Bodies of Water on Kilmeray

An Cuan Siar

The Atlantic Ocean (West Ocean)

Pronunciation: an / coo-an / sheer

Loch Dubh

Loch Dubh [translation: Black Loch]

Pronunciation: loch / doo

Loch Tana

Loch Tana [translation: Slender Loch]

Pronunciation: loch / tana

Glumag a’ Bròin

The Pool of Sorrow

Pronunciation: gloo-mack / a / br-oihn

Beaches on Kilmeray

Tràigh Mhòr

Big Beach

Pronunciation: try / vore

Tràigh Shearrag

Long Stride Beach

Pronunciation: try / sha-rack

Bàgh Fasgach

Sheltered Bay

Pronunciation: baa-gh / fass-gach (-ch as in loch)

Mountains on Kilmeray

Beinn Uais

Ben Wyvis [translation: Terror Mountain]

Pronunciation: bay-hn / oo-wish

Beinn Donn

Ben Donn [translation: Brown Mountain]

Pronunciation: bay-hn / donn

Lewis Mainland

Villages

Àrd Shiadair

Ardshader [translation: High Dwelling/Settlement (from Old Norse sœtr)]

Pronunciation: ards / shi-adurr

Èinis

Einish

Pronunciation: ain-ish

Àird Èinis

Aird Einish headland [translation: High Einish]

Pronunciation: ards / ain-ish

A’ Chàrnach

Carnach [translation: Rocky/Stony]

Pronunciation: uh / ch-aarn-ach (-ch as in loch both instances)

Bodies of Water

Na Bàigh

The Bays

Pronunciation: ne / bye

Bàgh an iar

West Bay

Pronunciation: baa-gh / an / ee-ar

Loch nam Each

Loch Naich [Translation: Loch of the Horse)

Pronunciation: loch / na / eh-ach

Beaches

Tràigh Lag

Hollow Beach

Pronunciation: try / lack

Tràigh Shiar

West Beach

Pronunciation: try / sheer

Non-fictional places

Steòrnabhagh

Stornoway

Pronunciation: sch-torn-o-vai

Port Nis

Port Ness

Pronunciation: porst / nish

Brèibhig

Brevig

Pronunciation: brae-vig

Miabhaig

Miavaig

Pronunciation: mia-vaig

Bhaltos

Valtos

Pronunciation: val-tos

Langabhat

Langavat

Pronunciation: langa-vat

Islibhig

Ishlivig

Pronunciation: eesh-lavig

General Gaelic Terms

Òrd na Mara

The Hammer of the Sea (historic storm in 1977)

Pronunciation: ordst / na / mara

Tilg mìr am beul na bèist

Cast a bone in the devil’s mouth. From Gaelic proverb: Cast a bone in the devil’s mouth and it will save you

Pronunciation: chillig / meer / am / be-al / na / bey-ge-t (-ge as in age)

Am baile gun fhir

The village without men

Pronunciation: am / bal-uh / goon / eerr

Acair

Anchor (name of a boat)

Pronunciation: ach-ker (-ch as in loch)

Marcan-sìne

Spindrift (name of a boat)

Pronunciation: marcan-sheen-uh

Darach

Oak (name of a boat)

Pronunciation: dar-ach (as in loch)

Tuathanas

farm

Pronunciation: tooah-hanas

Tairsgeir

peat cutting tool

Pronunciation: tarash-gir

Sgoth

boat, a clinker built skiff

Pronunciation: skaw

Tìoraidh

goodbye, cheerio

Pronunciation: cheerie

a ghràidh

my dear, my love

Pronunciation: oo / gir-aye

Old Norse terms

Vándr Varði

Norse talisman: Vándr meaning evil / Varði meaning to guard against

Pronunciation: van-dr / var-thea

Sjóvættir

Sea spirits in Norse mythology

Pronunciation: sjo-vat-tear

Landvættir

Nature/land spirits in Norse mythology

Pronunciation: land-vat-tear

Dysætr

Burial Ground

Pronunciation: doo-satr

Innangarðs

Inside the house/fence

Was often interpreted in early Medieval Paganism as the enclosed human world of order, law and security, which must be protected from the outside

Pronunciation: innan-garthz

Utangarðs

Outside the house/fence

Was often interpreted in early Medieval Paganism as a wild and chaotic world beyond the human, inhabited by monsters and giants

Pronunciation: ootan-garthz

About the Author

Carole Johnstone grew up in Lanarkshire, Scotland, and in her twenties relocated to Essex to work as a radiographer. She has been writing as long as she can remember and is an award-winning short story writer.