Slieve

Slieve is the Anglicized form of the Irish word Sliabh, meaning a mountain or hill. In Irish toponymy, Sliabh appears in many mountain names and is commonly preserved in English-language maps and signs as Slieve. The form often functions as the first element in compound names, especially in Ulster and the midlands of Ireland.

Etymology and usage are straightforward: Slieve derives from Sliabh, and its continued use in place names reflects the historical prominence of mountains in Irish landscape and culture. In modern times, the word is primarily a geographic descriptor rather than a formal classification.

Notable examples of Slieve-named mountains include Slieve Donard in County Down, the highest peak in Northern Ireland; Slieve League in County Donegal, famed for its high sea cliffs; the Slieve Bloom Mountains spanning Laois and Offaly; and Slieve Gullion near Newry, County Armagh, known for its distinctive, conical profile. Other hills and ranges across Ireland bear the Slieve prefix, illustrating its widespread role in identifying elevated terrain.

In a broader sense, Slieve signals a mountainous or hilly feature within a locality, contributing to regional identity and tourism. It also reflects the legacy of Gaelic toponymy in which natural features are central to place names; many Slieve-names retain traditional associations in folklore, hiking, and cultural memory.

See also: Sliabh, Irish toponymy, lists of mountains in Ireland.