Cairdeas –Friendship

Some people think of Gaels as having a very close communal existence. From my experience that isn’t the case, in fact many people live in places where there aren’t many neighbours. Also in Scottish culture people can be very proud, they don’t like to admit that they might feel alone. Also, you might not know that more people live in the city of London than the entire population of Scotland.

What does friendship mean to you? What words in Gaelic describe how you feel today?

Try to make simply sentences with these words and do your own research to find more

toilichte – happy

aobhach – glad or joyful

an diugh – today

Tha mi: I am

Tha e: he is

Tha i: she is

I am like a Calm River / Tha mi Coltach ri…

How many words or short sentences can you make in Gaelic based on this sentence….

“Tha mi….” I am

“Coltach ri…” – like

Find a river close to you and then try to write down 10 adjectives to describe it. When you’re finished, try to find those words in Gaelic and see how many of them could apply to you.

I have written three examples below.

suaimhneach – peaceful

sruth an t-siubhail – a fast flowing stream

ath-thilgeadh solais – a reflection of light

Tha Sam ag ràdh gu bheil e sona an-diugh.

Tha Sam ag ràdh gu bheil e sona an-diugh.“Sam is saying he’s happy today.”

(Pronunciation: ha Sam ag ra gu veil e sona an dew)

Some people say moods are “upon them” and others simply say “I am…. ” in Gaelic .

Tha Sam ag ràdh gu bheil e sona an-diugh.
“Sam is saying he’s happy today.”

Pronunciation: (ha Sam ag ra gu veil e sona an dew)

  • Tha Sam ag ràdh gu bheil aoibhneas air an-diugh. (Pronunciation:eye v ness)
    “Sam is saying that happiness is on him today.” (prepositional form)

They both convey the idea of being happy. It’s a matter of style and which pattern you prefer. In modern Gaelic, it’s completely natural to say “Tha mi sona,”

Tha mi sona an-diugh.
(I am happy today.)

Aig amannan, tha mi brònach. (P: Brawnawch)
(Sometimes (at times), I am sad.)

tha mi sgìth,
(I am tired) (P: Skee)

Tha mi feargach (P: Fi-er-agach)
(I am angry)

Tha mi dòchasach.(P: Docha sach)
(I am hopeful )

Tha mi nearbhach (P: Nervach)
(I am nervous.)

Tha mi draghail (P: Dragal)
(I am worried.)

Tha mi air bhioran (P: virrin)
(I am excited if there is good news.)

Tha mi iomagaineach (P:ima-kin-yuch)
(I am anxious about the future sometimes.)

Nuair a tha mi mì-chinnteach, bidh mi a’ bruidhinn ri caraid.
(When I am unsure, I talk to a friend.)

Tha bròn orm.
I have sorrow on me = I am sad.

Tha aoibhneas orm.
I have joy on me = I am joyful.

Tha eagal orm. (P: eckel)
I have fear on me = I am afraid.

Sàm anns a’ Bhùth

(Sam in the Shop)

Sàm: Halò! Tha mi ag iarraidh tombaca.
(Hello! I want tobacco.)

Sealbhadair: Chan urrainn dhomh tombaca a reic riut.
(I cannot sell you tobacco.) Chan e duine a th’ annadsa! You are not a human!

Sàm: Tha mi a’ fuireach an seo! Tha mi pòsta! Tha cead agam.
(I live here! I am married! I have permission)

Sealbhadair: ‘s mi nach creid thu…. Falbh!
(I don’t believe you. Go away!)

Sàm: Tha sin mì-chothromach! Bidh mi a’ bruidhinn ri mo neach-lagha!
(That is unfair! I will speak to my lawyer!)

(Sàm a’ falbh, feargach.)
(Sam leaves, angry.)

Tha Sam a’ coiseachd… – Sam is Walking…

Chapter 1 (Part 1)

“Tha Sam a’ coiseachd bhon taigh-solais – tha e ag iarraidh tombaca.”
(Sam is walking from the lighthouse – he wants tobacco.)

Pronunciation

  • Tha = “Ha” (like “ha” in “haha”)
  • Sam = “Sam” (same as English)
  • a’ coiseachd = “uh KOSH-uchk” (the ch is like the ch in “loch”)
  • bhon = “von” (soft v sound)
  • taigh-solais = “TIE-sho-lish” (taigh sounds like “tie”, solais like “so-lish”)
  • tha e = “Ha eh”
  • ag iarraidh = “egg EE-ruh-ee” (the ch is like the ch in “loch”)
  • tombaca = “tom-BACH-kuh”

Pronounced like: Ha Sam a kawshuchk von tie solish tha eh ak eerie tom bachkuh