Glossary of Gaelic origins of place names in Britain (S to U)

Place names are made up of components which are referred to as elements. These elements are simply the words people used to describe a place or their response to their environment. A more complete background to Scottish Gaelic in place names, pronunciation and spelling can be found in the accompanying Introduction to Gaelic origins of place names in Britain .

This is a glossary of the elements from Scottish Gaelic most frequently found in the place names of Britain. The meaning given is that which occurs in place names. Examples (with grid references) are given for each element.

There are usually three forms given for each noun: the first form is the basic form, called the nominative singular; the second form is the genitive singular; while the third form is the plural.

Abbreviations

adj	=	adjective	nm	=	noun masculine
f	=	feminine	nmf	=	noun sometimes used in masculine and in feminine
g	=	genitive	num	=	number
m	=	masculine	pl	=	plural
nf	=	noun feminine	pr	=	preposition

Element	Meaning	Examples
sabhal nmsabhail gsabhalan pl	barn, granary	*Allt an t-Sabhail* NH5291, Cnoc an t-Sabhail NC5233
sac nmsaic gsaic, sacan pl	horse load	*Cnoc an t-Saic* NH3398, Druim an t-Saic NN6362
sagart nmsagairt gsagartan pl	priest	*Eilean an t-Sagairt* NM9231, Lòn an t-Sagairt NR7081
saic	see sac	*Cnoc an t-Saic* NH3398
saidh nfsaidhe gsaidhean pl	upright beam, post	*Loch Coire na Saidhe* NC4436, Sgeir nan Saidhean NM7010
saighead nfsaighde gsaighdean pl	arrow	*Lochan nan Saighead* NB1705, Beinn na Saighde NB4236
sàil nfsàl, sàile, sàlach gsàilean, sàiltean pl	heel	*Sàil Mhòr* NH1768, Sàil Gharbh NC4134
sàilean nmsàilein gsàileanan pl	little inlet, arm of the sea, deep bay	*Sàilean Mòr* NM5859, Sàilean Ruadh NM9833
sàl, sàlach	see sàil	*Loch na Sàlach* NH3267
salach adj	dirty	*Camas Salach* NM6861, Àirigh Shalach NH0666
saobhaidh nfsaobhaidh(e) gsaobhaidhean pl	animal-den	*Allt na Saobhaidhe* ND0335, Caochan na Saobhaidh NJ0609
saor nmsaoir gsaoir pl	carpenter, wright	*Eilean an t-Saoir* NM1455, Lùb an t-Saoir NM9364
seabhag nmfseabhaig gseabhagan pl	hawk	*Creag na Seabhaig* NM9515, Allt na Seabhaig NH5315
seachd num	seven	*Eilean nan Seachd Seisrichean* NM4263
seagal nmseagail g	rye	*Cnoc an t-Seagaill* NC2413, Allt an t-Seagaill NH5473
sealg nfseilg gsealgan pl	hunt, chase	*Loch na Seilge* NC9258, Srath na Seilge NC7018
seamrag nfseamraig gseamragan pl	trefoil, shamrock	*Beinn na Seamraig* NG7217, Cnoc na Seamraig NN1621
sean adj	old	*Sean-Àirigh* NC9458, Sean-Allt NJ2014
seangan nmseangain gseangain, seanganan pl	ant	*Sgeir an t-Seangain* NM7162, Allt nan Seangan NH5596
seann	alternative form of sean	*Monadh Seann-talaimh* NH3001
searrach adj	edge, pointed, sharp	*Coireag Searrach* NH0031
searrach nmsearraich gsearraich pl	foal, colt	*Cnoc nan Searrach* NB2330, Glac nan Searrach NG4551
