Gaelic Words and Phrases by Category

BASICS

Conjunctions

• agus - and [often contracted to is and 's]
• ach - but
• no - or
• ma - if
• oir - because
• gus - until

Greetings & Pleasantries 

Acknowledgements

Math fhéin (mah heen) - excellent

Tha sin math (ha shin ma) - that is good

Goodbyes

Feumaidh mi falbh (fee-me mi falav) - I need to go

Mar sin leat (mar shin let) - goodbye

Tioraidh (cheer-ee) - bye

Gratitude & responses

Taing (tyne-g) - thanks

Móran taing (more-an tyne-g) - many thanks

Tapadh leat (tap-id lacht) - thank you

Tapadh leibh (tapah leafv) - thank you (plural & polite)

'S e do bheatha (shay doh veah-heh) - you're welcome

'S e ur beatha (shay eh beah-ha) - you're welcome (plural)

Greetings

Ciamar a tha thu/sibh? - How are you?

Dè do cor? - What is your condition?

Fáilte (fal-char) - Welcome

Feasgar math (fees-gar mah) - good afternoon/evening

Latha math (lar-ma) - good day

Madainn mhath (matting var) - good morning

Oidhche mhath (eecha var) - good night

Reassurance

Obh obh (ohv ohv) - oh dear

Na gabh dragh (nah gav dragh) - don't worry

Supplication

Mas e do thoil e - please

Questions & Statements

Faclan Airson Ceistean (Words For Questions)

Càite...?
Carson...?
Ciamar...?
Cò...?
Cuin...?
Dè...?

Present Tense

Tha... - eg. Tha mi trang. (I am busy.)

Chan eil... - 

A bheil...?

Nach eil...?

Am bu...?

Feumaidh...

An toil...?

Is toil...

Past Tense

Future Tense

ADJECTIVES

Àlainn (agh-leen) - pretty, elegant, lovely

Beag (bick) - small

Beartach (bee-ah-stoch) - rich

Bochd (bock-ed) - poor 

Bog (boak) - soft 

Bóidheach (boy-ach) - beautiful

Bréagha (bree-ah) - pretty

Bruich - cooked

Caol (kooal) - thin; slender  

Ceárr (care) - wrong

Ceart (cursht) - right

Cruthachail (croo-ach-hell) - creative

Cruaidh (croo-ay) - hard

Cunnartach (coon-as-tock) - dangerous 

Doirbh (duh-rav) - difficult 

Dúinte (doon-cher) - closed 

Fada (fatah) - long 

Fadalach (fatah-loch) late 

Faiceallach (fyke-al-ach) - careful

Fallain (fal-an) healthy 

Farsaing (farshing) - wide

Fosgailte (fos-gail-cha) - open

Fuar (fuar) - cold 

Furasta (foorasta) - easy 

Gealtach (gell-tach) - cowardly

Glan (glan) - clean 

Glic (galee-ch) - clever

Goirid (guritch) - short

Gòrach (gore-och) - stupid

Gránda (grahn-day) - ugly

Laghach (law-ach) - pleasant, kind, nice

Luath (loo-ah) - fast 

Mór (moré) - big

Óg (ogg) - young

Onarach (honour-ach) - honest

Reamhar (rah-vid) - fat 

Teth (chay) - hot 

Tinn (cheen) - ill

Toilichte (toll-ich-ger) - happy

Tràth (tr-ah) - early

Sábhailte (sa-vill-cher) - safe

Salach (sal-ach) - dirty

Sean (shayne) - old

Slaodach (sloo-doch) - slow

ADVERBS

A dh'aithghearr - soon

Air leth - exceptionally

Gu leór (le-or) - enough, plenty, sufficient

Trìc - often

Uabhasach - very, terribly, awfully [Nb. can also be an adjective]

