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.
SpeakGaelic says my email is taken and I can’t log in. Can you help?
This is usually because your account has not been properly activated – there should be an email from us with a link to activate your account (remember to check spam / junk folders too). If you can’t find the email, let us know.
If you have already activated your account, you may be on the wrong page. Please ensure you are on the login page and not the registration page.
Can you fix my link SpeakGaelic emailed to activate my account?
Yes – please forward us the email to fios@speakgaelic.scot and ask us to activate your account.
How do I log in after activating my account?
Please make your way to the login page.
Can you help me move on after completing a test?
This commonly happens if you have not logged on. You also need to have passed with 60% correct answers, if you think you have been unfairly treated, let us know. We may have a mistake in that particular test and we will fix it.
My dashboard says I’ve completed X number of topics but I should have more. How do I complete all steps to finish my topics?
You should be able to scroll and expand each topic to see which one has a step missed out. In the following example, all the sections apart from the intro and completed topic section have been completed, so the topic is incomplete.
Go into the incomplete section and follow the all the steps in the section to complete the topic.
How can I see how many steps I have missed out?
You can tell how many steps are in each section by the score on the counter at the top of the page.
How can I see what steps I have missed out?
You can see these by going to the left-hand side of screen of any section and selecting See Lesson Content. Mobile users have an extra fist step, you can see this extra step below.
This will pull out all an index of all the pages and you can see your progress – a completed section will have a big green tick, an incomplete section will be empty. To resolve, navigate to the incomplete pages. If a quiz has not been completed it will be blue. if it is complete, the quiz icon is green.
Extra step for small screens
Mobile users will have an extra step: you have to select the three stacked lines (officially known as the hamburger) beofre the other steps.
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Either use the contact form or send us an email at fios@speakgaelic.scot. Please send us the page title at the top of page (or URL) with a short description of error. If you can send a screengrab, that will help us identify the issue.
Why isn’t my sound working?
This is usually as something is muted somewhere on your device. Check volume controls, speaker settings and device settings. Please make sure you are pressing the speaker icon.
Why was I marked wrong on this quiz question?
We hate to break it to you, but you might be wrong. Check you have read the question correctly. Please ensure your apostrophes are facing the correct way and finally make sure you don’t have too many spaces.
If you think you have been unfairly treated, let us know. We may have a mistake in that particular test and we will fix it. Either use the contact form or send us an email at fios@speakgaelic.scot. Please send us the quiz title at the top of page (or URL) with a short description of error. If you can send a screengrab, that will help us identify the issue.
Can you translate something for me?
We are a tiny wee team and our main focus is on our resources. There are also professional translators who will talk you through your requirements and provide appropriate translations (some words may be context-dependent). We can send you a list of professional translators if you need them.
I think I’ve found a typo/mistake on the website. How do I report this?
Either use the contact form or send us an email at fios@speakgaelic.scot. Please send us the page title at the top of page (or URL) with a short description of error. If you can send a screengrab, that will help us identify the issue.
Why won't you provide your email address in a format I can open?
We will get ambushed by spam! If you email fios@speakgaelic.scot we will get back to you as soon as possible. Please don’t be mean, we are human beings and it will ruin our day!
Need more help or see something that is not working?
Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you see anything wrong or if you want to leave us a message.
Dè bhiodh air tachairt?
What would have happened?
Before the Jacobites lost at the Battle of Culloden there were a huge amount of people who spoke Gaelic, if they hadn’t lost, what would have happened?
If the Battle of Culloden hadn’t happened where it happened, would the Jacobites have won?
Until the Clearances happened there were more people living in the Gàidhealtachd/Highlands. If the Clearances hadn’t happened would more people be living in the Highlands today?
When we talk about the time which has gone, and think about/consider dè bhiodh air tachairt nam biodh rudeigin eile air tachairt (what would have happened if something else would have happened), there are two common ways to say (if … would).
We saw before that nam biodh means ‘if … would’. But often you will also hear nan robh which is another equivalent form of nam biodh.
| PAST | PRESENT | FUTURE | CONDITIONAL | |
| ✅ | Ma bha … | Ma tha … | Ma bhios … | Nam biodh … | Nan robh … |
| If … was … | If … is … | If … will be … | If … would … | |
| ⛔ | Mura robh … | Mura bheil … | Mura h–eil … | Mura bi … | Mura biodh … |
| If … wasn’t … | If … isn’t … | If … won’t … | If … wouldn’t … |
There is a programme on BBC Radio nan Gàidheal called Dè nan robh? where Coinneach Mac a’ Ghobhainn (Kenneth Smith) talks to history experts about events which could have changed our history if they hadn’t happened as they did. In this programme Coinneach is asking Dè nan robh Tighearnas nan Eilean air maireachdainn? (What if the Lordship of the Isles had lasted/endured/survived?)
Listen to this clip on the BBC website. See if you can follow the conversation.
Remember that it really doesn’t matter if you don’t understand everything at this stage. There is a tar–sgrìobhadh (transcription) below to help you.
COINNEACH: A Chatrìona, dè ur beachd fhèin air na bhiodh air tachairt nan robh Aonghas Òg air maireachdainn beò air an oidhche a bha siud?
CATRÌONA: Dh’fhalbh siostam sòisealta agus poilitigeach agus nuair a tha rud dhan t–seòrsa sin a’ tachairt tha e a’ fàgail beàrn. Nam biodh Aonghas Òg agus Na Dòmhnallaich air a bhith soirbheachail agus an Tighearnas a chumail ri chèile, cha bhiodh sin air tachairt. Nam biodh Na Dòmhnallaich air a bhith soirbheachail, nam biodh Aonghas Òg air a bhith beò agus nam biodh an Tighearnas air a bhith seasmhach, bhiodh tu air saoghal gu tur eadar–dhealaichte fhaicinn tha mi a’ smaoineachadh. Bhiodh ceannsachadh air choreigin no riaghladh air choreigin air a bhith air an Rìoghachd, air an Tighearnas agus bhiodh sin air cumadh a thoirt dha na dòighean sòisealta, siostam poilitigeach agus dìreach mar a bhiodh daoine gan giùlan fhèin.
And here is the English!
COINNEACH: Catrìona, what do you think would have happened if Aonghas Òg [lit Young Angus] had survived [on] that night?
CATRÌONA: The social and political system disappeared and when something like that happens, it leaves a gap.
If Aonghas Òg and the MacDonalds had been successful and kept the Lordship together, that wouldn’t have happened.
If the MacDonalds had been successful, if Aonghas Òg had been alive and the Lordship lasted, you would have seen a completely different world, I think.
There would have been a subjugation/discipline of some kind, a governing/ruling of some kind over the Kingdom, over the Lordship and that would have given a shape to/ a framework for the social structures, political system and even how people would have carried themselves.
What do you think?
What if the Lordship of the Isles had lasted?