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From The Complete Scottish Gaelic Phrasebook

Complete first practical phrase chapter, including every subsection and phrase.

Content language: English · Learning language: Scottish Gaelic

Chapter 1

Survival Essentials

Basic Greetings

Hello.

Halò. (hal-aw)

Good morning.

Madainn mhath. (ma-deen vah)

Good evening.

Feasgar math. (fess-gar mah)

Good night.

Oidhche mhath. (oy-che vah)

Goodbye.

Mar sin leibh. (mar shin leev)

See you later.

Chì mi rithist sibh. (chee mee ree-ist sheev)

Nice to meet you.

Is math a bhith eòlach oirbh. (iss mah a vee yo-lach or-iv)

Welcome.

Fàilte. (fahl-chuh)

How are you?

Ciamar a tha sibh? (kim-er a ha sheev)

I’m fine.

Tha mi gu math. (ha mee goo mah)

And you?

Agus sibh fhèin? (ah-gus sheev hayn)

Have a good day.

Latha math dhuibh. (lah-uh mah ghiv)

See you tomorrow.

Chì mi a-màireach sibh. (chee mee a-mahr-yach sheev)

How are things?

Ciamar a tha cùisean? (kim-er a ha koo-shan)

Not bad.

Chan eil dona. (chan yale don-uh)

Very well.

Glè mhath. (glay vah)

Thank you for asking.

Tapadh leibh airson faighneachd. (tah-puh leev air-son figh-nyachk)

It is a pleasure.

Is e mo thlachd e. (iss eh mo hlachk eh)

Take care.

An aire oirbh fhèin. (an ah-ruh or-iv hayn)

Please come in.

Thigibh a-steach. (hig-iv a-styoch)

Politeness & Basics

Please.

Mas e ur toil e. (mass eh oor tol eh)

Thank you.

Tapadh leibh. (tah-puh leev)

Thank you very much.

Mòran taing. (mo-ran tie-ing)

You’re welcome.

Is e ur beatha. (iss eh oor beh-ha)

Excuse me.

Gabh mo leisgeul. (gav mo laysh-gull)

I’m sorry.

Tha mi duilich. (ha mee doo-lich)

No problem.

Chan eil trioblaid ann. (chan yale troop-let ahn)

That’s okay.

Tha sin ceart gu leòr. (ha shin kyarsht goo lyore)

Of course.

Gun teagamh. (goon chek-uv)

Don’t worry.

Na gabh dragh. (nah gav drah-gh)

Yes.

Seadh. (shugh)

No.

Chan eil. (chan yale)

I understand.

Tha mi a' tuigsinn. (ha mee a took-shin)

I don't understand.

Chan eil mi a' tuigsinn. (chan yale mee a took-shin)

Do you speak English?

A bheil Beurla agaibh? (a vale byur-la ah-kiv)

I only speak a little Scottish Gaelic.

Chan eil agam ach beagan Gàidhlig. (chan yale ah-kum ach be-gan gah-lik)

Could you speak more slowly?

An urrainn dhuibh bruidhinn nas slaodaiche? (an oor-in ghiv bree-in nas slow-dee-chuh)

Could you repeat that?

An can sibh sin a-rithist? (an kan sheev shin a-ree-ist)

What does this mean?

Dè tha seo a' ciallachadh? (jay ha sho a kee-al-uh-chugh)

Just a moment.

Mionaid bheag. (min-it veg)

Core Survival Patterns

Pattern: I need …

Tha feum agam air … (ha faim ah-kum air)

I need help.

Tha feum agam air cuideachadh. (ha faim ah-kum air kooch-uh-chugh)

I need a doctor.

Tha feum agam air dotair. (ha faim ah-kum air dot-er)

I need water.

Tha feum agam air uisge. (ha faim ah-kum air oosh-kuh)

I need food.

Tha feum agam air biadh. (ha faim ah-kum air bee-ugh)

I need rest.

Tha feum agam air fois. (ha faim ah-kum air fosh)

Pattern: I want …

Tha mi ag iarraidh … (ha mee a gee-ar-ee)

I want a coffee.

Tha mi ag iarraidh cofaidh. (ha mee a gee-ar-ee koff-ee)

I want to go.

Tha mi ag iarraidh falbh. (ha mee a gee-ar-ee fal-av)

I want to pay.

Tha mi ag iarraidh pàigheadh. (ha mee a gee-ar-ee pie-ugh)

I want a ticket.

Tha mi ag iarraidh tiogaid. (ha mee a gee-ar-ee choo-kit)

I want this.

Tha mi ag iarraidh seo. (ha mee a gee-ar-ee sho)

Pattern: I would like …

Bu mhath leam … (boo vah lowm)

I would like a drink.

Bu mhath leam deoch. (boo vah lowm joch)

I would like to eat.

Bu mhath leam ithe. (boo vah lowm ee-huh)

I would like to sleep.

Bu mhath leam cadal. (boo vah lowm kah-dul)

I would like some information.

Bu mhath leam fiosrachadh. (boo vah lowm fiss-ruh-chugh)

I would like to stay.

Bu mhath leam fuireach. (boo vah lowm foor-yach)

Pattern: Can you …?

An urrainn dhuibh …? (an oor-in ghiv)

Can you help me?

An urrainn dhuibh mo chuideachadh? (an oor-in ghiv mo chooch-uh-chugh)

Can you show me?

An urrainn dhuibh a shealltainn dhomh? (an oor-in ghiv a showl-tin ghowm)

Can you wait?

An urrainn dhuibh fuireach? (an oor-in ghiv foor-yach)

Can you write it down?

An urrainn dhuibh a sgrìobhadh sìos? (an oor-in ghiv a skree-vugh shee-us)

Can you translate this?

An urrainn dhuibh seo eadar-theangachadh? (an oor-in ghiv sho a-tar-hyang-uh-chugh)

Pattern: Where is …?

Càite a bheil …? (kah-cha a vale)

Where is the bathroom?

Càite a bheil an taigh-beag? (kah-cha a vale an tie-beg)

Where is the station?

Càite a bheil an stèisean? (kah-cha a vale an staysh-un)

Where is the hotel?

Càite a bheil an taigh-òsta? (kah-cha a vale an tie-os-ta)

Where is my bag?

Càite a bheil mo bhaga? (kah-cha a vale mo va-kah)

Where is the exit?

Càite a bheil an t-slighe a-mach? (kah-cha a vale an tlee-uh a-mach)

This reading preserves the complete source section, including its original examples and any translations already in the book. It has not been rewritten or translated for this preview.