B1
Dashboard
sg-star
Complete for 2 points

A' cluinntinn na mara

Hearing the Sea

We first learned in A2 Cuspair 8 that ainmearan cinnteach (definite nouns) are in the genitive (possessive) case following verbal nouns: Am bi thu a’ seinn na pìoba? We saw this again in B1 Cuspair 1 when we say that we are ag ionnsachadh na Gàidhlig (learning Gaelic). When we talk about cruth‑tìre (landscape) and air a’ bhlàr a‑muigh (outdoors), we often use this structure.

As in the other cases, in the genitive (possessive) case, there is a difference in the rules for ainmearan fireann (masculine nouns) and ainmearan boireann (feminine nouns), the biggest difference being with the article: a’ (with lenition) or an for masculine nouns, na (without lenition) for feminine nouns:

Tha an cladach seo brèagha(m)Tha mi a’ faicinn a’ chladaich bhon taigh
This shore is beautiful(m)I see/am seeing the shore from the house
Tha an cuan cho ciùin(m)Bidh seòladairean a’ seòladh a’ chuain
The ocean is so calm(m)Sailors sail the ocean
Tha a’ mhuir farsaing(f)Bidh sinn a’ cluinntinn na mara fad na h‑ùine
The sea is wide(f)We hear the sea all the time
Tha an tràigh faisg air a’ bhaile(f)Chan eil mi a’ faicinn na tràghad idir
The beach is near the town/village(f)I don’t see/amn’t seeing the beach at all

muir (f)

sea

eathar (m)

small boat

cuan (m)

ocean

gainmheach (f)

sand

cabhsair (m)

causeway

fairge (f)

sea

tràigh (f)

beach

cop (m)

foam, froth

muir-làn (m)

high tide

machair (f)

sandy grassland

laimhrig (f)

mooring

muir-tràigh (f)

low tide

geodha (m)

inlet, cove

rubha (m)

headland