UGHDARRAS

THEISTEANAS
NA H-A LBA

Gaelic Orthographic Conventions 2005

Gaelic Orthographic Conventions
2005

Published date: August 2005

Publication code: BB1532

First Published by the Scottish Certificate of Education Examination Board (SCEEB)

in 1981 and revised by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) in 2005.

Published by the Scottish Qualifications Authority

Hanover House, 24 Douglas Street, Glasgow G2 7NQ
Ironmills Road, Dalkeith, Midlothian EH22 1LE

www.sqa.org.uk

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Contents
Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................................................................1

1 The spelling rule .....................................................................................................................................................................................................2

2 Consonant quality.................................................................................................................................................................................................2

3 Consonant groups .................................................................................................................................................................................................3

4 Vowel representations ......................................................................................................................................................................................4

5 Word stress and emphasis............................................................................................................................................................................5

6 Apostrophes and spacing ..............................................................................................................................................................................7

7 Sound adaptation and loan words ......................................................................................................................................................8

8 Verbs ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................9

9 Prepositional phrases .........................................................................................................................................................................................10

10 Hyphenation ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................12

11 Other orthographic issues

A Numbers ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................14
B Months of the year..................................................................................................................................................................................15
C Dates .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................15
D Days..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................15
E Surnames ............................................................................................................................................................................................................15
F Place names .....................................................................................................................................................................................................15
G Titles ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................16
H Acronyms ............................................................................................................................................................................................................17
I Abbreviations .................................................................................................................................................................................................17

12 Word list .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................18

Gaelic Orthographic Conventions 2005
Introduction
In 1976, the Scottish Certificate of Education Examination Board (SCEEB), at the
request of its Gaelic Panel, set up a Sub-committee of the Panel to investigate issues
pertaining to Gaelic orthography. Inconsistencies in the standard of written Gaelic had
been noted by SCEEB examiners and it was felt that guidelines should be created to
ensure that an authoritative set of orthographic conventions was adopted by teachers
and examination candidates. It was also important that examiners, setters and markers
would use the document when dealing with Gaelic examination papers and scripts.

The findings of the Sub-committee were
published in 1981 in the document Gaelic
Orthographic Conventions (GOC). This
document has proved to be a valuable foundation
for many areas of Gaelic development since then
as Gaelic usage has expanded into different
domains of public life in Scotland. More recently
the GOC recommendations have been adopted
in the compilation of Faclair na Pàrlamaid.
It has now been decided by the Scottish
Qualifications Authority (SQA), which
superseded the SCEEB, that the document should
be reviewed and updated, whilst adhering to the
principles and recommendations contained in the
original. It is intended that this updated document
should be easier to use, and the extended list of
nearly 2,000 words is designed to illustrate more
fully the application of the conventions. In most
The revised word list is not intended to be, nor to
resemble, a dictionary. It is a source of reference
which users of the document may wish to consult
when in doubt as to how a word, or related word
or phrase, should be spelt. Explanatory notes
have been kept to a minimum.
SQA gratefully acknowledges part-funding from the
Scottish Executive and Bòrd na Gàidhlig for the
revision of GOC.
PROJECT CONSULTANT
Donald John Maciver, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
STEERING GROUP
Annie MacSween, Lews Castle College
A G Boyd Robertson, University of Strathclyde
Ian MacDonald, The Gaelic Books Council

cases a single orthographic form is recommended, SQA OFFICER

although it is recognised that, in some instances, Marilyn M Waters
more than one form is in use.
SQA CONSULTANT
Evgeniya Matyunina

1
1 The spelling rule
The spelling rule — ‘leathann ri leathann is caol ri caol’ (‘broad to broad and slender to slender’) — is
the most common device to indicate orthographic forms in Gaelic. This means that when one or more
consonants come between two vowels, the vowels on either side of the consonant(s) should be of the
same class.

A If the vowel preceding the consonant(s) is
broad, a, o or u, the vowel following should
also be broad.

bodach, ceòlmhor, cumadh
An exception to this rule occurs with some
past participles passive, eg:

glacte, leagte, togte, dèante
with certain compounds, eg:

B Where the vowel before the consonant(s) is
banrigh, choreigin, mocheirigh, rudeigin
slender, i or e, then the vowel after the
and with some borrowed words, eg:
consonant(s) should be slender.

mosgìoto, soircas, telefòn

caileag, coinnich, oidhche

2 Consonant quality
A Consonants or consonant groups with
at the beginning of a word: gràn,
palatal quality should be indicated by placing sprùilleach, stòr
slender vowels (e, i) adjacent to them:

at the end of a word: balach, ceann, cosg,

at the beginning of a word: ceann, geall, geal, sealg
greann, seall, steall
in the middle of a word: ceannaich, balach,

at the end of a word: cruinn, cuirm, cosgais, lochdan
Goill, rùisg, sail
C The forms seo and siud, showing palatal

in the middle of a word: clisgeadh, cruinne,
quality, should be used. In the case of neo or
sailleadh, tuilleadh
no, the latter is the preferred form, although
the former is appropriate in the phrase air neo.
B Consonants or consonant groups with velar
quality should be indicated by placing broad
vowels (a, o, u) adjacent to them:
D Taigh should be used instead of ‘tigh’, to
reflect the sound quality of the consonant.

2
3 Consonant groups
A The letters sg should be used in all positions
in place of sc:

basgaid, cosg, pasgan, Sgalpaigh, sgian
The letters sp should be used in all positions in
place of sb:

cuspair, cuspann, speal, uspag
However, because of their frequency and
familiarity, the spelling of the words deasbad,
easbaig, Gilleasbaig and taisbeanadh should be
left unchanged.
The letters st should be used in all positions in
place of sd:

aosta, a-rithist, èist, furasta, gasta, pòsta,
staidhre, tuarastal, tubaist
An exception would arise in a compound
place name where the final element is ‘dal’ or
‘dail’, eg:

Gramasdal, Lacasdal, Loch Baghasdail
B The prefix formerly written as comh- should
be written as co- where it does not take stress,
eg:

co-chomann, co-chòrdadh, co-labhairt,
co-ogha
Where it bears stress but does not have
nasalisation, words should be written as in the
examples below:

coileanta, coitheanal, coluadar
Where it bears stress and does have
nasalisation, the form comh/còmh without a
hyphen should be used:

coimhleanta (compos-mentis), comhaois
(person of similar age), còmhdhail
(conference, transport), còmhradh (speech)
C Consonant groups should be simplified in:

cudrom (cuideam also acceptable),
cudromach, meòraich and meòrachan

Exceptions may also be found in the case of

established forms of personal names and
nomenclature on signage, eg:

