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A’ Ghàidhealtachd

B1
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A' cuimhneachadh air riaghailtean gràmair 2

Remembering grammar rules 2

As you already know, ainmearan (nouns) in Gaelic can be either boireann (feminine) no fireann (masculine) and this will affect how the noun changes in na tuislean (the cases).

Even though the best way to learn the gnè (gender) of a noun is to learn it with a buadhair (adjective) for example sgeulachd mhath, oidhche mhath, feasgar math, taigh math (further examples below), there are other ways.

oidhche mhath

good night

Fraingis bhrèagha

beautiful French

aimsir bhruthainneach

sultry weather

doras geal

white door

naidheachd mhath

good news

mionaid bheag

a little minute(!)

sgìre mhòr

a big district/area/parish

eilean dubh

dark island

Bliadhna Mhath Ùr

Happy New Year

Gàidhlig bhrèagha

beautiful Gaelic

bàta beag dearg

a little red boat

bò Ghàidhealach

a Highland cow

Some words: cainnt, tìde, aimsir are boireann (feminine), but the litreachadh (spelling) can also give us an idea.

rìoghachd (f)

kingdom

A’ Ghàidhealtachd (f)

The Highlands

iarlachd (f)

earldom

A’ Ghalltachd (f)

The Lowlands

poblachd (f)

republic

siorrachd (f)

shire, county

–chd

We have seen a few nouns ending –chd, (pronounced ‘chk’). These are always feminine when they have more than one syllable. There are a few short nouns ending in –chd which are masculine. These nouns don’t change their endings in different cases.

naidheachd (f)

news

siorrachd (f)

shire/county

sgeulachd (f)

story

dreuchd (f)

job/career

iarlachd (f)

earldom

rìoghachd (f)

kingdom

beachd (m)

opinion, view, idea

achd (m)

act, statute

dreachd (m)

draft