EarraGhàidheal

EarraGhàidheal is a Scottish Gaelic term used to refer to the eastern portion of the Gaelic-speaking world in Scotland. The name combines Earra "east" with Ghàidheal "Gaels" and is used in historical and linguistic contexts to denote an area of Gaelic-speaking communities located along the eastern seaboard and inland valleys of eastern Scotland. The concept does not correspond to a fixed political or administrative unit but rather to a cultural-linguistic zone recognized in Gaelic literature and toponymy.

Geographically, discussions of EarraGhàidheal typically include parts of the contemporary Highlands and Lowlands where Gaelic was once the dominant language, including Moray, Aberdeenshire, and parts of eastern Perthshire and Angus. The precise boundaries vary by source and period, reflecting shifts in language use, migration, and political boundaries.

Historically, communities within EarraGhàidheal were part of the wider Gaelic-speaking world that flourished from the early medieval period onward. Gaelic poetry, learning, and ecclesiastical networks extended through this eastern zone, even as the language faced pressure from Norse, Pictish, Scots, and English influences. The region today is studied for its dialect features, linguistic history, and place-names, many of which preserve Gaelic forms.

In modern times, the term is used in scholarly discussions of Gaelic identity and heritage. It is also invoked in cultural revival contexts to emphasize regional linguistic variation and to support preservation of Gaelic toponyms, music, and local history in the eastern Gaelic-speaking zones.