Scottish Gaelic Alphabet

Scottish Gaelic Translator
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English speakers will note that although most of the Gaelic alphabet is the same as English, there are only 18 letters in the Gaelic alphabet though accents and lenition make maker it seem as though there are more.

Below is some basic Gaelic to help get you started.

The vowels
a, e, i, o and u

The consonants
b, c, d, f, g, h, l, m, n, p, r, s and t

Scottish Gaelic Numbers

1 aon
2 dà dhà
3 trì
4 ceithir
5 còig

6 sia
7 seachd
8 ochd
9 naoi
10 deich

11 aon deug
12 dà dheug or dhà dheug
13 trì deug
14 ceithir deug
15 còig deug

Common Scottish Gaelic

Here are some basic Gaelic questions you may come across.

Ciamar a tha thu?: English: How are you?
Use: This is how you would say it to someone you were familiar with.

Tha gu math, tapadh leat.: English: Fine, thanks.
Use: Again, to someone familiar to you.

Cò às a tha sibh?: English: Where are you from?

Càit' a bheil thu/sibh a' dol?: English: Where are you going?
Use: Use “thu” when familiar or “sibh” otherwise.

Dè 'n t-ainm a tha ort?: English: What's your name?

De 'n aois a tha thu?: English: How old are you?
Use: Use “thu” when familiar or “sibh” otherwise.

Place Names in Gaelic

Scotland - Alba	Australia - Astràilia
America - Amaireaga	Nova Scotia - Alba Nuadh
Dundee - Dùn Deagh	Edinburgh- Dùn Eideann
Ireland - Eirinn	Glasgow - Glaschu
Inverness - Inbhir Nis	London - Lunnainn
Aberdeen - Obar Dheadhain	Paisley - Pàislig
England - Sasann	Spain - an Spàinnt

Days, Seasons and Months in Gaelic

Days	Months
Didòmhnaich Latha na Sàbaid - Sunday	Am Faoilleach - January
Diluain - Monday	An Gearran - February
Dimàirt - Tuesday	Am Màrt - March
Diciadain - Wednesday	An Giblean - April
Diardaoin - Thursday	An Cèitean - May
Dihaoine - Friday	An t-Ogmhìos - June
Disathairne - Saturday	An t-Luchar - July
Seasons	An Lùnasdal - August
an t-earrach - Spring	An t-Sultain - September
an samhradh - Summer	An Dàmhair - October
am foghar - Autumn/Fall	An t-Samhain - November
an geamhradh - Winter	An Dùbhlachd - December

Time of day

To say “it is six o'clock”, you would say “tha e sia uairean”.

uair - one o'clock
dà uair - two o'clock
trì uairean - three o'clock
ceithir uairean - four o'clock
còig uairean - five o'clock
sia uairean - six o'clock
seachd uairean - seven o'clock
ochd uairean - eight o'clock
naoi uairean - nine o'clock
deich uairean - ten o'clock
aon uair deug - eleven o'clock
dà uair dheug - twelve o'clock

If you are looking for Gaelic dictionaries, visit our Gaelic dictionary page.