Gaelic Orthographic Conventions 2005

UGHDARRASTHEISTEANAS

NA H-ALBA

Contents

Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................................................................1

1 The spelling rule .....................................................................................................................................................................................................2

2 Consonant quality.................................................................................................................................................................................................2

3 Consonant groups .................................................................................................................................................................................................3

4 Vowel representations ......................................................................................................................................................................................4

5 Word stress and emphasis............................................................................................................................................................................5

6 Apostrophes and spacing ..............................................................................................................................................................................7

7 Sound adaptation and loan words ......................................................................................................................................................8

8 Verbs ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................9

9 Prepositional phrases.........................................................................................................................................................................................10

10 Hyphenation ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................12

11 Other orthographic issues

A Numbers ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................14B Months of the year..................................................................................................................................................................................15C Dates .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................15D Days..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................15E Surnames ............................................................................................................................................................................................................15F Place names .....................................................................................................................................................................................................15G Titles ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................16H Acronyms............................................................................................................................................................................................................17I Abbreviations .................................................................................................................................................................................................17

12 Word list.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................18

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Gaelic Orthographic Conventions 2005

IntroductionIn 1976, the Scottish Certificate of Education Examination Board (SCEEB), at therequest of its Gaelic Panel, set up a Sub-committee of the Panel to investigate issuespertaining to Gaelic orthography. Inconsistencies in the standard of written Gaelic hadbeen noted by SCEEB examiners and it was felt that guidelines should be created toensure that an authoritative set of orthographic conventions was adopted by teachersand examination candidates. It was also important that examiners, setters and markerswould use the document when dealing with Gaelic examination papers and scripts.

The findings of the Sub-committee werepublished in 1981 in the document GaelicOrthographic Conventions (GOC). Thisdocument has proved to be a valuable foundationfor many areas of Gaelic development since thenas Gaelic usage has expanded into differentdomains of public life in Scotland. More recentlythe GOC recommendations have been adoptedin the compilation of Faclair na Pàrlamaid.

It has now been decided by the ScottishQualifications Authority (SQA), whichsuperseded the SCEEB, that the document shouldbe reviewed and updated, whilst adhering to theprinciples and recommendations contained in theoriginal. It is intended that this updated documentshould be easier to use, and the extended list ofnearly 2,000 words is designed to illustrate morefully the application of the conventions. In mostcases a single orthographic form is recommended,although it is recognised that, in some instances,more than one form is in use.

The revised word list is not intended to be, nor toresemble, a dictionary. It is a source of referencewhich users of the document may wish to consultwhen in doubt as to how a word, or related wordor phrase, should be spelt. Explanatory noteshave been kept to a minimum.

SQA gratefully acknowledges part-funding from the

Scottish Executive and Bòrd na Gàidhlig for the

revision of GOC.

PROJECT CONSULTANT

Donald John Maciver, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

STEERING GROUP

Annie MacSween, Lews Castle College

A G Boyd Robertson, University of Strathclyde

Ian MacDonald, The Gaelic Books Council

SQA OFFICER

Marilyn M Waters

SQA CONSULTANT

Evgeniya Matyunina

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1 The spelling ruleThe spelling rule — ‘leathann ri leathann is caol ri caol’ (‘broad to broad and slender to slender’) — isthe most common device to indicate orthographic forms in Gaelic. This means that when one or moreconsonants come between two vowels, the vowels on either side of the consonant(s) should be of thesame class.

A If the vowel preceding the consonant(s) isbroad, a, o or u, the vowel following shouldalso be broad.

� bodach, ceòlmhor, cumadh

B Where the vowel before the consonant(s) isslender, i or e, then the vowel after theconsonant(s) should be slender.

� caileag, coinnich, oidhche

An exception to this rule occurs with somepast participles passive, eg:

� glacte, leagte, togte, dèante

with certain compounds, eg:

� banrigh, choreigin, mocheirigh, rudeigin

and with some borrowed words, eg:

� mosgìoto, soircas, telefòn

2 Consonant qualityA Consonants or consonant groups with

palatal quality should be indicated by placingslender vowels (e, i) adjacent to them:

� at the beginning of a word: ceann, geall,greann, seall, steall

� at the end of a word: cruinn, cuirm,Goill, rùisg, sail

� in the middle of a word: clisgeadh, cruinne,sailleadh, tuilleadh

B Consonants or consonant groups with velarquality should be indicated by placing broadvowels (a, o, u) adjacent to them:

� at the beginning of a word: gràn,sprùilleach, stòr

� at the end of a word: balach, ceann, cosg,geal, sealg

� in the middle of a word: ceannaich, balach,cosgais, lochdan

C The forms seo and siud, showing palatalquality, should be used. In the case of neo orno, the latter is the preferred form, althoughthe former is appropriate in the phrase air neo.

D Taigh should be used instead of ‘tigh’, toreflect the sound quality of the consonant.

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3 Consonant groupsA The letters sg should be used in all positions

in place of sc:

� basgaid, cosg, pasgan, Sgalpaigh, sgian

The letters sp should be used in all positions inplace of sb:

� cuspair, cuspann, speal, uspag

However, because of their frequency andfamiliarity, the spelling of the words deasbad,easbaig, Gilleasbaig and taisbeanadh should beleft unchanged.

The letters st should be used in all positions inplace of sd:

� aosta, a-rithist, èist, furasta, gasta, pòsta,staidhre, tuarastal, tubaist

An exception would arise in a compoundplace name where the final element is ‘dal’ or‘dail’, eg:

� Gramasdal, Lacasdal, Loch Baghasdail

Exceptions may also be found in the case ofestablished forms of personal names andnomenclature on signage, eg:

� Alasdair, Colaisde, Fionnlasdan, Taigh-òsda,Ùisdean

� Likewise, Crìosd(a), Crìosdaidh etc

B The prefix formerly written as comh- shouldbe written as co- where it does not take stress,eg:

� co-chomann, co-chòrdadh, co-labhairt,co-ogha

Where it bears stress but does not havenasalisation, words should be written as in theexamples below:

� coileanta, coitheanal, coluadar

Where it bears stress and does havenasalisation, the form comh/còmh without ahyphen should be used:

� coimhleanta (compos-mentis), comhaois(person of similar age), còmhdhail (conference, transport), còmhradh (speech)

C Consonant groups should be simplified in:

� cudrom (cuideam also acceptable),cudromach, meòraich and meòrachan

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4 Vowel representationsThe following are recommended forms:

A eu rather than ia as in the words beul, feur,meud, sgeul

B ìo rather than ia as in the words dìon, fìon,fìor, mìos

C Homophones (words with the same sound buta different meaning) should be differentiatedwhere possible. For example, ceud should beretained for ‘a hundred’ and the word for‘first’ should be written ciad. Similarly, ‘month’would be mìos and the word for ‘basin’ shouldbe written mias. The words for ‘grass’, ‘squint’and ‘true’ should be spelt feur, fiar and fìorrespectively. The words for ‘anything’,‘charm/spell’ and ‘storm’ should be spelt sìon,seun and sian respectively.

D The sound previously represented by thevowel combination ao should be written asadh in words such as:

� adhbhar, adhbrann, adhradh

The combination ao is retained to representthe different sound in, for example:

� daor, faobhar, gaoth, saor

E The use of a (rather than u) to render thesound in the unstressed second syllable inwords like balach, bodach and tioram shouldbe extended to most words, eg:

� àlainn, altram, Bìoball, comann, doras,fallas, foghlam, madainn, solas, turas

An exception to this is agus, in which u shouldnot change to a, because of frequency andfamiliarity.

Similarly, ea should be used rather than io inwords like:

� boireann, doilgheas, Èireannach, fireannach,gailleann, timcheall

However, the words aotrom, cothrom, cudrom,cudromach should reflect the element trom intheir spelling.

F In the case of diphthongs with m in wordssuch as:

� cam, lampa, lom, trom

the spelling without the accent should beretained except in:

� àm (time)

which should have an accent to differentiate itfrom other words spelt am.