seasg nfseasga gseisg, seisge pl	bog-reed	*Cnocan Seasg* NH9386, Carr Seasg NR7671
seilcheagnf seilcheigg seilcheagan pl	snail	*Creag nan Seilcheag* NG8300
seileach nmseilich gseileachan pl	willow	*Fèith Seileach* NG6711, Bad nan Seileach ND1131
seilg	see sealg	*Loch na Seilg* NC3658
seisg, seisge	see seasg
sgadan nmsgadain gsgadain pl	herring	*Glac nan Sgadan* NG9407, Port an Sgadain NR7084
sgarbh nmsgairbh gsgairbh pl	cormorant, heron	*Rubha nan Sgarbh* NB4929
sgeine, sgeinean	see sgian
sgeir nfsgeire gsgeirean pl	sea rook, skerry	*Sgeir a' Choire* NR4043, Sgeir nan Sgarbh NB4057
sgiannf sgeine, sgineg sgeinean, sgineachanpl	knife	*Sgian DubhNS0675, Sgurr na Sgine* NG9411
sgitheach nmsgithich g	hawthorn	*Cnoc nan Sgitheach* NS0199, Abhainn Sgitheach NH5162
sgoilte adj	split, cracked	*Aonach Sgoilte* NG8302, Càrn Sgoilte NB9706
sgòr nmsgòir gsgòran, sgòraichean pl	non-standard form of sgùrr	*Sgòr a' Chaorainn* NH4577, Sgòr an Daimh NN2971
sgòrr	alternative form of sgùrr	*Sgòrr a' Chait* NN3406, Sgòrr an Fhithich NN5408
sgùrr nmsgurra gsgurran pl	rocky peak, sharp steep hill	*Sgùrr a' Bhuic* NN2070, Sgùrr a' Chaise NG5702
sh-	A word starting sh is often a lenited form of a word starting s
siar	form ofiar	*Tamana Siar* NB0020
sìdh nm	non-standard form of sìth: (fairy) hill	*Sìdh Beag* NJ1713, Sìdh Mòr NJ1713
sidhean	non-standard form of sìthean	*Sidhean Mòr* ND0556, Sidhean a' Chlèirich NC1319
sionnach nmsionnaich gsionnaich pl	fox	*Allt nan Sionnach* NM7692, Coire an t-Sionnaich NN1760
sìoradj	constant, eternal	*Carraig an t-Sìor Shruith* NM2968
sìthean nmsìthein gsìthein pl	fairy knoll, hillock	*Allt an t-Sìthein* NG4931, Cnoc nan Sìthean ND0342
sleac	alternative form of leac	*Meall nan Sleac* NN8694, Sleac Gorm NO2289
sleamhainn adj	slippery, smooth	*Leac Shleamhuinn* NF7714, Carraig Shleamhuinn NG2149
sliabh nmslèibh gslèibhtean pl	high moorland; purple moor-grass (Molinia caerulea)	*Allt a' Choire Sliabh* NG9170, Càrn an t-Slèibhe NJ1411
slios nmsliosa gsliosan pl	side, slope	*Loch an t-Slios* NB2124, Slios Garbh NG8888
sloc nmsluic gslocan pl	pit, hollow, pool	*Sloc an Tairbh* NF7200, Tom an t-Sluic NN1479
slugaid nfslugaide g	quicksand, muddy place, gorge	*Allt na Slugaide* NB4839, Cnoc na Slugaide NB4739
sluic	see sloc	*Lochan an t-Sluic* NN8290
sneachd nmsneachda g	snow	*Coire an t-Sneachda* NH1927, Glac an t-Sneachda NM4923
sobhal	non-standard form of sabhal	*Cnoc an t-Sobhail* NH2438
soc nmsuic g	point, snout	*Soc Glas* NC3272, Soc Mhic Chailein NC1743
spàrdan nmspàrdain gspàrdain, spàrdanan pl	little eminence, hill, short steep slope	*An Spàrdan* NM6800, Bruthach nan Spàrdan NN7281
speireag nfspeireig gspeireagan pl	sparrow hawk	*Cnoc nan Speireag* NG3631, Creagan na Speireig NC4855
sprèidh nfsprèidhe g	cattle	*Loch nan Sprèidh* NH3893, Lag na Sprèidhe NM5521
