Scottish Gaelic phrasebook

Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig), is spoken by around 1.2% of Scotland, as well as parts of Nova Scotia, Canada. 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.

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

Common signs WELCOME  FÀILTE OPEN  FOSGAILTE CLOSED  DÙINTE ENTRANCE  INNTRINN EXIT  DORAS A-MACH WAY OUT  SLÌGHE A-MACH PUSH  STOB PULL  GIOB TOILET  TAIGH-BHEAG MEN  FIR / DAOINE WOMEN  MNATHAN / BOIREANNAICH FORBIDDEN  TOIRMISGTE

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 English? 

(You will not need to ask this question; there are no monolingual Gaelic speakers even among the oldest generation)

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! ( !)

Stop! Thief! 

! ! ( ! !)

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

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 ( )

1,000,000 

( )

1,000,000,000 

( )

1,000,000,000,000 

( )

number _____ (train, bus, etc.) 

( )

half 

( )

less 

( )

more 

( )

Time

now 

a-nis OR an-drasda ( )

later 

as deidh

before 

roimhe

morning 

madainn ( )

afternoon 

feasgar ( )

evening 

oidhche ( )

night 

nochd ( )

Clock time

one o'clock AM 

aon uair madainn ( )

two o'clock AM 

dha uair 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 ( )

yesterday 

an-de ( )

tomorrow 

a-maireach ( )

this week 

(an) seachdain (seo) ( )

last week 

an seachgainn seach chaidh

next week 

an ath sheachdain ( )

Sunday 

Didòmhnaich (General) or Latha na sàbaid (Presbyterian) ( )

Monday 

Diluain ( )

Tuesday 

Dimàirt ( )

Wednesday 

Diciadaoin ( )

Thursday 

Diardaoin ( )

Friday 

Dihaoine ( )

Saturday 

Disathairne ( )

Months

January 

am Faoileach ( )

February 

am Gearran ( )

March 

am Màrt ( )

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 ( )

December 

an Dùbhlachd ( )

Seasons

Spring 

an t-Earrach

Summer 

an Samhradh

Autumn 

am Foghar

Winter 

an Geamhradh

Writing time and date

Colors

black 

dubh ( )

white 

geal ( )

gray 

liath

red 

dearg ("ruadh" for hair) ( )

blue 

gorm or Liath

yellow 

buidhe ( )

green 

uaine ( )

orange 

orains ( )

purple 

purpie

brown 

donn ( )

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 ____? ( )

Does this train/bus stop in _____? 

( )

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 ____ ? ( )

...the train station? 

... steisean treana? ( )

...the bus station? 

... steisean bus? ( )

...the airport? 

... phort-adhair? ( )

...downtown? 

... bhaile? ( )

...the youth hostel? 

... ostail? ( )

...the _____ hotel? 

... taigh-osda ____ ? ( )

...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? 

( )

Where are there a lot of... 

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

...hotels? 

... taighean-osda? ( )

...restaurants? 

... taighean-bidh? ( )

...bars? 

... taighean-seinnse? ( )

...sites to see? 

( )

Can you show me on the map? 

( )

street 

rathad ( )

Turn left. 

(tionndaidh chun làimh chlì )

Turn right. 

(tionndaidh gu do làimh cheart )

left 

(clì )

right 

(deas )

straight ahead 

( )

towards the _____ 

( )

past the _____ 

( )

before the _____ 

( )

Watch for the _____. 

( )

intersection 

( )

north 

tuath ( )

south 

deas ( )

east 

ear ( )

west 

iar ( )

uphill 

suas ( )

downhill 

sios ( )

Taxi

Taxi! 

Tacsaidh! ( )

Take me to _____, please. 

( )

How much does it cost to get to _____? 

De a' phris airson dol dhan ____? ( )

Take me there, please. 

( )

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available? 

( )

How much is a room for one person/two people? 

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

Does the room come with... 

( )

...bedsheets? 

( )

...a bathroom? 

... taigh beag? ( )

...a telephone? 

... fon? ( )

...a TV? 

... taidhsearan? ( )

May I see the room first? 

( )

Do you have anything quieter? 

A bheil seomar sam bith agaibh nas ciuine? ( )

...bigger? 

... nas motha? ( )

...cleaner? 

... nas glinne? ( )

...cheaper? 

... nas saora? ( )

OK, I'll take it. 

( )

I will stay for _____ night(s). 

Fuirichidh mi ____ oidhche(an) ( )

Can you suggest another hotel? 

( )

Do you have a safe? 

( )

...lockers? 

( )

Is breakfast/supper included? 

( )

What time is breakfast/supper? 

Cuin' am bi breacaist/suipear? ( )

Please clean my room. 

( )

Can you wake me at _____? 

( )

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? ( )

Do you accept credit cards? 

