Scotland Travel Guide: Useful Scottish Gaelic Words and Phrases.

When you travel to other countries, it would be inevitable that you will encounter words and phrases that you have never before encountered. Even if you are traveling to a country that technically speaks the same language as you do, there are always variations that could lead to some misunderstanding along the way. Familiarizing yourself with the dialect of the region you are planning to travel to should be part of your travel plans. It will not only help you get a better understanding of the local customs and culture but will also help make your vacation as smooth sailing as possible. Learning a language or dialect will better enhance your communication with the local people and most likely prevent any miscommunications that can cause delays or even embarrassing situations.

One thing you can do before you depart for your destination is to read on the language or dialect of that country. You can either attend a language class. Or if you are going to a country that already speaks English, you might want to get a phrasebook that will give you a list of words that are spoken chiefly in that country. In some cases, if the country also has a second language other than English, you may need the assistance of a professional language translation service to do the translating for you, especially when it involves official or legal documents. Knowing a reliable language translation service can save you a lot of time especially when you travel very frequently.

This travel guide that we offer is an indispensable tool to help you in your travel. You can use it as a handy tool when traveling to other countries because we have included some useful information regarding your country of destination. The Scotland Travel Guide is composed of various, easy-to-find sections that provide you with accurate and concise information about Scotland, including safety tips and information on the highly recommended tourist attractions in the country. The travel guide also includes a phrasebook that will help you familiarize yourself with the local dialect and Scottish Gaelic, the country’s second language. You can read through this section of the travel guide to help get you ready for your trip with the realization that even though English is spoken in Scotland, there are many different words and phrases that are not necessarily used elsewhere in the world. Also, even if the people of Scotland are all English speakers, the use of Scottish Gaelic is very much alive. In the phrasebook below you will find a section for commonly used “scotticisms” which is essentially Scottish slang that outsiders may not be familiar with and a separate section for basic Scottish Gaelic.

Scotland Useful Words and Phrases (Useful Scottish Words and Phrases)

Scottish English

Auld
Awrite!
Aye
Baffies
Bairn
Bide
Blether
Brae
Braw
Breeks
Canny
Cheerio
Close
Damned few an’ they’re a’ deid!
Daunder
Dyke
Fae
Fit like min
Girn
Ho ye!
Hogmanay
Ken
Licht
Loch
Loon
Messages
Pooch
Puckle
Pure dead brilliant
Quine
Sassenach
Wabbit
Wee
Yon

Old
Hello!
Yes
Slippers
Small child
To live (in a certain place)
To have a prolonged conversation
Hill
Excellent
Pants
Careful
Goodbye
Alley
Cheers!
Stroll
Wall
From
How are you?
Complain
Excuse me
New Year’s Eve
to know or understand
Light
Lake
Man
Groceries
Pocket
a few
Very Good
Woman
A person from England
Exhausted
Small
That

Scottish Gaelic Phrases

Good morning!
Good afternoon or Good Evening!
Good night!
How are you?

I’m fine, thanks!
What is your name?
My name is…
A pleasure to meet you!

I’m sorry.
Excuse Me.
Please.
Thank you!

You’re welcome!
Cheers! Good health!
Where are you from?
Where is the bathroom?
I don’t understand.
Goodbye!

“Madainn mhath!”
“Feasgar mhath!”
“Oidche mhath!”
“Ciamar a tha thu?” (Informal)
“Ciamar a tha sibh?” (Formal)
“Tha gu math. Tapadh leibh!”
“Dè an t-ainm a tha oirbh?”
“S mise…”
“Tha mi toilichte ur coinneachadh!” (formal / plural)
“Tha mi toilichte do choinneachadh.” (informal / singular)
“Tha mi duilich.”
“Gabhaibh mo leisgeul.”
“Ma ‘se ur toil e.”
“Tapadh leat!” (Informal)
“Tapadh leibh!” (Formal)
“Se do bheatha!”
“Slàinte mhòr agad!”
“Cò às a tha sibh?”
“Càit a bheil an taigh beag?”
“Chan eil mi a’ tuigsinn.”
“Beannachd leat/leibh.” (formal)
“Tìoraidh.” (Informal)

Numbers – Scottish Gaelic

one
two
three
four
five
six
seven
eight
nine
ten

aon
dà dhà
trì
ceithir
còig
sia
seachd
ochd
naoi
deich

Days of the Week – Scottish Gaelic

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday

Diluain
Dimàirt
Diciadain
Diardaoin
Dihaoine
Disathairne
Didòmhnaich Latha na Sàbaid

Months of the Year – Scottish Gaelic

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

Am Faoilleach
An Gearran
Am Màrt
An Giblean
An Cèitean
An t-Ogmhìos
An t-Luchar
An Lùnasdal
An t-Sultain
An Dàmhair
An t-Samhain
An Dùbhlachd

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