Alasdair, Colaisde, Fionnlasdan, Taigh-òsda,

Ùisdean

Likewise, Crìosd(a), Crìosdaidh etc

3
4 Vowel representations
The following are recommended forms:
A eu rather than ia as in the words beul, feur,
meud, sgeul
B ìo rather than ia as in the words dìon, fìon,
fìor, mìos
C Homophones (words with the same sound but
a different meaning) should be differentiated
where possible. For example, ceud should be
retained for ‘a hundred’ and the word for
‘first’ should be written ciad. Similarly, ‘month’
would be mìos and the word for ‘basin’ should
be written mias. The words for ‘grass’, ‘squint’
and ‘true’ should be spelt feur, fiar and fìor
respectively. The words for ‘anything’,
‘charm/spell’ and ‘storm’ should be spelt sìon,
seun and sian respectively.
D The sound previously represented by the
vowel combination ao should be written as
adh in words such as:

adhbhar, adhbrann, adhradh
The combination ao is retained to represent
the different sound in, for example:

daor, faobhar, gaoth, saor
E The use of a (rather than u) to render the
sound in the unstressed second syllable in
words like balach, bodach and tioram should
be extended to most words, eg:

àlainn, altram, Bìoball, comann, doras,
fallas, foghlam, madainn, solas, turas
4
An exception to this is agus, in which u should
not change to a, because of frequency and
familiarity.
Similarly, ea should be used rather than io in
words like:

boireann, doilgheas, Èireannach, fireannach,
gailleann, timcheall
However, the words aotrom, cothrom, cudrom,
cudromach should reflect the element trom in
their spelling.
F In the case of diphthongs with m in words
such as:

cam, lampa, lom, trom
the spelling without the accent should be
retained except in:

àm (time)
which should have an accent to differentiate it
from other words spelt am.
G The conventional spelling should be used in
the representation of the vowel quality of the
adjectival endings in words such as:

ainmeil, duineil, sgileil, sgoinneil
although in many areas these contain back
vowels when spoken. The spelling rule does
sometimes allow a closer representation of
such back vowels:

bodachail, cuideachail, fearail
H The grave accent only should be used to
indicate length:

an-dè, bò, cù, làmh, lèine, mòr, tìr
The accent should be written on à/às (out of)
and on às whenever the vowel is open (às bith,
às dèidh, às mo chadal) to distinguish it from
as when the vowel is not open (as fheàrr, as
t-earrach, as t-samhradh etc).
The accent should also be used to indicate
length on capital letters:

Àird Àsaig, Ìle, Ìomhar, An t-Òban, Ùig, Ùna
5 Word stress and emphasis
A Initial Stress
Where stress is on the first syllable of words,
including proper compounds, these should be
spelt as one word:

atharrais, banrigh, barrall, cuingealachadh,
dìochuimhnich, eatarrasan, imeachd,
smaoineachadh
Words with prefixes conform to the same
pattern:

anabarrach, anacothrom, aocoltach,
aodomhainn, eucoir
B Non-initial Stress
Words in which stress does not fall on the first
syllable should generally be hyphenated, with
the hyphen coming before the part of the
word bearing the stress:

ban-diùc, cas-chrom
Words with prefixes conform to the same
pattern:

ana-miann, ath-bheothachadh
I The conventional spelling without an accent
should be retained on the long vowel sound
before ll and nn in words such as

cinnteach, fillte, inntinn, till

bonn, cunntas, sanntach
This principle should also be applied to words
formerly spelt with the accent, eg:

dilleachdan, dinnear and trilleachan
However, hyphens should not be used in
borrowed or adapted words that have non-
initial stress:

buntàta, telebhisean, tombaca
Pronouns with emphasising particles (-ne -sa,
-se, -san) should generally be written as one
word:

dhaibhsan, dhàsan, dhìse, dhòmhsa,
dhuibhse, dhuinne, dhutsa
But leis-san and ris-san should be hyphenated
to avoid the juxtaposition of ss.
C Where the emphasising particle follows a
noun or an adjective, the word should be
hyphenated:

a brògan-se, ar càirdean-ne, mo leabhar-sa,
mo sheacaid ùr-sa
However, adjectival forms of seo, sin and siud
should be written as separate words:

an rud seo / an rud sa, an rud sin, an rud ud
5
D The following adverbial expressions of time F Compound prepositions with stress on non-
and place, which constitute units, should be initial elements should be written as two
hyphenated: words:

an-dè, an-diugh, an-dràsta, a-nis, a-rìs,
a chum, am broinn, à measg, am measg,

a-rithist a rèir, a thaobh, os cionn, ri taobh

a-bhàn, a-bhos, an-àird, a-nall, a-nìos, a-nuas,

G airson, carson and ciamar should be written as
a-null
one word, but son/shon in expressions such as

a-chaoidh, a-cheana, am-feast, a-mhàin, air a son fhèin and air mo shon fhèin should be
a-riamh written as separate words.

a-mach, a-muigh, a-staigh, a-steach

H Words ending in the element -eigin should

a-màireach, am-bliadhna, an-earar, generally be written as one word, even where
an-uiridh, a-raoir the spelling rule is broken:

air choreigin, cuideigin, feareigin, latheigin,

E In the following common adverbial
expressions, meaning ‘next year’, ‘tomorrow
night’ and ‘next week’, hyphens should be
used:
neacheigin, rudeigin, uaireigin
The word tè-eigin should, however, be
hyphenated to avoid the juxtaposition of ee.

an-ath-bhliadhn(a), an-ath-oidhch,
an-ath-sheachdain

However, when they are nouns used in the

sense of ‘the following’ or ‘the next’ they
should be written as separate words, eg:

Bha an ath bhliadhna na b’ fheàrr

(The following/the next year was better)

Bhiodh an ath oidhche glè eadar-dhealaichte

(The following/the next night would be very
different)

Thòisich an ath sheachdain le gaoth is uisge

(The following/the next week began with
wind and rain)

