Gàidhlig / English
Càilghuth

Càilghuth

Posted by Shona on Thursday 21st May 2015

‘Càilghuth’ is this week’s Word of the Week, meaning a sweet and musical voice. This word was collected from an informant on the Isle of Skye, who gave the meaning as ‘good voice.’

‘Càil-ghuth’ appears in ‘Transactions Volume 24’ by The Gaelic Society of Inverness (1904). A paper was read to the Society on the 20th of December 1900 by the Rev. Charles M. Robertson entitled ‘The Gaelic of the West of Ross-shire.’ In the paper he gives the following definition for ‘càil-ghuth’: “voice, sweet or musical voice. Is briagh a’ chàil-ghuth a tha aige, what a fine voice he has.”

Of course, ‘càil-ghuth’ would be a very appropriate way to describe Flora MacNeill, an acclaimed Gaelic singer and tradition bearer from Barra who sadly passed away on Friday of last week.Click here to go to Tobar an Dualchais, which has numerous recordings of her singing.

Do you use or hear ‘càil-ghuth’? What would you use to describe someone of good voice? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter.

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