Certain words that Scotland and the English-speaking world use today, while pronounced differently, have emerged from Scottish Gaelic (or via Irish Gaelic which is very closely related.)
It can be easy to think that Gaelic borrows from English, which in some cases is true as many modern European languages have adapted English words, but this overlooks how English takes from others.
Many languages Germanic, Latin, Greek, Norman French and Celtic in origin make appearances in what we know as English today. By way of Ireland, Gaelic was brought to Scotland around AD 500 meaning these words have Irish roots in common but certainly pass through Scottish Gaelic.
Learn about these words with Carl’s Lingo Kingdom (see attached video), or continue reading now for 13 English words that are connected to Scottish Gaelic.
9. Gob
Ever told someone to shut their 'gob' because they overestimated their gift of the 'gab'? This reportedly comes from "gob" which in Gaelic means "beak", so if you said "shut your gob, hen" then it checks out etymologically. Photo: PIKSEL via Getty Images
10. Crag
A word that can spark instant excitement from any rock climber, it refers to a ‘steep or rugged cliff of rock face’. North Berwick Law is a hill in Scotland that has a well-regarded crag. It has been tied to the Scottish Gaelic “creag” which means “rock”. Similar iterations can be found over many Celtic languages like ‘creg’ in Manx or ‘craig’ in Welsh. Photo: Mat Fascione via Geograph
11. Bard
The word "Bard" (referring to a poet or musician) immediately conjures images of medieval taverns and folk music. It is derived from the Celtic spectrum of languages where many iterations of the term can be found, in Scottish Gaelic however it is "bàrd" which means a "low-ranking poet". Photo: Singleton, Esther, d. 1930 - Wikimedia Commons
12. Pet
In Scottish Gaelic the word "peata" means "pet", and when we trace the word's origins back to Irish Gaelic it reportedly means "spoiled child". A fitting description considering how many pet owners adore and cherish their pets like they're royalty. Photo: Michele Jackson - Getty Images