
uinneag refers to an opening for light and air (noun).
Meaning: opening for light and air (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Scottish Gaelic dialect spoken in the Highlands, the term Uinneag is used for window.
How does it change in a sentence?
uinneag is a feminine noun. When used with the definite article an, the word remains in its nominative form uinneag. The plural form of the feminine noun uinneag is uinneagan. The word uinneag changes to uinneig in the genitive case, which is used after certain prepositions like tron (through).
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈɯɲak/
Did you know?
- The word uinneag shares an ancient ancestry with the English 'window', as both stem from the Old Norse term for a 'wind's eye'.
- In some older Highland dwellings, the 'window' was often just a gap in the stone wall covered by cloth or oil-soaked skins before glass became common.
- In traditional Gaelic poetry, the concept of a window is often linked to the transition between the domestic interior and the wild Highlands landscape.
Examples in context
- a' tighinn tron uinneigComing through the window (i.e. crashing through it while closed)This sentence shows the use of the genitive form uinneig after the preposition 'tron'.
- a' tighinn air an uinneigComing through the window (i.e. climbing through it while open)This sentence demonstrates the use of the word after the preposition 'air'.
- saoil an dùin thu an uinneag?Would you please close the window?This sentence shows how to use the word when asking someone to close the window.
Example conversation
Finlay and Mairead are cleaning the living room.
- FinlayAnns a' uinneag seo, tha e salach.In this window, it is dirty.
- MaireadTha thu ceart, Finlay. Glan an uinneag.You are right, Finlay. Clean the window.
- FinlayCòis an uinneag an seo?Where is the window here?
- MaireadTha an uinneag ri an taobh.The window is on the side.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “window” translations and entries uinneag, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries uinneag, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
