Never Boring

Did you notice that when you use "ciamar" you need to add the little "a" to link it to the rest of the sentence?

*Formal
  *  Hello, how are you? -- Latha math, ciamar a tha sibh?
-Pronunciation: la-a mahh, KI-mar ah-ha shehv?

*Informal
  *  You -- Thu
-Pronunciation: oo

We already learned the word "sibh," meaning "you" in polite situations. But if you're talking to someone you know well, like a friend or a child, the word for "you" is "thu." Nowadays this word is often used between young people, even if they don't know each other.

*Informal
  *  How are you? -- Cimar a tha thu?
-Pronunciation: KI-mar ah-ha oo?

  *  Self -- Fhèin
-Pronunciation: heyn

*Formal
  *  I am well, and you? (I am well, how is yourself?) -- Tha mi gu math, ciamar a tha sibh fhèin?
-Pronunciation: ha mi gu mahh, KI-mar ah-ha shee PEYN?

Gaelic conversations very often begin with some comment on the weather. The Highlands and Islands of Scotland are known for their very changeable weather, so the topic is never boring! It's also a great way to break the ice when you meet new people. In the next slides we are going to learn how to have such conversations.

  *  It is a cold day today -- Tha latha fuar ann an-diugh
-Pronunciation: ha laa FOOur auwnn un-JOO

  * Cold -- Fuar
-Pronunciation: FOOur

  *  Cold day -- Latha fuar
-Pronunciation: laa FOOur

  *  In existence -- Ann
-Pronunciation: auwnn

"Ann" is a very useful word in Gaelic. There is no exact translation in English, but it is used together with the verb "bi" (to be) to say that something exists, or that something is there. It is often used when talking about the weather, like the English phrase "it is..."

In Gaelic, there is no word corresponding to English "a," or "an," so the word "latha" can mean "a day" as well as "day."