G The conventional spelling should be used inthe representation of the vowel quality of theadjectival endings in words such as:

� ainmeil, duineil, sgileil, sgoinneil

although in many areas these contain backvowels when spoken. The spelling rule doessometimes allow a closer representation ofsuch back vowels:

� bodachail, cuideachail, fearail

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H The grave accent only should be used toindicate length:

� an-dè, bò, cù, làmh, lèine, mòr, tìr

The accent should be written on à/às (out of)and on às whenever the vowel is open (às bith,às dèidh, às mo chadal) to distinguish it fromas when the vowel is not open (as fheàrr, as t-earrach, as t-samhradh etc).

The accent should also be used to indicatelength on capital letters:

� Àird Àsaig, Ìle, Ìomhar, An t-Òban, Ùig, Ùna

I The conventional spelling without an accentshould be retained on the long vowel soundbefore ll and nn in words such as

� cinnteach, fillte, inntinn, till

� bonn, cunntas, sanntach

This principle should also be applied to wordsformerly spelt with the accent, eg:

� dilleachdan, dinnear and trilleachan

5 Word stress and emphasisA Initial Stress

Where stress is on the first syllable of words,including proper compounds, these should bespelt as one word:

� atharrais, banrigh, barrall, cuingealachadh,dìochuimhnich, eatarrasan, imeachd,smaoineachadh

Words with prefixes conform to the samepattern:

� anabarrach, anacothrom, aocoltach,aodomhainn, eucoir

B Non-initial Stress

Words in which stress does not fall on the firstsyllable should generally be hyphenated, withthe hyphen coming before the part of theword bearing the stress:

� ban-diùc, cas-chrom

Words with prefixes conform to the samepattern:

� ana-miann, ath-bheothachadh

However, hyphens should not be used inborrowed or adapted words that have non-initial stress:

� buntàta, telebhisean, tombaca

Pronouns with emphasising particles (-ne -sa,-se, -san) should generally be written as oneword:

� dhaibhsan, dhàsan, dhìse, dhòmhsa,dhuibhse, dhuinne, dhutsa

But leis-san and ris-san should be hyphenatedto avoid the juxtaposition of ss.

C Where the emphasising particle follows anoun or an adjective, the word should behyphenated:

� a brògan-se, ar càirdean-ne, mo leabhar-sa,mo sheacaid ùr-sa

However, adjectival forms of seo, sin and siudshould be written as separate words:

� an rud seo / an rud sa, an rud sin, an rud ud

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D The following adverbial expressions of timeand place, which constitute units, should behyphenated:

� an-dè, an-diugh, an-dràsta, a-nis, a-rìs,a-rithist

� a-bhàn, a-bhos, an-àird, a-nall, a-nìos, a-nuas,a-null

� a-chaoidh, a-cheana, am-feast, a-mhàin,a-riamh

� a-mach, a-muigh, a-staigh, a-steach

� a-màireach, am-bliadhna, an-earar,an-uiridh, a-raoir

E In the following common adverbialexpressions, meaning ‘next year’, ‘tomorrownight’ and ‘next week’, hyphens should beused:

� an-ath-bhliadhn(a), an-ath-oidhch,an-ath-sheachdain

However, when they are nouns used in thesense of ‘the following’ or ‘the next’ theyshould be written as separate words, eg:

� Bha an ath bhliadhna na b’ fheàrr (The following/the next year was better)

� Bhiodh an ath oidhche glè eadar-dhealaichte(The following/the next night would be verydifferent)

� Thòisich an ath sheachdain le gaoth is uisge(The following/the next week began withwind and rain)

F Compound prepositions with stress on non-initial elements should be written as twowords:

� a chum, am broinn, à measg, am measg,a rèir, a thaobh, os cionn, ri taobh

G airson, carson and ciamar should be written asone word, but son/shon in expressions such asair a son fhèin and air mo shon fhèin should bewritten as separate words.

H Words ending in the element -eigin shouldgenerally be written as one word, even wherethe spelling rule is broken:

� air choreigin, cuideigin, feareigin, latheigin,neacheigin, rudeigin, uaireigin

The word tè-eigin should, however, behyphenated to avoid the juxtaposition of ee.

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6 Apostrophes and spacingA Apostrophes are used for the following:

� forms of the article before a noun, eg a’ ghealach

� verbal nouns beginning with a consonant, eg a’ falbh

� shortened version of is, eg ’s ann, ’s dòcha,’s e, ’s math

� shortened version of bu, eg b’ ann, b’ e,b’ fheàrr

� shortened version of is/agus, eg cho luath ’s atha e, math ’s gu bheil e

� shortened version of possessive pronouns, eg d’ fhàinne, m’ amhach

� after the past tense marker dh’, eg dh’fhalbh, dh’ith

� when the preposition do becomes a dh’before vowels, eg a dh’iarraidh, a dh’Uibhist

B The apostrophe should not be used in thefollowing:

� gum faigh, gun creideadh, gur ann

� làrna-mhàireach, nuair

C The apostrophe should not be used inpossessive phrases, eg:

� nam thaigh; na mo thaigh

� nad thaigh; na do thaigh

� na thaigh

� na taigh; na h-àite

� nar taigh; na ar taigh

� nur taigh; na ur taigh

� nan taighean; nam brògan

D The apostrophe should not be used with formssuch as ga, eg:

� gam thuigsinn; ga mo thuigsinn

� gad chreidsinn; ga do chreidsinn

� ga chluinntinn

� ga h-aithneachadh

� gar togail, ga ar togail

� gur leantainn, ga ur leantainn

� gan coinneachadh

� gam faicinn

E It should be noted that the forms a’, b’, d’ andm’ are always followed by a space. Thereshould not, however, be a space after dh’.

Where an or am are shortened to ’n and ’m,and are preceded by a noun or a pronoun,they should be written as separate words, witha space left, eg:

� a bheil thu ’m beachd?, bha an duine ’n dùil,tha mi ’n dòchas

A space should always follow ’s, and it shouldnever be joined to the following word, eg:

� ’s ann à Nis a tha mi

� ’s e sin as fheàrr, ’s mise a th’ ann, ’s dòchagun tig iad

� mi fhìn ’s tu fhèin, cho luath ’s a chì mi

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7 Sound adaptation and loan words A Words or sounds integrated into Gaelic should

be written as follows:

� Initial CH may be represented by se or te:seòclaid (chocolate), teans(a)/seansa (chance)

� Initial J may be represented by i: Iapan(Japan), Iupatar (Jupiter)

� Initial K may be represented by c:cileagram/cg (kilogram/kg), cilemeatair/km(kilometre/km) (km is used to avoidconfusion with cm)

� Initial Q may be represented by cu:cuaraidh (quarry), cuota (quota)

� Initial V may be represented by bh:bhana (van), Bhictòria (Victoria)

� Initial W may be represented by u(a) or u(e):uàlras (walrus), uèir (wire)

� Initial WH may be represented by cu or chu:chuip (whipped), cuibheall (wheel),cuip (whip)

� Initial X may be represented by s:saidhleafòn (xylophone); X in the middle ofa word may be represented by gs: bogsa(box), tagsaidh (taxi)

� Initial Y may be represented by gh or i:gheat (yacht), iogart (yoghurt), Iorc (York)

� Initial Z may be represented by s:sinc (sink/zinc), sù/sutha (zoo)

B The following words are adapted in this way:

The combination of letters oi represents avariation of sounds in English loan words, asin coiridh (curry) and soircas (circus),although the word bus should remain anexception because it is familiar in that form.

Diphthongs in adapted words should berepresented by -dh, not -gh, eg:

� baidhsagal (bicycle), loidhne (line),soidhne (sign), stoidhle (style)

Final -ee and -y should be represented by -(a)idh, eg:

� cofaidh (coffee), comadaidh (comedy),comataidh (committee), poileasaidh(policy), tofaidh (toffee)

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8 VerbsA The following forms should be used for the verb ‘to be’, with stress determining the choice of

alternative form where a comma is used. An oblique is used to indicate dialectal alternatives.