( )

Can you change money for me? 

( )

Where can I get money changed? 

( )

Can you change a traveler's check for me? 

( )

Where can I get a traveler's check changed? 

( )

What is the exchange rate? 

( )

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? ( )

Can I look in the kitchen? 

( )

Is there a house specialty? 

( )

Is there a local specialty? 

( )

I'm a vegetarian. 

Chan ith mi feoil. ( )

I don't eat pork. 

Chan ith mi feoil-mhuic. ( )

I don't eat beef. 

Chan ith mi feoil-mhairt. ( )

I only eat kosher food. 

Chan ith mi biadh ach kosher. ( )

Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard) 

( )

fixed-price meal 

( )

a la carte 

( )

breakfast 

bracaist ( )

lunch 

dinnear ( )

tea (meal) 

suipear ( )

supper 

caicean ( )

I want _____. 

Bu toil leam ____. ( )

I want a dish containing _____. 

( )

chicken 

cearc ( )

beef 

feòil-mhairt ( )

fish 

iasg ( )

ham 

feoil-mhuic ( )

sausage 

isbean ( )

cheese 

caise ( )

eggs 

uighean ( )

salad 

( )

(fresh) vegetables 

glasraich ( )

(fresh) fruit 

measan ( )

bread 

aran ( )

toast 

tost ( )

noodles 

( )

rice 

( )

beans 

pònairean ( )

May I have a glass of _____? 

Bu toil leam glainne _____. ( )

May I have a cup of _____? 

( )

May I have a bottle of _____? 

Bu toil leam botal _____. ( )

coffee 

cofaidh ( )

tea (drink) 

tì ( )

juice 

sugh ( )

(bubbly) water 

( )

(still) water 

uisge ( )

beer 

leann ( )

red/white wine 

fìon dearg/geal ( )

May I have some _____? 

( )

salt 

salann ( )

black pepper 

piopair ( )

butter 

ìm ( )

Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)

gabhaibh mo leisgeul ( )

I'm finished. 

Tha mi deiseil ( )

It was delicious. 

( )

Please clear the plates. 

( )

The check, please. 

( )

Bars

Do you serve alcohol? 

( )

Is there table service? 

( )

A beer/two beers, please. 

( )

A glass of red/white wine, please. 

( )

A pint, please. 

( )

A bottle, please. 

( )

_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please. 

( )

whiskey 

uisge-beatha ( )

vodka 

( )

rum 

( )

water 

uisge ( )

club soda 

( )

tonic water 

( )

orange juice 

sugh orainds ( )

Coke (soda) 

( )

Do you have any bar snacks? 

( )

One more, please. 

( )

Another round, please. 

( )

When is closing time? 

( )

Cheers! 

Good health! 

(“ Sláinte “)

Shopping

Do you have this in my size? 

( )

How much is this? 

( )

That's too expensive. 

Tha e ro dhaor. ( )

Would you take _____? 

( )

expensive 

daor. ( )

cheap 

saor. ( )

I can't afford it. 

( )

I don't want it. 

( )

You're cheating me. 

( )

I'm not interested. 

(..)

OK, I'll take it. 

( )

Can I have a bag? 

( )

Do you ship (overseas)? 

( )

I need... 

Feumaidh mi... ( )

...toothpaste. 

( )

...a toothbrush. 

( )

...tampons. 

. ( )

...soap. 

( )

...shampoo. 

( )

...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen) 

( )

...cold medicine. 

( )

...stomach medicine. 

( )

...a razor. 

( )

...an umbrella. 

( )

...sunblock lotion. 

( )

...a postcard. 

... cart-puist. ( )

...postage stamps. 

( )

...batteries. 

( )

...writing paper. 

... paipear airson sgriobh. ( )

...a pen. 

... peann. ( )

...English-language books. 

... leabhraichean anns a' Bheurla. ( )

...English-language magazines. 

( )

...an English-language newspaper. 

... paipear-naidheachd anns a' Bheurla. ( )

...an English-English dictionary. 

... faclair Beurla-Beurla. ( )

Driving

I want to rent a car. 

( )

Can I get insurance? 

( )

stop (on a street sign) 

( )

one way 

( )

yield 

( )

no parking 

( )

speed limit 

( )

gas (petrol) station 

( )

petrol 

( )

diesel 

( )

Authority

I haven't done anything wrong. 

( )

It was a misunderstanding. 

( )

Where are you taking me? 

( )

Am I under arrest? 

( )

I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. 

'S e Aimearagach/Astrailianach/Breatannach/Canadach a th' annam. (rather than "Breatannach", it is better to specify "Sasannach" [English], "Albannach" [Scottish], or "Cuimreach" [Welsh]) ( )

I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. 

( )

I want to talk to a lawyer. 

( )

Can I just pay a fine now? 

( )