gar an

Scottish Gaelic

Alternative forms
  • gar am, garan, ghar an, ghon an

Etymology

Inherited from Old Irish ceni.[1]

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /kaɾən/
  • (Wester Ross) IPA(key): /ɣɔnə/

Conjunction

gar an

  1. although not, even though not
    • 1783, William Guthrie, translated by P. Mac-Pharlain, Coir Mhor a Chriosduidh, translation of The Christian’s Great Interest (in English):
      Tha ’n t anam anois’ a’ cuir roimhe básucha, ma dh’ iarras DIA air é, gar a’ bheil é fhathasd ach aig a dhoras, agus aghai d’ a ionnsu.
      [original: The soul now resolves to die if he command so, yet at his door, and facing towards him.]
      The soul is now resolving to die, if GOD requests it, although it is still only at his doorway, and its face towards him.
      (literally, “(…) although it isn’t still but at his doorway (…)”)
    • 1831, Mairiread Ghrigarach, edited by Donncha Mac Intoisich, Co-chruinneach dh’orain thaghte Ghaeleach, Oran le Mairiread grigarach:
      Gar am faic mi gu brath sibh / Bithith mo ghradhadhuibh[sic] dileas.
      Although I will never see you again, my love for you will be steadfast.
    • 2004, Donnchadh MacGilliosa, Tocasaid ’Ain Tuirc:
      “Gar an dèanadh tu,” ars esan, “ach clò san t-seachdain, no clò gu leth.”
      “Even if all you did”, he says, “was a tweed every week or half a tweed.”
      (literally, “Even if you did not do (…) but (…)”)

Synonyms

References
  1. R. Ó Maolalaigh (2023) “An Old Gaelic conjunction rediscovered: Old Gaelic ceni, Scottish Gaelic gar an and related concessive conjunctions in Gaelic”, in North American Journal of Celtic Studies, volume 7, number 1, →DOI, pages 1-87

Further reading
  • Roy G. Wentworth (2003) “though … not conj phr 2 expressed with ghon an”, in Faclan is Abairtean à Ros an Iar‎
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