Past Tense forms an robh? (was/were?)gun robh (that … was/were)nach robh (that … was/were not)

Past Participle form bhite/bhithist(e) (used to be)

Conditional form bhiodh, bhitheadh (would be)cha bhiodh, cha bhitheadh (would not be)

Future Tense forms bidh, bithidh (will be)cha bhi (will not be)am bi? (will … be?)… gum bi (that … will be)… nach bi (that … will not be)a bhith (to be)

B The following forms should be used for irregular verbs, with stress determining the choice ofalternative form:

The monosyllabic forms (eg bidh, thuirt) should be the norm, with the forms with two syllables (egbithidh, thubhairt) being used only to show emphasis. Variants such as a’ ruigsinn, cha deachaidh,cha d’ ràinig, chunna are also acceptable.

Root Verbal Noun Past Positive Past Negative

abair ag ràdh/a’ ràdh thuirt, thubhairt cha tuirt, cha tubhairt

beir (air) a’ breith rug cha do rug

cluinn a’ cluinntinn chuala cha chuala

dèan a’ dèanamh rinn cha do rinn

faic a’ faicinn chunnaic chan fhaca

faigh a’ faighinn fhuair cha d’ fhuair

rach a’ dol chaidh cha deach

ruig a’ ruighinn ràinig cha do ràinig

thig a’ tighinn thàinig cha tàinig

thoir a’ toirt thug cha tug

Root Verbal Noun Past Positive Past Negative Infinitive

cuir a’ cur chuir cha do chuir a chur

C Forms of the verb cuir (put) should be written as follows:

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9 Prepositional phrasesA Prepositional phrases may consist of preposition + article + noun, eg bho + an + baile, which yields

bhon bhaile (from the town). The form bhon a’ bhaile is also acceptable. The same principle isshown below with other prepositions.

fo + an fon taigh, fon an taigh

mu + an mun bhòrd, mun a’ bhòrd

ro + an ron Nollaig, ron an Nollaig

tro + an tron bhaile, tron a’ bhaile

leis + an leis an duine, leis a’ bhaile

ris + an ris an duine, ris a’ bhaile

In the case of leis and ris, a different pattern is found, as they do not combine with the article toform a new word and they can be followed by two different forms of the article:

anns + an anns an duine, anns a’ bhaile san duine, sa bhaile

A similar pattern is found with anns, but additional contractions are also found.

do + an don bhaile, don a’ bhaile dha + an dhan bhaile, dhan a’ bhaile

de + an den bhaile, den a’ bhaile dhe + an dhen bhaile, dhen a’ bhaile

The prepositions do and de are replaced in many areas with dha and dha/dhe, resulting in a greatervariety of forms than in the case of those above. When followed by the article they are alsosometimes written as in the fourth column below.

In the case of do + an, dan bhaile may also be found.

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B Other prepositional phrases may consist of preposition + possessive + noun, eg do + mo + taighwhich yields dom thaigh (to my house). The form dham thaigh is also acceptable. The followingcombined forms can be used, although the separate versions are also acceptable:

Preposition Pronoun Prepositional Pronoun

do/dha mo dom/dham

do dod/dhad

a (masc) da/dha thaigh

a (fem) da/dha taigh

ar dor/dar/dhar

ur dur/dhur

am dom/dam/dham

an don/dan/dhan

bho/o mo bhom/om

do bhod/od

a (masc) bho/o (a thaigh)

a (fem) bho/o (a taigh)

ar bhor/or

ur bhur

an bhon/on

am bhom/om

Preposition mi thu e/i sinn sibh iad

de dem ded de (a) der dur den/demdhem dhed dhe (a) dher dhur dhen/dhem

fo fom fod fo (a) for fur fon/fom

gu gum gud gu (a) gar gur gun/gum

le lem led le (a) ler lur len/lem

ri rim rid ri (a) rir rur rin/rim

ro rom rod ro (a) ror rur ron/rom

tro trom trod tro (a) tror trur tron/trom

C Other simple prepositional phrases follow this pattern:

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D However, it is also acceptable to use the full forms:

bho do mhàthair gu do sheanair

le bhur cead ro ur bracaist

In the first and second plurals the forms would be:

bho ar and bho ur le ar and le ur

de/dhe ar and de/dhe ur ri ar and ri ur

do/dha ar and do/dha ur ro ar and ro ur

fo ar and fo ur tro ar and tro ur

gu ar and gu ur

E In many areas dha has replaced do as thenormal preposition before the article, althoughdo is retained when there is no article, eg:

� dhan taigh, dhan a’ bhùth, taing dhanFhreastal, but

� do thaigh mòr, do bhùth an arain, taing do Dhia

However, in some areas dha is used evenwhen there is no article, especially with propernames. In these cases, the word followingshould never be lenited, eg:

� dha seirbheis an Rìgh, dha Màiri,dha Seumas

10 HyphenationA Nouns

It is acknowledged that the spelling of wordsmade up of more than one noun joinedtogether presents difficulties, and the followingguidelines are intended to assist. Compoundsare generally hyphenated if they constitute aunit — for example, if any accompanyingadjective would normally come before or afterthe paired words rather than between them, eg:

� an t-eadar-lìon, brath-naidheachd,cùis-lagha, in-sheirbheis, làrach-lìn,leabhar-latha, post-dealain, ro-ràdh

The words àite, ball, bàta, ceann, clàr, còir, cùirt,culaidh, inneal, ionad, obair, rùm, seòmar, taighand uidheam should always be followed by ahyphen when preceding another noun which isin the genitive case, eg:

� àite-fuirich, ball-maise, bàta-siùil,ceann-suidhe, clàr-gnothaich, còir-breith,cùirt-lagha, culaidh-thruais,inneal-nigheadaireachd, ionad-obrach,obair-làimhe, rùm-cadail, seòmar-ionnlaid,taigh-bìdh, uidheam-spòrs

The following words denoting persons orgroups — bean, buidheann, fear, luchd, neach,sgioba tè — should be hyphenated whenfollowed by a common noun, eg:

� bean-taighe, buidheann-obrach, fear-siubhail,luchd-eòlais, neach-gairm(e),sgioba-glanaidh, tè-labhairt

Similarly with the prefix ban(a) when thestress is on the second syllable, eg:

� bana-phrionnsa, ban-Eadailteach,ban-s(h)einneadair

When the stress is on the first syllable, thereshould be no hyphen, eg:

� banabaidh, banacharaid, banacheard,banaltram

Being a prefix, unlike bean, ban is neverfollowed by the genitive case. The spellingbaintighearna (‘noblewoman/lady’) should alsobe noted.

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A similar pattern of hyphenation occurs whenone noun is used (like an adjective) to prefixanother noun not in the genitive case, withlenition occurring where possible, eg:

� bròn-chluich, bun-sgoil, ceann-latha,sluagh-ghairm, speur-bhean

It should also be noted that when the secondnoun (whether feminine or masculine) is notlenited in the nominative, it may still belenited in an oblique case following apreposition and the article, eg anns aneachdraidh-bheatha, san taigh-sheinnse.

Words that should not be followed by ahyphen include aithisg, comhairle, greis,iomairt, oifigeach, oifigear, òrdugh, plana,roinn, eg:

� aithisg comhairleachaidh, comhairle baile,iomairt coimhearsnachd, oifigeach/oifigear leasachaidh, òrdugh cùirte, plana gnìomh,roinn dealbhachaidh

There should be no hyphen when nouns areseparated by the article or when the second orfollowing noun is a proper noun, eg:

� Ball Pàrlamaid, bàta Mhalaig, beanThormoid, Cùirt an t-Seisein, fear an taighe,obair na h-ola, rùm na cloinne, sgiobarugbaidh na h-Alba, taigh Dhonnchaidh

It is not possible to give a definitive ruling onwhether a noun following a feminine noun(whether or not there is hyphenation) shouldbe lenited, as there are many examples ofwhen such a noun is lenited and manyexamples of when it is not, eg bean-ghlùineand deise chlò but eachdraidh-beatha.A number of examples of recommended usageare given in the Word List.

B Adjectives

A prefix or an adjective preceding a nounshould always be hyphenated, eg

� àrd-easbaig, ath-innse, beag-seagh,cruaidh-chàs, dubh-fhacal, iar-cheann-suidhe, leas-stiùiriche, liath-reothadh,mòr-roinn, trom-laighe

The exceptions are adjectives that precede thenoun: droch, f ìor, ioma/iomadh, prìomh, seann,eg:

� droch shùil, f ìor dhuine, iomadh oidhche,Prìomh Mhinistear, seann sgeulachd

An adjective preceding another adjectiveshould always be hyphenated, eg:

� fad-fhulangach, ioma-dhathach,iomadh-fhillte, làn-eòlach,uile-chumhachdach

More examples of all the usages listed aboveare given in the Word List.

