A collection of useful phrases in Scottish Gaelic, a Celtic language spoken mainly in Scotland, and also in Nova Scotia in Canada.
See these phrases in any combination of two languages in the Phrase Finder. If you can provide recordings, corrections or additional translations, please contact me.
Key to abbreviations: inf = informal, frm = formal, sg = singular (said to one person), pl = plural (said to more than one person)
| English | Gàidhlig (Scottish Gaelic) |
|---|---|
| Welcome | Fàilte Ceud mìle fàilte (a hundred thousand welcomes) |
| Hello (General greeting) | Halò Ciamar a tha thu? (inf) Ciamar a tha sibh? (frm/pl) |
| How are you? | Ciamar a tha thu? (inf) Ciamar a tha sibh? (frm/pl) Dè mar a tha thu? (inf) Dè mar a tha sibh? (frm/pl) |
| Reply to 'How are you?' | Tha gu math, tapadh leat, Ciamar a tha thu-fhein? (inf) Tha gu math, tapadh leibh. Ciamar a tha sibh-fhein? (frm/pl) |
| Long time no see | 'S fhada bho nach fhaca mi thu (inf) 'S fhada bho nach fhaca mi sibh (frm) |
| What's your name? | Dè an t-ainm a th'ort (inf/sg) Dè an t-ainm a th'oirbh (frm/pl) |
| My name is ... | Is mise ... |
| Where are you from? | Co às a tha thu? (inf) Co às a sibh? (frm) |
| I'm from ... | 'Sann à ... a tha mi Tha mi à ... |
| Pleased to meet you | Tha mi toilichte ur coinneachadh (frm/pl) Tha mi toilichte do choinneachadh (inf/sg) |
| Good morning (Morning greeting) |
Madainn mhath |
| Good afternoon (Afternoon greeting) |
Feasgar math |
| Good evening (Evening greeting) |
Feasgar math |
| Good night | Oidhche mhath |
| Goodbye (Parting phrases) |
Beannachd leat (inf) Beannachd leibh (frm/pl) Mar sin leat (inf) - reply to beannachd leat Mar sin leibh (frm/pl) - reply to beannachd leibh Tìoraidh (inf) Tìoraidh ma-tha (inf) Tìoraidh an-dràsta (inf) Bidh mi 'gad fhaicinn (I'll be seeing you) Chi mi a-rithist thu (I'll see you again) Feumaidh mi ruith (I must run) |
| Good luck! | Sealbh math dhuit! (inf) Sealbh math dhuibh! (frm/pl) Gur math a thèid leat! (inf) Gur math a thèid leibh! (frm/pl) Piseach! (inf) Piseach mhath ort! (inf) Piseach mhath oirbh! (frm/pl) Gun tèid leat! Beir buaidh! Gun soirbhich leat! |
| Cheers! Good Health! (Toasts used when drinking) |
Slàinte! (health) Slàinte mhath! (good health) Slàinte mhor! (great health) Slàinte mhor a h-uile là a chi 's nach fhaic (Great health to you every day I see you and every day I don't) |
| Bon appetit / Have a nice meal |
Ith gu leòir! Ith do shàth! Làmh fhada is cead a sìneadh! |
| Bon voyage / Have a good journey |
Turas math dhut! Turas math dhuibh! |
| I don't know | Chan eil fios agam |
| Do you understand? | A bheil thu a' tuigsinn? (inf) A bheil sibh a' tuigsinn? (frm/pl) |
| I understand | Tha mi 'tuigsinn |
| I don't understand | Chan eil mi 'tuigsinn |
| Please speak more slowly | An urrainn dhut bruidhinn nàs maille? (inf) An urrainn dhuibh bruidhinn nàs maille? (frm/pl) |
| Please say that again | A can thu sin a-rithist, ma's e do thoil e? (inf) A can sibh sin a-rithist, ma's e bhur toil e? (frm/pl) An abair sin a-rithist thu, ma's e do thoil e? (inf) An abair sin a-rithist sibh, ma's e bhur toil e? (frm/pl) |
| Please write it down | An urrainn dhut sin a sgrìobhadh, ma's e do thoil e? (inf) An urrainn dhuibh sin a sgrìobhadh, ma's e bhur toil e? (frm) |
| Do you speak English? | A bheil Beurla agat? (sg/inf) A bheil Beurla agaibh? (pl/frm) |
| Do you speak Scottish Gaelic? | A bheil Gàidhlig agat? (sg/inf) A bheil Gàidhlig agaibh? (pl/frm) |
| Yes, a little (reply to 'Do you speak ...?') |
Tha, beagan |
| I'm learning Scottish Gaelic | Tha mi ag ionnsachadh Gàidhlig |
| How do you say ... in Scottish Gaelic? | Ciamar a chanas tu... ann an Gàidhlig? (inf/sg) Ciamar a chanas sibh ... ann an Gàidhlig? (frm/pl) Dè Ghàidhlig a th'air ... ? |
| Excuse me | Gabh mo leisgeul! |
| I would like ... | Bu toil leam ... |
| How much is this? | Dè a' phrìs tha seo? Dè tha e 'cosg? Dè na tha seo? |
| Sorry | Gabh mo leisgeul! Tha mi duilich! |
| Please | Ma's e do thoil e (inf) Ma's e bhur toil e (frm/pl) |
| Thank you | Tapadh leat (inf) Tapadh leibh (frm/pl) Taing mhór Móran taing |
| Reply to thank you | 'S e do bheatha (inf) 'Se ur beatha (frm/pl) |
| Where's the toilet / bathroom? | Càite bheil an taigh beag? |
| Would you like to dance with me? | A bheil thu 'g iarraidh a dhanns? (inf) A bheil sibh 'g iarraidh a dhanns? (frm/pl) |
| Do you come here often? | An ann tric a thig thu an-seo? (inf) An ann tric a thig sibh an-seo? (frm/pl) |
| I miss you | Tha mi gad ionndrainn (inf) Tha mi gur ionndrainn (frm) |
| I love you | Tha gaol agam ort |
| Get well soon | Faigh na's fearr! |
| Call the police! | Fònadh chun a' phoileis! |
| Christmas greetings | Nollaig chridheil |
| New Year greetings | Bliadhna mhath ùr |
| Easter greetings | A' Chàisg sona |
| Birthday greetings | Là breith sona dhuit (sg/inf)) Là breith sona dhuibh (pl/frm) |
| Congratulations! | Co-ghàirdeachas! Meal do naidheachd! Gum meal sibh ur naidheachd! |
| One language is never enough | Chan eil aon chànan gu leòr |
| My hovercraft is full of eels | Tha an hovercraft agam loma-làn easgannan Tha a' bàta-falbhain agam loma-làn easgannan |
Hear some Scottish Gaelic phrases:
Download a PDF of these phrases
If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.
Information about Scottish Gaelic | Phrases | Numbers | Family words | Terms of endearment | Colours | Time | Dates | Comparison of Celtic languages | Celtic cognates | Celtiadur | Tower of Babel | Songs | Links | My podcast about Scottish Gaelic | Learning materials
Other collections of Scottish Gaelic phrases (some with audio)
http://www.gaeliccollege.edu/about/gaelic-resources/gaelic-expressions.html
http://members.tripod.com/~scotgaelic/phrases.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/alba/foghlam/beag_air_bheag/phrase_book.shtml
http://www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/gaidhlig/ionnsachadh/bgfp/
http://www.scottishradiance.com/galsec.htm
Breton, Cornish, Cumbric, Irish, Manx, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh, Welsh (Gwentian)
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