Grimoire Vocabulary — Place-name Elements

Rosmerta basking with a book from her library.

44 entries in this theme. Use the search box below to find a specific word, or scroll the table.

IrishOghamHow to say itEnglishSourceNote
achadh᚛ᚐᚉᚆᚐᚇᚆ᚜AKH-uhfieldWiktionarygaelspellLogainmField — usually unenclosed. Achadh is in ‘agh-‘ place names: Aghadoe (Achadh Dá Éo — field of two yews).
acomhal᚛ᚐᚉᚑᚋᚆᚐᚂ᚜AH-koh-uhljunctionWiktionarygaelspellLogainm
baile fearainn᚛ᚁᚐᚔᚂᚓ ᚃᚓᚐᚏᚐᚔᚅᚅ᚜BAH-uh-luh FA-ruh-uhnntownlandLogainm
bara᚛ᚁᚐᚏᚐ᚜BAH-ruhbarrowgaelspellLogainm
barr᚛ᚁᚐᚏᚏ᚜barsummitgaelspellLogainmTop, summit. Barr Mhuc (Barmuck — top of the pig).
barúntacht᚛ᚁᚐᚏᚒᚅᚈᚐᚉᚆᚈ᚜BAH-roo-ntuhkhtbaronyWiktionarygaelspellLogainm
bealach᚛ᚁᚓᚐᚂᚐᚉᚆ᚜BAL-ukhpassWiktionaryTatoebagaelspellLogainmMountain pass, way. Bealach Bó Finne (Way of the White Cow).
bearna᚛ᚁᚓᚐᚏᚅᚐ᚜BA-rnuhgapWiktionarygaelspellLogainm
Bog᚛ᚁᚑᚌ᚜bugsoftWiktionarygaelspellLogainmSoft (in place names). Gives English ‘bog’ (which Irish bog literally is — soft ground).
carn᚛ᚉᚐᚏᚅ᚜KAHRNcairnWiktionarygaelspellLogainm
ceann tíre᚛ᚉᚓᚐᚅᚅ ᚈᚔᚏᚓ᚜KANN TEE-ruhpromontoryWiktionaryLogainm
ceathrú᚛ᚉᚓᚐᚈᚆᚏᚒ᚜KAH-rooquartergaelspellLogainmQuarter — a quarter of a townland (about 120 acres traditionally). Place names: Ceathrú Mhic Coilín (Carrowmacolin).
cill᚛ᚉᚔᚂᚂ᚜kilchurchWiktionarygaelspellLogainmChurch (medieval). The single most common Irish place-name element. Marks early Christian foundations: Cill Dara (Kildare), Cill Airne (Killarney), Cill Mocheallóg (Kilmallock).
cillín᚛ᚉᚔᚂᚂᚔᚅ᚜kih-LLEENcellWiktionarygaelspellLogainm
cnocán᚛ᚉᚅᚑᚉᚐᚅ᚜KNUH-kawnmoundWiktionarygaelspellLogainm
coscán᚛ᚉᚑᚄᚉᚐᚅ᚜KUH-skawnbrakegaelspellLogainm
crosbhóthar᚛ᚉᚏᚑᚄᚁᚆᚑᚈᚆᚐᚏ᚜KRUH-swoh-huhrcrossroadsWiktionarygaelspellLogainm
cúige᚛ᚉᚒᚔᚌᚓ᚜KOO-uh-guhprovinceWiktionarygaelspellLogainm
deoise᚛ᚇᚓᚑᚔᚄᚓ᚜DOH-uh-shuhdioceseWiktionarygaelspellLogainm
diallait᚛ᚇᚔᚐᚂᚂᚐᚔᚈ᚜DEE-UH-lluh-uhtsaddleWiktionarygaelspellLogainm
doire᚛ᚇᚑᚔᚏᚓ᚜DUR-uhoak groveWiktionarygaelspellLogainmOak grove. Doire (Derry), Doire Cholm Cille (Derry city, full form). Many Irish place names with ‘derry-‘ began as sacred groves.
drom᚛ᚇᚏᚑᚋ᚜drumridgegaelspellLogainmRidge. Drom (Drum), Droichead Átha (Drogheda — bridge of the ford).
díseart᚛ᚇᚔᚄᚓᚐᚏᚈ᚜DEE-sharthermitageWiktionarygaelspellLogainm
feá᚛ᚃᚓᚐ᚜FAWbeechwoodgaelspellLogainm
gallán᚛ᚌᚐᚂᚂᚐᚅ᚜GAH-llawnstanding stoneWiktionarygaelspellLogainm
lios᚛ᚂᚔᚑᚄ᚜lissringfortWiktionarygaelspellLogainmRingfort — smaller / lower-status than ráth. Place names: Lios Mór (Lismore — great ringfort).
machaire᚛ᚋᚐᚉᚆᚐᚔᚏᚓ᚜MAH-khuh-ruhplainWiktionarygaelspellLogainmPlain, level land. Machaire Rátha (Magherafelt). Distinct from mag (the older word for plain).
mag᚛ᚋᚐᚌ᚜magplainWiktionarygaelspellLogainmPlain (older form). Mag Tuired (Moytura), Mag Mell (Plain of Joy).
mothar᚛ᚋᚑᚈᚆᚐᚏ᚜MUH-huhrthicketWiktionarygaelspellLogainm
muileann᚛ᚋᚒᚔᚂᚓᚐᚅᚅ᚜MWIL-unmillWiktionarygaelspellLogainmMill. Muileann gCearr (Mullingar — mill of the carr/turn).
móin᚛ᚋᚑᚔᚅ᚜mohnbogWiktionarygaelspellLogainmBog, peat. Already covered. Place names: An Mhóin (the Bog).
odhar᚛ᚑᚇᚆᚐᚏ᚜UH-ghuhrdunWiktionarygaelspellLogainm
paróiste᚛ᚚᚐᚏᚑᚔᚄᚈᚓ᚜PAH-roh-uh-shtuhparishWiktionarygaelspellLogainm
pas᚛ᚚᚐᚄ᚜PAHSpassWiktionaryTatoebagaelspellLogainm
port᚛ᚚᚑᚏᚈ᚜purtlanding placeWiktionarygaelspellLogainmPort, landing place. Port Láirge (Waterford).
rinn᚛ᚏᚔᚅᚅ᚜rinheadlandgaelspellLogainmPoint, headland. Rinn na bhFaoileán (Point of the seagulls).
ros᚛ᚏᚑᚄ᚜rusgrovegaelspellLogainmWood, grove. Place names: Ros Comáin (Roscommon).
roschoill᚛ᚏᚑᚄᚉᚆᚑᚔᚂᚂ᚜RUH-skhihllcopsegaelspellLogainm
rosán᚛ᚏᚑᚄᚐᚅ᚜RUH-sawnshrubberygaelspellLogainm
snáithe᚛ᚄᚅᚐᚔᚈᚆᚓ᚜SNAW-uh-huhstrandgaelspellLogainm
tobar beannaithe᚛ᚈᚑᚁᚐᚏ ᚁᚓᚐᚅᚅᚐᚔᚈᚆᚓ᚜TUH-buhr BA-nnuh-uh-huhholy wellLogainm
tuaim᚛ᚈᚒᚐᚔᚋ᚜TOO-UH-uhmtumulusgaelspellLogainm
tuar᚛ᚈᚒᚐᚏ᚜TOO-urdrying placegaelspellLogainmA field where things dried — turf, fish, washing. Place names: An Tuar (the Tuar).
áth᚛ᚐᚈᚆ᚜AWHfordWiktionarygaelspellLogainm

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