A collection of useful phrases in Scottish Gaelic, a Celtic language spoken mainly in Scotland, and also in Nova Scotia in Canada.
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See these phrases in any combination of two languages in the Phrase Finder. If you can provide recordings, corrections or additional translations, please contact me.
Key to abbreviations: inf = informal, frm = formal, sg = singular (said to one person), pl = plural (said to more than one person)
| Welcome | Fàilte Ceud mìle fàilte (a hundred thousand welcomes) |
| Hello (General greeting) | Halò Ciamar a tha thu? (inf) Ciamar a tha sibh? (frm/pl) |
| How are you? | Ciamar a tha thu? (inf) Ciamar a tha sibh? (frm/pl) Dè mar a tha thu? (inf) Dè mar a tha sibh? (frm/pl) |
| Reply to 'How are you?' | Tha gu math, tapadh leat, Ciamar a tha thu-fhein? (inf) Tha gu math, tapadh leibh. Ciamar a tha sibh-fhein? (frm/pl) |
| Long time no see | 'S fhada bho nach fhaca mi thu (inf) 'S fhada bho nach fhaca mi sibh (frm) |
| What's your name? | Dè an t-ainm a th'ort (inf/sg) Dè an t-ainm a th'oirbh (frm/pl) |
| My name is ... | Is mise ... |
| Where are you from? | Co às a tha thu? (inf)Co às a sibh? (frm) |
| I'm from ... | 'Sann à ... a tha miTha mi à ... |
| Pleased to meet you | Tha mi toilichte ur coinneachadh (frm/pl) Tha mi toilichte do choinneachadh (inf/sg) |
| Good morning (Morning greeting) | Madainn mhath |
| Good afternoon (Afternoon greeting) | Feasgar math |
| Good evening (Evening greeting) | Feasgar math |
| Good night | Oidhche mhath |
| Goodbye (Parting phrases) | Beannachd leat (inf) Beannachd leibh (frm/pl) Mar sin leat (inf) - reply to beannachd leat Mar sin leibh (frm/pl) - reply to beannachd leibh Tìoraidh (inf) Tìoraidh ma-tha (inf) 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! (inf) Sealbh math dhuibh! (frm/pl) Gur math a thèid leat! (inf) Gur math a thèid leibh! (frm/pl) Piseach! (inf) Piseach mhath ort! (inf) Piseach mhath oirbh! (frm/pl) Gun tèid leat! Beir buaidh! Gun soirbhich leat! |
| Cheers! Good Health! (Toasts used when drinking) | 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 I see you and every day I don't) |
| Bon appetit / Have a nice meal | Ith gu leòir! Ith do shàth! Làmh fhada is cead a sìneadh! |
| Bon voyage / Have a good journey | Turas math dhut! Turas math dhuibh! |
| I don't know | Chan eil fios agam |
| Do you understand? | A bheil thu a' tuigsinn? (inf) A bheil sibh a' tuigsinn? (frm/pl) |
| I understand | Tha mi 'tuigsinn |
| I don't understand | Chan eil mi 'tuigsinn |
| Please speak more slowly | An urrainn dhut bruidhinn nàs maille? (inf) An urrainn dhuibh bruidhinn nàs maille? (frm/pl) |
| Please say that again | 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) |
| Please write it down | 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 English? | A bheil Beurla agat? (sg/inf) A bheil Beurla agaibh? (pl/frm) |
| Do you speak Scottish Gaelic? | A bheil Gàidhlig agat? (sg/inf) A bheil Gàidhlig agaibh? (pl/frm) |
| Yes, a little(reply to 'Do you speak ...?') | Tha, beagan |
| How do you say ... in Scottish Gaelic? | Ciamar a chanas tu... ann an Gàidhlig? (inf/sg) Ciamar a chanas sibh ... ann an Gàidhlig? (frm/pl) 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! |
| Please | Ma's e do thoil e (inf) Ma's e bhur toil e (frm/pl) |
| Thank you | Tapadh leat (inf) Tapadh leibh (frm/pl) Taing mhór Móran taing |
| Reply to thank you | 'S e do bheatha (inf) 'Se ur beatha (frm/pl) |
| Where's the toilet / bathroom? | 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/pl) |
| Do you come here often? | An ann tric a thig thu an-seo? (inf) An ann tric a thig sibh an-seo? (frm/pl) |
| I miss you | Tha mi gad ionndrainn (inf) Tha mi gur ionndrainn (frm) |
| I love you | Tha gaol agam ort |
| Get well soon | Faigh na's fearr! |
| Call the police! | Fònadh chun a' phoileis! |
| Christmas greetings | Nollaig chridheil |
| New Year greetings | Bliadhna mhath ùr |
| Easter greetings | A' Chàisg sona |
| Birthday greetings | Là breith sona dhuit (sg/inf)) Là breith sona dhuibh (pl/frm) |
| Congratulations! | Co-ghàirdeachas! Meal do naidheachd! Gum meal sibh ur naidheachd! |
| One language is never enough | Chan eil aon chànan gu leòr |
| My hovercraft is full of eels | Tha an hovercraft agam loma-làn easgannan Tha a' bàta-falbhain agam loma-làn easgannan |
Notes
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 a stranger or older personDownload a PDF of these phrases
If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.
Information about Scottish Gaelic | Phrases | Numbers | Family words | Terms of endearment | Colours | Time | Comparison of Celtic languages | Celtic cognates | Celtiadur | Tower of Babel | Songs | Links | My podcast about Scottish Gaelic | Learning materials
Links
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
Phrases in Celtic languages
Breton, Cornish, Cumbric, Irish, Manx, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh, Welsh (Gwentian)
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