6
6 Apostrophes and spacing
A Apostrophes are used for the following: D The apostrophe should not be used with forms
such as ga, eg:

forms of the article before a noun, eg
a’ ghealach
gam thuigsinn; ga mo thuigsinn

verbal nouns beginning with a consonant, eg
gad chreidsinn; ga do chreidsinn
a’ falbh

ga chluinntinn

shortened version of is, eg ’s ann, ’s dòcha,

ga h-aithneachadh
’s e, ’s math

gar togail, ga ar togail

shortened version of bu, eg b’ ann, b’ e,
b’ fheàrr
gur leantainn, ga ur leantainn

shortened version of is/agus, eg cho luath ’s a
gan coinneachadh
tha e, math ’s gu bheil e

gam faicinn

shortened version of possessive pronouns, eg
d’ fhàinne, m’ amhach E It should be noted that the forms a’, b’, d’ and
m’ are always followed by a space. There

after the past tense marker dh’, eg
should not, however, be a space after dh’.
dh’fhalbh, dh’ith

when the preposition do becomes a dh’
before vowels, eg a dh’iarraidh, a dh’Uibhist
B The apostrophe should not be used in the
following:

gum faigh, gun creideadh, gur ann
Where an or am are shortened to ’n and ’m,
and are preceded by a noun or a pronoun,
they should be written as separate words, with
a space left, eg:

a bheil thu ’m beachd?, bha an duine ’n dùil,
tha mi ’n dòchas

làrna-mhàireach, nuair
A space should always follow ’s, and it should
never be joined to the following word, eg:
C The apostrophe should not be used in
possessive phrases, eg:
’s ann à Nis a tha mi

nam thaigh; na mo thaigh
’s e sin as fheàrr, ’s mise a th’ ann, ’s dòcha
gun tig iad

nad thaigh; na do thaigh

mi fhìn ’s tu fhèin, cho luath ’s a chì mi

na thaigh

na taigh; na h-àite

nar taigh; na ar taigh

nur taigh; na ur taigh

nan taighean; nam brògan

7
7 Sound adaptation and loan words
A Words or sounds integrated into Gaelic should
be written as follows:

Initial CH may be represented by se or te:
seòclaid (chocolate), teans(a)/seansa (chance)

Initial J may be represented by i: Iapan
(Japan), Iupatar (Jupiter)

Initial K may be represented by c:
cileagram/cg (kilogram/kg), cilemeatair/km
(kilometre/km) (km is used to avoid
confusion with cm)
B The following words are adapted in this way:
The combination of letters oi represents a
variation of sounds in English loan words, as
in coiridh (curry) and soircas (circus),
although the word bus should remain an
exception because it is familiar in that form.
Diphthongs in adapted words should be
represented by -dh, not -gh, eg:

baidhsagal (bicycle), loidhne (line),
soidhne (sign), stoidhle (style)

Initial Q may be represented by cu: Final -ee and -y should be represented by

cuaraidh (quarry), cuota (quota) -(a)idh, eg:

Initial V may be represented by bh:
cofaidh (coffee), comadaidh (comedy),

bhana (van), Bhictòria (Victoria) comataidh (committee), poileasaidh
(policy), tofaidh (toffee)

Initial W may be represented by u(a) or u(e):
uàlras (walrus), uèir (wire)

Initial WH may be represented by cu or chu:

chuip (whipped), cuibheall (wheel),
cuip (whip)

Initial X may be represented by s:

saidhleafòn (xylophone); X in the middle of
a word may be represented by gs: bogsa
(box), tagsaidh (taxi)

Initial Y may be represented by gh or i:

gheat (yacht), iogart (yoghurt), Iorc (York)

Initial Z may be represented by s:

sinc (sink/zinc), sù/sutha (zoo)

8
8 Verbs
A The following forms should be used for the verb ‘to be’, with stress determining the choice of
alternative form where a comma is used. An oblique is used to indicate dialectal alternatives.

Past Tense forms an robh? (was/were?)

gun robh (that … was/were)
nach robh (that … was/were not)
Past Participle form bhite/bhithist(e) (used to be)
Conditional form bhiodh, bhitheadh (would be)
cha bhiodh, cha bhitheadh (would not be)
Future Tense forms bidh, bithidh (will be)
cha bhi (will not be)
am bi? (will … be?)
… gum bi (that … will be)
… nach bi (that … will not be)
a bhith (to be)

B The following forms should be used for irregular verbs, with stress determining the choice of
alternative form:

Root Verbal Noun Past Positive Past Negative

abair ag ràdh/a’ ràdh thuirt, thubhairt cha tuirt, cha tubhairt
beir (air) a’ breith rug cha do rug
cluinn a’ cluinntinn chuala cha chuala
dèan a’ dèanamh rinn cha do rinn
faic a’ faicinn chunnaic chan fhaca
faigh a’ faighinn fhuair cha d’ fhuair
rach a’ dol chaidh cha deach
ruig a’ ruighinn ràinig cha do ràinig
thig a’ tighinn thàinig cha tàinig
thoir a’ toirt thug cha tug

The monosyllabic forms (eg bidh, thuirt) should be the norm, with the forms with two syllables (eg
bithidh, thubhairt) being used only to show emphasis. Variants such as a’ ruigsinn, cha deachaidh,
cha d’ ràinig, chunna are also acceptable.

C Forms of the verb cuir (put) should be written as follows:

Root Verbal Noun Past Positive Past Negative Infinitive

cuir a’ cur chuir cha do chuir a chur

9
9 Prepositional phrases
A Prepositional phrases may consist of preposition + article + noun, eg bho + an + baile, which yields
bhon bhaile (from the town). The form bhon a’ bhaile is also acceptable. The same principle is
shown below with other prepositions.

fo + an fon taigh, fon an taigh

mu + an mun bhòrd, mun a’ bhòrd
ro + an ron Nollaig, ron an Nollaig
tro + an tron bhaile, tron a’ bhaile

In the case of leis and ris, a different pattern is found, as they do not combine with the article to
form a new word and they can be followed by two different forms of the article:

leis + an leis an duine, leis a’ bhaile

ris + an ris an duine, ris a’ bhaile

A similar pattern is found with anns, but additional contractions are also found.

anns + an anns an duine, anns a’ bhaile san duine, sa bhaile

The prepositions do and de are replaced in many areas with dha and dha/dhe, resulting in a greater
variety of forms than in the case of those above. When followed by the article they are also
sometimes written as in the fourth column below.

do + an don bhaile, don a’ bhaile dha + an dhan bhaile, dhan a’ bhaile

de + an den bhaile, den a’ bhaile dhe + an dhen bhaile, dhen a’ bhaile

In the case of do + an, dan bhaile may also be found.

