We can ask someone about their work by asking, ‘Dè seòrsa obrach a th’ ann?‘. In answering, we can use the same kind of sentence we used in section 1: ‘S e … a …
‘S e obair dhùbhlanach a th’ innte.
It’s a challenging job (It’s challenging work that is in her.)
It’s very useful to know the words neach (person) and luchd (people) to talk about jobs. On its own neach means ‘person’ but it is used in a range of job titles. Luchd can also indicate groups of people or plurals.
neach‑obrach (m)
worker/member of staff
luchd‑obrach (m)
workers/staff
neach‑smàlaidh (m)
firefighter
luchd‑smàlaidh (pl)
firefighters/group of firefighters
neach‑leasachaidh (m)
developer
luchd‑leasachaidh (pl)
developers
neach‑aithris (m)
reporter
luchd‑aithris (pl)
reporters/reporting staff
neach‑sgrùdaidh (m)
inspector
luchd‑sgrùdaidh (pl)
inspectors/group of inspectors
neach‑reic (m)
salesperson
luchd‑reic (pl)
salespeople
neach‑frithealaidh (m)
waiter/waitress/attendant
luchd‑frithealaidh (pl)
waiting staff/attendants/table staff
neach‑taic (m)
assistant
luchd‑taic (pl)
assistants/group of assistants
neach‑glanaidh (m)
cleaner
luchd‑glanaidh (pl)
cleaners/group of cleaners
neach‑lagha (m)
lawyer
luchd‑lagha (pl)
lawyers/group of lawyers
neach-teagaisg (m)
teacher
luchd-teagaisg (pl)
teaching staff
In describing what kind of a person someone is we can also use neach: Dè seòrsa neach a th’ ann? If you are using a sanas-dreuchd (job advert) to look for luchd-obrach (staff) you may be looking for a neachobrach gnìomhach (an industrious worker).
dìcheallach (adj)
diligent/conscientious
gnìomhach (adj)
industrious
comasach (adj)
capable
leisg (adj)
lazy
trang (adj)
busy
claoidhte (adj)
shattered
dùbhlanach (adj)
challenging
cudromach (adj)
important
dòrainneach (adj)
boring
And we saw and heard in the conversation
beòshlaint (f)
livelihood
cùmhnant (m)
contract
tuarastal (m)
salary, earnings
fastadh (m)
hiring/employing
Nì iomadh làmh an obair aotrom
And if the luchd-obrach work together as a sgioba (team) we can say:
Nì iomadh làmh an obair aotrom
Many hands make light work
And this neach-obrach is perhaps less suited to teamwork, being more of an neach-iomairt (entrepreneur):
An rud a chuireas e na cheann, cuiridh e na chasan e
He is determined to do things his own way (literally, the thing he puts in his head, he will put in his feet)
Let’s hope you don’t have to make use of these:
Is fheàrr leisgeul salach na gun leisgeul idir
A bad excuse is better than no excuse
Is fheàrr droch leisgeul na bhith gun leisgeul idir.
A bad excuse is better than no excuse
Play with the sentences below. There are no wrong answers!
Dè seòrsa neach-obrach a th’ annta?