Useful foreign phrases |
Numbers |
Colours |
Kinship |
Idioms |
Tongue twisters |
Proverbs |
Other multilingual pages
Useful foreign phrases |
Numbers |
Colours |
Kinship |
Idioms |
Tongue twisters |
Proverbs |
Other multilingual pages
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? |
|
| Long time no see | 'S fhada bho nach fhaca mi thu/sibh |
| 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? (inf) Co às a sibh? (frm) |
| 'Sann à ... a tha mi Tha mi à ... |
|
| 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 (frm) Mar sin leat/leibh (reply to beannachd leat) Tìoraidh / Tìoraidh ma-tha / Tìoraidh an-dràsta (inf) Bidh mi 'gad fhaicinn (I'll be seeing you) Chi mi a-rithist thu (I'll see you again) Feumaidh mi ruith (I must run) |
| 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 appetit | Ith gu leòir! (Eat plenty!) |
| Bon voyage | Turas math dhut/dhuibh! |
| I understand | Tha mi 'tuigsinn |
| 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 | |
| How do you say ... in Scottish Gaelic? | Ciamar a chanas tu/sibh ... ann an Gàdhlig? Dè Ghàidhlig a th'air ... ? |
| Excuse me | Gabh mo leisgeul! |
| How much is this? | Dè a' phrìs tha seo? Dè tha e 'cosg? Dè na tha seo? |
| Sorry | Gabh mo leisgeul! Tha mi duilich! |
| Thank you Response |
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 ! |
| Call the police! | Fònadh chun a' phoileis! |
| Merry Christmas and 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 Scottish Gaelic | Phrases | Numbers | Kinship terms | Tower of Babel | Songs | Links | Learning materials
Other collections of Scottish Gaelic phrases (some with audio)
http://www.gaeliccollege.edu/about/gaelic-resources/gaelic-expressions.html
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