FAQS
How do I type the Gaelic accents?
You can just copy and paste these
Lowercase letters
Uppercase letters
Keyboard shortcuts
Windows
Some simple ways to type grave accents in MS Windows, depending on which version you use. The grave accent ` is next to the number 1 at top of keyboard
à, è, ì, ò, ù Ctrl+`, release and type letter;
À, È, Ì, Ò, Ù Ctrl+Shift+`, release and type letter
OR
Alt key + character code on the numeric keypad on right of keyboard (laptops will vary). Ensure that the NUMLOCK is on.
à Alt+133 or 0224
è Alt+138 or 0232
ì Alt+141 or 0236
ò Alt+149 or 0242
ù Alt+151 or 0249
À Alt+0192
È Alt+0200
Ì Alt+0204
Ò Alt+0210
Ù Alt+0217
Mac
Push and hold a character to bring up a menu and choose.
E.g. hold the letter e to choose the letter è
What is the Gaelic Alphabet?
> Aa, Bb, Cc, Dd, Ee, Ff, Gg, Hh, Ii, Ll, Mm, Nn, Oo, Pp, Rr, Ss, Tt, Uu
For more information visit LearnGaelic’s Scottish Gaelic Alphabet https://learngaelic.scot/scottish-gaelic-alphabet.jsp
How do I pronounce Gaelic sounds?
SpeakGaelic always gives you a sound file for the word you are learning. For more information on individual sounds, visit LearnGaelic’ Sounds section https://learngaelic.scot/sounds/index.jsp
What are slender and broad vowels?
The slender vowels are e and i.
All the others are broad.
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Tòimhseachain
Riddles
We learned in B1 Cuspair 26 Dualchas that the Gaels were very fond of tòimhseachain (riddles).
Riddles and language devices are often at the heart of Gaelic storytelling.
Riddles were also used by children and at ceilidh houses.
GNÌOMH | TASK: SMAOINICH/TOMHAIS
Do you remember these puzzles we saw in B1 Cuspair 26?
Read these riddles and see if you can figure out the answers!
Tha bràthair aig bràthair m’ athar, is cha bhràthair athar dhòmhsa e.
My father’s brother has a brother, but he is not my father’s brother.
Chan ith thu e, is chan òl thu e, is cha bhi thu beò às aonais.
You don’t eat it, and you don’t drink it, and you can’t live without it.
Chan eil e a–muigh, chan eil e a–staigh, is chan eil an taigh ann às aonais.
It is not outside, it is not inside, and the house does not exist without it.
Thèid i a–null air a’ chuan, thig i a–nall air a’ chuan, innsidh i naidheachd, is cha chan i guth!
She/It will go over the sea, she/it will come over the sea, she/it will tell news, and she/it won’t say a word!
Ciamar a chaidh dhut? Seo dhut na freagairtean!
| Tha bràthair aig bràthair m’ athar, is cha bhràthair athar dhòmhsa e. | My father’s brother has a brother, but he is not my father’s brother. | a/a h–athair fhèin |
| Chan ith thu e, is chan òl thu e, is cha bhi thu beò às aonais. | You don’t eat it, and you don’t drink it, and you can’t live without it. | anail |
| Chan eil e a–muigh, chan eil e a–staigh, is chan eil an taigh ann às aonais. | It is not outside, it is not inside, and the house does not exist without it. | balla |
| Thèid i a–null air a’ chuan, thig i a–nall air a’ chuan, innsidh i naidheachd, is cha chan i guth! | She/it will go over the sea, she/it will come over the sea, she/it will tell news, and she/it won’t say a word! | litir |
Try these new riddles now.
Thèid e dhan mhuir is cha bhàthar e, thèid e dhan chiste is cha mhùchar e, thèid e dhan teine is cha loisgear e, is thèid e gu bòrd an rìgh is cha bhi nàire air.
He/It will go into the sea and will not be drowned, he/it will go into the chest/coffin and will not be extinguished, he/it will go into the fire and will not be burned, and he/it will go to the king’s table and will not be ashamed.
