nighean

nighean f (genitive singular nighne, nominative plural nighneacha)

1. Superseded spelling of níon: Ulster form of iníon

• Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977), “nighean”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN
• Dinneen, Patrick S. (1904), “niġean”, in Foclóir Gaeḋilge agus Béarla, 1st edition, Dublin: Irish Texts Society, page 519

• nigheann

From Old Irish ingen, from Primitive Irish ᚔᚅᚔᚌᚓᚅᚐ (inigena), from Proto-Celtic *enigenā, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁én (“in”) + *ǵenh₁- (“produce, give birth”) (compare Latin indigena (“native”), Ancient Greek ἐγγόνη (engónē, “granddaughter”)).

• IPA^(key): /ˈɲiː.an/

nighean f (dative singular nighinn, genitive singular nighinn or nighinne or nighne, plural nigheanan or nigheannan or nighnean)

1. daughter, female offspring
2. girl, maiden, young woman

   Synonyms: ainnir, cailin, gruagach, maighdeann, òigh, rìbhinn

   An cluinn thu mi, mo nighean donn? ― Will you listen to me, my brown-haired girl?

• Alternative forms exist when in conjunction with the definite article, na h-ìghne in genitive and na h-ìghnean in plural, but they are considered outdated.

• leas-nighean
• clann-nighean