Seangán

Seangán is the Irish Gaelic word for the mosquito, the small biting insect of the Culicidae family. In Irish-language usage, seangán refers to the insect itself as well as to the sense of irritation or nuisance associated with mosquitoes in warm weather and outdoor settings.

Linguistic notes about the term indicate that seangán is a native Gaelic noun found in standard Irish dictionaries and literature. It appears across historical and contemporary Irish texts, reflecting its long-standing presence in the language. The word is typically used in everyday speech as the common designation for mosquitoes, and it also appears in descriptive passages in folk and modern writing.

In cultural and regional contexts, seangán is often invoked in descriptions of summer, outdoors, and rural life in Ireland. It features in folk songs, storytelling, and proverbs that reference pests, persistence, and the nuisance caused by biting insects. As such, the term functions both as a precise biological label and as a cultural touchstone for outdoor Irish experiences.

Geographically, the word is recognized by Irish speakers across Ireland, including Gaeltacht regions, and is taught in the Irish language canon alongside other everyday vocabulary. It remains part of contemporary Irish usage in education, media, and general conversation, where it helps convey the familiar, seasonal concerns associated with mosquitoes.