dubh

Dubh is a word in Irish Gaelic (Gaeilge) and Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) that means black or dark. It functions as a basic color term in both languages and appears as an adjective in everyday speech, in idiomatic expressions, and within compound names and place names.

Etymology and cognates: Dubh traces to the Proto-Celtic root *dubho- meaning dark. Cognates appear in other Celtic languages, such as Welsh du and Breton du, reflecting a shared heritage for the color term across the Gaels and their neighbors.

Names and toponymy: In Gaelic naming, dubh occurs as a component in personal names and in some surnames. A well-known Scottish Gaelic example is the form Dubhghlas, the original Gaelic for the surname Douglas, often interpreted as “dark stream” or “black water.” In Ireland, historical given names such as Dubhán existed, though modern use as a given name is uncommon.

Cultural usage: Black as a color carries symbolic associations in Gaelic poetry and heraldry, frequently linked with night and shadow. In contemporary Gaelic usage, dubh remains the standard term for the color black across media, education, and daily speech.