Welcome, dear readers!
So many of you have asked if I have a glossary for the Scottish Gaelic words, names and phrases in my books, and finally here it is. If you've read my Highland books, you've likely stumbled across quite a few Gaelic words that made you pause and wonder, "Now, how exactly do I pronounce that?" Fear not! This guide is here to help.
A Word About My Approach to Gaelic
As I’ve mentioned previously: I am not a native Gaelic speaker. Scottish Gaelic is a culturally rich language with a complex history, and I would never want to do it a disservice by treating it carelessly. That's why you'll notice I use Gaelic sparingly —just enough to add authenticity and flavor to the setting, but not so much that I risk butchering a language I wasn't raised speaking (I do that enough with English).
Although I've done my research and consulted pronunciation guides, I acknowledge the limitations of my own knowledge. If you're a native speaker and notice any errors, please know they come from a place of admiration, not disrespect, and I'm always open to learning.
Now, grab a cup of tea (or perhaps a wee dram of whisky!), and enjoy!
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The Glossary
A Note on Languages: You'll find both Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) and Scots words in this glossary. Scottish Gaelic is a Celtic language, while Scots is a Germanic language related to English. Both are important parts of Scotland's linguistic heritage, and both appear in my books. I’ve also added the African, Arabic and Norse names used in the books for your reference.
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A Ghrá
Pronunciation: uh-GRAW
Meaning: A term of affection used in Irish and Scottish Gaelic to mean "my love." It's a tender way to address someone dear to your heart.
Alba
Pronunciation: Al-uh-BUH (or Al-uh-PA)
Meaning: The Scottish Gaelic word for "Scotland."
A Stòiridh
Pronunciation: uh-STOR-ee
Meaning: The Scottish Gaelic equivalent of "my treasure," this is a lovely endearment that shows just how precious someone is to you.
Airisaidh (also spelled Arisaid, Earasaid)
Pronunciation: AH-ri-saj
Meaning: Traditional garment historically worn by Highland women. It is the feminine version of the belted plaid—a large rectangle of tartan worn as a dress or wrap, often pinned at the shoulder. It could be brightly colored or made of undyed wool, and was both practical and beautiful.
Ajani
Pronunciation: ah-JAH-nee
Meaning: A Yoruba name from Nigeria meaning "he who wins the struggle" or "one (we) fought for to have." Also known to mean "victor." This powerful name reflects values of strength, perseverance, and triumph over adversity.
Bahookie (also spelled Bahooky, Bahoochie)
Pronunciation: bah-HOO-kee
Meaning: Buttocks, backside, bum. A charming Scottish word for one's posterior! Often used in a friendly, humorous way. It's informal and endearing, never crude.
Bhaltair
Pronunciation: VAL-tar
Meaning: Scottish Gaelic form of Walter in English. Strong and distinctive, it's perfect for a Highland hero.
Banshee (Gaelic: Bean Sídhe, Ban-Sìth)
Pronunciation: BAN-shee
Meaning: The Gaelic literally means "woman of the sídhe" (fairy mounds); fairy woman. A female spirit from Irish and Scottish folklore whose wailing cry warns of an impending death in the family. In Scotland, she's sometimes called the bean-nighe or "washerwoman," seen washing the grave-clothes of those about to die.
Braw
Pronunciation: BRAW (rhymes with "law")
Meaning: A wonderful Scots word (not Gaelic, but from the Scots language) meaning fine, excellent, or beautiful. Used to describe anything from weather to a bonnie lass to a delicious meal.
Brownie
Pronunciation: BROO-nee (Scottish Gaelic: brùnaidh) or BAW-dach (bodach)
Meaning: A supernatural being from Scottish and Northern English tradition, named for its brown, ragged appearance. These solitary spirits were believed to inhabit farms and homes, emerging at night to complete unfinished chores—threshing grain, churning butter, or tending livestock—in exchange for simple offerings of cream, porridge, or bannocks left by the hearth. Brownies were famously sensitive creatures; they represented the rural Scottish belief in helpful but unpredictable otherworldly forces that required respectful treatment and proper traditional customs to maintain domestic harmony between the human and fairy worlds.
