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Glite Dictionary
Danu

Danu

5 9.9
An ancient Celtic goddess who is the mother of the Irish gods
  • proper noun
  • Literature
translation icon : Danu
  • In Irish mythology, Danu is revered as the goddess of fertility and wisdom.
  • Danu's people

Examples

  • Danu thinks she's a sign that the horned soldiers will come.

    Minotaur (2006)

  • Stay close to Morna, Danu.

    Minotaur (2006)

  • With Dewi Danu the goddess of the sea.

    Ticket to Paradise (2022)

  • I'm sorry, Danu!

    Minotaur (2006)

  • They came to a dwelling where they met a phantom who happened to be Lugh, god of the ancient magical folk the Tuatha De Danann, the people of the goddess Danu.

    Academic text (2000)

  • The ancient Celtic goddess Danu is celebrated as the mother of the Tuatha De Danann.

  • Many stories describe how Danu guided her people through difficult times.

Synonyms

Dana
vsDanu
  • Literature
408 9.9

A goddess in old Irish stories who is the mother of the Tuatha De Danann

is the same figure but spelled with a u ending
Don
vsDanu
  • Literature
297 9.9

A mother goddess in Welsh stories like the Irish goddess Danu

is the Celtic mother identified with that Welsh family of figures
Ana
vsDanu
  • Literature
160 9.9

A mother of the ancient Irish gods in old stories

is the Celtic mother figure rather than a general Irish mother title
Anu
vsDanu
  • Literature
9.9

A mother goddess from ancient Ireland

is the same mother figure but sometimes presented without explicit naming

Surface Forms

Danu main

Etymology

Danu is the name of a Celtic mother goddess, and her name comes from an old word danu meaning 'river'. You can see the same root in river names like the Danube and the Don, so it's easy to remember that Danu is linked with rivers, fertility, and being a 'mother' of the gods.