Cha mhac athar no màthar dhomh e, cha mhac peathar no bràthar dhomh e, ach b’ e mo mhàthair bu mhàthair do mhàthair a’ ghille.
He is not my father’s or mother’s son, he is not my sister’s or my brother’s son, but my mother was the mother of the boy’s mother.
Ciamar a chaidh dhut? Seo dhut na freagairtean!
| Thèid e dhan mhuir is cha bhàthar e, thèid e dhan chiste is cha mhùchar e, thèid e dhan teine is cha loisgear e, is thèid e gu bòrd an rìgh is cha bhi nàire air. | He/It will go to the sea and will not be drowned, he/it will go into the chest/coffin and will not be extinguished, he/it will go into the fire and will not be burned, and he/it will go to the king’s table and will not be ashamed. | Gath na grèine (sunbeam) |
| Cha mhac athar no màthar dhomh e, cha mhac peathar no bràthar dhomh e, ach b’ e mo mhàthair bu mhàthair do mhàthair a’ ghille. | He is not my father’s or mother’s son, he is not my nephew (my sister’s or my brother’s son), but my mother was the mother of the boy’s mother. | a mac fhèin ( her own son / the female speaker’s own son) |
GNÌOMH | ÈIST
In these recordings from Tobar an Dualchais, we will hear three riddles and two proverbs.
Listen to these short clips from this recording Calum Iain Maclean made with Alasdair MacAllister, where they are talking about riddles.
00:33—01:06;
01:22—01:39
Listen to them twice first of all and then see if you can work out what they mean:
Do you understand them?
Now listen to them whilst reading the transcript at the same time.
Ciamar a chaidh dhut? Seo dhut na freagairtean!
Calum MacGilleathain | (CM) | Calum Maclean
Alasdair MacAlasdair| AM| Alasdair MacAllister
00:33—01:06
CM: An cuala sibh riamh tòimhseachan mu fitheach ‘s faileas?
AM: Dà fhitheach air a’ chreig, dà fhitheach gob ri gob; fitheach a’ feitheamh an fhithich, ‘s cò mheud fitheach a bha sin? (aonan)
CM: An cuala sibh tòimhseachan riamh mu cheò?
AM: Is àirde e na taigh an rìgh; is mìne e na sìoda.
CM: Have you ever heard a riddle about a raven and a shadow?
AM: Two ravens on the rock, two ravens beak to beak; A raven waiting for a raven, and how many ravens [were there]was that? (one)
CM: Have you ever heard a riddle about mist/fog?
AM: It is higher than the king’s house; it is finer than silk.
01:22—01:39
AM: Cumaidh mi fhèin nam dhòrn e, ‘s cha chùm trì fhir dheug air ròp e.
CM: ‘S dè bh’ ann?
AM: Ugh.
AM: I can hold it myself in my fist, but thirteen men cannot hold it with/on a rope.
CM: What was it?
AM: An egg.
GNÌOMH | ÈIST
Sometimes, proverbs can be just as difficult to understand as riddles/puzzles.
First, listen twice to this excerpt from the conversation between Lisy Dhonnchaidh Mhòir (Elizabeth Sinclair (Lisa Storey)) and Ceit Mhìcheil Fhionnlaigh (Kate Gillies/NicFhionghuin) and then see if you can work out what they mean:
00:42—00:54
Do you understand them?
Now listen to them whilst reading the transcript at the same time.
Ge b’ e bhios na thàmh, cuiridh e na cait air an teine.
Ge b’ e bhios fada gun èirigh, bidh e na leum fad an latha.
Ciamar a chaidh dhut?
[He who]Whoever? is idle (an idle man) will put the cats on the fire [the Devil makes work for idle hands].
[He who]Whoever? is late to rise will be rushing all day.
How did you get on?
Suggested Look@LearnGaelic clip:
It’s well worth taking a look at our sister site, learngaelic.scot, where you’ll find this short video on proverbs.
At this point, you’re sure to know some of them!