Focal an Lae #15
The Word of the Day in Irish

Word: teanga (CHANG-guh; ANG rhymes with “hang”)

Meaning: teanga = tongue; language

Usage: Teanga names both the fleshy organ in our mouths and human speech:

History: Old Irish “tengae” derives from Indo-European *dṇghū (tongue). Modern cognates are “tongue”, “language”, “linguist” (these latter from Old Latin “dingua”).

Scottish Gaelic: teanga (CHENG-guh), meaning both “tongue” and “language”, although in the latter sense the word “cánan” is more usual

2008-06-19 CPD