Essential Scottish Gaelic Phrases


Sometimes you don't have time to learn long lists of words and phrases. All you want to know are the bare essentials for communicating to get what you need, or where you need to go.

Here are the bare minimum of Scottish Gaelic words and phrases you need to know to survive.

Learn the Top 10 Phrases if you only have time for the barest minimum. If you need or want more, then take a look at the Top 20 Phrases, Top 30 Phrases and the Extra Phrases.

Here are ten easy phrases to get you started ... The Top 10 ... Halò. Hello. Beannachd leibh. Mar sin leibh. (reply) Goodbye. A bheil Beurla agaibh? Do you speak English? Chan eil mi a' tuigsinn. I don't understand. Beagan. A little. Tha. Chan eil. Yes. No. Dè a' phris a tha ...? How much is ...? Ro dhaor. Ceart. Too expensive. OK. Mas e ur toil e. Please. Tapadh leibh. Thank you (very much).

Here are ten more phrases that will help you make new friends and ask for directions ... The Top 20 ...

Dè an t-ainm a tha oirbh? What is your name? Is mise ... My name is ... Ciamar a tha sibh? How are you? Tha gu math. Agus sibh fhèin? Fine. And you? Càit' a bheil ...? Where is ...? Càit' a bheil a taigh-beag? Fir / Mnathan Càit' a bheil a taigh-beag? Fir / Boireannaich Where is the toilet? Men/Women Tha mi duilich. Gabhaibh mo leisgeul. Sorry. Excuse me. Gun duilgheadas. No problem. Tha mi ag iarraidh ... I want ... Chan eil mi ag iarraidh ... I don't want ...

Here are another ten phrases to help you make a little more conversation and to get around ... The Top 30 ...

Cò às a tha sibh? Where are you from? Tha mi à Astràilia.* I am from Australia. An cunntas, mas e ur toil e. The bill, please. Tha mi caillte. I am lost. Sguiribh! Fuirichibh! Stop! Wait! An seo, an sin, an siud. Here, there, over there. Tagsaidh. Taigh-òsda. Port-adhair. Stèisean. Taxi. Hotel. Airport. Station. 'S toigh leam ... I like ... Cha toigh leam ... I don't like ... a haon**, a dhà, a trì, a ceithir, a còig. one, two, three, four, five. a sia, a seachd, a h-ochd, a naoi, a deich. six, seven, eight, nine, ten. ** Use the forms aon, dhá, trí, ceithre, cúig, sé, seacht, ocht, naoi, deich before nouns. One is also expressed as aon + noun + amháin. *Or choose your country: Amaireaga - America Canada - Canada Sasainn - England Eirinn - Ireland Sealan Nuadh - New Zealand

Here are some extra words and phrases you might find useful, especially if you have dietary needs or allergies ... Useful Extras ...

Slàinte! Cheers! math / dona good / bad mòr / beag big / small faisg / fada 'às near / far lugha / tuilleadh less / more eile / gu leòr another / enough 'Se glasraichear a th'annam. 'Se feòil-sheachnair a th'annam. I am vegetarian. Chan eil mi ag ithe feòil. I don't eat meat. ... cearc. ... chicken. ... iasg. ... fish. Tha aileirgidh orm le cnòthan. I am allergic to nuts. ... cnòthan-talmhainn. ... peanuts. ... iasg. ... fish. ... biadh na mara. ... seafood. ... uighean. ... eggs.