Glossary of Gaelic origins of place names in Britain (G to L)

Element

Meaning

Examples

gabhar nfgabhair ggaibhre pl

alternative form of gobhar

Stob Gaibhre NN0646, Eilean nan Gabhar NM6157

gaimhne

see gamhainn

Allt Fèith nan Gaimhne NH2159

gaineamhach adj

sandy

Meall Gaineamhach NG6949, Lochan Gaineamhach NH0945

gainneamh, gainmheach nfgainneimh, gainmhich g

sand, gravel, sea-shore

Gaineamh Mhòr NG8075, Loch na Gaineimh NC7630

gairt

see gart

Gall nmGoill gGoill pl

foreigner, lowlander, stone

Clach nan Gall NH7282, Rubha nan Gall NB4738

gamhainn nfgaimhne, gamhna ggaimhne, gamhna pl

stirk

Loch nan Gamhna NC6458, Fèith Gamhna ND0157

gaoth nfgaoithe ggaothan pl

wind

Bealach Gaoithe NH2456, Creag na Gaoithe NH1241

gaothach adj

windy

Cnoc Gaothach NR8495, Bealach Gaothach NM9033

gàradh 

non-standard form of gàrradh

Allt a' Gàraidh NG1747, Rubha Gàraidh NH3100

garbh adj

rough, coarse

Allt Garbh NC2759, Garbh Choire NC3019

gàrradh nmgàrradh ggàrraidhean pl

den, dyke, enclosure

An Gàrradh NM6020, Cnap nan Gàrradh NN3412

gart nmgairt g

field, enclosed corn-land

Sean-Ghairt NR3867, Lùb Gairt Bhig NN3044

gead nfgid ggeadan pl

rig, narrow strip of land, lazy-bed

Gead a' Bhodaich NM6556, Gead Dhubh NG8284

gèadh nmfgeòidh ggeòidh pl

goose

Loch nan Geòidh NR1852, Creagan Geòidh NN1327

geal adjghil g

white, clear

An Dùn Geal NN7447, Gleann Geal NM7250

geàrr adj

short

Geàrr Aonach NN1555

geàrraidh nmgeàrraidhean pl

land around a township, enclosure

Geàrraidh a Deas NB4748, Geàrraidh Amadal NB4657

geata nmgeataichean, geatachan pl

gate

Geata Gleann Goibhre NH4347, Geata Dearg NN6995

geo 

anglicised form of geodha

Geo Bhàta NF7345

geodha nmgeodhachan, geodhaichean pl

chasm, ravine

Geodha an Fhaing NF7274, Geodha Bàn NC3871

geòidh

see gèadh

Loch Geòidh NM9503

gh-

A word starting gh is often a lenited form of a word starting g

ghil adj

see geal

Loch an Easa Ghil NB2025, Allt Lòin Ghil ND1035

ghlais adj

see glas

Allt a' Choire Ghlais NN5265, Coire an Eich Ghlais NH1278

gid

see gead

gil nfgile ggilean pl

ravine, water course

Gil Ha-cleit NG0287, Gil Dhubh NG1294

gille nmgillean pl

boy, lad

Loch nan Gillean NH6892, Coire nan Gillean NH5977

giubhas  nm

alternative form of giuthas

Sròn nan Giubhas NN2446, Rubha Giubhais NH1099

giuthas nmgiuthais g

fir

Lòn Giuthas nan Leac NH4889

glac nfglaic(e) gglacan pl

hollow, small valley

Glac Bhàn NH0197, Glac Chrom NR8066

glack 

anglicised form of glac

Glackmore NH6051, Glackmuick NJ3642

glaise adj

see glas

Allt Creige Glaise NS0885, Lochan na Bà Glaise NM7188

glas adj  ghlais(m) glaise (f) g

grey, green

Coire Glas NC6927, Dùn Glas ND0617

gleann nmglinn gglinn, gleanntan pl

narrow valley, dale, glen

An Gleann NM7106, Allt a' Ghlinne NH5390

glen 

anglicised form of gleann

Inverglen NN0901, Glen Albyn NH6138

glinn

see gleann

Mullach a' Ghlinne NH3601

glumag nfglumaig gglumagan pl

puddle, deep hole or pool

Allt na Glaic Glumag NG7023

gob nmguib gguib pl

point, beak

Gob na Hoe NG1954, Gob an Tùir NG8827

gobha nmgobhann, gobhainn ggoibhnean pl

blacksmith

Uamh nan Goibhnean NR2742, Maol Baile a' Ghobhain NG7978

gobhar nmfgobhair, goibhre ggobhair, goibhrean pl

goat

Allt na Goibhre NH1473, Meall nan Gobhar NC1903

gòbhlach adj

forked

Cadha Gòbhlach NH0682, Lochan Gòbhlach NH4274

goibhnean

see gobha

goibhre, goibhrean

see gobhar

Sròn na Goibhre NH1372

Goill

see Gall

Biod a' Ghoill NG2759

goirtean nmgoirtein ggoirteanan pl

field, arable enclosure, arable land, park

