Joy explains how to ask questions about languages
In Cuspair 2: Àitichean (Topic 2: Places), we learnt to ask people which country they are from, and we will now learn what languages they can speak.
Bi faiceallach! Be careful! This list refers to languages and not nationalities!
Gàidhlig (f)
Gaelic
Gàidhlig na h-Èireann (f)
Irish
Beurla (f)
English
Cuimris (f)
Welsh
Fraingis (f)
French
Gearmailtis (f)
German
Eadailtis (f)
Italian
Spàinntis (f)
Spanish
Danmhairgis (f)
Danish
Pòlainnis (f)
Polish
Greugais (f)
Greek
Duitsis (f)
Dutch
Nirribhis (f)
Norwegian
These languages often take the article.
A’ Gàidhlig (f)
Gaelic
A’ Chuimris (f)
Welsh
We know already know how to ask someone if they have something, and languages are no exceptions.
A bheil … aig …?
Does … have?
Nach eil … aig …?
Doesn’t … have?
Tha … aig …
has …
Chan eil … aig
has not …
Tha Gàidhlig agam
I have Gaelic
Here’s some more useful phrases to ask about language skills.
Tha beagan agam
I have a little
Chan eil mòran
Not much
Tha Fraingis doirbh
French is difficult
Chan eil Beurla cho furasta ri sin
English is not as easy as that
A bheil thu dà-chananach?
Are you bilingual?
Tha mi fileanta
I am fluent
Nach eil thu eòlach air cuideigin aig a bheil Fraingis?
Don’t you know someone with French?
A bheil thu eòlach air cuideigin a tha dà-chananach?
Do you know someone who is bilingual?