C Adverbs

Guidance on adverbial phrases is given inSection 5 (D).

It should be noted that an seo, an sin and ansiud should be spelt without the hyphen.

D Use of fèin and fhèin

The prefix fèin is always followed by a hyphen,eg:

� fèin-eòlas, fèin-mhothachail, fèin-mheas

However, fhèin (and the alternative firstperson form fhìn) should always follow theword it qualifies and never be hyphenated, eg:

� an duine fhèin, Seumas fhèin, mi fhìn,iad fhèin

14

11 Other orthographic issuesA Numbers

There are two counting systems in use in Gaelic — one based on twenties, the other (more recentlyintroduced) on tens. Examples of the two systems are given below:

No. Traditional (Twenties) Alternative (Tens)

11 aon-deug —

19 naoi-deug —

27 seachd air fhichead fichead ’s a seachd

29 naoi air fhichead fichead ’s a naoi

30 deich air fhichead trithead

32 dhà-dheug air fhichead trithead ’s a dhà

40 dà fhichead ceathrad

46 dà fhichead ’s a sia ceathrad ’s a sia

50 leth-cheud caogad

60 trì fichead seasgad

70 trì fichead ’s a deich seachdad

80 ceithir fichead ochdad

90 ceithir fichead 's a deich naochad

135 sia fichead ’s a coig deug ceud, trithead ’s a còigceud ’s còig-deug air fhichead

50,000 leth-cheud mìle caogad mìle

1,000,000 millean —

1,000,000,000 billean —

Numbers are combined with nouns thus:

seachd bliadhna deug/sia neach air fhichead/fichead neach ’s a sia/fichead ’s a sia neach/còig sgillinn deug air fhichead/trithead sgillinn’s a còig/trithead ’s còig sgillinn

Whether the numbers 6, 7, 8 and 11 arepreceded by ‘t-’ depends on the gender of theword, eg:

an seachdamh bogsa (masculine), but an t-seachdamh bròg (feminine)

Numbers should be sequenced thus:

a’ chiad (1d)an dàrna/an dara (2na/ra)an treas/an treasamh/an trìtheamh (3mh)an ceathramh (4mh)an còigeamh (5mh)an siathamh (6mh)an seachdamh (7mh)an t-ochdamh (8mh)an naoidheamh (9mh)an deicheamh (10mh)

15

B Months of the year

Am Faoilleach An t-Iuchar An Gearran An LùnastalAm Màrt An t-SultainAn Giblean An DàmhairAn Cèitean An t-SamhainAn t-Ògmhios An Dùbhlachd

C Dates

Dates may be written in full or using numbers,thus:

� An seachdamh latha deug dhen Fhaoilleach

� An ceathramh latha fichead/air fhichead dhen Ghearran

� An 23mh den Mhàrt

� 23mh (An) Giblean

� 26 (An) Cèitean

D Days

Diluain DihaoineDimàirt DisathairneDiciadain Didòmhnaich orDiardaoin Latha/Là na Sàbaid

Periods of the day are indicated as follows:

� madainn Diluain

� feasgar Dimàirt

� feasgar na Sàbaid

The names of the nights of the week should bewritten:

Oidhche Luain Oidhche HaoineOidhche Mhàirt Oidhche ShathairneOidhche Chiadain Oidhche Dhòmhnaich/Oidhche Ardaoin Oidhche na Sàbaid

E Surnames

Surnames including Mac and Nic should bewritten as one word, but with a capital letteron the second element:

� MacAilein, MacCoinnich/MacChoinnich,MacDhòmhnaill, NicLeòid, NicThòmais

Exceptions are surnames which include thedefinite article:

� Mac a’ Ghobhainn, Mac an Aba,Nic a’ Phearsain

F Place names

The spelling of place names consisting of twoor more elements should reflect the distinctiveelements:

� Ceann Loch Chille Chiarain, Dùn Èideann,Inbhir Nis, Obar Dheathain

Where an element has become obscure, ahyphen should be inserted:

� Earra-Ghàidheal

The final element in names derived fromNorse -ey ‘island’ should be spelt -aigh or -eigh:

� Barraigh, Beàrnaraigh, Èirisgeigh, Pabaigh,Sgalpaigh, Tarasaigh

16

G Titles

Women

It is recommended that ‘Miss’, ‘Ms’ and ‘Mrs’be rendered as A’ Bh-Uas (a contraction of A’ Bhean-Uasal). This would yield:

� A’ Bh-Uas (Màiri) Chaimbeul, A’ Bh-Uas(Sìne) Mhoireach, A’ Bh-Uas (Anna) NicDhòmhnaill

The article would not be written with a capitalletter except in an address, and after apreposition the name would appear as follows:

� aig a’ Bh-Uas (Màiri) Chaimbeul, aig a’ Bh-Uas (Sìne) Mhoireach, aig a’ Bh-Uas (Anna) NicDhòmhnaill

� dhan Bh-Uas Chaimbeul, dhan Bh-UasMhoireach, dhan Bh-Uas NicDhòmhnaill

A dative might be marked both in the title andin the name, eg aig a’ Mhnaoi-UasailChaimbeil/Mhoirich/NicDhòmhnaill, but thiswould probably be unnecessarily formal.

However, a genitive should be marked, whichwould be na M-Uas (a contraction of na Mnà-Uasail/Uaisle):

� nighean na M-Uas C(h)aimbeil, nighean na M-Uas M(h)oirich, nighean na M-UasNicDhòmhnaill

The unlenited form is strictly correct, but inpractice lenited forms such as nighean na M-Uas Chaimbeil and nighean na M-UasMhoirich are more likely to be found.

The form when addressing someone would be:

� A Bh-Uas Chaimbeul, A Bh-Uas Mhoireach,A Bh-Uas NicDhòmhnaill

Where it is desired to make clear that awoman is married, the form A’ Bh-ph (acontraction of A’ Bhean-phòsta) is used in thesame way as A’ Bh-Uas above. The genitivewould be na M-p (a contraction of naMnà-pòsta).

� A’ Bh-ph Chaimbeul, A’ Bh-ph Mhoireach,A’ Bh-ph NicDhòmhnaill

� aig a’ Bh-ph Chaimbeul, aig a’ Bh-phMhoireach, aig a’ Bh-ph NicDhòmhnaill

� dhan Bh-ph Chaimbeul, dhan Bh-phMhoireach, dhan Bh-ph NicDhòmhnaill

� nighean na M-p C(h)aimbeil, nighean na M-p M(h)oirich, nighean na M-p NicDhòmhnaill

The formulation below may also be used:

� Màiri, Bean Chaimbeil Mrs Mary Campbell

� Sìne, Bean Mhoirich Mrs Jean Murray

� Anna, Bean MhicDhòmhnaill Mrs Anne MacDonald

17

Men

It is recommended that ‘Mr’ be rendered asMgr (a contraction of Maighstir). The genitivewould be Mhgr (a contraction of Mhaighstir).This would yield the following:

� Mgr Caimbeul, Mgr MacDhòmhnaill,Mgr Moireach

� aig Mgr Caimbeul, aig Mgr Moireach,aig Mgr MacDhòmhnaill

� do Mhgr Caimbeul, do Mhgr Moireach,do Mhgr MacDhòmhnaill

� mac Mhgr MhicDhòmhnaill,mac Mhgr Chaimbeil, mac Mhgr Mhoirich

The form used when addressing someonewould be:

� A Mhgr Chaimbeil, A Mhgr Mhoirich,A Mhgr MhicDhòmhnaill

Other forms of addressAnother format is exemplified in MàiriChaimbeul, Uas (a contraction of Uasal); SìneMhoireach, Uas; Anna NicDhòmhnaill, Uas;Seumas Caimbeul, Uas; Alasdair Moireach,Uas; Cailean MacDhòmhnaill, Uas. When anyof the names are inflected in the normal way,the Uas is unaffected.