sràid nfsràide gsràidean pl	road, street	*Sràid Ruadh* NL9547, Sràid Stac na Mòine NR2847
srath nmsratha gsrathan pl	valley, riverside land	*Srath a' Bhàthaich* NG8847, Abhainn an t-Sratha NB1800
sròn nfsròine gsrònan pl	nose, point	*Sròn Mhòr* NB1429, Sròn a' Mhill NG4843
sruth nmsrutha, sruith gsruthan pl	current, stream	*Bun an t-Sruth* NF7366, Oban nan Sruthan NF8874
staca nmstaca, staic gstacan, stacannan pl	high cliff or hill, precipice	*Ruadh Stac* NG5123, Stac nam Bodach NN9770
staigh	see a-staigh
staimhnm staimhg	sea tangle	*Poll an Staimh* NG3764
stalla nmstallachan pl	overhanging rock, steep sea rock	*Stalla nam Manach* NG9170, Stallachan Dubha NM5362
steall nfstill gsteallan pl	torrent, cataract	*Steall a' Choire* NC3728, Steall an Eisg NM8154
stob nmstuib gstoban pl	point, stake	*Stob a' Chaorainn* NN4504, Stob a' Chòin NN4116
strath	anglicised form of srath	*Strathtay* NN9153, Strathaird NG5317
stùc nfstùic gstùcan, stùcannan pl	little hill, cliff, pinnacle	*Stùc a' Bhuic* NN3904, Stùc Bàn NS2996
stuib	see stob
sùbh nmsùibh gsùbhan pl	raspberry	*Meall nan Sùbh* NN4539, Bruach nan Sùbh NR4964
suic	see soc
suidhe nmsuidhean, suidheachan pl	seat, sitting or resting place, level shelf	*Càrn an t-Suidhe* NG8754, Suidhe Beag NJ2624
sùil nfsùla gsùilean pl	eye, sandy hole	*Sùil an Ear* NB1836, Sùil na Cloiche NB2320
taigh nmtaighe gtaighean pl	house	*Allt nan Taighean* NM7293, Bean an Taighe NM6375
tàillear nmtàilleir gtàillearan pl	tailor	*Cnoc an Tàilleir* NC6036, Coire an Tàilleir NH1839
tairbeart nftairbeirt gtarbeartan pl	crossing, portage, isthmus	*Loch an Tairbeirt* NB3419, Tairbeart NG5847
tairbh	see tarbh	*Luig an Tairbh* NR3143
talamh nmftalamh, talmhainn gtalamhan pl	land	*Sean-Talamh* NN5615, Monadh Seann-talaimh NH3001
tana adj	thin, slender, shallow	*Loch Tana* NB3329
taobh nmtaoibh gtaobhan pl	side, way, place	*Taobh a' Ghlinne* NN0372, Taobh Deas NF9692
tarbeartan	see tairbeart
tarbert	anglicised form of tairbeart	*Tarbert* NB1400
tarbh nmtairbh gtairbh pl	bull	*Boglach nan Tarbh* NM6724, Clach an Tairbh NH1568
tarsainn adj	lying across, oblique	*Toman Tarsainn* NH5121, Allt Tarsainn NH1260
tartarnm tartair g	noise, clamour	*Uamh an Tartair* NC2109
teampall nmteampaill gteampaill pl	church	*Teampull Bhuirgh* NF7650, Teampull Chriosd NF7861
teanga nfteangaidh gteangan, teangannan pl	tongue	*Teanga Bhàn* NM6526, Teanga nan Each NH0350
teine nmteintean pl	fire, beacon	*Tom an Teine* NN2179, Cnoc an Teine NH4747
th-	A word starting th is often a lenited form of a word starting t
tibber, tiber	anglicised form of tiobar: well	*Knockentiber* NS3939, Auchentibber NS6754
tigh	non-standard form of taigh	*Tigh an Droma* NS0427, Tigh an Eilein NO1464
tilly	anglicised form of tulach	*Tillybrack* NJ6619, Tillycairn NJ8331
tioram adj	dry	*Cnocan Tioram* NR7552, Eilean Tioram NG7873
tìr nftìre gtìrean pl	land	*Tìr Dhubh* NR9732, Tìr Chille NM3218