VERBS

Asking - ag iarraidh

Building, lifting - a' toghail

Buying - a' ceannach

Catching - a' glacadh

Cleaning - a' glanadh

Climbing - a' sreap

Coming - a' tighinn

Cooking - a' còcaireachd

Crying - a' rànaich

Cycling - a' rothaireachd

Dancing - a' dannsa

Drinking - ag ól

Driving - a' dràibheadh

Eating - ag ithe

Fishing - ag iasgach

Flying - a' sgeith

Getting - a' faighinn

Going - a' dol

Having - a' gabhail

Hearing - a' cluintinn

Helping - a' cuideachadh

Jumping - a' leum

Keeping - a' cumail

Laughing - a' gàireachdainn

Learning - ag ionnsachadh

Leaving - a' falbh

Listening - ag èisteachd

Living - a' fuireach

Looking - a' coimhead

Making, doing - a' déanamh

Meeting - a'c coinneachadh

Moving - a' glusad

Opening - a' fosgladh

Painting - a' peantadh

Playing - a' cluiche

Pulling - a' slaodadh

Put, place - cuir

Reading - a' leughadh

Running - a' ruith

Sailing - a' seòladh

Screaming, screeching - a' sgreuchail

Seeing - a' faicinn

Shouting - ag èigheachd

Sinking - a' dol fodhal

Singing - a' seinn

Sitting - a' suidhe

Skiing - a' sgitheadh

Sleeping - a' cadal

Speaking - a' bruidhinn 

Standing - a' seasamh

Stealing - a' goid

Stopping - a' stad

Swimming - a' snàmh

Teaching - a' teagasg

Telling - ag innse

Tidying - a' sgiobladh

Trying - a' feuchainn

Using - a' cleachdadh

Visiting - a' céilidh

Walking - a' coiseachd

Wanting - ag iarraidh

Working - ag obair

Writing - a' sgriobhadh

NOUNS - CATEGORIES

Aodach/Clothes

Aodach (er-doch) - clothes

Bonaid (bon-atch) - hat or bonnet

Bótannan (bore-tan-an) boots
Briogais (breegas/brickish) - trousers (f)

Briogais ghoirid (brickish yuritch) - short-trousers

Brógan (brogan) - shoes [sing. broig]

Crios (kriss) - belt

Deise (jisha) - suit
Dreasa (dressa) - dress

Féileadh (fee-liagh) - kilt

Geansaidh (gen-say) - sweater (m)
Léine-t (lean-ya t) - t-shirt

Orm (oram) - on, on me

Putan (poo-tan) - button

Seacaid (sha-cadge] - jacket

Beathachean/Animals

Ailbhean (allah-van) - elephant (m.)

Bó (bow) - cow (f.)

Bradan (brat-an) - salmon (m.)

Caora (curr-a) - sheep (f.)

Cat (caht) - cat (m.)

Cat-fiadhaich (cat fee-ay-ch) - wild cat (m.)

Cearban (kerra-ban) - shark (m.)

Cearc (kee-ark) - chicken (f.)
Coineanach (connor-nach) - rabbit (m.)

Cú (coo) - dog (m.)

Cuileag (cool-ach) - fly (insect) (f.)

Cuilean (coo-line) - puppy (m.)

Damhan-allaidh (daff-in-ally) - spider (m.)
Each (ee-ach; echh) - horse (m.)

Eala (ella) - swan (f.)

Faoileag (oo-lack) - seagull (f.)

Fiadh (fee-ag) - deer (m.)

Gràineag (gran-yack) - hedgehog (f.)

Ialtag (eel-tack) - bat (f.)

Isean (eeshan) - chick; young small animal (m.)

Leòmhann (lee-oh-an) - lion (m.)

Luch (looch) - mouse (f.)

Meanbh-chuileag (men-ev coo-lach) - midge (f.)

Muc (mook) - pig (f.)

Muc-mhara - (whale) (f.)

Nathair (nah-hed) - snake (f.)
Ochd-chasach (ochd has-ak) - octopus

Peata (Peta) - a pet
Piseag (pee-shak) - kitten

Pitheid (pee-itch) - parrot

Sionnach (shawn-ach) - fox

Sligeanach (shleek-an-noch) - tortoise (m.)

