Say A Gaelic Phrase Day
Thursday 22nd February 2024 is the third Say A Gaelic Phrase Day. This is an initiative to encourage people to try speaking Gaelic, or to use the Gaelic that they have! To take part, all you need to do is pick a Gaelic phrase from below (or make up your own one), learn how to say it (by listening to the audio file), make a video (on your phone, tablet or computer) and post it on social media using the hashtag #LàAbairtNaGàidhlig or #SayAGaelicPhraseDay. Simple as that!
Why not encourage your friends to take part – the more, the merrier! If you are feeling confident, you can combine multiple phrases using ‘agus’ (the Gaelic for ‘and’). If you are looking for more words, check out the Learn Gaelic Dictionary. If you want to find out more about speaking Gaelic, why not check out, SpeakGaelic, learngaelic.scot or Duolingo.
Everyday Phrases
Slàinte mhath!
(Slaaaaaaan-chih [as in chair] vah)
Good health/Cheers!
Tapadh leibh
(Tah-puh-live)
Thank you
Is mise…
(Is mih-shih…)
I’m / My name is…
Ciamar a tha thu?
(Kimar uh haaa oo?)
How are you?
Ciamar a tha sibh?
(Kimar uh haaa shiv?)
How are you? (Polite/Plural)
Mòran taing
(Mow-ran tah-eenk)
Many thanks
Useful Gaelic Phrases
Tha mi ag ionnsachadh Gàidhlig
(Ha me uh-gyoo-suh-chag Gaaaalik)
I am learning Gaelic
Tha mi ag iarraidh Gàidhlig ionnsachadh
(Ha me uh-gee-uh-ree Gaaaalik yoon-su-chadh)
I want to learn Gaelic
Tha beagan Gàidhlig agam
(Ha bake-un Gaaaalik ah-kum)
I have a little Gaelic
Tha gaol agam ort!
(Ha goool ah-kum orshch [ch like chair] )
I love you
Likes / Dislikes
Is toil leam…
(Stull lum)
I like…
Is fìor thoil leam…
(Sfeeer hul lum)
I really like…
Cha thoil leam…
(Cha [as in loch] tul lum)
I don’t like…
Gàidhlig
(Gaaaah-lik)
Gaelic
Ceòl agus craic
(Kyaawl agus crachk [as in loch] )
Music and crack
Uisge-beatha agus irn-brù
(Ooosh-kih beh-huh agus irn-bru)
Whisky & Irn-bru
Ceòl na pìoba
(Kyaawl na pee-pih)
Pipe music
Iasgach
(Eee-uh-skuch [as in loch] )
Fishing
Alba
(Aaah-luh-puh)
Scotland
Tractairean
(Trach- [as in loch] tur-un)
Tractors
Bèicearachd
(Beh-ker-uchk [as in loch])
Baking
Teòclaid
(Chawww–clitch [ch as chair])
Chocolate
You can choose your own words at learngaelic.scot/dictionary
Sayings – Old & New!
Mairidh gaol agus ceòl
(Marry goool agus kyaaall)
Love and music will endure
O mo chreach!
(O mow chre-ach [as in loch] )
Oh no!
Cho sgìth ris a’ chù
(Choh [ch as loch] ski rish uh chooo [ch as loch] )
As tired as a dog / knackered
Nach buidhe dhut!
(Nach [ch as loch] boo-yah goot)
Lucky you! / Good luck!
#CleachdI
(Klachk [ch as loch] eee)
#UseIt
#CleachdIAigAnTaigh
(Klachk [ch as loch] eee ek un taoy)
#UseItAtHome
Là Abairt Na Gàidhlig
(Laaah ah-purshch [ch as chair] nah Gaaah-lik)
Say a Gaelic Phrase day
Is sinne Alba
(Is sheen-nyih Aah-luh-puh)
WeAreScotland
