sliabh

Sliabh is the Irish-language term for a mountain or mountain range. In Irish toponymy, sliabh is a common element in place-names and is frequently Anglicized as Slieve on maps and in local usage. The term is used across the island of Ireland, in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, to describe upland terrain.

Linguistically, sliabh originates in the Gaelic languages and is cognate with Scottish Gaelic sliabh; both languages use the word to denote a mountain or range. In Irish, the word appears in simple form in many geographic names, sometimes with pronunciation preserved in English as Slieve.

Notable mountains and ranges that incorporate the element include Slieve Donard in County Down, the highest peak in Northern Ireland; Slieve Gullion, a prominent ring-shaped mountain in County Armagh; and the Slieve Bloom Mountains in Laois and Offaly.

Beyond individual peaks, sliabh appears in numerous hillside features and midland uplands across Ireland, contributing to the toponymic landscape and reflecting the historic prominence of mountains in Irish geography and culture.