H Acronyms

Gaelic acronyms, including some which aretranslations, should be written as follows, eg:

� BP (Ball Pàrlamaid), BPA (Ball Pàrlamaidna h-Alba), BPE (Ball Pàrlamaid na h-Eòrpa), CnaG (Comunn na Gàidhlig),CNES (Comhairle nan Eilean Siar), CNSA(Comhairle nan Sgoiltean Àraich), OGE(Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean),SMO (Sabhal Mòr Òstaig)

However, non-Gaelic acronyms are often leftin their original form even though the full titlemay be used in Gaelic, eg:

� BBC, NATO, SNH, SQA, UN, VAT

Acronyms are subject to normal inflectionpatterns, eg:

� aig a’ BhBC, leis a’ BhPA, oifis ChnaG

I Abbreviations

When abbreviations appear in Gaelic form,they are written as follows:

� àir. (no.), An t-Oll. (Prof), An t-Urr (Rev),cg (kg), dd (pp), Dr (Doctor; medical andacademic), km (km), me (eg), Mgr (Fr),msaa (etc), tdd (pages)

18

12 Word list

Aà from, out ofabaira-bhàna bharrachd in addition; eithera bheila bhith to be (not ‘a bhi’)a’ bhòn-dèa’ bhòn-raoira’ bhòn-uiridha-bhosacair(e)acfhainna-chaoidha-cheanaa’ chiad the firsta-chianaibha chionn ’s/a chionn a chuma chur to put (not ‘a chuir’)a’ cluich(e)a’ cluinntinna’ cur puttinga’ dannsa(dh)a’ dèanamha dh’aindeoina dh’aon(a) ghnotha(i)ch

adhar skyadharcadhartadhbharadhbranna dh’iarraidha dh’ionnsaighadhlacadhadhradha dh’Uibhistagam (a’m for short)agh heiferàgh joy, blissA’ Ghearmailta-ghnàthag ràdh/a’ ràdhagusa h-uile h-oidhcheàibheiseachaifreannaig a’ BhBCaigneailbheanàilgheasachaillseaindeonach reluctantain-diadhaidh

aineolachainmeilainmigainneamhair a shon fhèinair a son fheinair choreiginÀird Àsaigàird headland; point of compassàird(e) heightàireamh (àir. for short) numberairgeadairidh worthyàirigh sheilingàirleas/eàrlasair-loidhneair muinàirneisair neoair seachranairson (son for short)airtnealairtnealachaiseag naiseal axleaisig vaiste out of her/it

The following word list gives examples of how words should be spelt in accordance with principles andrecommendations set out in the document. The list cannot take full account of all the variants whichoccur in speech. People pronounce certain words in different ways and this diversity is acknowledged,but it was not practicable to include all forms in this list.

Key

adj = adjective; gen = genitive; n = noun; pl = plural; v = verb; vn = verbal noun;f = feminine; m = masculine

Brackets: a letter or letters in brackets may be omitted

Comma: an alternative depending on context, eg emphasis

Oblique (/): an alternative form or forms. Where the alternatives appear twice in reverse order they are equally acceptable. Where the alternatives appear once, the first form is the recommended one.

19

àite-còmhnaidhàite-falaichàite-fuirichàiteiginaithghearraithisgàlainnAlbaa-macha-màireachamar-snà(i)mham badeiginam bi? … am bi … (dependent form)am-bliadhna this yearam broinnà measg from amongam-feast everamha(i)cha-mhàinàmhainnamharasa mheasg in amongàmhghairam measg amongam Pàrtaidh Làbaracham Pàrtaidh Libearalach

Deamocratacham Pàrtaidh Nàiseantaam Pàrtaidh Tòraidheacha-muighan-abaich unripeanabaich premature; unreadyanabarrachanacothroman-àird(e) upwardsan àird an earan àiteigina-nallana-miannan-asgaidhan ath bhliadhna

the following year

an ath-bhliadhna next yearan ath oidhche

the following nightan ath-oidhch next nightan ath sheachdain

the following weekan ath-sheachdain next weekan ceartuairan co-bhoinn ri

in association withan-còmhnaidhan-dèan dèidh/às dèidhan-diughan do rinn?/na rinn?an-dràstaAn Eadailtan-eararan eisimeil dependent onanfha(i)nna-nìosa-nis(e)an làthairanns a’ bhaile/sa bhaileanns an taigh/san taighan robh? … an robh … (dependent form)an rud saan rud seoan rud sinan rud udan seoanshocair unease; illnessan sinan siud antaidhan tugtean tuirt, an tubhairtan uair sina-nuasan-uiridha-nullaocoltach

aodomhainnaoidion leakaoidionach leakingaoigh guestaoigheachd hospitalityaoigheil genialaon-deugaostaaotromar-a-macha-raoiràrd-easbaigàrd-ìreàrd-ollamhàrd-sgoilàrd-sheanadhàrd-ùrlara rèira-rèista-riamha-rithist/a-rìsars (before vowel)arsa (before consonant)a’ ruighinn/a’ ruigsinnàs from, out ofàs bithàs dèidh/an dèidhas fheàrràs mo chadala-staighastara-steachas t-earrachas t-fhogharas t-samhradhathair gen athara thaobh regardingatharraisath-bheothachadhath-innse

20

Bbachallbàidh tendernessbadhbhBadhlachbaibheil marvellousbaidhcbaidhsagalbaidhsagalairbàidse badgebaidse batchbàigh baysbailebailiùnbaintighearnabàirdsebalachbàl ball (dance)ball/bàlla ballballa wallball-acfhainnball-basgaidball-bhòilidhball-coiseball-dòbhrainball-maiseBall Pàrlamaid (BP)ball-seircebana-bhàrdbana-bhuidseachbanacharaidbanacheardbana-ghaisgeachbanaltramban-diaban-diùcban-iarlab’ annban-oghabanrighban-rùnairebanntrach

barail opinionbaraill(e) barrelbarantasbarraid terraceBarraighbarrall shoelacebarrfhad top layer of peatbasgaid basketbàta-bathairbàt’-aiseigbatal battlebàta-siùilbàta-teasairginnbàtha(i)chbatharbàthtebàt’-iasgaichb’ ebeag-chuidbeag-feumbeag-seaghbeag-tùrbeairtbeairteachbeairteasbeairtich v equipbean-phòstabean-taighebeàrnBeàrnaraighbèicearachdBeinn na Fadhla/

Beinn a’ Bhadhlabeòshlaintbeothailbeulbeulaibhbeul-aithrisb’ fheàrrbhan(a)bhàsa vasebhathar/bhathas/bhatar

bheat vetinerary surgeonBhictòriabhidio videobhiodh, bhitheadhbhìoras virusbhìosa visabhìoto vetobhite/bhithist(e)bhithist(e)/bhitebho frombhodca vodkabhòidsebholt(a) voltbholtaids voltagebhòtbiathadhbidh, bithidhbilean lipsbillean billionBìoballbith-beò a living, livelihoodbith-bhuanbith-eòlasbiùrobiurocrasaidhbiurocratachblaigeardblasta tastybleadraig v blether; botherbleoghain vbòbobhstair bolster, mattressboc male goat; leapbochd poor; illbodachbodha reefbodachailbòdhradhbòidhcheadboireannta femininebogha bow; bulgebogha-frois(e) rainbow

21

bogsabogsa-ciùilbogsadhbogsaigbogsairbogsa-litricheanboireannbonaidbòstbòstadh braidhmbràistebràmairbrèaghaBreatannachbreugbrìoghmhorbriosgaidbris(t)bris(t)eadh britheamhbroidse broochbrosgalbrù-dhearg bruichbuaghallanbucaidbuidheann-obrachbuidsidh budgerigarbuinteanas/buntanasbungalobun-os-cionnbun-sgoilbuntàtabus

