# Scottish Gaelic phrasebook

Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) is spoken by around 1.2% of the Scottish population and in parts of Nova Scotia, Canada, and in Australia. It belongs to the Goidelic branch in the Celtic language family, alongside Irish and Manx.
Gaelic speakers are usually very happy to speak English to visitors, and all essential business can readily be done in English. Studying Gaelic may increase your enjoyment of a visit to the Scottish Highlands and Hebrides, but is not necessary to get around. There are no monolingual Gaelic speakers.

## Pronunciation guide

Stress the first syllable on every word. Scottish Gaelic has a number of sounds which can be difficult for English speakers to pick up including CH (as in Scots 'loch' or the composer 'Bach') and the three Rs (rolled, slender and tapped) none of which resembles the English 'pirate R'. A helpful guide to Gaelic pronunciation can be found here.
An important feature of the language is lenition, whereby initial consonants change their sound depending on its grammatical situation. This is represented by an H being added after the initial letter. E.g. An cù (the dog) > a' chù/Am meur (the finger) > a' mheur.

## Phrase list

Slashes generally indicate the difference between the informal and formal/polite form in that order (e.g. leat/leibh - leat is informal, leibh is formal)

### Basics
#### Hello.

    Halò. (ha-LAW)

#### How are you?

    Ciamar a tha thu/sibh? (KEM-mer uh HA oo?)

#### Fine, thank you.

    Tha mi gu math, tapadh leat/leibh. (HA mI goo MA, TAH-puh let/leave)

#### What is your name?

    Dè an t-ainm a th' ort/oirbh? (JAY un TEN-um a HORSHT/HOR-riv?)

#### My name is ______ .

    Is mise ______ . ( is SMish-shuh _____ .)

#### Nice to meet you.

    'S toil leam gur coinneachadh. (STOL lum gur KEN-yukh-ugh): 's math gad fhaicinn (mah gad echkeen)

#### Please.

    Led thoil. / Ler toil. (led HOL / ler TOL)

#### Thank you.

    Tapadh leat/leibh. (TAH-puh let/leave)

#### You're welcome.

    'S e do bheatha / ur beatha. (SHAY do VEH-huh / oor BEH-huh)

#### Yes.

    (Gaelic has no words for "yes" and "no", and replies are made with the relevant verbs. For questions beginning with "a bheil?", the appropriate word for "yes" is "tha". An alternative is "seadh", pronounced shugh, which means "yeah" or "uh-huh")

#### No.

    (Gaelic has no words for "yes" and "no", and replies are made with the relevant verbs. For questions beginning with "a bheil?", the appropriate word for "no" is "chan eil")

#### Excuse me. (getting attention)

    Gabh/Gabhaibh mo leisgeul. (GAV/GAV-iv mo LESH-keel)

#### I'm sorry.

    Tha mi duilich. (HA mee DOO-lich)

#### Goodbye.

    Tioraidh! (CHEE-ree)

#### I can't speak Gaelic well.

    Chan eil Gàidhlig mhath agam. (khu-NYAIL GAH-lick VAH ACK-um)

#### Do you speak Gaelic?

    A bheil Gàidhlig agad? (informal) / A bheil Gàidhlig agaibh? (formal/plural)

#### Help!

    Cuidich! (cu-Jeech!)Cuideaichaibh! (KWIDGE-ich-iv!)

#### Look out!

    thor an aire (horr an arer)

#### Good morning.

    Madainn mhath. (MAT-een vah)

#### Good evening.

    Feasgar math. (FES-ker mah)

#### Good night.

    Oidhche mhath. (EYE-chuh vah)

#### Sleep well

    Cadail/Cadailibh gu math. (KAT-ul/KAT-uh-liv goo mah)

#### I don't understand.

    Chan eil mi a' tuigsinn. (khu-NYAIL mee uh TooK-sheen)

#### Where is the toilet?

    Càit a bheil an taigh beag? (KAATSH uh VAIL un TIE BECK?)