Tunnag (toonak) - duck

Uan (oo-an) - lamb (m)

Biadh/Food

Nouns

Aran (ah-ran) - bread

Aran-milis (ah-ran mill-eesh) - shortbread

Bainne (banya) - milk

Biadh (bee-agh) - food

Botal (botal) - bottle (pl. botail)

Bradan (brat-an) - salmon

Brot (bra-ht) - soup

Bruich (broo-eech) - cooked

Cáise (cash-a) - cheese

Ceapaire (kep-agh-ra) - sandwich

Céic (cay-ke) - cake

Curran (cooran) - carrot [pl. currain]

Dinnear (geen-yed) - dinner

Feòil (fee-ol) - meat

Fion (fee-an) - wine

Glasraich (glas-reech) - vegetables

Hama (ham-a) - ham

Iasg (ee-asg) - fish

Ím (eem) - butter

Isbean (ishban) - sausage

Ith (eekch) - eat

Leann (loon) - beer

Marag (mah-rag) - pudding

Marag-dhubh - (mahrag-ooh) - black pudding

Milis (mill-eesh) - sweet

Mions (munce) - mince
Orainsear (orange-cert) - orange

Paidh (pie) - pie

Piobar (pee-par) - pepper

Piotsa (peetsa) - pizza

Rís (ree-sh) - rice
Tomato (tomato) - tomato
Reóiteag (raw-chak) - ice cream [pl. +an (raw-chick)

Sailead (sah-lad) - salad

Salann (sa-wan) - salt

Searbh (share-ev) - sour

Seòclaid (shock-ladge) - chocolate

Sgadan (skadan) - herring

Spiosrach (spees-roch) - spicy

Súgh (Sue) - juice
Suiteas (sweetas) - sweets

Uachdar (ooh-ach-ga) - cream

Ubhal (oo-al) - apple
Ugh (ooh) - egg

Uinnean (oonyan) - onion [pl. uinneanan]

Uisge (ish-ka) - water

Proinnean (meals)

Bracaist (brack-isht) - breakfast

Uidheam-ithe (lit. eating equipment)
Forca (for-sca) - fork
Glanne (glan-ye) - a glass

Sgian (skee-an) - knife

Spáin (schpan) - spoon
Truinnsear (tree-shud) - plate

Cus (koos) - too much, too many



Glanne (glan-ye) - glas
Gabh (gav) - have, take, sing


a' gabhail (ah gah-ll) - having

Adjectives

Blasta (blast-a) - tasty

Searbh (shah-rav) - sour

A' Bhodhaig/ The Body

Stamag (stam-ack) - stomach
Glún (gloon) - knee

Celebrations

Co-là breith (coh-la bree) - birthday

Nollaig (noll-ag)- Christmas

Nollaig Chridheil! (noll-ag cree-al) - Merry Christmas

Ceòl/Music

Còisir (core-shid) - choir

Fidheall (feel) - fiddle
Óran (au-ran) - songs, song
Pìob-mhòr (feeb voor) - bagpipes

a' seinn (shane) - singing

Còmhdhail/Transport

Bus (bus) - bus
Pléana (plain-ah) - plane
Stéisean (stay-shan) - station

Tréana (train-ah) - train

Cunntadh/Counting

Neoini (nee-oh-ni) - zero
a h-aon (ah hoon) - one
a dhà (ag gah) - two
a trì (ah tree) - three
a ceithir (ah ki-hid) - foura còig (ah coy-g) - five
a sia (ah she-ah) - six
a seachd (ah shack) - seven
a h-ochd (ah hock) - eight
a naoi (ah noo-oy) - nine
a deich (ah jayke) - ten
Aon deug (ah hoon jee-ug) - eleven
Dhà deug (yah yeug) - twelve
Trì deug (tree jee-ug) - thirteen
Ceithir deug (ki-hid jee-ug) - fourteen
Còig deug (coy-g jee-ug) - fifteen
Sia deug (she-ah jee-ug) - sixteen
Seachd deug (shack jee-ug) - seventeen
Ochd deug (Ach jee-ug) - eighteen
Naoi deug (noo-oy deug) - nineteen
Fichead (feek-id) - twenty

Dathan/Colours

Buidhe (boo-yeah) - yellow 

Dearg (jeh-rak) - red

Dubh (dooh) - black

Geal (gee-al) - white

Glas (glass) - grey

Gorm (goram) - blue

Liath (lee-ah) - light blue

Orains (orainj) - orange

Pinc (pink) - pink

Purpaidh (pur-peh) - purple

Uaine (oo-an-yeah) - green

Dùthchannan/Countries

Nb. Almost all countries are feminine and many are preceded by the definite article, e.g. An Fhraing. This is useful, as it means by memorising a list of them, one can internalise the rules which apply to the definite article with respect to the feminine nominative case as well as the dative case! Remember, generally no words in Gaelic begin with an 'h' - those that do, tend to be 'borrowed' words.

