Flùraichean an Earraich / Spring flowers

Tha sinn daonnan toilichte nuair a nochdas na ciad fhlùraichean den bhliadhna – na gealagan-làir agus na lusan a’ chrom-chinn, agus beag air bheag na dìtheannan beaga earraich air na lòintean, an uairsin na preasan agus na craobhan fo bhlàth. Ged a dh’fhaodas an geamhradh a bhith fada, tha dathan nam flùraichean a’ comharradh gum bi an t-earrach agus an samhradh a’ tighinn.

Seo cruinneachadh beag de dh’ainmean lusan an earraich sa Ghàidhlig – agus mar a tha sa Bheurla, tha feadhainn inntinneach, neònach no dìreach bòidheach nam measg. Agus cuid mhath le ‘cuthag’, an tosgaire an earraich ud, nan ainmean.

We’re always happy when the first flowers of the year appear – the snowdrops and the daffodils, and gradually the little meadow flowers, then the bushes and trees in blossom. Although the winter may be long, the colours of the flowers are a sign that spring and summer are coming.

Here’s a little collection of the Gaelic names for some spring flowers – and as in English, there are some interesting, curious or simply pretty ones among them. And a good few that mention the cuckoo, that ambassador of spring.

 

blackthorn /sloe: sgìtheach/sgeach dubh – the black briar (the white blossom comes on the bare black twig before the leaves)

bluebell: bròg na cuthaige – cuckoo’s shoe, or bogha-muc – pig’s bow

broom: bealaidh or bealach – the bright one

buttercup: buidheag an t-samhraidh – little yellow one of the summer; creeping buttercup: gàircean

lesser celandine: searragaich – the flask-like ones, or bròg na làrach – shoe of the ground

clover (red/white): seamrag-dhearg / -gheal = shamrock

cow parsley: costag-fhaidhain – wild chervil

daffodil : lus a’ chrom-cinn – plant of the bent head

daisy: neòinean – little one of noon, or dìthean caorach – sheep flower

dandelion: beàrnan-Brìde – the little gapped plant of St Brigid (from the leaves, and St Brigid’s day in Spring); dandelion clock: dathan-gobhainn – the smith’s darts

dog-violet: dail-chuach – meadow-goblet

forget-me-not: lus-midhe – louse plant (not as romantic as in English!)

germander speedwell: nuallach – roarer, howler (!), or lus-crè talmhainn – ground clay-plant

grape hyacinth: bogha-mucag –piglet’s bow

greater stitchwort: tùrsach – sorrowful

hawthorn: sgìtheach/sgeach/droigheann-geal – white briar

hyacinth: lus nan coinnlean gorm – plant of the blue candles

lady’s smock: spòg na cuthaige – cuckoo’s claw

marsh-marigold: beàrnan-Bealltainn – gapped one of Beltane (May Day), or lus-Màiri – Mary’s plant, or bròg-an-eich-uisge –kelpie’s shoe

primrose: sòbhrach/sòbhrag, soisgean

red campion: lus an ròis – rose herb, so called as it was used to ease ‘the rose’, a name for St Antony’s Fire, a severe skin complaint, or còrcach coille – forest hemp, or cìrean-coilich – cock’s comb

ragged robin: flùr na cuthaige – cuckoo flower, or bròg na feannaig – crow’s shoe, or caorag-lèana – wee sheep of the meadow, or cìrean coilich – cock’s comb (again)

Scots bluebell / harebell: currac-cuthaige – cuckoo’s cowl

snowdrop: gealag-làir – wee white one of the ground

tufted vetch: peasair nan luch – mouse’s pea, or peasair-radain – rat’s pea

whin: conasg, or gunnas (Ross-shire variant)

white dead nettle: deanntag-mharbh – dead nettle, or teanga-mhìn – smooth tongue

 

 

Ainmean Gàidhlig gu ìre mhòr bho Dwelly / Gaelic names mainly from Dwelly

Dealbhan agus eadar-theangaidhean leam fhìn / my own photos and translations of Gaelic names