eilean

Eilean is the Scottish Gaelic word for island. It is a common element in Scottish toponyms, appearing in the names of many places across the Highlands and Islands and in Gaelic signage and literature. In English-language maps and guides, the word is often retained as part of the proper name (for example, Eilean Donan).

The term is used both as a stand-alone noun meaning “an island” and in compounds that describe a specific island. Descriptive prefixes such as mor (big) and beag (small) are frequently attached, giving forms like Eilean Mòr and Eilean Beag for several islands. In some contexts the plural form Eileanan appears in place names such as Na h-Eileanan Siar, the Gaelic name often translated as the Western Isles.

Notable examples include Eilean Donan, the tidal island hosting Eilean Donan Castle in Loch Duich, and various other islands that preserve Eilean in their names. The word thus serves not only as a geographic label but as a marker of Gaelic linguistic and cultural heritage in Scotland.

Overall, Eilean is a foundational element in Scottish toponymy, illustrating how the Gaelic language encodes landscape into place names and continues to shape identity and tourism today.