An Argantain (an arj-an-tine) - Argentina

A' Bheilg (ah vel-ayk) - Belgium

A' Chuimrigh (ah k-hoom-aree) - Wales

An Danmhairg (an dan-ah-vark) - Denmark

An Eadailt (an yed-altch) - Italy

An Fhraing (an rang) - France

A' Ghearmailt (ah gara-maltch) - Germany

An Ibèir (an ee-bair-d) - Iberia*

An Laitbhe (an lat-vey) - Latvia

M

An Nomaib (in nah-mib) - Namibia

An Ostair (an ost-ed) - Austria

A' Phortagail (ah for-choo-gal) - Portugal

An Ruis

An t-Suain

An Tuirc

An Ungair (ah nunged) - Hungary

Nàdar/Nature

Abhainn (a-wane) - river, stream

Adhar (agh-d) - air

an t-adhar (an tar) - the sky

Coille (cull-yah) - forest, wood

Craobh (croove) - tree

Feur (fee-ad) - grass; hay

Lus (loose) - plant [pl. Lusan]

Preas (priss) - bush

Obair/Work

Oifis (ah-fis) - office

Oilean/Education

Bun-sgoil (boon skol) - primary school 

Colaiste (col-ast-ah) - college

Oileanach (ollan-iach) - student [pl. oileanaich]

Oilthigh (ol-hay) - university

Seòmar-teagaisg (show-mar cheekisg) - classroom

Sgoil (skol) - school

Sgoilear (schol-argh) - pupil

Tidsear (teat-cha) - teacher

Side/Weather

An t-uisge (an tooshka) - rain

Blath (blah) - warm [Fem. Bhlath (vlah)]Bog (boak) - soaking; soft
Ceó (kiaow) - mist
Dealanaich (jal-anich) - lightning
Díle (jeela) - downpour

Dorcha (dorra-ka) - dark

Fuar (fuar) - cold

Fliuch (flew-ch) - wet
Reóthadh (roh-ag/row-oo) - frost
Sneach (sneeyak) - snow
Stoirm (stir-um) - storm
Táirneanaich (tarn-anich) - thunder
Teth (chay) - hot

Tioram (ch-ee-ram) - dry

Gaothach (goo-hoch) - windy, flatulent

Garbh - (gah-rav) - rough, wild
Gránda (grahn-day) - ugly, horrible
Grianach (gree-an-och) - sunny

a-muigh (a-moy) - outside

Taigh/House

Amar (ah-murd) - bath

Àmhainn (av-ane) - oven

Cidsin (kitch-in) - kitchen

Flat (flat) - flat

Frids (fridge) - fridge

Gárradh (gah-rig) - garden

Seòmar-cadail (show-more cat-ill) - bedroom

Staidhre (stay-da) - staircase

Taigh-beag (tay-beak) - toilet

Teaghlach/Family
Antaidh (anti) - aunty

Athair (ah-hed) - father

Athraichean (ah-reech-an) - fathers

Bean (bayne) - wife

Bráithrean (bra-than) - brothers

Bráthair (brar-hed) - brother

Caraid (carriage) - friend
Clann (clown) - children [dative: cloinn]

Co-ogha (co-oh-ah) - cousin

Duine (din-ya) - husband
Leanabh (yann-av) - baby

Máthair (mar-hed) - mother

Máthraichean (mah-reech-an) mothers

Nighean (nee-ann) - daughter

Peathraichean (pe-reech-an) sisters

Piuthar (pure-d) - sister
Seanair (shinner) - grandfather
Seanmhair (shinnavad) - grandmother
Uncail (uncle) - uncle

Togalaichean/Buildings
Eaglais (ee-clish) - church

Staidhre (stay-da) - staircase

Ùine

Hours of the Day
uair (one o’ clock) (not aon uair )
dà uair (two o’ clock) [Nb: nouns are singular after dà]
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)

e.g. 1 Tha e trì uairean. - It is three o’ clock.
e.g. 2 Tha e naoi uairean. - It is nine o’ clock.

