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."

Alrightly Then

In English we say "I am," "you are," "it is," etc. In Gaelic, we say "tha" for "am," "are," and "is." It doesn't change.

  *  I -- Mi
-Pronunciation: mi

  *  I am -- Tha mi
-Pronunciation: ha mi

  *  Well -- Gu math
-Pronunciation: gu MAHH

"Math" means "good" when you are describing something. But if you add the word "gu" in front of it to make "gu math," it means "in a good way" or "well." It's a bit like the ending "-ly" in English, as in "the quick fox" and "the fox ran quickly."

  *  Alright -- Dòigheil
-Pronunciation: DOA-yil

Although there is actually no such word as "alrightly" in English, when you say "I'm alright" in Gaelic, what you are literally saying is something like "I'm alrightly"!

  *  I'm alright -- The mi gu dòigheil
-Pronunciation: ha mi gu DOA-yil

  *  Bad -- Dona
-Pronunciation: DO-na

  *  I'm doing badly (I am badly) -- Tha mi gu dona
-Pronunciation: ha mi gu DO-na

  *  Middling -- Meadhanach
-Pronunciation: MEYuh-nokh

  *  I'm middling -- Tha mi meadhanach
-Pronunciation: ha mi MEYuh-nokh

  *  I'm reasonably well (I am middling good) -- Tha mi meadhanach math
-Pronunciation: ha mi MEYuh-nokh mahh

*Formal
  *  How are you? -- Ciamar a tha sibh?
-Pronunciation: KI-mar ah-ha shehv

*Formal
  *  You -- Sibh
-Pronunciation: shehv

Gaelic had two different words to say "you." When you want to be polite, or if you are talking to someone you don't know or an older person, you should call them "sibh."

  *  You are -- Tha sibh
-Pronunciation: ha shehv

  *  How? -- Ciamar?
-Pronunciation: KI-mar

Start at the Beginning

I've been learning Scottish Gaelic since around the middle of Summer this year, and I'd like to start sharing what I've been learning on my blog now. The only site I could find to learn Gaelic, was Mango Languages, and as I've been learning I've been writing down the words and phrases in a notebook, so I can look back. Besides, writing stuff down helps burn it into my memory. Now I've decided to also write what I've been learning on my blog, so you can follow me in my goal to become a fluent speaker of the Scottish Gaelic language.

(Because each chapter can be quite large, I'll be doing them in different parts, and the start of a new chapter will be clearly indicated)

Chapter One: Greetings, Gratitude, and Goodbyes

  *  Hello (Good day) -- Latha math

-Pronunciation: la-a mah

  *  Day -- Latha

-Pronunciation: laa

  *  Good -- Math

-Pronunciation: mahh

"Latha math" is the standard greeting in Scottish Gaelic. You can address it to anyone at any time of the day, and it can also be used to wish someone a good day when you part company. You may also hear the greeting "Halò."

  *  Afternoon -- Feasgar

-Pronunciation: FESKur

In Scottish Gaelic, the word "feasgar" refers to any part of the day between lunchtime and nightfall, so it corresponds to both "afternoon" and "evening."

  *  Good afternoon -- Feasgar math

-Pronunciation: FESKur mahh

*Feminine

  *  Morning -- Madainn

-Pronunciation: MA-Teen

*Feminine

  *  Good morning -- Madainn mhath

-Pronunciation: MA-Teen vahh

Did you notice that the word "math" changed to "mhath" after "madainn"? This is because "madainn" is feminine. In English, things can be "he," "she," or "it" depending on weather they are male, female, or neither. In Gaelic, there is no "it": all things are considered to be either masculine or feminine. Unfortunately, there's no easy way to tell if a word is masculine or feminine, you just have to remember the gender of each word. One clue is that feminine words often change the sound of a following adjective, which is indicated by adding an "h" after the first letter.

*Feminine

  *  Night -- Oidhche

-Pronunciation: OI-hye

*Feminine

  *  Good night -- Oidhche mhath

-Pronunciation: OI-hye vahh

  *  I am well -- Tha mi gu math

-Pronunciation: ha mi gu MAHH

  *  Be -- Bi

-Pronunciation: bee

  *  Am, Is, or Are -- Tha

-Pronunciation: ha