Ora

What is the Irish word for cherry tree?

Published in Irish Language 1 min read

The Irish word for cherry tree is crann silíní.

This term is composed of two main parts:

  • Crann: The Irish word for "tree."
  • Silíní: Meaning "of a cherry" or "cherry's," derived from silín, the Irish word for "cherry" (the fruit).

Understanding Goidelic Terms for Trees

It's important to distinguish between Irish (Gaeilge) and Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig), as they are distinct but related Goidelic languages. While the question specifically asks for the Irish term, understanding its Scottish Gaelic counterpart provides valuable context and showcases the linguistic differences.

The table below illustrates the term for "cherry tree" in both languages:

Language English Term Goidelic Equivalent
Irish (Gaeilge) Cherry Tree Crann silíní
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) Cherry Tree Craobh-shiris

In Scottish Gaelic, the word for "tree" is typically craobh, and "cherry" (the fruit) is siris. Therefore, "cherry tree" translates to craobh-shiris. Both languages form the compound word by combining their respective terms for "tree" and "cherry," demonstrating a similar linguistic structure for tree names.