Cailleach
Pronunciation: KAL-yach (or KAL-yuch)
Meaning: Old woman, hag; divine hag, winter goddess. While this word simply means "old woman" in modern Gaelic, in mythology the Cailleach is a powerful divine figure—a creator deity and goddess of winter, weather, and the wild landscape. She's particularly associated with Scotland's mountains and storms, and is known as Beira, Queen of Winter in Scottish folklore.
Colban
Pronunciation: COAL-ban
Meaning: Scottish name
A traditional name with historical roots in Scotland and appears in clan histories.
Dalziel
Pronunciation: dee-EL
Meaning: Bright dale or white meadow. One of those wonderful Scottish names that looks nothing like it sounds! This surname is of Norman origin but became firmly Scottish, and is not "Dal-zee-el" as one might expect.
Eilidh
Pronunciation: AY-lee
Meaning: A lovely feminine name meaning "sun" or "light." It's the Gaelic equivalent of Helen or Eleanor.
Eòghann (also spelled Eoghann)
Pronunciation: YO-an (like "Owen")
Meaning: Scottish Gaelic form of Ewen/Owen. It's considered to derive from Greek "Eugenes" meaning "noble born," though some scholars debate its exact origins.
Gilleain
Pronunciation: GILL-ee-an (with a hard G)
Meaning: A Scottish Gaelic name derived from gille (servant, boy, lad) and Iain (John), meaning "servant of Saint John." In medieval times, saints' names were considered too holy for everyday use, so they were prefixed with "gille" until the 17th century. The anglicized form is Gillean or Gillian.
Haud Yer Wheesht
Pronunciation: HAWD yer WHEESHT (rhymes with "beast")
Meaning: A playful yet direct Scots phrase meaning "be quiet" or "shut up," dating back to the 1800s. It’s often used affectionately rather than rudely. "Wheesht" is derived from the Irish Gaelic word faoistin, meaning to whisper or be quiet.
Izara
Pronunciation: ee-ZAR-ah
Meaning: A name with multiple origins. It can be Arabic meaning "Star," or derived from other cultural traditions like Basque. Beautiful and exotic, with a melodic sound that rolls off the tongue.
Kato
Pronunciation: KAH-toh
Meaning: A name with African origins (particularly Ugandan), meaning "Second of twins."
Lèine
Pronunciation: LAY-nuh
Meaning: Shirt, tunic. A traditional Gaelic garment. In the 16th century, this referred to the famous "saffron shirt" of the Irish and Highland Scots. It was a long linen tunic (the léine crioch) with very full sleeves, often dyed yellow with saffron. Both men and women wore versions of the léine.
M'eudail
Pronunciation: MAY-dul (or meh-OO-dal)
Meaning: My darling, my dear. A tender term of endearment. The contraction "m'" stands for "mo" (my), and "eudail" means treasure or darling.
MacBeth mac Findláich
Pronunciation: mac-BETH mac finn-LAY-akh (Medieval Gaelic); MacBheatha mac Fhionnlaigh (EE-un-lee) in Modern Gaelic
Meaning: Son of life, son of Findláech. The historical King of Scotland (ruled 1040-1057), whose name has been anglicized as Macbeth MacFinlay. "Mac Bethad" (or MacBheatha in modern Gaelic) means "son of life" and carries the implication of a righteous or religious man rather than literal filiation. The patronymic "mac Findláích" means "son of Findláech," referring to his father Findláech of Moray.
Malise
Pronunciation: MAL-iss
Meaning: A Scottish Gaelic name derived from Maol Íosa, meaning "Servant of Jesus." It's historically associated with Scottish nobility, particularly the MacLean clan. The name carries connotations of strength and heritage, making it perfect for a character with both spiritual depth and physical prowess.
Mo Chridhe
Pronunciation: mo KREE-uh
Meaning: One of the most romantic Scottish Gaelic endearments! Literally "My heart," this phrase conveys deep love and affection. It's used for romantic partners, children, or anyone very dear to you.
Mo Ghaol
Pronunciation: mo GHOOL
Meaning: A straightforward but powerful term of affection. "Gaol" means love, so this is simply "my love."
Mo Ghràidh (also Mo Ghraidh)
Pronunciation: mo GHRY (rhymes with "try")
Meaning: My love, my beloved. The word "gràdh" is one of the most common Gaelic words for love.