Ccàballcafaidhcaibideilcaidreabhcaileag

càilearcailleachcaipteancàirdinealcàirich v mend vn càradh càit a bheil?càit(e)caithte worn out, used upCaitligeachcaladhcalaraidh caloriecalltainncamcamara pl camarathancànanCanèidianachcangarùcaogadcaora pl caoraichcarabhaidhcaraich v move vn carachadh carbadcargucarsoncartùncas-cheumcas-chromcatalogcathadh snowstormceàird craft, tradeceala-deug/cola-deugceann-bliadhna birthdayceann-latha deadlineCeann Loch Chille Chiarainceann-suidhecearcallceàrd travelling personceàrn/ceàrnaidhceàrnagceàrnagachceart-cheàrnachceart-cheàrnag

ceathradceileir warbleceimigceimigeachdceimigearCeinia Kenyaceirsle ball of woolCèitean (An)ceòlmhorceud a hundredceudameatair (cm for short)cha bhicha do ràinig/cha d’ ràinigchan eilchan fhacachan fhuilearcha tàinigcha tuirt, cha tubhairtcha tugchìchìte/chithist(e)chluinnte/chluinnist(e)chuip v whippedchunchunnacaschunnaic/chunnaciad firstciamarcia mheudcidhe pier, quaycidsincile kilocileagram (cg for short)cilemeatair (km for short)cinnteachcìobairciopair kipperciudha queueciutha hair bunclach-mheallain

pl clachan-meallainclag

22

claigeannclann-nigheanclàr-amaclàr-gnothaichclàr-innsecleachdteclìcclìceachcliobachcliop haircutclisgeadhclòcloc clockcnàimh bonecnàimhneach skeletoncnàmh digestcnapcnap-starra(dh)

pl cnapan-starra(idh)cnatancneastacnoccnuimhco-aimsireilco-aontaichcò às a tha thu?co-bhanntachdcochallco-chomannco-chòrdadhco-dhaltaco-dhiùcofaidhcofhurtachdcofhurtaichcofhurtailcoibhneascoibhneilcoidsecòigcoilean fulfilcoileanta complete, perfect

coilleag cockle; sand-dunecoimeas comparisoncoimhleanta compos-mentiscoimiseancoimpiutaircoingeiscoinnlearco-ionannco-ionannachdcòir-breithcòir-bhòtaidhCoiria Koreacoiridh currycoitheanalco-là-breithco-labhairtcola-deug/ceala-deugcolaistecolanncolòiniach colonialcoloinidhcoltachcoltascoluadarcomadaidh comedycomaig comiccomanncomas abilitycomataidh committeecombaistcomhaois person of same agecomharracòmhdhailcòmhlacòmhlancòmhnardcòmhradhcòmhragcòmhstricòmh-thràth twilightcom-pàirtcom-pàirtich

conntraighconsal consulco-oghaco-òrdanaichcoparcòrnaircorpailearcorporracosgcosgaiscosta coastcothromcractecrannchurcrannchur-gill rafflecraiceanncrèadhcreideamhcriogaid cricketcrioplachCrìosd(a)CrìosdaidhCrìosdailcriostal crystalcrògcrostacrostachd cruinne(cè) (an)

world, universe Cruthaighear (An)/Cruthadair

(An) the Creator, GodCuaigear Quakercuango quangocuaraidhcuartaich/cuairtichcùbaid/cùbainncucair cookercudrom/cuideamcudromachcuibheall/cuibhle ncuibhil v wheel vn cuibhleadhcuibhle/cuibheall n

23

cuideachailcuideigincuidhteascuingealachadhcuinn(l)eancuip n, v whipcuir vn cur cùis-laghacùis-uabhaiscuithe cattle fold; pitcuithe-sneachda snowdriftcùlaibhculaidh-ghràinculaidh-mhagaidhculaidh-thruaiscultarcultarachcum shapecùm keepcumadhcumailcumantacunntascunntair counter (shop);

bank tellercuòram quorumcuota quotacurraicealamcuspaircuspann

Dda to him/itdà twodachaighdaddadaidhdàibheardàibhigdaineamaig ndaineamaigeach adjdaineamaitdaineamo

daingeanndaingneachadhdaingnichdaithead dietdam damDàmhair (An)danns(a) ndaoimeandaordara/dàrnadàrna/daradathtedeach/deachaidhdeadhan deandeàlrachdeamhaisdeamocrasaidhdeamocratachdèanta/dèantedèante/dèantadearbhtedeàrrsachdeasbaddeasgdèidheildeilignit gelignitedeireadh-seachdain deit datedeotar jotterdeothaildeugdeugairedha to him/itdhà twodhachaighdhaibh(san)dha-rìribh/da-rìribhdhàsandh’fhalbhdhi to/for her/itdhibh(se) of/off you pldhinn(e) of/off usdhìom(sa)

dhìot(sa)dhith(se) of/off her/itdhìse to/for her/itdh’ithdhiubh(san) of/off themdh’òldhòmhsadhuibhsedhuinn(e) to/for usdhut(sa)dian intenseDiardaoindiathaddìcheallDiciadaindìdeanDidòmhnaichdidseatach digitaldigearDihaoinedilleachdanDiluainDimàirtdìneasairdinichean jeansdinn cram, stuffdinneardìochuimhnichdiofardìoghail/dìol avenge; repaydìoghaltasdiombuandìomhairdìon defenddioplòmasachdioplòmasaidhdìoro girodiosgoDisathairnedithisdiùraidh jurydleastanasdoca dock, hollow

24

docairdoile/doileag/doilidh dolldoilgheasdolair dollardomhainn deepdomhan worlddòrainneachdorasdosgainn dotair (Dr for short)do urdrabastadràibheardram/drama dramdrama/dram dramdràma dramadraoidhdrèanadreasadreuchddrioftairdrithleann sparkledr(i)ùchddrogadrùdhdrudhag/drùdhagdrùdhag/drudhagdrùidhteachdubh-fhacal riddle, enigmadubh-ghormDùbhlachd (An)ducs duxduineilDùn Èideanndùthchasach

Ee he/iteacarsaicheaconamacheaconamachdeaconamaidh

eaconamairEaconamas Dachaigheacstasaidh ecstasy (the drug)eadar-àmeadar-amailEadar-liòneadar-theangachadhèadhar aireadhonèadhraig v aireagalealaealain (not ‘ealan’) artealla (as in ‘gabh ealla ri’)ealtainneanraichearballeàrlas/àirleasEarra-Ghàidhealeas-aonta disagreementeasaontas transgressioneasbaigeasbhaidheasbhaidheachèasgaidheasgannèiginneach/èigeannachèighèigheach(d)èiginneileagtronaigeacheileamaideileaneilthireacheinnseaneinnseanaireinnseanaireachdÈireannachèirich v rise vn èirigh èiridh will riseÈirisgeigheisimeil

eisimeileacheisimpleirèistèisteachdÈitsealesaneucoireucorach eudeugmhais

Ffa chomhair fa chùisfacs faxfactaraidhfàdfa-dheòidh finallyfaicfaiceall/faicillfaiceallach/faicilleachfaicist(e)/faictefaicte/faicist(e)faidhle n filefaidhl(ig) vfaighfaighnichfaileasfaillich/fairtlichfàillig/fàilnich failfailmean knee-capfàinnefàirefàisgtefallainfallasfamhair/fuamhairefa-nearfaobharfaothachadh/faochadhfaochadh/faothachadh

25

faoileagFaoilleach (Am)far-ainmfaramfaramachfarchluaisfarsaingfa sgaoilfastaidhfastaidhearfathannfeabhasfeadhainnfeallsanachdfearfearailfear-ceàirdfeareiginfear-labhairtfear-laghafear na cathrachfeart virtue; heedfeasgar Dimàirtfeasgar na Sàbaidfèathfèileadh kiltfèist feast, banquetfeuch tryfeur grassfeurachfeusagfeusganfhathast fhuairfhuaradh/fhuaras was foundfhuaras/fhuaradh was foundfiacailfiach worthfiar squintfideiseach fidgetyfidheallfighte

filltefilmfìonfìor truef ìreanachadh justifyingfireannfireannachfìr-eun eaglef ìrinn truthf ìrinneach truthfulfitheachfodha under him/itfòdhpafoghain sufficefoghlamfòghnan thistlefòidhpefoighidinnfoighidneachfoillseachadhfoirfeach church elderfoirm formfollaiseachfon chuthachfosgladh openingfraighig/praighig fryFraingis French languageFrangach French personfreastalfreumhfrids fridgefuaigheil v sew vn fuaigheal fuaigheal n sewingfuaimfuamhaire/famhairfuasgladh loosening, solvingfuathasach very, terriblyfùdar/pùdarfuidheall remainderfuiling v suffer vn fulang fulang(as) n sufferingfurasta

furm stool

GGàidhealGàidhealachGàidhealtachdGàidhliggailleanngaileis bracesgaineamh gainmheach gàirnealaireachdGallGalltagamhlasgànraichgaoisidgaothgar v warm oneself vn garadh gàrlach nyaffgàrradhgastagèadhgealgeallgearain v complain vn gearan gearan complaintgearastangeàrdGearran (An)gearran geldinggeàrr-chunntasgeimhleaggeoimeatraidh geometryge-tà/ged-thàgeurgeurchuiseachgheat yachtghriùlach (a’)/ghriùrach (a’)ghriùrach (a’)/ghriùlach (a’)Giblean (An)

