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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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
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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.
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Gann de dh'airgead
Short of money
In the conversation, we heard Murchadh say Tha a’ Chomhairle gann de dh’airgead. (The Council is short of money.)
This is one of the ways we have to talk about gainnead (scarcity, lack).
Here we’ll take a look at a couple of expressions which use the prepositions de and ri.
gainnead (m)
scarcity, shortage
gann (adj)
scarce
gann de
short of
an dùil ri
expect
gabh ri
accept
an uimhir de
the amount of
Gainnead is an ainmear (noun).
Bha gainnead luchd-obrach san Eilean.
There was a shortage of workers in (the Island/Skye).
Gann is a buadhair (adjective).
Tha airgead gann an-dràsta.
Money is scarce just now.
To say that someone or something is ‘short of’ something, gann de is used.
Tha an sgoil gann de thidsearan
The school is short of teachers.
We can use gann on its own as an adjective here as well.
Tha tidsearan gann san sgoil.
Teachers are scarce in the school.
When we combine the verb gabh with the preposition ri it means ‘accept’.
Tha a’ chompanaidh a’ gabhail ris a’ chàin a chuireadh oirre leis an ùghdarras.
The company is accepting the fine put on them by the authority.
Bha an teaghlach gann de dh’airgead gus an do bhuannaich iad an crannchur.
The family was short of money until they won the lottery.
Cha b’ urrainn dhomh gluasad leis an uimhir de dhaoine a bha an làthair.
I could not move with the amount of people present.
Chualas air na naidheachdan gu bheil uisge gann san sgìre.
It was heard on the news that water is scarce in the area.
Tha gainnead bìdh san dùthaich air sgàth a’ chogaidh.
There is a lack of food in the country because of the war.
Thathas an dùil gun cuirear ìrean rèidh suas aig deireadh na mìos.
It is expected that interest rates will be raised at the end of the month.
Tha an luchd-obrach, a bha air stailc, a’ gabhail ri àrdachadh pàighidh.
The workers, who were on strike, are accepting a pay increase.
Why don’t you have a go at this task! If you have a Gaelic–speaking friend, you could do this together. If you don’t—no problem—you can have double the fun!
Use these questions to have/hold a conversation.
A bheil luchd-obrach gann far a bheil thusa a’ fuireach?
Is there a shortage of workers where you live?
No, a bheil gainnead obraichean ann?
Or, is there a shortage of jobs?
A bheil a’ Chomhairle Ionadail agad gann de dh’airgead an-dràsta?
Is your Local Council short of money at the moment?
A bheil sin a’ toirt buaidh air seirbheisean?
Does that affect services?
A bheil thu a’ gabhail ris gun tèid seirbheisean poblach a ghearradh?
Do you accept that public services will be cut?
A bheil thu a’ gabhail ris gun cuirear cìsean suas?
Do you accept that taxes will be raised?
A bheil thu an dùil ri àrdachadh ann an ìre na h-atmhorachd am-bliadhna?
Do you expect an increase in the rate of inflation this year?