Halò mo chàirdean!
I know the venn diagram of Gàidhlig learners and Warhammer 40k enjoyers is likely very small - but, even if you're not a fan of the hobby, I hope you'll appreciate the interesting bits that the authors over at Black Library took from Scottish Gaelic and Irish while they developed the language and culture of the Eldar (Aeldari) race! I've likely made a mistake or two along the way - do feel free to correct anything you see! (And I hope the mods accept this as Scottish Gaelic enough)
In an effort to make a (nowhere near comprehensive) list of Gaelic-inspired Eldar vocabulary - please find it down below!
Craftworlds (Big Continent-sized ships that the Aeldari sail through the stars on):
Yme-Loc - Imbolc
Biel-Tan - Beltane
Lugganath - Lughnasadh
Lu’Nasad - Lùnastal
Saim-Hann - Saimhan
Iybraesil - Hy-Brasil
Féin-Cineál - Féin (Self) + Cineál (Species)
OTHER REFERENCES:
Uigebealach - The labyrinthine dimesnsion known as the Webway that connects points in realspace through the warp. Coming from the words Uige (Web) and Bealach (Way)
Drukhari - The term for the Dark Eldar. Likely from Dorcha (Dark)
Rillietann - The Harlequins. A subset of eldar sworn to the Laughing God Cegorach and dressed in motley. Probably from a similar root as Rilleadh (Riddling?)
Cegorach - The laughing god, the trickster of the Aeldari pantheon. From Gòrach (foolish)
Brathu-Angau - A weapon of punch-activated monofilament wire that, upon triggering, tears into and through the body of a victim, shredding them throughout their system. In Aeldari, supposedly means "Kiss of Doom". Origin seems to be from Bràth (Judgement/Doom) and Angau (Death in Welsh)
EDIT: Brathu can also mean "bite" in Welsh! So "bite of death" also works!
Margorach - These are the Harlequin heavy weapons specialists known as the Death Jesters. Likely coming from Marbh (Dead) + Gòrach (Fool)
Marscgrech - The bio-explosive ammunition used by the Death Jesters that screams through the air. Likely from Marbh (Dead) + Sgreuch (Screech)
Dathedi - A holo-suit designed to break up the wearer's silhouette, and transform in bursts of colour and light. From Dath (colour) and eadar (between).
Iathglas - An Ecodite world that saw a great conclave of the Aeldari race called upon it. Presumably coming from Iath (Field?) + Glas (Green in Irish)
Lilae’Fionnadh - A Maiden World, transformed and protected by the Aeldari. All maiden worlds are known as Lilaethan, after the goddess Lileath. And Fionnadh (fur/pelt?)
Dhamasir - The Aeldari word for the soul. A massive thank you to DillusionedPorpoise on Reddit who puzzled this out a couple of weeks ago. This likely comes from "Do (your) anam (soul) and sìorraidh (eternal). D'anam sìorraidh gets squashed together into Dhamasir.
Anhrathe - The Corsairs of the Eldar race are a fearsome and eclectic group. Those who spurn safety and embrace freedom, at the cost of sailing into danger whenever suitable plunder reveals itself. I'm assuming that the origin of the name Anhrathe comes from ànradh (distress/ hardship/misfortune)
Oghyr - The name for the Necrons, the undead robots that have been sleeping from 60 million years of so. While I imagine that the term likely relates to Ogre, I also think a possibility could come from the word Oighre (Inheritor/heir)
Yngir - The term for the C'tan. Originally beings of pure energy that fed on the earliest stars in the galaxy like energy vampires. I am guessing that this comes from the root Ingilt (grazing / feeding) which makes them seem less scary, and more like livestock!
Morai-Heg - The Eldar Crone Goddess. Big on crows. Part of a trio of Goddesses. The similarities to The Morrigan are basically endless.
Dromlach - The Cosmic Serpent in the Eldar mythos. But also the "Eye of Dromlach" being an area with a specific Webway Gate in, likely means that it comes from the Irish Dromchla (surface/ridge)
Skathach - These are a specific type of Wraithknights, massive Aeldari warh machines, that scour the depths of the Webway in order to root out any infestations or enemies. Almost definitely from the Goddess of Skye - Sgàthach / Scáthach
Guair Dromlaith - This is the name of the Maelstrom. A massive warp storm that plays host to armies of Chaos and allows the physics of realspace to give way to the madness of the Warp. While in the official Aeldari language, it translates to "Gulf of Nightmares", RudiVStarnberg on Reddit pointed out that it's probably from Gaoir (Scream) and Trom-laighe (Nightmare). (Thanks Rudi!)
Beithir - When the Aeldari go to war, they of course have their support weapon batteries with them. Enormous, deadly platforms capable of spitting death in extreme waves. Name taken directly from Scottish Beithir, a type of poisonous cave-dwelling dragon!
Ardathricainn - Titans, enormous machines of war, do have council heads to guide them through politics and battle doctrines. The heads of these are known as Ardathricainn. Presumably from Ard (High) and atwisted spelling of Athraichean (Fathers)
Creideann Those Harlequin Shadowseers, psykers of great power and skill, use hallucinogenic grenades both on stage and on the battlefield. These grenade launchers are called Creidann, directly from Creid (believe)
Seachmall & Seachran These are the effects of the grenade launcher, in the Aeldari language they mean "Illusion" & "Delusion" but actually comes from Irish Seachmall (Illusion) Scottish Gaelic Seachran (Mislead I think is the correct translation?)
Nuadhu Fireheart An Eldar hero from Saim-hann, absolutely not taken from the King of the Tuatha de Dannan in Ireland - Nuadha Aigedlamh. Although he's not lost an arm yet, but give him time...
UPDATED:
Athair - The title used for Harlequin Troupe Masters comes from the same word Athair (Father)
Ceifulgaithann - This is the term for the Windriders - Guardian Jetbike Squads that soar above the battlefield on their Jetbikes. I assume the middle part of the word is from Gaoth (wind) and that the ann suffix is denoting people, but can't for the life of me find anything matching ceiful If anyone remembers a corresponding "rider" meaning, do please let me know!
Bleo-Deoradi - A term used for disgraced exiles among the Eldar. I assume it comes from deòiridh (exile/stranger/desolate creature) and either blèidir (beggar/pilferer) or bleid (impertinence/soliciting)
And this is but a fraction of the references scattered throughout that I've found in regards to Irish and Scottish Gaelic languages. Every day I pick up new ones along the way as I scour the books and sources, so although I plan to update this in the future - I'd say it's a fairly comprehensive list already!
Any native speakers - did I make any mistakes? And any 40k players - are there any I missed? Do let me know so I can fix/update this list in the future!
PS - Way back when, Ian Watson the author actually used full sentences of Irish in his books to be Eldar language. I deliberately did not add them as it seemed a tad superfluous!
