Gàidhlig / English
Faclan Gaoil ’s Mùirne

Faclan Gaoil ’s Mùirne

Posted by Eoghann on 07th February 2018

As this is the week of Valentine’s day, I could not think of a more appropriate subject for this week’s blog than love and affection. Perhaps the Inuits don’t really have 100 words for snow, but our fieldwork archive shows us that the Gaels have a plethora of words and expressions relating to love and affection. 
 
While I have often heard numerous terms of endearment such as a ghràidh, a laoigh, and a stòir, I was quite taken by a few affectionate terms which I came across in our archives. The word cagar, used usually for a whisper, was reported to be used affectionately in both Breakish on Skye, and in Kilillan, Dornie in Ross-shire, while a thasgaidh was also used on Skye in Kilmuir as one would use the word “dear” in English. Some words such as creutair can be used both affectionately or with contempt as reported by an informant from West Lewis. However, one would not want to be called a leannan-òinsich which is used to describe an easily led man. Interestingly, while a first love in English is said to be thought of with some affection, the old Gaelic phrase “Fuath a ghiollain a cheud leannan” suggests that a first love is remembered with a degree of hostility.
 
I came across a small number of phrases which caught my eye relating to fancying or falling in love with someone. The question “a’ bheil magaid aige dhith?” was used by a woman in Kintail for the English equivalent “does he fancy her?” and the phrase “tha sùil agam innte” is another expression to state romantic feelings for someone. “B’ann air gaol a bha i tighinn” ellagently describes someone who is talking of love while the word beadradh has a bawdier sense implying flirting or caressing as in the expression chuireadh sin na bodaich gu beadradh.
 
Doubtlessly there is a wealth of material on the subject in our archives which I haven’t managed to talk about in this week’s blog. Therefore, take a look in our achives, or if you know local and interesting words or phrases about love get in touch with us on Twitter or Facebook. I hope that there is a special feuchdag or fear spòiteas for you this Valentines’ day and reflect on the saying “thig crioch air an t-saoghal ach mairidh gaol is ceol.”
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