Loch nan Goirtean NB2444, Goirtean Bàn NR3460

gorm adj

green, blue, azure

Poll Gorm NB3221, Coire Gorm NC3628

gowan 

anglicised form of gobha

Tirrygowan NJ6711, Balnagowan NJ5100, Ardgowan NS2073

gower 

anglicised form of gobhar

Auchengower NS2184, Bargower NS4732

grànda adj

ugly, nasty, grim

Camas Grànda NG7270, Allt Grànda NH1170

grian nfgrèine ggrianan pl

sun

Allt na Grèine NH4295, Rubha na Grèine NB5633

grianan nmgrianain g

sunny hillock

Rubha Grianain NR7486, Eilean Grianain NR8142

gualann nfgualainn, guailne gguailnean, guaillean pl

shoulder of a hill, elbow, corner

Gualann nan Càrn NR7169, A' Ghualann NC8367

guib

see gob

Loch a' Ghuib Àird NC1823

gun pr

without

Loch gun Tòin NH5350, Aodann gun Nighe NM4335

iar adj

west, westerly

Tràigh Iar NG0396, Ceann Iar NF6162

iasgairnm  iasgair g iasgairean pl

fisherman

An t-Iasgair NG3574, Loch an Iasgair NF7430

ìghne

see nighean

imir nmimire gimirean pl

rig, ridge of land

Imir Crom NN2433, Imir Fada NC2922

imrich nfimriche gimrichean pl

removal, flitting

Guala na h-Imrich NF7969, Bealach na h-Imrich NC3650

inbhir nminbhirean pl

place of meeting of rivers, confluence

An t-Inbhir NN4048, Meall Inbhir NN0736

inch 

anglicised form of innis

Inchmore NH3940, Inchnacaorach NH8449

inghinn 

see nighean

Fuaran na h-Inghinn NN7454, Loch na h-Inghinn NB3524

innean nminnein ginneanan pl

anvil, anvil-shaped hill

An t-Innean Mòr NN1856, Achlais an Innein NM9164

innis nfìnnse gìnnsean, ìnnseachan pl

island, meadow, resting place for cattle

Innisdaimh NN4635, Cnoc na h-Ìnnse NC9847

inver 

anglicised form of inbhir

Inverfyne NN1912, Inverlochy NJ1324

ìobairt nfìobairte gìobairtean pl

offering, church-land, sacrifice

Clach na h-Ìobairt NN8765, Tom na h-Ìobairt NN8865

ìochdar nmìochdair gìochdaran pl

lower part

Druim Ìochdair NN5812, Creag Ìochdair NN7328

iola nfiolachan pl

fishing rock, fishing bank, fishing station

Bàrr Iola NR9382, An Iola NN0048

iolair(e) nmfiolaire giolairean pl

eagle

Tom na h-Iolaire NC9221, Creag na h-Iolaire NC7846

iomair nmiomaire giomairean pl

alternative form of imir

Lùib Iomaire Mhòir NN0705, Allt nan Iomairean NM5950

ìosal adj

low

Tom Ìosal NB2629, Cnoc Dubh Ìosal NB3223

iubhar nmiubhair giubharan pl

yew

Leac an Iubhair NM9971, Meall an Iubhair NS2094

ken, kin 

anglicised form of ceann

Kenknock NN4636

kil 

anglicised form of cill

Kilmany NO3821, Kilbride NR8362

kil 

anglicised form of coille

kil 

anglicised form of ceann

Kilmux NO3604

killie 

anglicised form of coille

Killiecrankie NN9162

kin 

anglicised form of ceann

Kincraig NH8205, Kinlochmoidart NM7172

knab 

anglicised form of cnap

The Knab HU4840, Horse of the Knab HU4840

knock 

anglicised form of cnoc

Knock Dhu NH8380, Knock Fell NX2555

kyles 

anglicised form of caolas

Kylesmore NM6674, Claddach-kyles NF7666

labhar adj

loud

Alltan Labhar NG8157, Easan Labhar NM5341

lach nflacha glachan pl

wild duck

Lochan nan Lachan NF8746, Bealach nan Lachan NN6210

ladharnm ladhair, ladhrag ladhran pl

paw, hoof

Ladhar Bheinn NG8203

lag nmflaig, luig glagan pl

hollow, pit, cave

Lag a' Bhàinne NM9706, Lag a' Choire NM4664

laimrig, làimhrig nflaimrige glaimrigean pl

natural landing-place, quay, harbour

Rubha Làimhrige NR5366, Sròn Làimhrige NM4787

lainn

seelann

làir, làire nflàiridh, làire(adh), làrach glàiridhean pl

mare

Coire na Làire NM9066, Lag na Làire NG2394

làirig nflàirigean pl

moor, hill, sloping hill, pass

Lochan Làirig NN8041, Lochan na Làirige NN5939

