SAE… YE WUNT TAE STAIRT SPEAKIN’ GAIDHLIG…
(Translation:  So, you want to start speaking Gaelic…)
By Ellyn Parker-Neal  2003

Weel…dinna fash, akis here be wirds an’ pronooncin’ tae lairn ye.
(Translation:  Well don’t worry because here are the words and pronunciations to teach you.) 

Gaelic is an ancient language that Linguists believe came into being at 400 A.D. It grew through various stages (early, middle and late) but was spoken the same way by Irish and Scot alike and becoming “Classical Common Gaelic” in form in 1600 A.D. In the early 1700s the Scottish Gaidhlig separated from the Irish Ghaeilge but for the purpose of our time period (1552 A.D.) we will speak the “Common” variety of Gaelic.

Rule: (Thar be ainely one!) If a body micht ask, whit ‘ ye think ye are a tryin’ tae speak an’ thay git verra dry wi’ ye…tell them t’is tha Gaidhlig yer speakin’ an’ t’is translated from tha French! AND SMILE WHILE WALKING AWAY!!!!
(Rule: (There is only one!) If anyone picks on your Gaelic and gets argumentative just tell him or her you are speaking Gaelic that’s been translated from the French (USING YOUR BEST BROGUE, of course).

AN’ NOO INTAE THA FYRE…(And now into the fire…)
Gaidhlig

Speakin’ EIREANNACH (AY-ruh-nuhkh) or Irish.

Relationships
Teaghlach……..”cha-luch”………….Family
Mathair………..”ma’hair”………….Mother
Athair………….”a’hair”……………..Father (“a” pronounced as in cap)
Brathair…………”bra’hare…………..Brother
Piuthar………….”pew-ur……………Sister
Mo bhean………”mow vain”………...My Wife
Mo Chairde…….”mow khare-juh”…..My Friends
Mo Cheile………”mow khayl’e………My Spouse (Husband)

Greetings/Phrases
Beannachd De….”ben’ach jay”………..God’s Blessings (Hello)
Beannachd Leibh.”ben’ach layv”………God’s Blessings (Goodbye)
Ciamar a Tha Thu..”kim-a-ra-a-hoo”...How are you? (informal use)
Ciamar a Sibh…….”kim-a-ra-a-shiv”…How are you? (formal use)
Thu gu math……..”ha goo ma”……….I am good.
Tapadh leat……….”top’a let”………….Thank you. (informal)
Tapadh leibh……...”top’a layv”………...Thank you> (formal)
Gle mhath………...”glay va”……………Huzzah!
S’mise……………..”smish’a”……………My name is…
Failte……………...”fall’cha”…………….Welcome!
Slainte mhath……..”slan’che va”………...Good health (toast)
Na dean sin……….”naw jeean shin”…….Stop it!
Dia duit!…………...”JEE-uh ditch”………God to you (Greetings)!
Slan go foill………..”SLAWN guh FOE-ill”…..Bye for now.

Affection
Mo leannon………….”mow lawn’en”……….My Lover.
Mo cridhe…………….”mow cree’yuh”………My heart.
Mo mhuirnin…………”mow vurewnin”……..My darling.
A run………………….”uh ROON”…………..O’ love (darling)
A ghra…………………”uh GHRAW”………...O’ love (darling)
A chumann……………”uh KUH-muhn……...O’ affection(darling)
A mhuirnin……………”uh WOOR-neen…….O’ sweetheart (darling)
A chroi…………………”uh KHREE”………….O’ heart (darling)
A chuisle……………….”uh KHWISH – luh…..O’ pulse (darling)
A stor…………………..”uh STOHR”…………..O’ treasure (darling)
A thaisce……………….”uh HASH – kyuh”……O’ treasure (darling)
A chiste………………...”uh HISH – chuh”……..O’ treasure chest                  
(darling)

Extended Forms of Affection
A run mo chroi!……”uh ROON mow KHREE”….O’ love of my heart!
A chuisle mo chroi!…”uh KHWISH – luh mow KHREE”….O’ pulse of my heart!
A chiste a stor!………”uh HISH – chuh uh STOHR”…O’ treasure chest and treasure!

Affection For Friends
A chara…………….”uh KHAH – ruh”…………O’ friend!
A chairde…………..”uh KHAHR – dyuh”……...O’ dear friends!
A Sheamais, a chara..”uh SHAY – mus uh KHAH – ruh”….Dear James.
A Bhrid, a chara…….”uh BREE – dyuh uh KHAH – ruh”….Dear Bridget.

