Seeing Green – Colours in Irish

Ireland is often associated with the colour green, from its rolling hills to its national identity as the Emerald Isle. But the Irish language has a rich vocabulary for colours that extends far beyond this verdant landscape, reflecting the deep cultural connections to its hues.

For beginners learning Irish, mastering colours is not only practical but also a doorway into the poetic and descriptive power of the language.

Colours in Irish – Essential Vocabulary and Phrases

Primary Colours – Starting with the Basics

Here are the most common colours in Irish:

Glas (pronounced: gloss) – Green
Dearg (pronounced: jar-ug) – Red
Gorm (pronounced: gur-um) – Blue

Interestingly, the word glas often refers to natural or earthy greens, such as the green of plants or moss. For artificial greens, the term uaine (pronounced: oo-in-yuh) is used, offering a nuanced differentiation not found in many languages.

Example Sentences:

Tá an féar glas. (pronounced: taw un fay-er gloss) – “The grass is green.”
Tá an spéir gorm. (pronounced: taw un spay-er gur-um) – “The sky is blue.”

Expanding Your Palette – Other Common Colours

As you dive deeper, these additional colours will add richness to your vocabulary:

Bán (pronounced: bawn) – White
Dubh (pronounced: duv) – Black
Buí (pronounced: bwee) – Yellow
Corcra (pronounced: kor-kra) – Purple

Example Sentences:

Tá an sneachta bán. (pronounced: taw un shnokh-tuh bawn) – “The snow is white.”
Tá an solas buí. (pronounced: taw un suh-luhs bwee) – “The light is yellow.”

Describing Shades and Tones

Irish allows for nuanced descriptions of shades by using words like éadrom (light) and dorcha (dark):

Glas dorcha (pronounced: gloss DUR-kha) – Dark green
Buí éadrom (pronounced: bwee AY-drum) – Light yellow

You can also express intensity with an- (very):

An-ghorm (pronounced: on-GUR-um) – Very blue

Cultural Connections to Colours

Colours in Irish often have cultural or symbolic significance. For example, dearg can signify not just red but also danger or intensity, appearing in phrases like “ar deargbhuile” (pronounced: ar dar-ug-will-eh), meaning “in a furious rage,” where dearg intensifies the emotion.

Idiomatic Expressions with Colours

Irish idioms frequently incorporate colours to convey deeper meanings:

Tá sé bánaithe. (pronounced: taw shay bawn-uh-heh) – “He has gone pale.” Literally, “He is whitened.”
Tá an saol dubh agus bán. (pronounced: taw un sail duv agus bawn) – “Life is black and white.” This phrase reflects simplicity or stark contrast.

Learning these idioms not only enriches your vocabulary but also helps you understand how colours are woven into Irish thought and expression.

Colours in Ancient Irish Texts

In early Irish literature, colour often serves as a symbolic marker, adding depth to descriptions and characters. A striking example is the use of colours in Táin Bó Cúailnge (The Cattle Raid of Cooley), where Cú Chulainn’s appearance is vividly detailed during his ríastrad (battle frenzy).

The text describes his hair as a combination of three colours: “buí ar barr, donn ina lár, agus dubh ar bun” (“yellow at the top, brown in the middle, and black at the base”). This detailed imagery reflects not only his otherworldly nature but also the Irish fascination with using colour to create vivid, layered descriptions.

Moreover, the chariots in the Táin are often described in brilliant hues. For example, the text refers to a chariot as “gorm agus óir” (blue and gold), emphasizing its regal and supernatural quality. Such descriptions highlight the cultural value placed on colour as a means of storytelling, imbuing objects and characters with symbolic resonance.

Colours in ancient Irish literature were not merely decorative—they carried weight, reflecting status, mood, or even divine favor. This rich tradition underscores the deep connections between language, nature, and narrative in early Irish culture.

Conclusion

Learning to describe colours in Irish opens up new ways of seeing and expressing the world. From the natural greens of glas to the vibrant idioms tied to dearg and dubh, colours are more than just vocabulary—they’re cultural signifiers that connect language to landscape and tradition.

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Disclaimer: This post was written with the support of an AI assistant.

Daniel Kirkpatrick