A First Lesson in Scots Gaelic

Some aspects of Gaelic grammar are incredibly easy – so let’s start with one. First of all, there’s no verb conjugation: the verb form stays the same no matter who’s doing the action. For example, the following list shows the verb "tha" [ha]= to be (positive) used with the personal pronouns.

tha [ha]= to be (positive)

I am = tha mi [ha mee]

you are (singular) = tha thu [ha oo]

he/it is = the e [ha e]

she/it is = tha i [ha ee]

we are = tha sinn [ha shin]

you are (plural or polite)= tha sibh [ha shiv]

they are = tha iad [ha iyat]

There are separate forms for the negative meaning ("... is not") and for asking questions, as shown below. Note that the character X has been used to transliterate the sound of “ch” in the Scottish “loch” or German “ach”.

chan eil [Xan yil] = to be (negative)

I’m not = chan eil mi

you’re not = chan eil thu

he isn’t = chan eil e

she isn’t = chan eil i

we aren’t = chan eil sinn

you aren't (pl or polite)= chan eil sibh

they aren't = chan eil iad

A' bheil [a vil] (+ pronoun) = Am I…? Are you...? etc.

Nach eil [naX il] (+ pronoun) = Am I not...? Aren’t you…? etc.

Example:

Are you tired? = A' bheil thu sgìth? (See below for adjectives.)

Aren't you busy? = Nach eil thu trang?

The easiest way to complete these sentences is with an adjective, so here are a few to choose from:

beag [bek] = small

mòr [as English “more”] = big

blàth [bla:] = warm, hot

fuar [foo ar] = cold

sgìth [skee] = tired

leisg [layshk] = lazy

trang [trang] = busy

We can also add glè [glay] (meaning “very”) before the adjective.

I’m tired. = Tha mi sgìth.

I’m very tired. = Tha mi glè sgìth.

Are you cold? = A' bheil thu fuar?

She isn’t very busy. = Chan eil i glè trang.

Aren’t they small? = Nach eil iad beag?

Get this vocabulary as a download.