balbh

Irish

Etymology

From Old Irish balb, from Latin balbus.[1]

Pronunciation

  • (Munster) IPA(key): /ˈbˠɑl̪ˠəvˠ/[2]
  • (Aran) IPA(key): /ˈbˠɑləvˠ/
  • (Connemara) IPA(key): /ˈbˠalˠəvˠ/, /ˈbˠal̪ˠəvˠ/
  • (Mayo) IPA(key): /ˈbˠalˠuː/, /ˈbˠal̪ˠuː/
  • (Ulster) IPA(key): /ˈbˠɔlˠuː/, /ˈbˠɔl̪ˠuː/ (as if spelled bolbh)[3]

Adjective

balbh (genitive singular masculine bailbh, genitive singular feminine bailbhe, plural balbha, comparative bailbhe)

  1. mute, dumb
  2. inarticulate
  3. dull (of sound)

Declension

Declension of balbh
Positive singular plural
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

Mutated forms of balbh
radical lenition eclipsis
balbh bhalbh mbalbh

Note: Certain mutated forms of some words can never occur in standard Modern Irish.
All possible mutated forms are displayed for convenience.

References

  1. ^ Gregory Toner, Sharon Arbuthnot, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, Marie-Luise Theuerkauf, Dagmar Wodtko, editors (2019), “balb”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
  2. ^ Sjoestedt, M. L. (1931) Phonétique d’un parler irlandais de Kerry [Phonetics of an Irish Dialect of Kerry] (in French), Paris: Librairie Ernest Leroux, § 78, page 42
  3. ^ Quiggin, E. C. (1906) A Dialect of Donegal, Cambridge University Press, § 25, page 13

Further reading

  • Dinneen, Patrick S. (1927) “balḃ”, in Foclóir Gaeḋilge agus Béarla, 2nd edition, Dublin: Irish Texts Society, page 74; reprinted with additions 1996, →ISBN
  • Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977) “balbh”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN

Scottish Gaelic

Etymology

From Old Irish balb, from Latin balbus.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈpal̪ˠav/

Adjective

balbh

  1. mute, dumb (unable to speak)
  2. silent, still
  • balbh-bhuidhre
  • balbh-chluich
  • balbh-thinneas
  • balbhachd
  • balbhadh
  • balbhan

References

  • Edward Dwelly (1911) “balbh”, in Faclair Gàidhlig gu Beurla le Dealbhan [The Illustrated Gaelic–English Dictionary]‎[1], 10th edition, Edinburgh: Birlinn Limited, →ISBN
  • Gregory Toner, Sharon Arbuthnot, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, Marie-Luise Theuerkauf, Dagmar Wodtko, editors (2019), “balb”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language