Gaelic Corner
As an American Clansman or woman of Clan Grant, you have, as part of your heritage, a language unique to the Celtic peoples of the British Isles. That language is known as the Gaelic Language. Several hundred years ago, the language was widespread throughout Ireland, Wales, the Outer Islands, and the Scottish Highlands. Due to outside social influences and prior active discouragement of the use of Gaelic by the British government, Gaelic as a spoken language had rapidly decreased in its use. However, Gaelic is now enjoying a resurgence in use. Gaelic is part of your heritage, and as such, you should endeavor to learn as much of it as you can. Here are a few simple phrases to get you started.
English |
Gaelic |
Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
|
Hi |
Hai |
Hi |
|
Hello |
Hallò |
Hah-low |
|
How are you? (informal, friends, and young ones) |
Ciamar a tha thu? |
Kimmer ah ha ooh? |
|
How are you? (formal, plural, elders, and strangers) |
Ciamar a tha sibh? |
Kimmer a ha shiv? |
|
I'm fine |
Tha gu math. |
Ha goo ma. |
|
Thank you (informal) |
Tapadh leat |
Toppa loft ("f" almost silent) |
|
Thank you (formal) |
Tapadh leibh |
Toppa leev |
|
Good afternoon |
Feasgar math |
Fess-grrr mah |
|
I am….(your name here) |
Is misa….. |
Iss meesha….. |
|
Good day |
Latha math |
Laha mah |
|
Good morning |
Madainn mhath |
Mah-dtain vah |
|
Goodbye (informal) |
Mar sin leat |
Mahr sheen loft ("f" almost silent) |
|
Goodbye (formal) |
Mar sin leibh |
Mahr sheen leev |
|
Many thanks |
Mòran taing |
Mohr-on tay-eeng ("g" almost silent) |
|
Good night |
Oidhche mhat |
Oh-ee-chee vah |
|
This is …. (a person's name) |
Seo …. |
Show …. |
LearnGaelic - The one stop shop for learning Scottish Gaelic
http://learngaelic.net/
Am Faclair Beag - Scottish Gaelic/English Dictionary
http://www.faclair.com/
Other Scottish Gaelic learners' materials on the Internet
http://www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/gaidhlig/ionnsachadh/