dubh

Irish

Alternative forms

dú- (combining form)

Etymology

From Old Irish dub, from Proto-Celtic *dubus (“black”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰewbʰ- (“black”). Cognates include English deaf.

Pronunciation

(Munster) IPA^(key): /d̪ˠʊvˠ/
(Aran) IPA^(key): /d̪ˠʊ/, /d̪ˠɞ/
(Connemara) IPA^(key): /d̪ˠʊ(vˠ)/
(Mayo) IPA^(key): /d̪ˠʊw/, (rare) /d̪ˠʊfˠ/
(Ulster) IPA^(key): /d̪ˠʊw/, /d̪ˠʊh/

Adjective

dubh (genitive singular masculine duibh, genitive singular feminine duibhe, plural dubha, comparative duibhe or dúcha)

Declension

Declension of dubh

Positive	Masculine	Feminine	(strong noun)	(weak noun)
	Singular		Plural (m/f)
Nominative	dubh	dhubh	dubha; dhubha²
Vocative	dhuibh	dhubh	dubha
Genitive	dhuibh	duibhe	dubha	dubh
Dative	dubh; dhubh¹	dhubh; dhuibh (archaic)	dubha; dhubha²
Comparative	níos duibhe
Superlative	is duibhe

¹ When the preceding noun is lenited and governed by the definite article.
² When the preceding noun ends in a slender consonant.

Alternative comparative form: dúcha (Cois Fharraige)

Derived terms

abhac dubh (“black dwarf”)
baintreach dhubh (“black widow”)
béar dubh (“black bear”)
Brandubh
ceanndubh (“black-headed”, adjective)
clár dubh (“blackboard”)
dú- (“black, dark”)
dubh an charbóin (“carbon black”)
dubh carbóin (“carbon black”)
dubhán
Dubhdáleithe
Dubhdarach
Dubhghall
Dubhghus
Dubhlachán
dúch (“ink”)
dúchan
dúghorm (“dark blue, navy blue”, adjective)
geabhróg dhubh (“black tern”)
grús píbdhubh (“black-necked crane”)
leann dubh (“stout, porter”)
lon dubh (“blackbird”)
lúbán dubh (“black pudding”)
margadh dubh (“black market”)
ó dhubh go dubh (“from dawn to dusk”)
píbdhubh (“black-necked”, adjective)
piobar dubh (“black pepper”)
putóg dhubh (“black pudding”)
scamhóg dhubh (“black lung”)
scothdhubh (“blackish”, adjective)
súil dhubh (“black eye, shiner”)
tae dubh (“black tea”)

Mutation

Irish mutation
Radical	Lenition	Eclipsis
dubh	dhubh	ndubh
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

References

^ G. Toner, M. Ní Mhaonaigh, S. Arbuthnot, D. Wodtko, M.-L. Theuerkauf, editors (2019), “dub”, 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 29
^ Finck, F. N. (1899) Die araner mundart (in German), volume II, Marburg: Elwert’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, page 72
^ Quiggin, E. C. (1906) A Dialect of Donegal, Cambridge University Press, page 19

Scottish Gaelic

Etymology

From Old Irish dub (“black”), from Proto-Celtic *dubus (“black”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰewbʰ- (“black”).

Cognates within Celtic include Breton du (“black”), Welsh du (“black”), Cornish duv or du (“black”), Gaulish river name Dubis, now Doubs. Cognates outside Celtic include Ancient Greek τυφλός (tuphlós, “blind”), Gothic 𐌳𐌰𐌿𐌱𐍃 (daubs, “deaf”), German taub (“deaf”), English deaf, English dumb.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /t̪uh/, , ,

Adjective

dubh

black
black-haired
Tha Dòmhnall Dubh an Dòmhnallaich a-nochd a' tòir air Mòraig. ― Black-haired Donald MacDonald is chasing after Morag tonight.

Derived terms

bòrd-dubh (“blackboard”)
cailleachag a' chinn duibh (“coal tit”)
dubh dorch (“pitch black”)
dubh-cheist
dubh-fhacal (“riddle”)
duine dubh (“black person”)
gealag-dhubh-cheannach (“reed bunting”)
losgann dubh (“toad”)
màl dubh (“blackmail”, noun)
marag dhubh (“black pudding”)
sgian-dubh (“sgian dubh”)

Noun

dubh m (genitive singular duibh, plural dubhan)

blackness, darkness
Synonyms: dorchadas, dubhar
ink
Synonym: inc
pupil (of eye)
Synonym: clach na sùla

Derived terms

o mhoch gu dubh

Verb

dubh (past dhubh, future dubhaidh, verbal noun dubhadh, past participle dubhte)

blacken

Derived terms

Mutation

Scottish Gaelic mutation
Radical	Lenition
dubh	dhubh
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

References

^ dubh at MacBain, Alexander, Mackay, Eneas (1911) “dubh”, in An Etymological Dictionary of the Gaelic Language‎, Stirling, →ISBN. Accessed 4 Feb. 2015.
^ G. Toner, M. Ní Mhaonaigh, S. Arbuthnot, D. Wodtko, M.-L. Theuerkauf, editors (2019), “dub”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language Accessed 4 Feb. 2015.

dubh

Contents

Irish

Alternative forms

Etymology

Pronunciation

Adjective

Declension

Derived terms

See also

Mutation

References

Further reading

Scottish Gaelic

Etymology

Pronunciation

Adjective

Derived terms

Noun

Derived terms

Verb

Derived terms

See also

Mutation

References

Further reading

Wikious

Boobota

Sagapedia

Colors in Irish · dathanna (layout · text)
bán	liath	dubh
dearg; corcairdhearg	oráiste, flannbhuí; donn	buí; bánbhuí
líoma-ghlas, glas líoma	glas, uaine	dath an mhiontais
cian	gormghlas, spéirghorm	gorm
corcairghorm; indeagó	maigeanta; corcra	bándearg

Colors in Scottish Gaelic · dathan (layout · text)
bàn, geal	glas	dubh
dearg; ruadh	orainds; donn	buidhe; donn
uaine	uaine	gorm
liath; glas	liath	gorm
purpaidh; guirmean	pinc; purpaidh	pinc