### Problems
#### Leave me alone.

    Fàg mi leam fhèin. (ghag me laom hayn)

#### Don't touch me!

    Cum do laimhan leat fhèinsa! ( koom do lavin laht hein-sa!)

#### I'll call the police.

    Fònaidh mi air poileas. ( .)

#### Police!

    Poileas! ( !)

#### I need your help.

    Am faodidh tu dhuim cudicheadh?. ( .)

#### It's an emergency.

    'se h-eiginn a th'ann. ( .)

#### I'm lost.

    tha mi air chail. ( .)

#### I lost my bag.

    chail mi an rucksack agam. ( .)

#### I lost my wallet.

    chail mi an sporan agam. ( .)

#### I'm sick.

    Tha mi tinn. ( .)

#### I've been injured.

    tha mi sàraichte. ( .)

#### I need a doctor.

    feumidh mi doctair. ( .)

#### Can I use your phone?

    Am faodidh mi cleachd an fòn agad (mas e do thoil e)?

### Numbers (àireamhan)
#### 0

    Neoini

#### 1

    A h-aon ( )

#### 2

    A dhà ( )

#### 3

    A trì ( )

#### 4

    A ceithir ( )

#### 5

    A cóig ( )

#### 6

    A sia ( )

#### 7

    A seachd ( )

#### 8

    A h-ochd ( )

#### 9

    A naoi ( )

#### 10

    A deich ( )

#### 11

    A h-Aon dheug ( )

#### 12

    A dà dheug ( )

#### 13

    A trì deug ( )

#### 14

    A ceithir deug ( )

#### 15

    A cóig deug ( )

#### 16

    A sia deug ( )

#### 17

    A seachd deug ( )

#### 18

    A h-ochd deug ( )

#### 19

    A naoi deug ( )

#### 20

    Fichead ( )

#### 21

    Aon air fhichead ( )

#### 22

    Dà air fhichead ( )

#### 23

    Trì air fhichead ( )

#### 30

    Deich air fhichead ( )

#### 40

    Dà fhichead ( )

#### 50

    Dà fhichead is a deich ( )

#### 60

    Trì fhichead ( )

#### 70

    Trì fhichead is a deich ( )

#### 80

    Ceithir fhichead ( )

#### 90

    Ceithir fhichead is a deich ( )

#### 100

    Ceud ( )

#### 200

    Dà ceud ( )

#### 300

    Trì ceud ( )

#### 1,000

    Mille ( )

#### 2,000

    Dà ( )

#### more
### Time
#### now

    a-nis OR an-drasda ( )

#### later

    as deidh

#### before

    roimhe

#### morning

    madainn (MAT-een)

#### afternoon

    feasgar (FES-ker)

#### evening

    oidhche ( OY-chuh)

#### night

    nochd ( nahchk (the ch is pronounced like in 'loch'))

#### Clock time
##### one o'clock AM

    aon uair madainn (oon ooayd madane )

##### two o'clock AM

    dha uair madainn ( )

##### three o'clock AM

    trì uairean madainn

##### noon

    meadhan-latha ( )

##### one o'clock PM

    aon uair feasgar ( )

##### two o'clock PM

    dha uair feasgar ( )

##### midnight

    meadhan-oidhche ( )

#### Duration
##### _____ minute(s)

    _____ mionaid(ean) ( )

##### _____ hour(s)

    _____ uair(ean) ( )

##### _____ day(s)

    _____ latha (laithean) ( )

##### _____ week(s)

    _____ seachdain(ean) ( )

##### _____ month(s)

    _____ mios(an) ( )

##### _____ year(s)

    _____ bliadhna (bliadhnaichean) ( )

#### Days
##### today

    an-diugh (an-JOO)

##### yesterday

    an-de (an-JEH)

##### tomorrow

    a-maireach (a-MAH-roch)

##### this week

    (an) seachdain (seo) ( )

##### last week

    an seachgainn seach chaidh

##### next week

    an ath sheachdain ( )