tòb nm	bay	*Tòb a' Chuilinn* NB1733, Tòb a' Ghearraidh NB0216
tobar nmftobair, tobrach gtobraichean pl	well, fountain, spring	*Tobar an Easbuig* NF8040, Tobar na Slàinte NH8573
tobhta nmtobhtaichean pl	ruin with walls standing	*Tobhta nan Druidhean* NG5158, Tobhta NB0434
tobrach, tobraichean	see tobar
todhar nmtodhair gtodharan pl	field manured by penning cattle on it	*Todhar Dubh* NM4151, Ach'an Todhair NN0971
tòine	see tòn
toll nmtuill gtuill pl	hole, hollow	*Toll Beag* ND0427, Toll Creagach NH1513
tolm nmtuilm gtolman pl	island in a river or near shore	*Tolm* NB3350, Eilean Thuilm NM4791
tom nmtuim gtomannan pl	knoll (east), copse (west)	*Tom na h-Iolaire* NC9221, Loch an Tuim NB4243
tòn nftòine gtònan pl	fundament, breech, anus	*Goirtein na Tòine* NM6134, Tom na Tòine NC2630
torc nmtuirc gtuirc pl	boar	*Càrn an Tuirc* NO1780
tòrr nmtorra gtorran pl	heap, hill, mountain, mound	*Tòrr a' Bhacain* NM3821, Tòrr a' Chruidh NG3656
tràigh nftràighe, tràghad gtràighean, tràghannan pl	beach	*Cnoc na Tràighe* NR2763, Tràigh Mhòr NB5448
trì num	three	*Cnoc nan Trì Tom* NB3124, Lòn Trì Chrìoch NM9518
tuath adj	north	*Meall Tuath* NG4176, Port a Tuath NA9812
tuill	see toll	*Rubha Uamh an Tuill* NR5162
tuilm	see tolm	*Allt Thuilm* NG0898
tuim	see tom	*Beinn an Tuim* NM9283
tùir	see tùr	*Ceann an Tùir* NM6041
tuirc	see torc	*Coire Allt an Tuirc* NH0522
tulach nmtulaich gtulaichean pl	knoll, hillock	*Tom Mòr an Tulach* NB3545, Tulach an Fhuarain ND1252
tullich	anglicised form of tulach	*Cultullich* NN8750, Glastullich NH1595
tulloch	anglicised form of tulach	*Scoretulloch* NS5836, Tulloch NH6192
tunnag nftunnaig gtunnagan pl	duck	*Loch Tunnaig* NM9101, Tòb nan Tunnag NB1433
tùr nmtùir gtùir pl	tower	*Tùr Mòr* NM5545, Loch an Tùir NC1126
ty	anglicised form of taigh	*Tyndrum* NH5220, Tynabeinne NR2663, Tynacoille NR2763
uachdar nmuachdair guachdaran pl	top, upper part, summit	*Uachdar* NF8055, Allt an Uachdair NR8934
uaimh nfuaimhe, uamha guaimhean, uamhan pl	cave	*Allt na h-Uaimhe* NH7201
uaine adj	green	*Cnoc Uaine* NG6709, Coire Uaine NH4383
uamh	alternative form of uaimh	*Uamh an Òir* NG9795
uchd nmuchda guchdan pl	breast, ascent, side of a hill	*Uchd a' Bhlàir* NM4279, Uchd an Ùird NG7931
ùidh nfùidhe gùidhean pl	isthmus, ford	*Ùidh an Tuim* NC2948, Ùidh Dhubh NC3039
ùig nfùige gùigean pl	nook, hollow, cave, den, bay	*Bad na h-Ùige* ND0737, Bealach Ùige NG4464
uillt	see allt	*Bad an Uillt* ND2044
uinnseann nmuinnseinn g	ash tree	*Allt an Uinnseinn* NC3856, Cnoc an Uinnseinn NN5517
ùird	see òrd	*Beinn Ùird* NS3998, Cnoc an Ùird NH5341
uisge nmuisgean, uisgeachan pl	water, rain, river	*Uisge Dhubh* NH0038
ulaidh nfulaidhe gulaidhean pl	treasure	*Tom na h-Ulaidhe* NN5811, Creagan na h-Ulaidh NH2623
ùr adj	new, fresh, recent	*Meall Ùr a' Bhorraich* NG7137
ùruisg nm ùruisge g ùruisgean pl	water spirit	*Sruthan an Ùruisge* NR5979