Gaelic

American  

[gey-lik, gol-ik] / ˈgeɪ lɪk, ˈgɒl ɪk /

noun

1. a Celtic language that includes the speech of ancient Ireland and the dialects that have developed from it, especially those usually known as Irish, Manx, and Scottish Gaelic: Gaelic constitutes the Goidelic subbranch of Celtic.

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adjective

1. of or in Gaelic.

2. of or relating to the Gaels or their language.

Gaelic British  

/ ˈɡæl-, ˈɡeɪlɪk /

noun

1. any of the closely related languages of the Celts in Ireland, Scotland, or (formerly) the Isle of Man Compare Goidelic

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adjective

1. of, denoting, or relating to the Celtic people of Ireland, Scotland, or the Isle of Man or their language or customs

Other Word Forms

• anti-Gaelic adjective
• non-Gaelic adjective
• pro-Gaelic adjective

Etymology

Origin of Gaelic

First recorded in 1590–1600; Gael + -ic (representing Scots Gaelic Gaidhlig, derivative of Gaidheal Gael )

Compare meaning

How does gaelic compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• Gaelic vs. Celtic

Example Sentences

Gaelic and Scots have now been recognised as official languages as part of a range of new measures coming into force on St Andrew's Day.

From BBC

"It's like going to play the World Cup in England," says Phanouch, who often watches Irish Gaelic football matches on YouTube.

From BBC

The actor Paul Mescal spoke Gaelic on the BAFTAs red carpet in an interview that resonated in Ireland.

From New York Times

The interviewer opened the conversation in Irish, also known as Gaelic, and the actor nervously followed suit.

From New York Times

And this week, parents in Oban managed to save almost 2,000 Gaelic books from a skip where they had been dumped.

From BBC