Useful Manx phrases
A collection of useful phrases in Manx, a Celtic language spoken on the Isle of Man.
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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: sg = singular (said to one person),
pl = plural (said to more than one person.
| English |
Gaelg (Manx) |
| Welcome |
Failt ort (sg)
Failt erriu (pl) |
| Hello (General greeting) |
Moghrey mie (morning)
Fastyr mie (afternoon / evening) |
| How are you? |
Kys t'ou? (sg)
Kanys ta shiu? (pl) |
| Reply to 'How are you?' |
Braew, gura mie ayd, as uss hene? (sg)
Braew, gura mie eu, as shiu hene? (pl)
Feer vie, gura mie ayd, as uss hene? (sg)
Feer vie, gura mie eu, as shiu hene? (pl) |
| Long time no see |
She tammylt liauyr neayr's honnick mee oo (sg)
She tammylt liauyr neayr's honnick mee shiu (pl) |
| What's your name? |
Cre'n ennym t'ort? (sg)
Cre'n ennym t'erriu? (pl) |
| My name is ... |
Ta'n ennym orrym ...
Ta ... yn ennym orrym
Mish ... |
| Where are you from? |
Cre voish t'ou? (sg)
Cre voish ta shiu? (pl) |
| I'm from ... |
Ta mee voish ... |
| Pleased to meet you |
S'mie lhiam çheet dty whail (sg)
S'taittin lhiam çheet dty whail (sg) |
Good morning
(Morning greeting) |
Moghrey mie |
Good afternoon
(Afternoon greeting) |
Fastyr mie |
Good evening
(Evening greeting) |
Fastyr mie |
| Good night |
Oie vie |
Goodbye
(Parting phrases) |
Slane lhiat (sg)
Slane lhiu (pl)
Bannaght lhiat (sg)
Bannaght lhiu (pl)
Hee'm oo (sg)
Hee'm shiu (pl) |
| Good luck! |
Aigh vie ort! (sg)
Aigh vie erriu! (pl)
Noorey vie ort! (sg)
Noorey vie erriu! (pl) |
Cheers! Good Health!
(Toasts used when drinking) |
Slaynt! (health)
Slaynt vie! (good health)
Slaynt vie, bea veayn, beeal fliugh as baase ayns Mannin
(Good health, a long life, a wet mouth, and death in Mann) |
|
Deirey-shiaghtin mie dhyt! (sg)
Deirey-shiaghtin mie diu! (pl) |
Bon appetit /
Have a nice meal |
Gow dty vee dy fondagh! |
Bon voyage /
Have a good journey |
Cair vie! (Fair winds) |
| Maybe |
Foddee |
| I don't know |
Cha nel fys aym
Cha 's aym |
| I understand |
Ta mee toiggal |
| I don't understand |
Cha nel mee toiggal |
| Please speak more slowly |
Loayr ny smelley, my sailt (sg)
Loayr-shiu ny smelley, my sailliu (pl) |
| Please say that again |
Abbyr shen reesht, my sailt (sg)
Abbyr-shiu shen reesht, my sailliu (pl)
|
| Please write it down |
Screeu shen sheese, my sailt (sg)
Screeu-shiu shen sheese, my sailliu (pl) |
| Do you speak English? |
Vel Baarle ayd? |
| Do you speak Manx? |
Vel Gaelg ayd? |
Yes, a little
(reply to 'Do you speak ...?') |
Ta, beggan |
| I'm learning Manx |
Ta mee gynsagh Gaelg
Ta mee gynsaghey Gaelg |
Do you speak a language
other than Manx? |
Marish Gaelg, vel çhengey elley ayd? |
| Speak to me in Manx |
Loayr Gaelg rhym, my sailt (sg)
Loayr-shiu Gaelg rhym, my sailliu (sg) |
| How do you say ... in Manx? |
Cre ta'n fockle son ... 'sy Ghaelg? |
| Excuse me |
Gow my leshtal!
Jean my leshtal! |
| I would like ... |
By vie lhiam ... |
| How much is this? |
Quoid ta shoh? |
| Sorry |
S'doogh lhiam!
S'treih lhiam!
S'olk lhiam!
Gow my leshtal! |
| Please |
My saillt (sg)
My sailliu (pl) |
| Thank you |
Gura mie ayd (sg)
Gura mie eu (pl)
Gura mie mooar ayd (sg)
Gura mie mooar eu (pl) |
| Reply to thank you |
She dty vea |
| Where's the toilet / bathroom? |
C'raad ta'n thie-veg?
C'raad ta'n premmee-deiney? (Gents)
C'raad ta'n premmee-mraane? (Ladies)
C'raad ta'n shamyr-oonlee? |
| Would you like to dance with me? |
By vie lhiat daunsey lhiam? |
| Do you come here often? |
Vel oo çheet dys shoh dy mennick? (sg)
Vel shiu çheet dys shoh dy mennick? (pl) |
| I miss you |
Ta mee goaill foddeeaght dty yei
Ta mee goaill foddeeaght er dty hon |
| I love you |
Ta graih aym ort |
| Go away! |
Fow royd! |
| Leave me alone! |
Lhig yn raad dou! |
| Help! |
Cooin lhiam! |
| Fire! |
Aile! |
| Stop! |
Fark ort! |
| Call the police! |
Cur fys er ny poleenyn!
Cur fys er ny meoiryn-shee! |
| Christmas greetings |
Nollick Ghennal |
| New Year greetings |
Blein Vie Noa
Blein Vaynrey Noa |
| Easter greetings |
Caisht sonney dhyt |
| Birthday greetings |
Laa-ruggyree sonney dhyt |
| Congratulations! |
Moylley dhyt! |
| One language is never enough |
Cha nel un çhengey dy liooar rieau |
| My hovercraft is full of eels |
Ta my haagh crowal lane dy astanyn
Ta my lhong chrowal lane dy astanyn |
Notes
- oo (ou) = you singular. The emphatic form is uss.
- shiu = you plural, and is used when talking to more than one person
- When oo / shiu are combined with prepositions you get: ort / erriu (on/to you), lhiat / lhiu (with you), ayd / eu (at you). More information.
Download a PDF of these phrases
Download all the recordings (Zip, 2.3MB)
If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if
you can provide recordings, please contact me.
Information about Manx |
Phrases |
Numbers |
Colours |
Family words |
Colours |
Time |
Idioms |
Proverbs |
Terms of endearment |
Comparison of Celtic languages |
Celtic cognates |
Celtiadur |
Songs |
Tower of Babel |
The decline and revival of Manx |
My podcast about Manx |
Links |
Learning materials
Links
Other collections of Manx phrases
http://www.learnmanx.com/cms/beginner_lesson_detail_256.html
http://wikitravel.org/en/Manx_Gaelic_phrasebook
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Manx/Lessoon_1
http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/fulltext/md1933/index.htm
Phrases in Celtic languages
Breton,
Cornish,
Cumbric,
Irish,
Manx,
Scottish Gaelic,
Welsh,
Welsh (Gwentian)
Phrases in other languages
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