lann nflainn glannan pl

enclosure, land

Lann Bhreac NN6359, Lann Mhòr NN5292

laogh nmlaoigh glaoigh, laoghan pl

calf

Beul an Laoigh NG9936, Càrn Allt Laoigh NH9231

làrach nflàraich glàraichean pl

site of a building, ruin

Glac na Làraiche NN0166, Lag na Làraich NB3143

làrach

see làir

Loch na Làrach NG7243

leaba, leabaidh nfleapa gleapannan pl

bed, lair, channel of a river

Leabaidh Fhèidh NC3002, Leabaidh a' Mhinisteir NB4929

leac nflic, lice gleacan pl

ledge of a rock, flat stone, slab

Leac a' Bhàinne NM9078, Coire na Lice NN8357

leacach nfleacaich gleacaichean pl

bare summit, stony side of a hill

Leacach NC3165, Leacach Bhreac NR9025

leacach adj

stony

Lochan Leacach NC6857, Coire Leacach NC5352

leamhan nmleamhain gleamhan pl

elm

Loch na Leamhain NB2434, Beinn Leamhain NM9562

lèana nflèanan glèanachan pl

swampy plain, meadow, field of green

Lèana an Fheòir NG0689, Lèana Bhàn NB4956

lèanag nflèanaig glèanagan pl

wet plain or lea

Lèanag Mòr a' Bhàird ND0753

leapa, leapannan

see leaba

learg nfleirg gleargan pl

plain, hillside

Learg an Lochain NN4015, Loch na Leirg NG8890

leathad nmleathaid, leothaid gleathaidean, leòidean pl

side of a hill, slope

Leathad a' Ghlinne NF0899, Leathad an Droma NB2638

leathan(n) adj

broad

Loch Leathann NB3816, Leathan Dhail NN6510

leck 

anglicised form of leac

Auchinleck NS5521, Achleck NM4145

lèig nflèige glèigean pl

marshy or miry pool, shallow stream

Druim na Lèige NB2126, Druim Lèig a' Bhainne NB2339

lèim

see leum

Rubha na Lèim NM8246

leirg

see learg

Loch na Leirg NG8890

lèith, lèithe

see liath

Allt na Doire Lèithe NG8991

leitir nfleitire, leitreach gleitirean, leitrichean pl

slope, side of a hill

Dubh Leitir NC1734, Garbh Leitir NM7000

lèoidean

see leathad

leothaid

see leathad

Fèith an Leothaid NH0358

leth nm

half; with one steep side (as in Leth-Allt ‘burn with one steep side’)

Leth-Sgeir NR7389, Leth-Allt NH2299

letter 

anglicised form of leitir

Duiletter NN1530, Gairletter NS1884

leum nmlèim gleuman pl

leap

Leum an Fhèidh NC0801, Leum Chaimbeulaich NS2094

lianag 

non-standard form of lèanag

Lianag Mhòr NC2106, Lianag na h-Àtha NG7574

liath adjlèith(e) g

grey, blue

Loch Liath NH3319, Allt na Doire Lèithe NG8991

lic, lice 

see leac

Coire na Lice NN8357

lìn

see lìon

linn, linne nflinne glinneachan, linntean pl

pool, pond, lake, mill-dam, channel

Loch na Linne NB3330, Allt na Linne NN0967

lìon nmlìn glìontan pl

flax

Eilean nan Lìon NF9270, Cnoc nan Lìon NB1323

lios nmflise, liosa gliosan pl

enclosure, garden, fortified place

Seann Lios NH5442

lise

see lios

loch nmlocha glochan pl

lake, arm of the sea

Loch a Tuath NB1120, Loch Beag NC8863

lochan nmlochain glochain pl

small loch or lake

Lochan a' Bhàigh NM2563, Lochan Buidhe ND0369

lòin, lòintean

see lòn

Lochan Dubh Cùl an Lòin ND0552

loisgte adj

burnt

Lochan Loisgte NM6264, Mòine Loisgte NR7661

lòn nmlòin glòintean pl

marsh, morass, pool, meadow

Lòn a' Chlèirich NG2650, Bad an Lòin NO1270

long nfluinge glongan pl

ship

Bàgh na Luinge NR4345, Camas Luinge NM8677

losgann nmlosgainn glosgannan pl

frog, toad

Lag na Losgainn NR4272, Loch Losgainn NH6693

luachar nfluachair, luachrach g

place where rushes grow

Lòn Luachrach NG3522, Maol na Luachrach NM6323

lùb nflùib glùban pl

meander, bend

Sgeir Lùb nan Ròn NR6094

lùib nflùibe glùibean pl

alternative form of lùb

Lùib Bhàn NC4547, Lùib Luachrach NN2043

luig

see lag

Port an Luig Mhòir NG5212

luinge

see long

Port Bàta na Luinge NM4141