NOUNS
Cota…………”coe’tah”………..Coat
Bonaid………”bon’itch”……….Hat
Brog…………”broewg”………...Shoe
Sporan……….”sporran”………...Pouch

Nouns continued
Breid…………….”braych”………………Kertch
Plaide……………”play’chuh”…………...Blanket
Arisaid…………..”air’uh’saych”…………Woman’s blanket garment
File………………”FILL – uh”……………Poet
Draoi…………….”DREE”………………...Druid
Filiocht…………..”FILL – ee –uhkht”……Poetry
Draiocht…………”DREE – uhkht”……….Magic
Bile……………….”BILL – uh”…………….Sacred Tree
Tobar…………….”TOE – buhr”…………..Spring or Well
Si………………….”SHEE”…………………Fairy mound
Bean si…………….”BAN SHEE”…………..Fairy Woman
An slua si………….”uhn SLOO – uh SHEE”…Fairy Host
Cara………………..”KAH – ruh”………….Friend
Dia………………….”DYEE-uh”……………God
Bandia……………...”BAHN-JEE-uh”………Goddess
Uisge……………….”oosh ga”………………Water
Alba……………….. “All bah”……………….Scotland
Gille………………...”gil ey”…………………Boy, male servant.
Nighean……………”na’heen”……………… Girl, daughter
Dubh……………….”Doo”…………………..Black
Aran………………..”A’ran”…………………Bread (“a” pronounced as cap)
Bo…………………...”Bo’w”………………….Cow
Cu…………………...”Kuew”…………………Dog

An’ Noo Tae tha Gaidhlig Insults Tae Pyk a Fyte!
(And now to the Gaelic insults to pick a fight!)

Tha Easiest Way Tae Stair Oop Tha Fyte (The easiest way to stir up the fight…)
Seadh………”shug”……………Uh huh, yup, I hear you! (Sarcastic).
Sasannach….”sass-‘e’-nack”…… Englishman (Sarcastic use).

Fer W’en  Ye Wunt Tae Sae Maer (For when you just need to say more…)

Easy Phrases (Put more emphasis on the capitalized vowels)

Gaelic:  Go gcreime an diabhal do mhamai!
Phonetic:  “guh GREH-muh uhn JOWL duh WAH-mwee”
English:  May the devil gnaw at your mama!

Gaelic:  Go N’ithe an diabhal do chat!
Phonetic:   “guh NYIH-huh uhn JOWL duh khat”
English:   May the devil eat your cat! 

Gaelic:  Go Lagai Dia do dhiosca crua!
Phonetic:  “guh LAH-gwee JEE-uh duh YISS-kuh KROO-uh”
English:  May God weaken your hard disk!

Harder Phrases

Gaelic:  Go dtachta cunna inrinn do chat!
Phonetic:  “ guh DAHKH-tuh KOO-nuh IHF-rin duh KHAT”
English:  May the hounds of hell choke your cat!

Gaelic:  Go n’ithe an Bhadhbh do chuid fo-eadaigh!
Phonetic:  “guh NYIH-huh uhn WIVE duh khwihj FO-AY-dee”
English:  May the War Goddess eat your underwear!

Tang Tweeshters (Tongue Twisters) OR “…Lawdee, Miz Scarh-lit…”(“…Lordy. Miss Scarlet…”and STOLEN from “Gone With The Wind”circa 1938)

Gaelic:  Go salai cunna ifrinn do ghrianan runda!
Phonetic:  “guh SAH-lee KOO-nuh IHF-rin duh GHREE-uh-nawn ROON-duh”
English:  May the hounds of Hell soil your secret bower!

Gaelic:  Go dcreime neach neamhshaolta do chroi!
Phonetic:  “guh GREH-muh NYAKH NYAV-hee-uhl-tuh duh KREE”
English:  May an Alien Being gnaw at your heart!

Gaelic:  Go bpleasca Dia do chuid caloga arbhair!
Phonetic:  “guh BLAY-skuh JEE-uh duh khwihj KAH-lo-guh AH-ruh-wir.
English:  May God blow up your cornflakes!

Gaelic:  Go lagai Dia do chuid infheistiochtai!
Phonetic:  “guh LAH-gwee JEE-uh duh khwihj IN-aysh-chee-uhkh-tee”
English:  May God weaken your investment portfolio!

Gaelic:  Go n’ithe galar togalach do dhiosca crua!
Phonetic:  “guh NYIH-huh GAH-luhr Toe-gah-luhkh duh YISS-kuh KROO-uh”
English:  May an infectious disease eat your hard disk!

English:  And “…Your mission should you choose to accept it…” (STOLEN  from “Mission Impossible” and WHO CARES circa WHAT date)
SPEAK GAELIC…PRACTICE, PRACTICE!!!