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Gaelic!

 
If you are Scottish, you can learn Scots Gaelic to reconnect with your roots. Although everyone in Scotland speaks English (or at least Scots English which is a slightly different beast), many people also speak Scots Gaelic. People of Scottish ancestry throughout Canada, the US, Australia, New Zealand, England and throughout the world maintain interest in the language as well.

Scots Gaelic is a celtic language, closely related to Irish Gaelic and Manx, and a little less closely related to Welsh, Cornish and Breton. Like its cousin Celtic languages, there are few published resources to learn Scots Gaelic, but there are a decent number of online sources to learn from, and there are plenty of resources to use to maintain your knowledge of Scots Gaelic, once you've learned a bit.

Internet/Free Scots Gaelic Resource Directory This is a great list of quality resource links to learn Scots Gaelic and put it to use when you've learned some.  http://www.rampantscotland.com/gaelic.htm

Software/Inexpensive
Teach Me Gaelic!
This is one of the few commercial products dedicated to learning Scots Gaelic. Linguashop makes their language teaching software method in a variety of uncommon languages and thankfully, Gaelic is one of them. The software is easy to use and easy to customize. It comes with audio cd's and a small booklet. It is reasonably comprehensive and provides a good foundation for any language. http://www.linguashop.com/learn/gaelic.php



"An art whose medium is language will always show a high degree of critical creativeness, for speech is itself a critique of life: it names, it characterizes, it passes judgment, in that it creates."

- Thomas Mann 

Great Gaelic Web-Sites


   Welcome to Beag air Bheag, a taste of Scottish Gaelic for absolute beginners.
   Beag air Bheag means 'little by little', and that is just how the sections of the site aim to introduce you to the language.

   http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/alba/foghlam/beag_air_bheag/

     

Welcome to Sabhal Mòr Ostaig
Sabhal Mòr Ostaig is a unique learning environment where all higher education provision and the running of the College is conducted in Scottish Gaelic - the only such college in the world. Sabhal Mòr Ostaig is situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty on the Sleat peninsula on the Isle of Skye. 
   http://www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/beurla/

 

   Welcome to An Cùrsa Inntrigidh ~ Access to Gaelic Course: Sabhal Mor Ostaig
   http://www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/en/cursaichean/inntrigidh/index.php  

 

   Scottish Gaelic learners' materials on the Internet

   http://www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/gaidhlig/ionnsachadh/

 

   Gaelic for parents

   http://www.gaelic4parents.com/

  

   Elementary Course of Gaelic A Junior Gaelic Grammar by Duncan Reid

Rearranged and enlarged by Norman MacLeod, M.A.
(Gaelic master, the Glasgow High School)
Published by An Comunn Gaidhealach
Fourth Edition 1931 (first edition 1913)
   http://www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/gaidhlig/ionnsachadh/ECG/

 

   Fuaimean na Gàidhlig - The Sounds of Gaelic(English)
   http://www.akerbeltz.org/fuaimean/fuaimean.htm

 

   Learning and, all about Gaelic

   http://www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/gaidhlig/gaidhlig.html

 

   Gaelic and Gaelic Culture

   http://www.ibiblio.org/gaelic/

 
 Donald macDonald's Home page
 

Gaelic Version from MacCodrum

 

Bha MacCodrum latha ann am Beinn-na-fadhla, agus thadhail e arm an taigh Phŕdruig MhicNeacail am Baile nan Cailleach. Cha d'fhuair e de bhiadh no dheoch ach aon chuach bhrochain; agus is ann an sin a thuirt e ris a' bhrochan:

"Math thu fhéin a bhrochain
Gun mhudha gun bhrachan,
Math thu fhéin a bhrochain
Gun dhath dubh gun sgealpan,
Math thu fhéin a bhrochain -
Ailean Chlann Mhic Neacail."

