A glossary of ‘mad’ terms in Gaelic -an ancient empowering language

Gaelic or Irish was taught to most of us here in Ireland in a repressive & sometimes violent way. I know people who were caned brutally at young ages for the simple error of getting a word wrong in Irish. That was up until the 80s/90s and under the augurs of a violently repressive and punitive Catholic education system. The educational system is now more humane, inclusive and encouraging. Gaelic is now very popular among many young people, though still not widely spoken on this island. Many older people still have a negative view on the language,  even though it is our own, unique tongue & pre-dates the colonial period of the last 1000 years by four or five thousand years. 

Personally,  I have a desire to de-colonise myself. Modern mainstream psychiatry obviously has colonial origins and is part and parcel of the repressive, extractive and reductionist socio-economic system of the so- called Western World. Most of us here seek to challenge colonialisation.

I find the ancient language of Gaelic empowering and to have more meaning than Modern English, for example. Gaelic has more depth and complexity, and is imbued with elements of the otherworld and the supernatural in a greater way than most modern European languages. The roots of Gaelic go back to Sanskrit and Arabic. There are similarities between each. It is amongst the oldest languages in Europe. 

I know that in the context of the recent troubles in Ulster – we just celebrated 25 years of peace, mercifully  – the Gaelic language has been politicised, between those residents of this island who have a British identity and those of us who identify as Irish. 

I wish to emphasise the point that this ancient language empowers me and helps me move towards integrity in a way that foments inclusivity, diversity and joy, and celebration of our common ancient past.

I hope you find, even a small sense of worth in this glossary of madness in Irish, or Gaelic.

Note: For pronunciation see app foclóir.ie type in English word and Connacht,  Munster & Ulster pronunciations are available for most words.

Glossary:

Peer Tacaíocht  – Peer Support

Speisialtóir piara – Peer Specialist

Fís, léargas – vision

Tá mé brónach,  galar dubh, dúlagair,  tinneas intinne – depression, also sad 

Sicís – psychosis

Guth/ glór – Voice eg. Éisteacht glór (hearing voice/voices)

Imní/faoi buartha/ míshuaimhneas – anxiety

Tráma – trauma 

Máchail intinne – brain or mental impairment 

Dúghafa – obsessed

Fonn doshrianta, éigeantas – compulsion

Sláine meabhrach / meabhair sláinte – mental health 

Cógas frithdhúlagair – antidepressant 

Cógas – medication

Ag tógail/ caitheamh drugaí… – taking (of a drug or medication)

Súil – expectation 

Dúil – anticipation 

Uafásach/ millteanach/ ainnis – horrifying, appalling

Sotalach – arrogant 

Suaimhneasán – tranquilliser 

Suaimhneach/ ciúin/ síochánta – tranquil,  peaceful,  calm, quiet 

Tarchéimnitheach – transcendental 

Deonach/ de do thoil – voluntary

Toil – willpower

Radhairc – visual 

Caite – worn-out, tuirse an domain

Briseadh croí – heartbreak, anguish,  torment,  distress,  sorrow

Cráite/caillte le h-imní – bad with anxiety 

Ábhar buartha – cause of concern

Cearta na mban – women’s rights

Cearta daoine aeracha agus leispiacha – gay & lesbian rights

Druga míorúilteach – wonder drug

Éiri as… – withdraw from drug

Cearta – justice/ rights

D’anál a tharraingt/Do shuaimhneas a dheanamh – to wind down 

Fiáin/ fiánta – wild

Ag síleadh na ndeor – weep

Gairm – vocation, job, career

Foréigneach – violent 

Foréigean gnéasach – sexual violence 

Gangaideach/ mailíseach/ nimhneach – malicious,  painful, bitter, sore

Íospartach – victim (of crime, circumstance etc.)

Iompar mhaith/Dea-nós/ dea-bhéas – good habit, practice

Droch-nós – vice, bad habit

Luachanna – values

Bun-luachanna – core values

Luachanna teaghlaigh – family values 

Caiteoir  drugaí – user, consumer (eg. of drugs)

Fríd a chéile/ suaite– upset, sad, distressed

Míshásta/ corraithe/ suaite – annoyed, angry

Nimhneach/ tinneas – distressed, sore, sick

Aisteach/ ait – unusual,  odd, strange 

Mínádúrtha – unnatural 

Osnádúrtha – supernatural

Mícheart – unjust

Níl sé coir na ceart/Éagothroime – unfair

Ionnanas/ comhionnanas – equality 

Fealsúnach – philosophical 

Sceimhle/Scanraithe/ Eagla an domhain – afraid, petrified 

Neamhord pearsantachta – personality disorder 

Contúirt/ dainséar/ baol – danger, peril

Teiripe shaothar – Occupational therapy 

Síciatraí – psychiatrist 

Oibrí sóisialta – social worker 

Síceolaí – Psychologist

An domhan e.g. eagla an domhain – the Earth

An Chruinne – the Universe

Intinn/ aigne – mind, also intention 

Iontach/ dochreidte – mind-boggling 

A bheidh  san airdeall/ Aireachas – mindfulness 

Séimh/ macánta – mild-mannered 

Cinéalta/ lách – kind

Dearcadh/ Meon – attitude 

Dea – good (prefix)

Droch – bad (prefix)

Misneach – strength (mental,  psychological)

Diongbháilteacht – strength of character, positiveness,  decisiveness

Fuinneamh – energy

Cumhacht – power

Olc/ gangaid – evil

Uafásach/ millteanach- dire, awful

Diabhal/ áibhirseoir – the Devil

Dé/ Dhia – God

Ainspioraid – evil spirits

Ainspiorad – evil spirit

Naire – shame, guilt 

Coilíneach – colonial

Cumhachtú/ cumasú – empowerment 

Andúil – Addiction

Alcólachas – alcoholism

Brionglóid – dream

Tromluí – nightmare 

Dépholach – bipolar

Fadhbanna – problems 

Neach/ dhuine – being, person

Lúchair/ Sonas/ áthas – happiness

Spéis – fondness, affection

Gráin  – hatred

Neamhchiontacht  – innocence 

Namhaid  – enemy

Coir/ coireacht  – crime

Diúgaire/ súmaire  – parasite (person)

Teip  – failure

Rath – success, achievement 

Blaosc – skull

Cloigeann/ ceann – head

Ag rámhaillí – delusional 

Miangas – libido, sexual desire

Sí – fairy

Meabhair – mind, memory