Glossary of common words in Irish placenames
This glossary offers an overview of words commonly found in Irish placenames, based on automated text searches.
Note Although editorial checks have been carried out and are still being carried out on the results, they may not all be correct. As well as that, not all placenames have been indexed as yet, e.g. (i) the placenames in Northern Ireland that don't yet have established Irish language forms and (ii) placenames that are not in the database at all, e.g. certain minor names.
baile
English townland, town, homestead
Examples Baile Átha Cliath, An Leathbhaile Mór
9550 places
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mór
English great, big
Examples Lios Mór, An Aird Mhóir, Baile an Ghaill Mhóir, Cé na Cille Móire
2653 places
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loch
English lake; inlet
Examples Loch Garman, Loch nEathach, Camloch, Tuaim Fhionnlocha
2096 places
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beag, big
English small
Examples An Baile Beag, Na Cealla Beaga, An Ghráinsigh Bhig
1651 places
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cluain, cluaine
English meadow, pasture
Examples Cluain Oscair, Cluaine, Domhnach Cluana
1621 places
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coill, coillidh, coillte, coille
English wood
Examples Coill an Ghleanna, Coillte, Coillidh Léith, Creamhchoill
1504 places
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carraig
English rock
Examples Carraig Fhearghais, Séipéal na Carraige, An Dúcharraig
1341 places
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ráth, ráith
English ring-fort
Examples Ráth Naoi, An Ráith Bhán, Ard an Rátha, Cnoc na Rátha
1270 places
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dún, dúnaibh
English fort
Examples An Dún, Dún na nGall, Maigh an Dúin, Ceann an Dúna, Na Dúnaibh
1162 places
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gleann
English glen
Examples Gleann Arma, Glinn Chatha, Loch Glinne, Baile an Ghleanna
1020 places
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gort, gart
English field
Examples Gort an Rois, An tArdghort, Baile an Ghoirt, Fiogart
939 places
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bán
English white; lea-ground, grassy
Examples An Bán Fionn, Bántír, Na Bánta Buí, Glasbhánta, An Bhinn Bhán
783 places
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corr
English round hill, pointed hill, hollow; pointed, conspicuous, odd
Examples Corr an Aoire, An Corrbhaile, Bóthar na gCorr
775 places
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inis, inse
English island; river meadow
Examples Inis Mac Neasáin, Deilginis, Inse Geimhleach, An Leithinse
661 places
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teach, steach, stigh, tigh
English house
Examples Teach Naithí, Tigh Damhnata, Áit an Tí Móir, Stigh Colláin, Steach Caillí
656 places
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móin, mónaidh
English bogland
Examples Móin an Phíobaire, Gort ar Mónaidh, Baile na Móna
637 places
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cloch, cloich
English stone, stone building
Examples Cloch Fhrainc, Cloich na Coillte, Áth na Cloiche, Na Clocha Dubha
569 places
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béal
English opening, approach, mouth
Examples Béal Feirste, Béal an Átha, Cuan Bhéil Inse
559 places
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tulach, tulaigh
English hillock
Examples Tulach Mhór, Aill na Tulach, Leacht Tulaí, Seantulach, Tulaigh Loiste
535 places
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ros
English (wooded) height; wood; promontory
Examples Ros Comáin, Poll an Rosa, Cill Rois, Na Rosa
520 places
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poll
English hole, pool, (tidal-)stream?
Examples Poll an Chapaill, Baile an Phoill, Ros Poill, Gort na bPoll
514 places
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currach
English marsh
Examples Currach Bheatha, Lios Curraigh, Na Curracha, Barr na gCurraithe
477 places
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sliabh
English mountain, moor
Examples Sliabh gCuillinn, Gort an tSléibhe, Cill Shléibhe
419 places
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ceann, cionn
English head, headland
Examples An Ceann Caol, Loch Ceann, Na Seacht gCeanna, An Cionn Bán
407 places
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garraí
English garden, court
Examples Garraí an Uisce, Baile an Gharraí, An Seangharraí
364 places
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liath, léith
English grey, grey place, grey horse
Examples An Liath, Lios Liath, Na Leadhba Liatha, Coillidh Léith, Léim na Léithe
360 places
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eanach
English marsh
Examples Eanach na Madadh, Ráth Eanaigh, Na hEanaigh, Muiceanach,
358 places
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muileann
English mill
Examples Muileann an Bhata, Cluain Lios Muilinn, Léad an Mhuilinn
348 places
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rinn
English point, headland
Examples An Rinn, Port Reanna, Abhainn na Rinne, Rann na Feirste
313 places
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buaile, buailidh
English cattle-fold, summer-pasture
Examples Buaile na Scornaí, Cnoc na Buaile, An Ardbhuailidh
304 places
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bun
English (river-)mouth, bottom(-land)