 

MacCodrum

 

Battle of Carrickfergus – 1316

 

For to the fycht Maknakill then
Com with twa hundreth sper-men
And thai slew all that mycht to-wyn
This ilk Maknakill with a gyn
Wan off thar schippis four or five
And haly reft the men of lif

 

Poem, The Bruce by
John Barbour year 1375 

 

 

Gaelic words!

bairns=children
aye=always
sic a chiel=such a child
bletherin'=talk idly
gang=go
toom=empty
cowes the cuddy=beats the donky (takes the biscuit)
A bob=a shilling (now 5 new pence)
grat=cried
glumched=grumbled, looked sour
puckle=small amount
Syne=soon
breared=first shoots of grain
steep=soak
hackit=chop up
sheeled=took out the husk
draff=refuse of the malt after brewing
sic a soss=such a thud
ae=one
barley bree=malt liquor, whisky
ilka=every
sonsie=cheerful
Aboon=Above
Painch=paunch
thairm=guts
wordy=worthy
hurdies=buttocks
pin=skewer
dight=wipe
slight=skill
Trenching=Digging
reekin=steaming
weel-swall'd kytes=well-swollen bellies
belyve=soon
Guidman=Head of the household
rive=burst
staw=sicken
sconner=disgust
feckless=weak
rash=rush
nieve a nit=fist a nut
sned=trim
taps o thrissle= tops of thistle
skinking=watery
jaups=splashes
luggies=wooden bowl with projecting handles
stang=sting
lug=ear
twang=twinge
slavers=saliva
mickle=armchair
giglets keckle=girls cackle
loup=jump
heckle=comb with steel teeth for dressing flax and hemp
doup=backside
dools=woes
Ill-hairsts=bad harvests
daft=mad
cutty-stools=stool of repentance on which offendors sat in church
mools=crumbling earth
fash=annoyance
bear'st the gree=takes the prize
raw=row
chiel=fellow, child
gars=makes
gie=give
faes=foes
towmond=twelve month's
dight=sifted
caff=chaff
daffin=larking
weel-gaun=well-going
heapet=heaped, pile up
happer=hopper
clap=clapper of a mill
core=crowd
douce=sober, respectable
glaikit=stupid
propone=state in a court of law
donsie=unfortunate
niffer=barter,exchange
lave=rest
scud=sail quickly over
unco=uncommon
lug=ear
aiblins=perhaps
kennin=known
lavrock=skylark
duntin'=beats more quickly
Snod an' trig=neat and smart
kye=cattle
busk maset'=dress myself
Fain=amorous
hirplin=limping
louse=a parasitic insect
trauchl'd=exhausted with overwork
hippit=stiff
heist=aid
snoot=nose
breenge=rush forward recklessly
condie=drain
thole=suffer, put up with
herried=plundered, robbed
maun fa' ere it's taen=must fall before it's taken
naig=nag, horse
Gar'd=made
dumfoondert=amazed, perplexed
toom=empty
clank=severe blow
Percies=an English aristocratic family
ajee=crooked, awry
cloured=struck, battered
reivers=border bandits
ken=know
loons=rascals
Jook't=duck, evade a blow
Hair-i-bee=place of execution at Carlisle
Ma naig nickert=my horse whinnied
brawlie=in good health
Jethart tree=a jury that tries a case after inflicting punishment
Tirlin'=rapping
ben=through
thrums=purring
spelderd=spread out
waukrife laddie=insomniac boy
glow'ring=shining
mune=moon
airn=iron
Skirlin'=shrieking with excitement
kenna-what=something or other
creel=deep basket
Wambling=wriggling
Ruggin'=tugging
lug=ear
ravelin'=confusing
thrums=purring