10
B Other prepositional phrases may consist of preposition + possessive + noun, eg do + mo + taigh
which yields dom thaigh (to my house). The form dham thaigh is also acceptable. The following
combined forms can be used, although the separate versions are also acceptable:

Preposition Pronoun Prepositional Pronoun

do/dha mo dom/dham
do dod/dhad
a (masc) da/dha thaigh
a (fem) da/dha taigh
ar dor/dar/dhar
ur dur/dhur
am dom/dam/dham
an don/dan/dhan
bho/o mo bhom/om
do bhod/od
a (masc) bho/o (a thaigh)
a (fem) bho/o (a taigh)
ar bhor/or
ur bhur
an bhon/on
am bhom/om

C Other simple prepositional phrases follow this pattern:

Preposition mi thu e/i sinn sibh iad

de dem ded de (a) der dur den/dem
dhem dhed dhe (a) dher dhur dhen/dhem
fo fom fod fo (a) for fur fon/fom
gu gum gud gu (a) gar gur gun/gum
le lem led le (a) ler lur len/lem
ri rim rid ri (a) rir rur rin/rim
ro rom rod ro (a) ror rur ron/rom
tro trom trod tro (a) tror trur tron/trom

11
D However, it is also acceptable to use the E In many areas dha has replaced do as the
full forms: normal preposition before the article, although
do is retained when there is no article, eg:
bho do mhàthair gu do sheanair
le bhur cead ro ur bracaist
dhan taigh, dhan a’ bhùth, taing dhan
Fhreastal, but
In the first and second plurals the forms
would be:
do thaigh mòr, do bhùth an arain, taing
do Dhia
bho ar and bho ur le ar and le ur
However, in some areas dha is used even
de/dhe ar and de/dhe ur ri ar and ri ur
when there is no article, especially with proper
do/dha ar and do/dha ur ro ar and ro ur names. In these cases, the word following
fo ar and fo ur tro ar and tro ur should never be lenited, eg:

gu ar and gu ur
dha seirbheis an Rìgh, dha Màiri,

dha Seumas

10 Hyphenation
A Nouns The following words denoting persons or
groups — bean, buidheann, fear, luchd, neach,
It is acknowledged that the spelling of words
sgioba tè — should be hyphenated when
made up of more than one noun joined
followed by a common noun, eg:
together presents difficulties, and the following
guidelines are intended to assist. Compounds
bean-taighe, buidheann-obrach, fear-siubhail,
are generally hyphenated if they constitute a luchd-eòlais, neach-gairm(e),
unit — for example, if any accompanying sgioba-glanaidh, tè-labhairt
adjective would normally come before or after
Similarly with the prefix ban(a) when the
the paired words rather than between them, eg:
stress is on the second syllable, eg:

an t-eadar-lìon, brath-naidheachd,

bana-phrionnsa, ban-Eadailteach,
cùis-lagha, in-sheirbheis, làrach-lìn,
ban-s(h)einneadair
leabhar-latha, post-dealain, ro-ràdh
When the stress is on the first syllable, there
The words àite, ball, bàta, ceann, clàr, còir, cùirt,
should be no hyphen, eg:
culaidh, inneal, ionad, obair, rùm, seòmar, taigh
and uidheam should always be followed by a
banabaidh, banacharaid, banacheard,
hyphen when preceding another noun which is banaltram
in the genitive case, eg:
Being a prefix, unlike bean, ban is never

àite-fuirich, ball-maise, bàta-siùil, followed by the genitive case. The spelling
ceann-suidhe, clàr-gnothaich, còir-breith, baintighearna (‘noblewoman/lady’) should also
cùirt-lagha, culaidh-thruais, be noted.
inneal-nigheadaireachd, ionad-obrach,
obair-làimhe, rùm-cadail, seòmar-ionnlaid,
taigh-bìdh, uidheam-spòrs

12
A similar pattern of hyphenation occurs when B Adjectives
one noun is used (like an adjective) to prefix
A prefix or an adjective preceding a noun
another noun not in the genitive case, with
should always be hyphenated, eg
lenition occurring where possible, eg:

àrd-easbaig, ath-innse, beag-seagh,

bròn-chluich, bun-sgoil, ceann-latha,
cruaidh-chàs, dubh-fhacal, iar-cheann-
sluagh-ghairm, speur-bhean
suidhe, leas-stiùiriche, liath-reothadh,
It should also be noted that when the second mòr-roinn, trom-laighe
noun (whether feminine or masculine) is not
The exceptions are adjectives that precede the
lenited in the nominative, it may still be
noun: droch, fìor, ioma/iomadh, prìomh, seann,
lenited in an oblique case following a
eg:
preposition and the article, eg anns an
eachdraidh-bheatha, san taigh-sheinnse.
droch shùil, fìor dhuine, iomadh oidhche,
Prìomh Mhinistear, seann sgeulachd
Words that should not be followed by a
hyphen include aithisg, comhairle, greis, An adjective preceding another adjective
iomairt, oifigeach, oifigear, òrdugh, plana, should always be hyphenated, eg:
roinn, eg:

fad-fhulangach, ioma-dhathach,

aithisg comhairleachaidh, comhairle baile, iomadh-fhillte, làn-eòlach,
iomairt coimhearsnachd, oifigeach/oifigear uile-chumhachdach
leasachaidh, òrdugh cùirte, plana gnìomh,
More examples of all the usages listed above
roinn dealbhachaidh
are given in the Word List.
There should be no hyphen when nouns are
separated by the article or when the second or C Adverbs
following noun is a proper noun, eg:
Guidance on adverbial phrases is given in

Ball Pàrlamaid, bàta Mhalaig, bean Section 5 (D).
Thormoid, Cùirt an t-Seisein, fear an taighe,
It should be noted that an seo, an sin and an
obair na h-ola, rùm na cloinne, sgioba
siud should be spelt without the hyphen.
rugbaidh na h-Alba, taigh Dhonnchaidh

It is not possible to give a definitive ruling on D Use of fèin and fhèin

whether a noun following a feminine noun
The prefix fèin is always followed by a hyphen,
(whether or not there is hyphenation) should
eg:
be lenited, as there are many examples of
when such a noun is lenited and many
fèin-eòlas, fèin-mhothachail, fèin-mheas
examples of when it is not, eg bean-ghlùine
However, fhèin (and the alternative first
and deise chlò but eachdraidh-beatha.
person form fhìn) should always follow the
A number of examples of recommended usage
word it qualifies and never be hyphenated, eg:
are given in the Word List.

an duine fhèin, Seumas fhèin, mi fhìn,
iad fhèin

13
11 Other orthographic issues
A Numbers
There are two counting systems in use in Gaelic — one based on twenties, the other (more recently
introduced) on tens. Examples of the two systems are given below:

No. Traditional (Twenties) Alternative (Tens)