##### Monday

    Diluain (JEE loo-een)

##### Tuesday

    Dimàirt (JEE mar-sht)

##### Wednesday

    Diciadaoin ( )

##### Thursday

    Diardaoin ( )

##### Friday

    Dihaoine (JIH höh-nyeh)

##### Saturday

    Disathairne (JEE saa-har-nyeh)

##### Sunday

    Didòmhnaich (General) or Latha na sàbaid (Presbyterian) (LAA na-SAH-betch)

#### Months
##### January

    am Faoileach ( )

##### February

    am Gearran ( )

##### March

    am Màrt (am MAAR-sht)

##### April

    an Giblean ( )

##### May

    an Cèitean ( )

##### June

    an t-Ògmhìos ( )

##### July

    an t-luchar ( )

##### August

    an Lùnastal ( )

##### September

    an t-Sultain ( )

##### October

    an Dàmhair ( )

##### November

    an t-Samhain ( an tuh- SAvine)

##### December

    an Dùbhlachd ( )

#### Seasons
##### Spring

    an t-Earrach

##### Summer

    an Samhradh

##### Autumn

    am Foghar

##### Winter

    an Geamhradh

#### Writing time and date
### Colours
#### black

    dubh (doo)

#### white

    geal (geh-al)

#### grey

    liath (LEE-ah)

#### red

    dearg ("ruadh" for hair) ( JEER-k)

#### blue

    gorm ( Gor-um)

#### yellow

    buidhe ( BOO-yuh)

#### green

    uaine ( ooAIN-yuh)

#### orange

    orains ( oRAHNs)

#### purple

    purpie

#### brown

    donn (DÖ-un - rounded lips like German Ö)

### Transportation
#### Bus and train
##### How much is a ticket to _____?

    De a' phris airson tiocaid gu ____? ( )

##### One ticket to _____, please.

    Aon tiocaid gu ______, mar 'se do thoil e. ( )

##### Where does this train/bus go?

    Cait' an dol an treana / am bus seo? ( )

##### Where is the train/bus to _____?

    Cait' a bheil an treana / am bus do ____? ( )

##### When does the train/bus for _____ leave?

    Cuin' a falbh an trana / am bus do ____?( )

##### When will this train/bus arrive in _____?
#### Directions
##### How do I get to _____ ?

    Ciamar a tha mi a' dol dhan ____ ? ( Cihamad a ha me a' jole yan)

##### ...the train station?

    ... steisean treana? ( )

##### ...the bus station?

    ... steisean bus? ( )

##### ...the airport?

    ... phort-adhair? ( )

##### ...downtown?

    ... bhaile? ( )

##### ...the youth hostel?

    ... ostail? ( )

##### ...the _____ hotel?

    ... taigh-osda ____ ? ( )

##### Where are there a lot of...

    Cait' a bheil moran .... ann? ( )

##### ...hotels?

    ... taighean-osda? ( )

##### ...restaurants?

    ... taighean-bidh? (tie-yin bee )

##### ...bars?

    ... taighean-seinnse? ( )

##### street

    rathad (rahd )

##### Turn left.

    (tionndaidh chun làimh chlì )

##### Turn right.

    (tionndaidh gu do làimh cheart )

##### left

    (clì )

##### right

    (deas )

##### north

    tuath (too-aye)

##### south

    deas ( jays)

##### east

    ear ( )

##### west

    iar ( )

##### uphill

    suas ( )

##### downhill

    sios ( )

#### Taxi
##### Taxi!

    Tacsaidh! ( tak-say)

##### How much does it cost to get to _____?

    De a' phris airson dol dhan ____? ( )

##### Take me there, please.
### Lodging
#### How much is a room for one person/two people?

    De a' phris airson seomar na aon/ dha? ( )

#### ...a bathroom?

    ... taigh-beag? ( taych-bake)

#### ...a telephone?

    ... fon? ( )

#### ...a TV?

    ... taidhsearan? ( )