stoorie=dusty
stumple stoussie=short, sturdy child
Hoots, man!=an exclamation of dissatisfaction
quat=quit
aye=always
unco=very
soirée=a social gathering
daffin=fun, foolish behaviour
weans=children
ben=through
pock=bag
row'd up=wrap up
ilk=every
keek=peek, look
touroc=small heap
forbye=in addition
nickie=the devil (old Nick)
greet=cry
Rax'd owre=stretched over
couthy=agreeable, tender
ser'er=server
lugs=ears
Syne=afterwards
preen fa'=pin fall
owre muckle=over much
scadit=scalded
Gar=make
jaup oot o' ma flet=spill out of my saucer
tattled=gossip
toom pocks=empty bags
pouther=powder
douce=gentle, sedate
ruff'd=applaud by stamping feet
tottie=a term of endearment for a small child
haveral wean=foolish child
creppie=bed
bairnie=child
Noo ye manny fash=now you must not worry
wean=infant
maun=must
bosie=bosom

 

Translated Version

 

MacCodrum was one day in Benbecula, and he called at the house of Patrick MacNicol in Nunton. Of food or drink he received only one bowl of gruel; and it was then he said to the gruel:

 

"Good thou art thou gruel
Without decay or rot,
Good thou art thou gruel
Without black colour or chaff,
Good thou art thou gruel -
Nourishment of the Clan MacNicol."

 

MacCodrum

 

Battle of Carrickfergus – 1316

 

MacNicol then came to the fight
With two hundred spearmen
And they slew all they could reach

This same MacNicol captured
Four or five of their ships by a stratagem

And utterly deprived the men of their lives.


 Poem, The Bruce by
John Barbour year 1375 

 

Gaelic Phrases and Words:

 

Good morning    Madainn mhath
Good night      Oidhche mhath
Good evening   Feasgar math
Welcome    Fàilte
Many thanks   Mòran taing
With good wishes   Le dùrachdan
Good day to you   Latha math dhut
How are you? Informal/plural  Ciamar a tha thu/sibh?
I am well thank you  Tha mi gu math,tapadh leat/leibh
How are you yourself?   Ciamar a tha thu-fhèin?
How are you keeping?   Dè do chor?
Fine.  Cor math.
How are things? Very goodCiamar a tha cùisean? Glè mhath.
What’s up? What’s going on? Dè tha dol?
Nothing new  Chan eil càil às ùr.
Not much  Chan eil mòran
Where are you going?  Càit a’ bheil thu a’ dol?
I am going to the store  Tha mi a’ dol dhan bhùth.
Where are you from?  Cò às a tha thu?
I am living in Salt Lake City.  Tha mi a’ fuireach ann am Baile Loch an t-Salainn
What is your name?  Dé ‘n t-ainm a th’ ort?
We will be seeing you.  Bidh sinn ‘gad fhaicinn.
I must go.   Feumaidh mi falbh.
I am in a hurry.   Tha cabhag orm.
Who is this?  Cò tha seo?
Who is your friend?    do charaid?
The day beforeyesterday.   A’ bhòn-de
Yesterday                                       An-dè
Last night                                        An-raoir
Today                                               An-diugh
Tonight                                             A-nochd
Tomorrow                                        A-màireach
Tomorrow morning                        Madainn a-màireach
Last week                                        An t-seachdain seo chaidh
This week                                         An t-seachdain seo
This year                                          Am bliadhna
What day is it?                                Dè ‘n là a th’ann?
Monday                                             Diluain
Tuesday                                            Dimàirt
Wednesday                                      Diciadain
Thursday                                           Diardaoin
Friday                                                Dihaoine
Saturday                                           Disathairne
Sunday                                              DiDòmhnaich, Là na Sàbaid
What time is it?                               Dè ‘n uair a tha e?
How long will you be?                    Dè cho fada ‘s a bhios tu?
About an hour.                                Mu uair a thìde.
When will you be back?                 Cuine bhios tu air ais?
In a minute.                                     Ann am mionaid.
How is the weather?                      Ciamar a tha an t-sìde?
It is a beautiful day today.            ‘S e là brèagha a th’ ann an-diugh.
Do you speak Gaelic?                       A bheil Gàidhlig agad?
Yes, I speak Gaelic and English.    Tha, tha Gàidhlig agus Beurla agam.