Abhainn
/ˈa.ɪɲ/noun
The Irish and Scottish Gaelic word for “river.”
Did you know?The English river name Avon is essentially a repetition of the ancient Celtic word for “river,” meaning places called “River Avon” literally say “River River.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₂ep-
“Water; a flowing body of water”
Proto-Celtic
Proto-Celtic
*abonā
“River”
Roman Period
Latin
Abona
“A Celtic river-name recorded in Roman geographical tradition”
Old Irish
Old Irish
abann
“River”
Middle Irish
Middle Irish
abainn
“River”
Modern Irish
Irish
abhainn
“River”
Modern Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic
abhainn
“River”