11 aon-deug —
19 naoi-deug —
27 seachd air fhichead fichead ’s a seachd
29 naoi air fhichead fichead ’s a naoi
30 deich air fhichead trithead
32 dhà-dheug air fhichead trithead ’s a dhà
40 dà fhichead ceathrad
46 dà fhichead ’s a sia ceathrad ’s a sia
50 leth-cheud caogad
60 trì fichead seasgad
70 trì fichead ’s a deich seachdad
80 ceithir fichead ochdad
90 ceithir fichead 's a deich naochad
135 sia fichead ’s a coig deug ceud, trithead ’s a còig
ceud ’s còig-deug air fhichead
50,000 leth-cheud mìle caogad mìle
1,000,000 millean —
1,000,000,000 billean —

Numbers are combined with nouns thus: Numbers should be sequenced thus:

seachd bliadhna deug/sia neach air fhichead/ a’ chiad (1d)

fichead neach ’s a sia/fichead ’s a sia neach/ an dàrna/an dara (2na/ra)
còig sgillinn deug air fhichead/trithead sgillinn an treas/an treasamh/an trìtheamh (3mh)
’s a còig/trithead ’s còig sgillinn an ceathramh (4mh)
an còigeamh (5mh)
Whether the numbers 6, 7, 8 and 11 are an siathamh (6mh)
preceded by ‘t-’ depends on the gender of the an seachdamh (7mh)
word, eg: an t-ochdamh (8mh)
an naoidheamh (9mh)
an seachdamh bogsa (masculine), but
an deicheamh (10mh)
an t-seachdamh bròg (feminine)

14
B Months of the year E Surnames
Am Faoilleach An t-Iuchar Surnames including Mac and Nic should be
An Gearran An Lùnastal written as one word, but with a capital letter
Am Màrt An t-Sultain on the second element:
An Giblean An Dàmhair

MacAilein, MacCoinnich/MacChoinnich,
An Cèitean An t-Samhain
MacDhòmhnaill, NicLeòid, NicThòmais
An t-Ògmhios An Dùbhlachd
Exceptions are surnames which include the
C Dates definite article:

Dates may be written in full or using numbers,
Mac a’ Ghobhainn, Mac an Aba,
thus: Nic a’ Phearsain

An seachdamh latha deug dhen Fhaoilleach

F Place names

An ceathramh latha fichead/air fhichead
The spelling of place names consisting of two
dhen Ghearran
or more elements should reflect the distinctive

An 23mh den Mhàrt elements:

23mh (An) Giblean
Ceann Loch Chille Chiarain, Dùn Èideann,

Inbhir Nis, Obar Dheathain

26 (An) Cèitean
Where an element has become obscure, a
D Days hyphen should be inserted:

Diluain Dihaoine
Earra-Ghàidheal

Dimàirt Disathairne
The final element in names derived from
Diciadain Didòmhnaich or
Norse -ey ‘island’ should be spelt
Diardaoin Latha/Là na Sàbaid
-aigh or -eigh:

Periods of the day are indicated as follows:
Barraigh, Beàrnaraigh, Èirisgeigh, Pabaigh,
Sgalpaigh, Tarasaigh

madainn Diluain

feasgar Dimàirt

feasgar na Sàbaid

The names of the nights of the week should be

written:

Oidhche Luain Oidhche Haoine

Oidhche Mhàirt Oidhche Shathairne
Oidhche Chiadain Oidhche Dhòmhnaich/
Oidhche Ardaoin Oidhche na Sàbaid

15
G Titles
Women

It is recommended that ‘Miss’, ‘Ms’ and ‘Mrs’
be rendered as A’ Bh-Uas (a contraction of
A’ Bhean-Uasal). This would yield:

A’ Bh-Uas (Màiri) Chaimbeul, A’ Bh-Uas
(Sìne) Mhoireach, A’ Bh-Uas (Anna)
NicDhòmhnaill
The article would not be written with a capital
letter except in an address, and after a
preposition the name would appear as follows:
The form when addressing someone would be:

A Bh-Uas Chaimbeul, A Bh-Uas Mhoireach,
A Bh-Uas NicDhòmhnaill
Where it is desired to make clear that a
woman is married, the form A’ Bh-ph (a
contraction of A’ Bhean-phòsta) is used in the
same way as A’ Bh-Uas above. The genitive
would be na M-p (a contraction of na
Mnà-pòsta).

aig a’ Bh-Uas (Màiri) Chaimbeul, aig a’
A’ Bh-ph Chaimbeul, A’ Bh-ph Mhoireach,

Bh-Uas (Sìne) Mhoireach, aig a’ Bh-Uas A’ Bh-ph NicDhòmhnaill
(Anna) NicDhòmhnaill

aig a’ Bh-ph Chaimbeul, aig a’ Bh-ph

dhan Bh-Uas Chaimbeul, dhan Bh-Uas Mhoireach, aig a’ Bh-ph NicDhòmhnaill
Mhoireach, dhan Bh-Uas NicDhòmhnaill

dhan Bh-ph Chaimbeul, dhan Bh-ph
A dative might be marked both in the title and Mhoireach, dhan Bh-ph NicDhòmhnaill
in the name, eg aig a’ Mhnaoi-Uasail

nighean na M-p C(h)aimbeil, nighean na
Chaimbeil/Mhoirich/NicDhòmhnaill, but this
M-p M(h)oirich, nighean na
would probably be unnecessarily formal.
M-p NicDhòmhnaill
However, a genitive should be marked, which
The formulation below may also be used:
would be na M-Uas (a contraction of na Mnà-
Uasail/Uaisle):
Màiri, Bean Chaimbeil Mrs Mary Campbell

nighean na M-Uas C(h)aimbeil, nighean na
Sìne, Bean Mhoirich Mrs Jean Murray
M-Uas M(h)oirich, nighean na M-Uas

Anna, Bean MhicDhòmhnaill
NicDhòmhnaill
Mrs Anne MacDonald
The unlenited form is strictly correct, but in
practice lenited forms such as nighean na
M-Uas Chaimbeil and nighean na M-Uas
Mhoirich are more likely to be found.