26

gidheadhGilleasbaiggiorna-giùirne helter-skeltergiuthasglacteglaine adj cleanerglainne glassgleusgleustagloidhcgnìomhachasgnù surlygoil boilgoilfgoilfear Goillgrafgràingràineilgràinichgràinne a single graingràmarGramasdalgramataigeachgràn graingràndagreanngrèata grate (fireplace)grèimgreusaiche gu leòrgun fhiostagun do rinn/gun rinngun robh

Hhaidhp hypehaidridean hydrogenhamahangarheileacoptarHiort

hocaidh hockeyhòro-gheallaidhhù-bhitheil stramash

Iiac yakIapaniaranniar-cheumnaicheiar-cheann-suidheiarnaigiar-oghaiarrtasiathadhidrisgeach fidgetyÌleimeachdimlichìmpire ìmpireachdInbhir AoraInbhir Nisìne fingernailinneal-ciùilinneal-figheinneal-measgachaidhInnse Gallinntinnìocshlaintiòga yogaiogart yogurtioma(dh)ioma-dhathachiomadh duineiomadh-fhillteioma-ghaothiomchaidhiom-fhillteÌomhariomnaidhiomrallionad-fàilte

ionad-fiosrachaidhionad-slàinteionad-spòrs(a)ionanniongantachiongantasiongnadhionmhainnionnsaichionnsaichteionnsaighionnsramaidionnsramaideachIorc Yorkiorghailìosal/ìsealIsraelach/IosaraileachiosgaidiriosalirioslachdisbeanIseabailìsleis mathaidis toigh le/is toil leiubailidh jubileeIuchar (An t-)IùgoslàibhiaIupatar

LLacasdallachdannlagchuiseachlaimriglaisteLatha/Là Luain làmh-an-uachda(i)rlàmhchairlampalàrach-lìnlàraidh

27

làrna-mhàireachlastaiglatha/làLatha/Là na Sàbaidlatheiginlèabag/leòbagleabaidhleabhar-latha/leabhar-làleabharlannleaghteleagteleannleasbach lesbianleathannleig mu sgaoillèineleis-sanleiteachas biasleòbag/lèabagleònteleòman mothleòmhann lionleòrl(e)òsan window panelethbhreacleth-bhreithlethcharlethcheannleth-cheudlethchiallachleth-chuairtletheachlethoireach isolatedleth-uairlì surface filmlide(adh)lilidhliodraiglìomhteliostalobhtelocair

Loch Baghasdaillogaidhloibh(t) rottenloidhneloidseadhloidsearloidsig logicloidsigeach logicalloiliopoploisgtelomluathaireach high-spirited,

mischievousluathslùbachlùbteluchdluchd-ciùilluchd-ealainluchd-obrachluchdteluchd-turaisLùnastal (An)Lunnainnlùths

MMac a’ GhobhainnMacAileinMacAmhlaighMac an AbaMac an t-SaoirMac-a-phìMacCoinnich/MacChoinnichMacIlleMhaoilmac-meanmainn/mac-meanmnamac-meanmna/mac-meanmainnmac-samhailmac-tallamadadh-allaidhmadainnmaicreasgop microscope

maids v match vn maidseadhmaids(e) match, gamemaighdeannmaighstirmaighstir-sgoilemàileidmairtfheòilmaith/math forgive maitheanas/mathanas

forgivenessmaitheas/mathas goodnessmanaidsearmaoil foreheadmar-aon mar-bhith fault, blamemar eisimpleir (me for short)margaidmàrsailmar sin air adhart

(msaa for short)Màrt (Am)mar-thà/mu thràthma-thà/ma-tàmatamataigmatamataigeachmath/maith forgive mathanas/maitheanas

forgivenessmathas/maitheas goodnessm’ athairmath dh’fhaodte math ’s gu bheil emeacanaigmeacanaigeachmeadhanmeadh-bhlàthmean/mion smallmèaran/mèanan yawnmèaranaich/mèananaich

yawningmèarrsadhmeas

28

meatameataformeidigeachmeileabhaid velvetmèinneadairmèinnirmèinnireachmèirlemeòrachadhmeòrachailmeòrachanmeòraichmeudmeudaichmeurmeuran thimblemeur-chlàrmialmia(tha)laichmial-chùmias basinmiast(r)adh havocmì-chàilearmì-chiatachmì-chliùmì-chofhurtailmì-fhallainmi fhèin/mi fhìnmi fhìn/mi fhèinmìlegram (mg for short)mìleliotair (ml for short)mìlemeatair (mm for short)mill spoil; showersmilleanmilleanair millionairemì-mhodhmì-mhodhailminigministearmion/mean smallmion-chànanmions mince

mìorbhailmìorbhaileachmì-phroifeiseantamìos monthmì-rùnmiseanaraidhmocheirighmodail modelmodal modulemòdammoileciuilMoire the Virgin Marymo leabhar-samonmharmòrmòrchuismòrchuiseachmòr-dhailmorgaids(e)mòr-roinn continentmòr-shluaghmòr-thìr mainlandmosgìoto mosquitomu choinneamh/mu choinneimhmu chuairtmu dheidhinnmuicfheòilmuileann/muilinnmuilinn/muileannmuilicheann/muinichillmuiltfheòil muilicheann/muinichillmuinighinmuinntirmuncaidhmur(a) unlessmurtmurtaidh sultrymurtairMuslamachmu thràth/mar-thà

Nnàbaidhna b’ òigenach binàdarnàdarrachNa Hearadhnaidheachdnàidhleannaochadnaoi/naodhnaoi air fhichead/naodh air

fhicheadnaoi-deug/naodh-deugnaoidheamh/naodhamhnaoinear/naodhnarneach-ciùilneach-ealainneacheiginneach-gairmneach-labhairtneach-sgrùdaidhneach-teagaisgnèamhnèapaigin, nèapraig(ear)neas weaselneasgaid a boilnèibhidhneo-ar-thaingneochoireachneo-eisimeileachneo-fhoirmeilneòghlanneoichiontachneoichiontachdneo-lochdachneoninìghneagnithear will be doneniùclasachnobhailnuair

29

Oobair-dachaighobair-ghrèisobair-làimheobair-lathaÒban (An t-) Obar Dheathainobraicheanochdadochd-deugÒgmhios (An t-)ogsaidean oxygenOidhche ArdaoinOidhche ChallainnOidhche ChiadainOidhche DhòmhnaichOidhche HaoineOidhche LuainOidhche MhàirtOidhche na SàbaidOidhche ShamhnaOidhche Shathairneoidhirpoifigearoifigeach airmoifigear leasachaidhoifigeilòigearoilisginoillteiloilthighòinseachoirbh(se)òirdheircòirleachoiseanOllamh (An t-)

(An t-Oll for short)onaironarachopairèisean operationopara opera

òraidicheorainsorainsearòran càraid òran luaidh òrdaichòrdaigheanòrdugh/òrdanòrdugh cùirteos cionnos ìosal secretlyos làimhos-nàdarra(ch)òson ozoneostailOstair (An)òstair hotelierothaisg pl othaisgean/òisgean