Mo Leannan
Pronunciation: mo LYAN-an
Meaning: A term of endearment meaning "my sweetheart" or "my beloved one." This is particularly romantic and would typically be used between lovers.
Mo Luaidh
Pronunciation: mo LOO-y
Meaning: A tender term meaning "my darling," used to express affection for someone dear to you.
Mo Rùn
Pronunciation: mo ROON
Meaning: My beloved, my secret love. A multifaceted word that can mean "secret," "desire," or "beloved." As an endearment, it carries the sense of someone who is cherished and held close to the heart—perhaps even a secret love.
Muc
Pronunciation: MOOHK
Meaning: Simply the Gaelic word for pig! Straightforward and useful for any farmyard scenes.
For e.g: Amelia MacGregor used the term "muddy muc."
Seanmhair
Pronunciation: SHAN-uh-vair
Meaning: Literally "old mother" (sean = old, màthair = mother). This is the formal Gaelic word for grandmother, though children would typically use more familiar terms like "Granaidh."
Seoirse
Pronunciation: SHOR-sha (or SHUR-sha)
Meaning: Irish/Scottish form of George from the Greek meaning "farmer" or "earth worker." A traditional name with deep Celtic roots.
Sìne
Pronunciation: SHEE-nuh
Meaning: Scottish Gaelic form of Jean/Jane or Sheena.
Slàinte Mhath!
Pronunciation: SLAHN-juh VAH
Meaning: The Scottish Gaelic toast you'll hear in pubs and gatherings. It literally means "good health" and is the equivalent of "cheers!" When raising a glass of uisge beatha, this is what you say. Sometimes shortened to just "Slàinte!"
Snekkja
Pronunciation: SNEK-ya
Meaning: Viking longship. From Old Norse, meaning "snake" or "snakes"—these swift, sleek warships were called this because of their snake-like movement through the water. A snekkja was typically one of the smaller Viking longships, with at least 20 rowing benches and carrying around 40 oarsmen. Light and fast, perfect for raids and coastal warfare!
Sorcha
Pronunciation: SOR-a-kha (traditional)
Meaning: A Gaelic feminine name common to both Irish and Scottish traditions, derived from Old Irish meaning "brightness" or "radiant." The traditional pronunciation includes a guttural "ch" sound (like the "ch" in "loch"), though many people anglicize it as "SOR-sha." In Scotland, it's traditionally been anglicized as Clara, which retains the name's meaning of brightness. A lovely name for a fair-haired heroine!
Teàrlag (also spelled Tearlag)
Pronunciation: CHAR-lak
Meaning: Scottish Gaelic form of Charlotte. A traditional Highland name with a soft, musical sound.
Uisge Beatha
Pronunciation: OOSH-keh BAY-ha (or OOSH-kyeh BEH-ha)
Meaning: The Gaelic term for whisky, literally translating as "water of life." It's a direct translation of the Latin aqua vitae. Over time, "uisge" became anglicized and shortened to become the word "whisky" we know today.
Yesenda
Pronunciation: yeh-SEN-dah
Meaning: A variant or creative adaptation of Ysenda.
Zala
Pronunciation: ZAH-lah
Meaning: An Amharic name (from Ethiopia) with beautiful meanings that vary by source—some say it refers to people from southwest Ethiopia, others translate it as "ripe fruit" or "brightness/shininess."
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A Final Word
If this glossary has piqued your interest in learning more about Scottish Gaelic, I encourage you to seek out native speakers and authentic resources. The language deserves to be celebrated and preserved by those who know it best.
Remember, Gaelic pronunciation can vary between regions—from the Western Isles to the Highlands, you'll hear different dialects and accents. The pronunciations I've given here are approximations to help English speakers get close to the authentic sounds.
If you'd like to hear how these words truly sound, I highly recommend visiting LearnGaelic.scot where you'll find audio clips and pronunciation guides from native speakers. You’ll also discover how to make Katie Anne’s Cloutie Dumpling which is surprisingly similar to my mother’s Fiji/Rotuman purini (pudding) that has been in our family for generations. It's even the same shape! But I digress.
My next glossary will include Norse words used in my upcoming books. I look forward to sharing those with you as well.
Thanks for reading. Until next time,
Slàinte mhath!
Elina xoxo