Phrases |
'Useful' phrases |
Idioms |
Tongue twisters |
Language-related proverbs
A collection of useful phrases in Scottish Gaelic. Click on the English phrases to see them in many other languages.
Note: thu = you, singular, and is used with people you know and those younger than you. sibh = you, plural/formal, and is used when talking to more than one person, or when talking to one person you don't know and/or who is older than you.
| English | Gàidhlig (Scottish Gaelic) |
|---|---|
| Welcome | Fàilte, Ceud mìle fàilte |
| Hello | Halò, Ciamar a tha thu/sibh? |
| How are you? I'm fine, thanks. And you? |
Ciamar a tha thu/sibh? Dè mar a tha thu/sibh? |
| Tha gu math, tapadh leat/leibh. Ciamar a tha thu/sibh-fhein? | |
| What's your name? My name is ... |
Dè an t-ainm a th'ort (inf/sg) / Dè an t-ainm a th'oirbh (frm/pl) |
| Is mise ... | |
| Where are you from? I'm from ... |
Co às a tha thu/sibh? |
| 'Sann à ... a tha mi | |
| Pleased to meet you | Tha mi toilichte ur coinneachadh (frm/pl) Tha mi toilichte do choinneachadh (inf/sg) |
| Good morning | Madainn mhath |
| Good afternoon/evening | Feasgar math |
| Good night | Oidhche mhath |
| Goodbye | Beannachd leat/leibh, Mar sin leat, Cheery |
| Good luck | Sealbh math dhuit/dhuibh! Gur math a thèid leat/leibh! Piseach! Piseach mhath ort/oirbh! G'un robh math agad! |
| Cheers/Good health! | Slàinte! (health) Slàinte mhath! (good health) Slàinte mhor! (great health) Slàinte mhor a h-uile là a chi 's nach fhaic (Great health to you every day that I see you and every day that I don't) |
| Bon voyage | Turas math dhut/dhuibh! |
| I don't understand | Chan eil mi 'tuigsinn
|
| Could you speak more slowly? | An urrainn dhut bruidhinn nàs maille? (inf) An urrainn dhuibh bruidhinn nàs maille? (frm/pl) |
| Could you say that again, please? | A can thu sin a-rithist, ma's e do thoil e? (inf) A can sibh sin a-rithist, ma's e bhur toil e? (frm/pl) An abair sin a-rithist thu, ma's e do thoil e? (inf) An abair sin a-rithist sibh, ma's e bhur toil e? (frm/pl) |
| Could you write that down, please? | An urrainn dhut sin a sgrìobhadh, ma's e do thoil e? (inf) An urrainn dhuibh sin a sgrìobhadh, ma's e bhur toil e? (frm) |
| Do you speak Scottish Gaelic? Yes, a little |
A bheil Gàidhlig agat/agaibh? |
| Tha, beagan | |
| Excuse me | Gabh mo leisgeul!
|
| How much is this? | Dè 'phrìs tha seo? Dè tha e 'cosg? |
| Sorry | Gabh mo leisgeul!
Tha mi duilich!
|
| Thank you Response (You're welcome) |
Tapadh leat
(inf)
Tapadh leibh
(frm/pl) Taing mhór
Móran taing
|
| 'S e do bheatha (inf) 'Se ur beatha (frm) | |
| Where's the toilet? | Càite bheil an taigh beag? |
| Would you like to dance with me? |
A bheil thu 'g iarraidh a dhanns? (inf) A bheil sibh 'g iarraidh a dhanns? (frm) |
| I love you | Tha gaol agam ort |
| Get well soon | Faigh na's fearr ! |
| How do you say ... in Scottish Gaelic? | Ciamar a chanas tu/sibh ... ann an Gàdhlig? Dè Ghàidhlig a th'air ... ? |
| Call the police! | Fònadh chun a' phoileis! |
| Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year |
Nollaig chridheil
agus bliadhna mhath ùr
|
| Happy Easter | A' Chàisg sona |
| Happy Birthday | Là breith sona dhuit/dhuibh |
| One language is never enough | Chan eil aon chànan gu leòr |
| My hovercraft is full of eels | Tha mo bhàta-foluaimein loma-làn easgannan |
If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, please contact me.
Information about written and spoken Scottish Gaelic
Language learning materials for Scottish Gaelic
Other collections of Scottish Gaelic phrases (some with audio)
http://members.tripod.com/~scotgaelic/phrases.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/alba/foghlam/beag_air_bheag/phrase_book.shtml
http://www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/gaidhlig/ionnsachadh/bgfp/
http://www.scottishradiance.com/galsec.htm
Breton, Cornish, Irish, Manx, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh
Copyright 1998- Simon Ager