PPabaighpaidh piepaidhirpaidse patchpàigh paypàipear-naidheachdpaireafain paraffinpairilis paralysis, palsypaisgtepàistepaistiuraich pasteurisepannal panelparaimeatair parameterparaisiutparòilparsailpartaidh/pàrtaidhpàrtaidh/partaidhpasganpathadhpeansailpears-eaglais

peilepeinnseanpeirceallpiànopincpìob-mhòrpioramaidpiotsa pizzapitheidplana cànainplana leasachaidhplastaigplèan(a) plèastair/plèastraig v plasterplèastar/pleastar npleidhe playtime, intervalplòidhpoballpoblach publicpoblachd republicpoidhleat pilotpoidsearpoidsigpoileaspoileasaidhpoilitigeachpoilitigspoirdse porchpòla/pòile polepongailpost(a)pòstapost-dealain (post-d for short)practaigeachpragmatachpraighig/fraighigpreusantprìomh bhailePrìomh Mhinistearprionnsapalpròbhaistproifeasair

30

proifeiseantaproipeilearpròiseactproiseactairpronnpronnasg sulphurPròstanachpròtacalprothaidprothaideachprothaidich vprotractairpùdar/fùdar npurpaidh/purpar purple

Rraidhc rake (person)raighd rideràinigràith(e)raon-cluicherathad-mòr main roadrèabhaireachd ramblingreasabaidhrèidiorèidiografaidhrèidiumrèidiusrèisimeidreoth freezereothadhreòthta/reòthterèothte/rèothtareubtereudan woodworm, etcriaghailtribh(se)ribheidrinc-deigherinn(e) to usrìoghachdrionnach

rionnagris(-san)ri taobhro (not roi/roimh)roghainnroilearroiligroinn dealbhachaidhro-innleachdroinn ionmhaisrola/roile rollro-ràdhròstarothaig wind uprùbarab rhubarbrubharudeiginr(u)idhil vr(u)idhle nrùilearrùisg v peelRùmruma rumrùm-cadailrùm-suidherùm-teagaisgrùrach/rùileachrùsg n peel; fleece

Ssabhal pl saibhleansabhs saucesàibhear culvertsaidhbhir richsaidhbhreas richessaidhleafònsail pl sail(th)ean beamsàil heelsaill v salt vn sailleadh saimeantsàirdseantsàl brine

salcharsamhailSamhain (An t-)samhlasa, san in the’s a, ’s an and his/her/the/their’s annsaorsainneachd joinerysaorsainneilSasainn/SasannSasannach’s dòcha’s eseabra zebraseachainseachdadseachdain pl seachdainean seadh aye, yesseagh senseseaghailseagsaidh sexyseal a whilesealastair/seileastairseallSealtainnseanail channelseanailearseanchaidhseanchas/seanachasseanfhacalseansa/teans(a)seansailear chancellorseantansseaplain chaplainsearaidh sherrysearmonsearmonaichseasgadseatlaigseic chequeseiche hideseilear

31

seileastair/sealastairseirbheisseirbheiseachsèithearsèithear-cuibhleseit-phlèanseoseòclaidseòmar-bìdhseòmar-ionnlaidseòmar-leapaseud jewelseun charm, spellseuntaseusan’s fheudarSgalpachSgalpaighSgarpachsgeidse sketchsgeulsgì v ski vn sgitheadh sgiamhsgiansgileilsgillinnsgiort(a)Sgitheanachsgìthssglèatsgoilearsgoinneilsgreamhsgreamhailsgreataidhsgreuch screamsgrìob-cheangailsgriubhasgriubhaigsgriubhairesguilearaidh’s i

siabannsian stormsiad hero’s iadsimilearsinc sink; zincsinn-seanairsinn-seanmhairsìochaintSiog Sikhsiogàr cigarsiogarait cigarettesìon anythingSìona ChinaSìonach Chinesesionnsarsiop zipsiopsach gypsysioraf giraffesiorc sharksiorraidh/siorramsiorram/siorraidhsiostamsitheannsiudsiugaslac slack, weakslaic blowslaighdslaightearslaightearachdsleamhainnsleidssliseagsloc pitsmachdsmaoinich vn smaoineachadh’s math(’s) math dh’fhaodte’smaite/’s mathaid’s mathaid/’s maitesmeur berry

smiogaidsmiorsmocadhsmocaig v smokesnaidhm/snaoimsnaigheadairsnaigheadhsnàithleansnaoim/snaidhmsnàthainnsnèapsnìomhteso-dhèantasoidhnesoidhnigsoifiostaigeachsoircassòisealtasoisgeulsoitheamh tamesolas lightsòlas joysòn zonesònraichtespaidsir vSpainn(t)eachSpainn(t)isspanairspealspìosrachsplaisspreadh vn spreadhadhspreigspreòt incitesprochdsprùilleachsrac vn sracadhSràid na h-Eaglais(e)srainnsearsrathsreap/streapsreapadair/streapadair

32

sreapadaireachd/streapadaireachd

sreothartsreothartaichsrùb spoutsrùbagstàballstaidhrestairsneachstaitistearachd statisticsstaitistigeilstaoig steaksteallsteatasgopsteig v sticksteigeachstiùidiostiùireadairstiùir vn stiùireadhstoidhlestòiridhstòrstràcstrèanstreap/sreapstreapadair/sreapadairstreapadaireachd/

sreapadaireachdstrìstrìochstructarsù/sutha zoosuaicheanta noteworthysuaitheanta awfulsubailte/sùbailtesùbailte/subailtesubailteachd/sùbailteachdsùbailteachd/subailteachdsubsadaidhsùgh orainseirsuidse switchsùigh

suiteas sweet pl suiteis sweetssuirghesùith sootSultain (An t-)

Ttacsa helptaghta finetaghte chosentagsaidh taxitaidhtaidhear/taidhrtaidhltaidhptaidhr/taidheartaightaigh-bìdhtaigh-cluichetaigh-cùirtetaigh-òstataigh-seinnsetàinigtairig/tarrag nailtàirnean/tairgean/

tarragan nailstairsgeir/treidhsgeirtaisbeanadhtaisgtetanatancairtaobh-duilleig(e) (td for short)TarasaightarcaistarcaiseachtastanTBhtèteacsateampallteanamaintteanasteans(a)/seansa chance

tèaraintetèarainteachdtèarmannteàrn vn teàrnadhteatha/tìtè-eiginteicneòlachteicneòlasteicnigeachtèile (ie tè eile)teleasgopteleafònteipteirm termteis-meadhantè-laghatelebhiseanteòiridh theoryteòiridheach theoreticalteòthteòthachd temperaturethàinigtha mi ’n dòchasthatar/thatas/thatharthathar/thathas/thatarthathas/thathar/thatartha toil agamthigthoir fa-nearthugainn/tugainn/tiugainnthuirt, thubhairttì/teathatill vn tilleadhtimchealltiogaid tickettiona tintionsail tinseltìoraidh goodbyeTiridheach/TiristeachTiristeach/Tiridheachtìr-mòrtitheach

33

tiugainn/thugainn/tuggaintobar m gen tobair

f gen tobrachTobar Mhoiretobh(aig) v towtodha hoetofaidhtogsaid/tocasaidtogtetoinisgeiltoirds torchtomàto pl tomàtothantombacatò(i)ntonsailtost silencetost(a) toasttostachtrafaigtraidhfeal trifletraidhsagaltraidiseantatrainnsetràlairtrasta adv diagonaltrealaichtreamhlaidh bug, illnesstrèan(a)trèan vn trèanadhtrèan(aig) vtreidhetreidhsgeir/tairsgeirtribiùnaltrilleachantrìoblaich tripletriom moodtritheadtrìtheamh (an)tsinthach (an)tro (not ‘troimh’)troigh foot (measurement)

troilidh trolleytroimh-a-chèiletugainn/tiugainn/thugainntruileistruinnseartrustartuairmsetuarastaltughadhtuilleadhtui(r)neaptuireadh lamenttuirt, tubhairtturadh dry weatherturas

Uuabharuabhasuabhasachuamh uaireiginuàlras walrusuamhraidh very, terriblyuanfheòilubhaluèir-bhiorachughùghdarrasuidheam-glanaidhÙig/ÙigeÙige/Ùiguile-gu-lèiruilinn/uileannuill welluimhiruireaduireasbhaidhuirle-thruis chaos, stramashuirsgeulUlapul

ÙnauncailUrànasùrlarùrnaighurraurrainnUrramach (An t-)

(An t-Urr for short)ùruisguspag

Xx-ghath

34

NOTES

BB1532 August 2005

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