#### Do you have anything quieter?

    A bheil seomar sam bith agaibh nas ciuine? ( )

#### ...bigger?

    ... nas motha? ( )

#### ...cleaner?

    ... nas glinne? ( )

#### ...cheaper?

    ... nas saora? ( )

#### I will stay for _____ night(s).

    Fuirichidh mi ____ oidhche(an) ( )

#### What time is breakfast/supper?

    Cuin' am bi breacaist/suipear? ( )

#### I want to check out.
### Money
#### Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?

    An toil leibh dolair Ameirigeach/Astrailianach/Canadach? ( )

#### Do you accept British pounds?

    An toil leibh notaichean? ( )

#### Do you accept euros?

    An toil leibh airgead eorpach? ( )

#### Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?
### Eating
#### A table for one person/two people, please.

    Bord airson aon/dha, mar 's e bhur toil e. ( )

#### Can I look at the menu, please?

    Faodaidh mi seall air a' mhenu? ( )

#### I'm a vegetarian.

    Cha bi mi ag ithe mi feoil. ( )

#### I don't eat pork.

    Cha bi mi ag ithe feoil-mhuic. ( )

#### I don't eat beef.

    Cha bi mi ag ithe feoil-mhairt. ( )

#### I only eat kosher food.

    Cha bi mi ag ithe biadh ach kosher. ( )

#### breakfast

    bracaist ( )

#### lunch

    dinnear ( )

#### tea (meal)

    suipear ( )

#### supper

    caicean ( )

#### I want _____.

    Bu toil leam ____. ( ) OR Tha mi ag iarraidh ____.

#### chicken

    cearc ( )

#### beef

    feòil-mhairt ( )

#### fish

    iasg ( )

#### ham

    feoil-mhuic ( )

#### sausage

    isbean ( )

#### cheese

    caise (cai-shuh )

#### eggs

    uighean ( )

#### (fresh) vegetables

    glasraich ( )

#### (fresh) fruit

    measan ( )

#### bread

    aran ( )

#### toast

    tost ( )

#### beans

    pònairean ( )

#### May I have a glass of _____?

    Bu toil leam glainne _____. ( )

#### May I have a bottle of _____?

    Bu toil leam botal _____. ( )

#### coffee

    cofaidh (coh-fee )

#### tea (drink)

    tì ( )

#### juice

    sugh ( )

#### (still) water

    uisge (oosh-guh )

#### beer

    leann ( )

#### red/white wine

    fìon dearg/geal ( )

#### salt

    salann ( )

#### black pepper

    piopair ( )

#### butter

    ìm (eem)

#### Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)

    gabhaibh mo leisgeul ( )

#### I'm finished.

    Tha mi deiseil ( )

#### It was delicious.

    Tha e glè blasta ( )

#### The check, please.
### Bars
#### A bottle, please.

    Botal, led thoil. ( )

#### whisky

    uisge-beatha ( )

#### vodka

    ( Bhodka)

#### water

    uisge ( )

#### orange juice

    sugh oraindsear ( )

#### One more, please.

    (Aon eile, )

#### Cheers!

    (“ Slàinte “)

#### Good health!

    (“ Slàinte mhath“)

### Shopping
#### expensive

    daor. ( )

#### cheap

    saor. ( )

#### I need...

    Feumaidh mi... ( )

#### ...a postcard.

    ... cart-puist. ( )

#### ...writing paper.

    ... paipear airson sgriobh. ( )

#### ...a pen.

    ... peann. ( )

#### ...a Gaelic-English dictionary.

    ... faclair Gàidhlig-Beurla. ( )

### Driving
#### diesel

Countries
Scotland
Alba (A-la-puh)
England
Sasainn (Sa-sayn)
Wales
A' chuimrigh (A- kum-ree)
Ireland
Èirinn (ee-rin)
France
America
Aimearaga (am-ee-ri-ga)
Australia
Astràilia
I am from...
Tha mi à... (Ha mee a...)