FAQS
How do I type the Gaelic accents?
You can just copy and paste these
Lowercase letters
Uppercase letters
Keyboard shortcuts
Windows
Some simple ways to type grave accents in MS Windows, depending on which version you use. The grave accent ` is next to the number 1 at top of keyboard
à, è, ì, ò, ù Ctrl+`, release and type letter;
À, È, Ì, Ò, Ù Ctrl+Shift+`, release and type letter
OR
Alt key + character code on the numeric keypad on right of keyboard (laptops will vary). Ensure that the NUMLOCK is on.
à Alt+133 or 0224
è Alt+138 or 0232
ì Alt+141 or 0236
ò Alt+149 or 0242
ù Alt+151 or 0249
À Alt+0192
È Alt+0200
Ì Alt+0204
Ò Alt+0210
Ù Alt+0217
Mac
Push and hold a character to bring up a menu and choose.
E.g. hold the letter e to choose the letter è
What is the Gaelic Alphabet?
> Aa, Bb, Cc, Dd, Ee, Ff, Gg, Hh, Ii, Ll, Mm, Nn, Oo, Pp, Rr, Ss, Tt, Uu
For more information visit LearnGaelic’s Scottish Gaelic Alphabet https://learngaelic.scot/scottish-gaelic-alphabet.jsp
How do I pronounce Gaelic sounds?
SpeakGaelic always gives you a sound file for the word you are learning. For more information on individual sounds, visit LearnGaelic’ Sounds section https://learngaelic.scot/sounds/index.jsp
What are slender and broad vowels?
The slender vowels are e and i.
All the others are broad.
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Can you translate something for me?
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Chaidh na daoine a chur a-null 1
The people were sent over 1
We saw the passive structure in Cuspair 11 which uses chaidh and thèid in sentences where they don’t mean ‘went’ or ‘will go’.
In English we can say something ‘got/was done’, that people ‘got/were sent’.
In Gaelic we use the verb rach (go) to do this.
This structure causes inversion when used with direct objects.
As we saw with previous inversion sentences, the verb is lenited where possible and preceded by an a, except where verbs start with a fuaimreag (vowel), or f + fuaimreag (f + vowel).
Chaidh na daoine a chur a-null.
The people were/got sent over.
Thèid Gàidhlig ionnsachadh san sgoil.
Gaelic will be/get learned in the school.
An deach na Gàidheil fhuadach?
Did the Gaels get cleared? Were the Gaels cleared?
Chaidh an dachaighean a thoirt bhuapa.
Their homes got/were taken from them.
When we do this we need to use the possessive adjectives instead of the noun subject: mo, do, a, a (h-), ar (n-), ur (n-), an/am.
| Chaidh na daoine a chur a-null. | → | Chaidh an cur a-null. |
| The people got/were sent over. | They got/were sent over. | |
| Thèid Gàidhlig ionnsachadh san sgoil. | → | Thèid a h-ionnsachadh san sgoil. |
| Gaelic will get/be learned in the school. | It (She) will get/be learned in the school. | |
| An deach na Gàidheil fhuadach? | → | An deach am fuadach? |
| Did the Gaels get / Were the Gaels cleared? | Did they get cleared? Were they cleared? | |
| Chaidh an dachaighean a thoirt bhuapa. | → | Chaidh an toirt bhuapa. |
| Their homes got/were taken from them. | They got/were taken from them. |
| Chaidh a’ Ghàidhlig | a thoirt a-null a Chanada aig Àm nam Fuadaichean. |
| Chaidh | a toirt a-null a Chanada aig Àm nam Fuadaichean. |
| Chaidh bailtean ùra | a stèidheachadh leis na Gàidheil Albannach. |
| Chaidh | an stèidheachadh leis na Gàidheil Albannach. |
| ‘S e Glaschu Ùr a th’ air. Chaidh am baile | ainmeachadh às dèidh Ghlaschu. |
| ‘S e Glaschu Ùr a th’ air. Chaidh | [a] ainmeachadh às dèidh Ghlaschu. |
| Cha deach a’ Ghàidhlig | a dhèanamh na cànan oifigeil ann an Canada. |
| Cha deach | a dèanamh na cànan oifigeil ann an Canada. |
| Thèid na taighean | a thogail anns a’ bhaile ùr. |
| Thèid | an togail anns a’ bhaile ùr. |
Scroll down for the translation.
Chaidh a’ Ghàidhlig a thoirt a-null a Chanada aig Àm nam Fuadaichean.
Gaelic was brought over to Canada at the time of the (Highland) Clearances.
Chaidh a toirt a-null a Chanada aig Àm nam Fuadaichean.
It [she] was brought over to Canada at the time of the (Highland) Clearances.
Chaidh bailtean ùra a stèidheachadh leis na Gàidheil Albannach.
New towns/villages were established by the Scottish Gaels
Chaidh an stèidheachadh leis na Gàidheil Albannach.
They were established by Scottish Gaels.
‘S e Glaschu Ùr a th’ air. Chaidh am baile ainmeachadh às dèidh Ghlaschu.
It’s called New Glasgow. The town was named after Glasgow.
‘S e Glaschu Ùr a th’ air. Chaidh ainmeachadh às dèidh Ghlaschu.
It’s called New Glasgow. It was named after Glasgow.
Cha deach a’ Ghàidhlig a dhèanamh na cànan oifigeil ann an Canada riamh.
Gaelic has never been made an official language in Canada.
Cha deach a dèanamh na cànan oifigeil ann an Canada.
It [she] has never been made an official language in Canada.
Thèid na taighean a thogail anns a’ bhaile ùr.
The houses will be built in the new town.
Thèid an togail anns a’ bhaile ùr.
They will be built in the new town.