16
Men
It is recommended that ‘Mr’ be rendered as
Mgr (a contraction of Maighstir). The genitive
would be Mhgr (a contraction of Mhaighstir).
This would yield the following:

Mgr Caimbeul, Mgr MacDhòmhnaill,
Mgr Moireach

aig Mgr Caimbeul, aig Mgr Moireach,
aig Mgr MacDhòmhnaill

do Mhgr Caimbeul, do Mhgr Moireach,
do Mhgr MacDhòmhnaill

mac Mhgr MhicDhòmhnaill,
mac Mhgr Chaimbeil, mac Mhgr Mhoirich
The form used when addressing someone
would be:

A Mhgr Chaimbeil, A Mhgr Mhoirich,
A Mhgr MhicDhòmhnaill
H Acronyms
Gaelic acronyms, including some which are
translations, should be written as follows, eg:

BP (Ball Pàrlamaid), BPA (Ball Pàrlamaid
na h-Alba), BPE (Ball Pàrlamaid na
h-Eòrpa), CnaG (Comunn na Gàidhlig),
CNES (Comhairle nan Eilean Siar), CNSA
(Comhairle nan Sgoiltean Àraich), OGE
(Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean),
SMO (Sabhal Mòr Òstaig)
However, non-Gaelic acronyms are often left
in their original form even though the full title
may be used in Gaelic, eg:

BBC, NATO, SNH, SQA, UN, VAT
Acronyms are subject to normal inflection
patterns, eg:

aig a’ BhBC, leis a’ BhPA, oifis ChnaG

I Abbreviations
Other forms of address
Another format is exemplified in Màiri When abbreviations appear in Gaelic form,
Chaimbeul, Uas (a contraction of Uasal); Sìne they are written as follows:
Mhoireach, Uas; Anna NicDhòmhnaill, Uas;

àir. (no.), An t-Oll. (Prof), An t-Urr (Rev),
Seumas Caimbeul, Uas; Alasdair Moireach,
cg (kg), dd (pp), Dr (Doctor; medical and
Uas; Cailean MacDhòmhnaill, Uas. When any
academic), km (km), me (eg), Mgr (Fr),
of the names are inflected in the normal way,
msaa (etc), tdd (pages)
the Uas is unaffected.

17
12 Word list
The following word list gives examples of how words should be spelt in accordance with principles and
recommendations set out in the document. The list cannot take full account of all the variants which
occur in speech. People pronounce certain words in different ways and this diversity is acknowledged,
but it was not practicable to include all forms in this list.

Key
adj = adjective; gen = genitive; n = noun; pl = plural; v = verb; vn = verbal noun;
f = feminine; m = masculine

Brackets: a letter or letters in brackets may be omitted

Comma: an alternative depending on context, eg emphasis

Oblique (/): an alternative form or forms. Where the alternatives appear twice in reverse order
they are equally acceptable. Where the alternatives appear once, the first form is
the recommended one.

A adhar sky aineolach

à from, out of adharc ainmeil
abair adhart ainmig
a-bhàn adhbhar ainneamh
a bharrachd in addition; either adhbrann air a shon fhèin
a bheil a dh’iarraidh air a son fhein
a bhith to be (not ‘a bhi’) a dh’ionnsaigh air choreigin
a’ bhòn-dè adhlacadh Àird Àsaig
a’ bhòn-raoir adhradh àird headland; point of compass
a’ bhòn-uiridh a dh’Uibhist àird(e) height
a-bhos agam (a’m for short) àireamh (àir. for short) number
acair(e) agh heifer airgead
acfhainn àgh joy, bliss airidh worthy
a-chaoidh A’ Ghearmailt àirigh sheiling
a-cheana a-ghnàth àirleas/eàrlas
a’ chiad the first ag ràdh/a’ ràdh air-loidhne
a-chianaibh agus air muin
a chionn ’s/a chionn a h-uile h-oidhche àirneis
a chum àibheiseach air neo
a chur to put (not ‘a chuir’) aifreann air seachran
a’ cluich(e) aig a’ BhBC airson (son for short)
a’ cluinntinn aigne airtneal
a’ cur putting ailbhean airtnealach
a’ dannsa(dh) àilgheasach aiseag n
a’ dèanamh aillse aiseal axle
a dh’aindeoin aindeonach reluctant aisig v
a dh’aon(a) ghnotha(i)ch ain-diadhaidh aiste out of her/it

18
àite-còmhnaidh an ath-bhliadhna next year aodomhainn
àite-falaich an ath oidhche aoidion leak
àite-fuirich the following night aoidionach leaking
àiteigin an ath-oidhch next night aoigh guest
aithghearr an ath sheachdain aoigheachd hospitality
aithisg the following week aoigheil genial
àlainn an ath-sheachdain next week aon-deug
Alba an ceartuair aosta
a-mach an co-bhoinn ri aotrom
a-màireach in association with ar-a-mach
amar-snà(i)mh an-còmhnaidh a-raoir
am badeigin an-dè àrd-easbaig
am bi? an dèidh/às dèidh àrd-ìre
… am bi … (dependent form) an-diugh àrd-ollamh
am-bliadhna this year an do rinn?/na rinn? àrd-sgoil
am broinn an-dràsta àrd-sheanadh
à measg from among An Eadailt àrd-ùrlar
am-feast ever an-earar a rèir
amha(i)ch an eisimeil dependent on a-rèist
a-mhàin anfha(i)nn a-riamh
àmhainn a-nìos a-rithist/a-rìs
amharas a-nis(e) ars (before vowel)
a mheasg in among an làthair arsa (before consonant)
àmhghair anns a’ bhaile/sa bhaile a’ ruighinn/a’ ruigsinn
am measg among anns an taigh/san taigh às from, out of
am Pàrtaidh Làbarach an robh? às bith
am Pàrtaidh Libearalach … an robh … (dependent form) às dèidh/an dèidh
Deamocratach an rud sa as fheàrr
am Pàrtaidh Nàiseanta an rud seo às mo chadal
am Pàrtaidh Tòraidheach an rud sin a-staigh
a-muigh an rud ud astar
an-abaich unripe an seo a-steach
anabaich premature; unready anshocair unease; illness as t-earrach
anabarrach an sin as t-fhoghar
anacothrom an siud as t-samhradh
an-àird(e) upwards antaidh athair gen athar
an àird an ear an tugte a thaobh regarding
an àiteigin an tuirt, an tubhairt atharrais
a-nall an uair sin ath-bheothachadh
ana-miann a-nuas ath-innse
an-asgaidh an-uiridh
an ath bhliadhna a-null
the following year aocoltach

