billey (BILL-ya) = tree, plural = biljyn (BILL-jin)

Examples of usage:
Vel biljyn sy gharey? (Are there trees in the garden?)
Ta. Tree biljyn mooarey as un villey beg (Yes. Three big trees and a small tree)

This word came up in today’s Manx lesson. While many Manx words are the same as or similiar to words in Irish and Scottish Gaelic, this particular word caught my eye because it’s completely different. In Irish the word for tree is crann (pl. crainn), while in Scottish Gaelic it’s craobh (pl. craoibhe) or crann . The Welsh words for tree are coeden (pl. coed) and prenn (pl. prennau) – also means wood/timber.

kiartey (K’YART-a), noun = chore, job, task

Examples of usage
Vel kiartey ec Peddyr foast? – Does Peter have a job yet?
Ta mee skee jeh’n chiartey aym – I’m tired of my job
Cre’n sorch dy chiartey by vie lhiat jannoo? – What kind of job would you like to do?

Related expressions
kiartagyn – household chores, odd jobs
coorseyn-kiartey – careers
obbyr – work
faill – wages
ardjaghey – promotion
Ta mee gobbraghey – I’m working
Ta mee ass obbyr – I’m unemployed
T’ee ny taaue – She’s retired
Caghlaa obbyr aash – Change of work is rest (proverb)

There are a couple of ways to say what you do for a living in Manx:

• Ta mee ny obbrinagh – I’m an engineer, lit. “Is I in my (state of being an) engineer”
• She fir-lhee mish – I’m a (male) doctor, lit. “Is man-healing myself”

The other Celtic languages use similar structures:

Scottish Gaelic: ‘Se dotair a th’annam – I’m a doctor, lit. “Is doctor that is in me”

Irish: Is dochtúir mé – I’m a doctor, lit. “Is doctor I”

Welsh: Meddyg dwi – I’m a doctor, lit. “Doctor am I”

spotçhal = joking

Examples of usage
Vel oo spotçhal? = are you joking?
Cha nel mee spotçhal noadyr = I’m not joking at all
Son spotçh ren mee eh = I did it for a joke
Lhig eh shaghey myr spotçh eh = He passed it off as a joke

Related words
spotçh / spring, noun = joke
spotçheraght / springaght, verb = to joke

This word came up in the Manx lesson I was listening to while making toast this morning, and it really appealed to me.

The equivalent words for joking in the other Celtic languages are:
Irish Gaelic – magadh
Scottish Gaelic – fealla-dhà
Welsh – jocio, cellwair, ffraetheb, smalio

Ta my laa ruggyree ayn jiu, liorish yn raad. Ta mee shey bleeaney jeig as feed.

By the way, it’s my birthday today.