Examples Bun Raite, An Bun Beag, Bun Caoith, Mín Bhun Abhann
300 places
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leac
English flat stone or rock, flagstone
Examples An Leac Dhearg, An Chorrleac, Cruach Leac, Cúil Lice, Ré na Lice, An Leic Ghlais, Bun Leice
300 places
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aill, faill
English cliff
Examples An Aill Mhór, Dún Aille, Dumha Cinn Aille, An Fhaill Dearg, Faill an Fhraoigh, Cnoc na Faille, Mucalta
270 places
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maol
English bare, flat-topped; derelict; bare, flat-topped hillock
Examples Maol Domhnaigh, Maolráth, An Cnoc Maol, Na Foraí Maola,
236 places
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gráinseach, gráinsigh
English grange, monastic farm
Examples Gráinseach na Gaoithe, Cnoc na Gráinsí, An Ghráinsigh
225 places
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cuas
English hollow; cove, creek
Examples Cluain Cuas, Doire Chuais, Cuas an Bhaid, Cuas Lís Móiníl
219 places
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caol
English narrow; a narrow; marshy stream
Examples An Caol, An Drom Caol, Loch na dTrí gCaol,
216 places
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sceach, sceich
English hawthorn, thorn-bush
Examples An Sceach Chrom, Sceich an Iarainn, An Chorrsceach
214 places
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leaca, leacain, leacan
English hillside
Examples An Leaca Bhuí, Leacain an Éadain, Ucht Leacan
211 places
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coimín
English commonage, common land; little hollow, glen
Examples An Coimín, Buaile an Choimín, Loch Choimín Piast
189 places
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bearna, bearn, bearnaidh
English gap
Examples Bearna, Lios Dúin Bhearna, An Bhearnaidh, Bearn Mhín
175 places
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caiseal
English stone ring-fort
Examples Caiseal, Caiseal na gCorr, Gleann Chaisil, Cnoc na gCaiseal
172 places
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fionn, finne
English white
Examples Droim Fionn, Fionnghlas, Fionntrá, Na Leaca Fionna, Inis Bó Finne
171 places
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gráig
English hamlet; cattle-steading?
Examples Gráig na Manach, Cnoc na Gráige, An Chorrghráig
171 places
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tóin, tón
English bottom(-land)
Examples Tóin re Gaoith, Baile na Tóna, Leatón, Leatóin
166 places
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creag, craig, creig, screig
English rock, crag
Examples An Chreag, Creig an Bháda, Craig an Chnoic, An Screig
165 places
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com
English hollow, coomb
Examples Com an Áir, Gleann an Choim, Pointe an Choma Dhóite
161 places
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leitir, leitreach
English hillside
Examples Leitir Mhic an Bhaird, Dúleitir, Leitreach Ard
159 places
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machaire
English plain
Examples Machaire Rátha, Na Machaireacha, Oileáin an Mhachaire
158 places
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clais
English trench, ravine
Examples Clais an Ghainimh, An Chlais Rua, Port na Claise
153 places
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cruach, cruachán
English stack, peak
Examples An Chruach Ghorm, Na Cruacha Dubha, Cruach Phádraig, Lisín na gCruach, Cruachán, Lios Cruacháin
149 places
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clochán
English stepping-stones, causeway; old stone structure
Examples Clochán an Aifir, An Clochán Liath, Corr Chlocháin
147 places
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tuar
English paddock, (cultivated) field, pasture
Examples Tuar Mhic Éadaigh, Béal Átha an Tuair,
137 places
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clochar, cloichear
English stony place
Examples An Clochar Riabhach, Cloichear Bhriain
131 places
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leacht, sleacht
English grave-mound, monument
Examples Leacht na mBard, Leachta, Corr Leacht, Sleacht Mhánasa
129 places
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tuairín
English little paddock, little (cultivated) field, little pasture
Examples Tuairín na nÉan, Loch an Tuairín
124 places
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clár
English plank bridge; plain
Examples An Clár, Cuar an Chláir, Baile Chláir, Maigh gCláir
114 places
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lisín
English small ring-fort
Examples Lisín an Lín, Lisín Mánais, Caisleán an Lisín, An Corrlisín
111 places
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gall
English foreigner; standing stone
Examples Fine Gall, Baile na nGall, Baile an Ghaill, Gallmhaigh,
107 places
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faiche
English green (ainmfhocal/noun)
Examples An Fhaiche Liath, Faiche Fionn, Ceann na Faiche, Ráth Faiche
106 places
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lia, liag
English stone, pillar-stone
Examples Sliabh Liag, Áth Liag, Béal Átha Liag, Damhliag
106 places
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coll, call
English hazel
Examples Ard an Choill, Collchoill, An Call Mór, Scallchoill
103 places
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creagán, screagán
English rocky place
Examples Creagán Eoghain, Cill Chreagáin, Na Creagáin, An Screagán
100 places