19
B barail opinion bheat vetinerary surgeon
bachall baraill(e) barrel Bhictòria
bàidh tenderness barantas bhidio video
badhbh barraid terrace bhiodh, bhitheadh
Badhlach Barraigh bhìoras virus
baibheil marvellous barrall shoelace bhìosa visa
baidhc barrfhad top layer of peat bhìoto veto
baidhsagal basgaid basket bhite/bhithist(e)
baidhsagalair bàta-bathair bhithist(e)/bhite
bàidse badge bàt’-aiseig bho from
baidse batch batal battle bhodca vodka
bàigh bays bàta-siùil bhòidse
baile bàta-teasairginn bholt(a) volt
bailiùn bàtha(i)ch bholtaids voltage
baintighearna bathar bhòt
bàirdse bàthte biathadh
balach bàt’-iasgaich bidh, bithidh
bàl ball (dance) b’ e bilean lips
ball/bàlla ball beag-chuid billean billion
balla wall beag-feum Bìoball
ball-acfhainn beag-seagh bith-beò a living, livelihood
ball-basgaid beag-tùr bith-bhuan
ball-bhòilidh beairt bith-eòlas
ball-coise beairteach biùro
ball-dòbhrain beairteas biurocrasaidh
ball-maise beairtich v equip biurocratach
Ball Pàrlamaid (BP) bean-phòsta blaigeard
ball-seirce bean-taighe blasta tasty
bana-bhàrd beàrn bleadraig v blether; bother
bana-bhuidseach Beàrnaraigh bleoghain v
banacharaid bèicearachd bò
banacheard Beinn na Fadhla/ bobhstair bolster, mattress
bana-ghaisgeach Beinn a’ Bhadhla boc male goat; leap
banaltram beòshlaint bochd poor; ill
ban-dia beothail bodach
ban-diùc beul bodha reef
ban-iarla beulaibh bodachail
b’ ann beul-aithris bòdhradh
ban-ogha b’ fheàrr bòidhchead
banrigh bhan(a) boireannta feminine
ban-rùnaire bhàsa vase bogha bow; bulge
banntrach bhathar/bhathas/bhatar bogha-frois(e) rainbow

20
bogsa càilear ceathrad
bogsa-ciùil cailleach ceileir warble
bogsadh caiptean ceimig
bogsaig càirdineal ceimigeachd
bogsair càirich v mend vn càradh ceimigear
bogsa-litrichean càit a bheil? Ceinia Kenya
boireann càit(e) ceirsle ball of wool
bonaid caithte worn out, used up Cèitean (An)
bòst Caitligeach ceòlmhor
bòstadh caladh ceud a hundred
braidhm calaraidh calorie ceudameatair (cm for short)
bràiste calltainn cha bhi
bràmair cam cha do ràinig/cha d’ ràinig
brèagha camara pl camarathan chan eil
Breatannach cànan chan fhaca
breug Canèidianach chan fhuilear
brìoghmhor cangarù cha tàinig
briosgaid caogad cha tuirt, cha tubhairt
bris(t) caora pl caoraich cha tug
bris(t)eadh carabhaidh chì
britheamh caraich v move vn carachadh chìte/chithist(e)
broidse brooch carbad chluinnte/chluinnist(e)
brosgal cargu chuip v whipped
brù-dhearg carson chun
bruich cartùn chunnacas
buaghallan cas-cheum chunnaic/chunna
bucaid cas-chrom ciad first
buidheann-obrach catalog ciamar
buidsidh budgerigar cathadh snowstorm cia mheud
buinteanas/buntanas ceàird craft, trade cidhe pier, quay
bungalo ceala-deug/cola-deug cidsin
bun-os-cionn ceann-bliadhna birthday cile kilo
bun-sgoil ceann-latha deadline cileagram (cg for short)
buntàta Ceann Loch Chille Chiarain cilemeatair (km for short)
bus ceann-suidhe cinnteach
cearcall cìobair
C ceàrd travelling person ciopair kipper
càball ceàrn/ceàrnaidh ciudha queue
cafaidh ceàrnag ciutha hair bun
caibideil ceàrnagach clach-mheallain
caidreabh ceart-cheàrnach pl clachan-meallain
caileag ceart-cheàrnag clag

21
claigeann coilleag cockle; sand-dune conntraigh
clann-nighean coimeas comparison consal consul
clàr-ama coimhleanta compos-mentis co-ogha
clàr-gnothaich coimisean co-òrdanaich
clàr-innse coimpiutair copar
cleachdte coingeis còrnair
clìc coinnlear corpailear
clìceach co-ionann corporra
cliobach co-ionannachd cosg
cliop haircut còir-breith cosgais
clisgeadh còir-bhòtaidh costa coast
clò Coiria Korea cothrom
cloc clock coiridh curry cracte
cnàimh bone coitheanal crannchur
cnàimhneach skeleton co-là-breith crannchur-gill raffle
cnàmh digest co-labhairt craiceann
cnap cola-deug/ceala-deug crèadh
cnap-starra(dh) colaiste creideamh
pl cnapan-starra(idh) colann criogaid cricket
cnatan colòiniach colonial crioplach
cneasta coloinidh Crìosd(a)
cnoc coltach Crìosdaidh
cnuimh coltas Crìosdail
co-aimsireil coluadar criostal crystal
co-aontaich comadaidh comedy cròg
cò às a tha thu? comaig comic crosta
co-bhanntachd comann crostachd
cochall comas ability cruinne(cè) (an)
co-chomann comataidh committee world, universe
co-chòrdadh combaist Cruthaighear (An)/Cruthadair
co-dhalta comhaois person of same age (An) the Creator, God
co-dhiù comharra Cuaigear Quaker
cofaidh còmhdhail cuango quango
cofhurtachd còmhla cuaraidh
cofhurtaich còmhlan cuartaich/cuairtich
cofhurtail còmhnard cùbaid/cùbainn
coibhneas còmhradh cucair cooker
coibhneil còmhrag cudrom/cuideam
coidse còmhstri cudromach
còig còmh-thràth twilight cuibheall/cuibhle n
coilean fulfil com-pàirt cuibhil v wheel vn cuibhleadh
coileanta complete, perfect com-pàirtich cuibhle/cuibheall n