Seachdain

Diluain (jee-loo-ine) - Monday
Dimàirt (jee-marsht) - Tuesday
Diciadain (jee-kee-ah-dane) - Wednesday
Diardaoin (jee-as-doon) - Thursday [Nb: alternative DiDaoirne]
Dihaoine (jee-hoon-ye) - Friday
Disathairne (jee-sat-han-yeh) - Saturday
Didòmhnaich (jee-doh-neech) - Sunday

Temporal Adverbs

an-dé (an jay) - yesterday

an-diugh (an-due) - today

a-nochd - tonight

a-raoir (a ray-th) - last night

a-riamh (a-ree-av) - never

Time of the Day

Feasgar (fees-gard) - evening/afternoon
Madainn (matt-ing) - morning 

Cuin a tha e? (When is it?)

Dè an aois a tha thu a-nis? (How old are you now?)

Dè an uair a tha e? (What time is it?)

Tha e uair an-dràsta fhèin. (It is one o'clock right now).

The verb 'bi' forms

Key Notes:

An e...? is used for identification (e.g., "Is he/she a doctor?" or "Is it a book?"). It focuses on classifying or identifying something/someone.

A bheil...? is used for location, state, or description (e.g., "Are you over there?" or "Is it raining?").

Examples:

• An e dotair a th’ ann? (Is he/she a doctor?) → Asks about identity.
• A bheil thu an siud? (Are you over there?) → Asks about location.

Tense Variations:

Present: Uses a th’ ann (lit. "that is in it") for An e... questions and statements.
Past: Uses a bha ann (lit. "that was in it") for An e... forms.
Future: Uses a bhios ann for questions, with Am b’ e... as the question form due to phonological rules (b’ is a contraction before vowels or certain consonants.

PREPOSITIONAL PRONOUNS

SUFFIXES

A

-ach

This is a versatile suffix. It can relate to a number of things:

• Origin or belonging: When added to place names, '-ach' often denotes someone from that place, e.g. Glaschu (Glasgow) becomes Glaschuach (someone from Glasgow).
• Possession or association, e.g. Càr (car) might become càrach (related to cars or having a car).
• Adjectives: '-ach' can turn nouns into adjectives, e.g. Gàidhlig (Gaelic) becomes Gàidhealach (Gaelic, pertaining to the Gaelic language or culture).
• Characteristics or qualities: It can describe characteristics or qualities, e.g. solas (light) becomes solasach (bright, cheerful).
• Plural form: In some cases, '-ach' can be part of the plural form of nouns, although this is more complex and not always straightforward, e.g. balach (boy) has a plural form balaich, but the '-ach' here shifts because of grammatical rules.

-achd

This is primarily used to create abstract nouns from adjectives or other nouns, often denoting qualities, states, or concepts.

e.g. sàr (excellent) → sàrachd (excellence); càirdeas (friendship) → càirdeasachd (the state or quality of friendship)

It also denotes: 

• System of government‎ rìgh (“king”) + ‎-achd → ‎rìoghachd (“kingdom”) 
• Religion‎ Crìostaidh (“Christian”) + ‎-achd → ‎Crìosdaidheachd (“Christianity”) 
• Area Gàidhealtachd (“Gaelic-speaking area, Gaeltacht”)

-adair
-adh
-ag
-aibh
-aich
-aiche
-aig
-aigeadh
-ail
-air
-am
-amh
-an

C

-cèile

D

-da

E

-each
-eadh
-ear
-eigin
-eil

I

-ibh
-ich
-iche
-ig

M

-mhor

N

-ne

S

-sa
-san
-se

T

-t
-ta
-te

 

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