geamhradh
/ˈɡ̊ʲãũɾəɣ/masculine
The Gaelic word for winter, the season of short days and the coldest weather, is geamhradh.
geamhradh names the season, usually with the article as an geamhradh. To say in winter, use sa gheamhradh. The related verb geamhraich means to spend the winter somewhere or to store something over winter.
Meaning: fourth season, marked by short days and the lowest temperatures (noun)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
geamhradh is a masculine noun. It takes the article an when you mean the winter or the season in general, as in an geamhradh. After sa, meaning in the, its first sound is softened to give sa gheamhradh.
How do you pronounce it?
geamhradh is pronounced /ˈɡ̊ʲãũɾəɣ/. The mh is not said as m but makes the vowel nasal, and the stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- In traditional Gaelic culture, the year was often divided into two main periods, 'the light half' and 'the dark half', rather than four distinct seasons.
- The word geamhradh comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *ǵʰyem-, which also gave rise to the English word 'hibernate'.
- In Gaelic, there is a distinct difference between the season geamhradh and the general concept of 'coldness', which is expressed by fuarachd.
Examples in context
- Th' an geamhradh a' tighinn.Winter is coming.Th' an geamhradh a' tighinn. means winter is coming.
- sa gheamhradhIn wintersa gheamhradh is the softened form meaning in winter.
- Tha e an deireadh an t-samhradh, thig an geamhradh gu luath.It is the end of summer, winter shall come soon.Here thig an geamhradh gu luath means winter shall come soon.
- Bhí an geimhreadh go hálainn i mbliana!Winter was beautiful this year!
- Ní maith liom an gheimhreadh mar is fuar é,I don't like winter because it's cold.
Example conversation
Catriona and Hamish are discussing the weather.
- CatrionaA bheil thu ag iarraidh geamhradh nas giorrach?Do you want a shorter winter?
- HamishTha, tha geamhradh an t-samhradh nas fheàrr.Yes, the winter of summer is better.
- CatrionaIs toil leam an geamhradh gu dearbh.I actually like the winter.
- HamishTha thu sgeulach, a Chatriona!You are funny, Catriona!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “winter” translations and entries geamhradh, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries geamhradh, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