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tor, toraigh
English tall rock, steep rocky height; bush, clump
Examples Tor Beithigh, An Tor Mór, Tor Coill, Toraigh
89 places
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lorgain, lorga
English long low ridge; strip of land
Examples An Lorgain, An Lorga, Baile na Lorgan
87 places
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sionnach, sionnaigh, seannach
English fox
Examples Cluain Sionnach, Droim na Sionnach, Loch Sionnaigh, Éadan an tSionnaigh, Ceapach na Seannach, Droim Seannaigh
85 places
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allt, ailt, alt
English steep-sided glen, height, cliff
Examples An tAllt Beag, Allt Bhéalada, Ailt an Chorráin, Alt na Meacan
84 places
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cé, céibh
English quay
Examples Cé Bhréanainn, Cé na Coise, An Chéibh Nua, Cloch na Céibhe
84 places
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uaimh, óin, ón
English cave, souterrain
Examples An Uaimh, An Uamhain, Corr na hUamha, Muileann na hUamhan, Cnoc na hÓn
78 places
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cos, cois
English foot; beside
Examples Cos an Mhuine, An Chois, Cois Bhríde, Ceapach na Coise, Doire na gCos, Cosa Fuara
75 places
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gearr, giorra
English short
Examples An Caisleán Gearr, Gearrchluain, Cnoc na hÚrach Giorra
74 places
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uinse, fuinseog, fuinsinn
English ash-tree
Examples An Uinse, Lios na hUinseann, Uinsinn Bhuí, Fuinsinn Bheag, Fuinseog
71 places
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móta
English moat, earthen embankment
Examples An Móta, Móta Bodhar, Móta Uí Fhearaíl, Baile an Mhóta
69 places
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dumha
English (grave-)mound, sand-bank
Examples Dumha Liag, An Dumhach Chorrach, Dumhaigh Bhig
68 places
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trian, treana, triainín
English third
Examples An Trian Meánach, An Trian Láir, Trian na Coilleadh, Coillín an Triain, Barr anTreana, Na Triainíní
67 places
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eaglais
English church
Examples An Eaglais, An Eaglais Nua, Eaglais Chormaic, Cill Eaglaise
65 places
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luachair
English rushes, rushy place
Examples Gréach na Luachra, Loch Luachra, Sliabh Luachra, Mucluachra
64 places
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both, boith
English hut, cell
Examples Both Mhíde, Boith Shalach, Achadh Boithe Néill, Botha Buí
59 places
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craobh
English tree, branch
Examples An Chraoibh Mhór, Craobh Eilpe, Coill na Craoibhe, Tulaigh Chraoibhe, Doire na gCraobh, Craobhchruinn
59 places
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daingean
English fortress
Examples An Daingean, Daingean Uí Chúis, An Seandaingean, Cill Daingin, Béal an Daingin, An Daighean, Baile an Daighin
58 places
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leaba, leapa
English grave, megalithic tomb, bed
Examples Leaba Dhiarmada agus G(h)ráinne, Leaba Molaga, Leaba Shíoda, Leaba na Saidhe, Gleann na Leapa
57 places
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mullán
English hillock; green field
Examples Mullán Draighneach, Mullán na nGabhar, Mullán Tí Uí Bhaoill, Na Mulláin, Glaise an Mhulláin
57 places
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aiteann, aitinn, aitinne
English furze, gorse
Examples Ard Aitinn, Inse an Aitinn, Cnoc na hAitinne, Mullán Aitinne
56 places
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gamhain
English calf
Examples Loch Gamhna, Meall an Ghamhna, Gort na nGamhna, Cluain na nGamhan
56 places
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feadán
English watercourse, stream
Examples An Feadán, Na Feadáin, Buaile an Fheadáin
55 places
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cliath
English hurdle, wattle
Examples Baile Átha Cliath, Cill Chléithe, Achadh na Cléithe, Tír na gCliath, An Chliath Bhuí, Cléithchoill
52 places
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feart, fearta
English (grave-)mound
Examples Cluain Fearta, Fearta, Dún Feart, Feartach, An Feartán
51 places
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léana
English water-meadow
Examples An Léana Báite, Léana Dúna, Ard Léana, Baile na Léana, Poll an Léana
51 places
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imleach
English marginal-land, border-land
Examples Imleach, Cill Imleach, Cill Imligh
49 places
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eiscir
English ridge
Examples An Eiscir Rua, Áth Eascrach, Cill Eiscreach, Baile na hEiscreach, Barr na hEiscire, Maoileiscir
47 places
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comar
English confluence; meeting-place
Examples An Comar, Cluain Comair, Maigh Chomair, Caisleán an Chomair
45 places
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gréach
English rough pasture-land?
Examples Gréach na gCon, An Fhionnghréach, An Ghréach Ghlas
40 places
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sráid
English street, village
Examples An tSráid, Sráid na Cathrach, Droim na Sráide, An tSeantsráid, An Sráidín
38 places
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meall, millín
English knoll
Examples An Meall Ramhar, Na Mealla Breaca, Millín na hEorna
25 places
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