balbh
Irish
Etymology
From Old Irish balb, from Latin balbus.
Pronunciation
- (Munster) IPA(key): /ˈbˠɑl̪ˠəvˠ/
- (Aran) IPA(key): /ˈbˠɑləvˠ/
- (Connemara) IPA(key): /ˈbˠalˠəvˠ/, /ˈbˠal̪ˠəvˠ/
- (Mayo) IPA(key): /ˈbˠalˠuː/, /ˈbˠal̪ˠuː/
- (Ulster) IPA(key): /ˈbˠɔlˠu/, /ˈbˠɔl̪ˠu/ (as if spelled bolbh)[1]
Adjective
balbh (genitive singular masculine bailbh, genitive singular feminine bailbhe, plural balbha, comparative bailbhe)
- dumb
- inarticulate
- (of sound) dull
Declension
Declension of balbh
| Singular | Plural (m/f) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positive | Masculine | Feminine | (strong noun) | (weak noun) |
| Nominative | balbh | bhalbh | balbha; bhalbha² | |
| Vocative | bhailbh | balbha | ||
| Genitive | bailbhe | balbha | balbh | |
| Dative | balbh; bhalbh¹ | bhalbh; bhailbh (archaic) | balbha; bhalbha² | |
| Comparative | níos bailbhe | |||
| Superlative | is bailbhe | |||
¹ When the preceding noun is lenited and governed by the definite article.
² When the preceding noun ends in a slender consonant.
Derived terms
- balbhán m (“dumb person, mute; stammerer”)
Mutation
| Irish mutation | ||
|---|---|---|
| Radical | Lenition | Eclipsis |
| balbh | bhalbh | mbalbh |
| Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs. | ||
References
- Quiggin, E. C. (1906) A Dialect of Donegal, Cambridge University Press, page 13
Further reading
- Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977), “balbh”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN
- G. Toner, M. Ní Mhaonaigh, S. Arbuthnot, D. Wodtko, M.-L. Theuerkauf, editors (2019), “balb”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
- Sjoestedt, M. L. (1931) Phonétique d’un parler irlandais de Kerry (in French), Paris: Librairie Ernest Leroux, page 42
Scottish Gaelic
Etymology
From Old Irish balb, from Latin balbus.
Adjective
balbh
- mute, dumb (unable to speak)
- silent, still
Related terms
- balbhachd
- balbhadh
- balbhan
- balbh-bhuidhre
- balbh-chluich
- balbh-thinneas
References
- Edward Dwelly (1911), “balbh”, in Faclair Gàidhlig gu Beurla le Dealbhan [The Illustrated Gaelic–English Dictionary], 10th edition, Edinburgh: Birlinn Limited, →ISBN
- G. Toner, M. Ní Mhaonaigh, S. Arbuthnot, D. Wodtko, M.-L. Theuerkauf, editors (2019), “balb”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language