22
cuideachail daingeann dhìot(sa)
cuideigin daingneachadh dhith(se) of/off her/it
cuidhteas daingnich dhìse to/for her/it
cuingealachadh daithead diet dh’ith
cuinn(l)ean dam dam dhiubh(san) of/off them
cuip n, v whip Dàmhair (An) dh’òl
cuir vn cur danns(a) n dhòmhsa
cùis-lagha daoimean dhuibhse
cùis-uabhais daor dhuinn(e) to/for us
cuithe cattle fold; pit dara/dàrna dhut(sa)
cuithe-sneachda snowdrift dàrna/dara dian intense
cùlaibh dathte Diardaoin
culaidh-ghràin deach/deachaidh diathad
culaidh-mhagaidh deadhan dean dìcheall
culaidh-thruais deàlrach Diciadain
cultar deamhais dìdean
cultarach deamocrasaidh Didòmhnaich
cum shape deamocratach didseatach digital
cùm keep dèanta/dèante digear
cumadh dèante/dèanta Dihaoine
cumail dearbhte dilleachdan
cumanta deàrrsach Diluain
cunntas deasbad Dimàirt
cunntair counter (shop); deasg dìneasair
bank teller dèidheil dinichean jeans
cuòram quorum deilignit gelignite dinn cram, stuff
cuota quota deireadh-seachdain dinnear
curraicealam deit date dìochuimhnich
cuspair deotar jotter diofar
cuspann deothail dìoghail/dìol avenge; repay
deug dìoghaltas
D deugaire diombuan
da to him/it dha to him/it dìomhair
dà two dhà two dìon defend
dachaigh dhachaigh dioplòmasach
dad dhaibh(san) dioplòmasaidh
dadaidh dha-rìribh/da-rìribh dìoro giro
dàibhear dhàsan diosgo
dàibhig dh’fhalbh Disathairne
daineamaig n dhi to/for her/it dithis
daineamaigeach adj dhibh(se) of/off you pl diùraidh jury
daineamait dhinn(e) of/off us dleastanas
daineamo dhìom(sa) doca dock, hollow

23
docair eaconamair eisimeileach
doile/doileag/doilidh doll Eaconamas Dachaigh eisimpleir
doilgheas eacstasaidh ecstasy (the drug) èist
dolair dollar eadar-àm èisteachd
domhainn deep eadar-amail Èitseal
domhan world Eadar-liòn esan
dòrainneach eadar-theangachadh eucoir
doras èadhar air eucorach
dosgainn eadhon eud
dotair (Dr for short) èadhraig v air eugmhais
do ur eagal
drabasta eala
dràibhear ealain (not ‘ealan’) art F
dram/drama dram ealla (as in ‘gabh ealla ri’) fa chomhair
drama/dram dram ealtainn fa chùis
dràma drama eanraich facs fax
draoidh earball factaraidh
drèana eàrlas/àirleas fàd
dreasa Earra-Ghàidheal fa-dheòidh finally
dreuchd eas-aonta disagreement faic
drioftair easaontas transgression faiceall/faicill
drithleann sparkle easbaig faiceallach/faicilleach
dr(i)ùchd easbhaidh faicist(e)/faicte
droga easbhaidheach faicte/faicist(e)
drùdh èasgaidh faidhle n file
drudhag/drùdhag easgann faidhl(ig) v
drùdhag/drudhag èiginneach/èigeannach faigh
drùidhteach èigh faighnich
dubh-fhacal riddle, enigma èigheach(d) faileas
dubh-ghorm èiginn faillich/fairtlich
Dùbhlachd (An) eileagtronaigeach fàillig/fàilnich fail
ducs dux eileamaid failmean knee-cap
duineil eilean fàinne
Dùn Èideann eilthireach fàire
dùthchasach einnsean fàisgte
einnseanair fallain
E einnseanaireachd fallas
e he/it Èireannach famhair/fuamhaire
eacarsaich èirich v rise vn èirigh fa-near
eaconamach èiridh will rise faobhar
eaconamachd Èirisgeigh faothachadh/faochadh
eaconamaidh eisimeil faochadh/faothachadh

24
faoileag fillte furm stool
Faoilleach (Am) film
far-ainm fìon
faram fìor true G
faramach fìreanachadh justifying Gàidheal
farchluais fireann Gàidhealach
farsaing fireannach Gàidhealtachd
fa sgaoil fìr-eun eagle Gàidhlig
fastaidh fìrinn truth gailleann
fastaidhear fìrinneach truthful gaileis braces
fathann fitheach gaineamh
feabhas fodha under him/it gainmheach
feadhainn fòdhpa gàirnealaireachd
feallsanachd foghain suffice Gall
fear foghlam Gallta
fearail fòghnan thistle gamhlas
fear-ceàird fòidhpe gànraich
feareigin foighidinn gaoisid
fear-labhairt foighidneach gaoth
fear-lagha foillseachadh gar v warm oneself vn garadh
fear na cathrach foirfeach church elder gàrlach nyaff
feart virtue; heed foirm form gàrradh
feasgar Dimàirt follaiseach gasta
feasgar na Sàbaid fon chuthach gèadh
fèath fosgladh opening geal
fèileadh kilt fraighig/praighig fry geall
fèist feast, banquet Fraingis French language gearain v complain vn gearan
feuch try Frangach French person gearan complaint
feur grass freastal gearastan
feurach freumh geàrd
feusag frids fridge Gearran (An)
feusgan fuaigheil v sew vn fuaigheal gearran gelding
fhathast fuaigheal n sewing geàrr-chunntas
fhuair fuaim geimhleag
fhuaradh/fhuaras was found fuamhaire/famhair geoimeatraidh geometry
fhuaras/fhuaradh was found fuasgladh loosening, solving ge-tà/ged-thà
fiacail fuathasach very, terribly geur
fiach worth fùdar/pùdar geurchuiseach
fiar squint fuidheall remainder gheat yacht
fideiseach fidgety fuiling v suffer vn fulang ghriùlach (a’)/ghriùrach (a’)
fidheall fulang(as) n suffering ghriùrach (a’)/ghriùlach (a’)
fighte furasta Giblean (An)

25
gidheadh hocaidh hockey ionad-fiosrachaidh
Gilleasbaig hòro-gheallaidh ionad-slàinte
giorna-giùirne helter-skelter hù-bhitheil stramash ionad-spòrs(a)
giuthas ionann
glacte I iongantach
glaine adj cleaner iac yak iongantas
glainne glass Iapan iongnadh
gleus iarann ionmhainn
gleusta iar-cheumnaiche ionnsaich
gloidhc iar-cheann-suidhe ionnsaichte
gnìomhachas iarnaig ionnsaigh
gnù surly iar-ogha ionnsramaid
goil boil iarrtas ionnsramaideach
goilf iathadh Iorc York
goilfear idrisgeach fidgety iorghail
Goill Ìle ìosal/ìseal
graf imeachd Israelach/Iosaraileach
gràin imlich iosgaid
gràineil ìmpire iriosal
gràinich ìmpireachd irioslachd
gràinne a single grain Inbhir Aora isbean
gràmar Inbhir Nis Iseabail
Gramasdal ìne fingernail ìsle
gramataigeach inneal-ciùil is mathaid
gràn grain inneal-fighe is toigh le/is toil le
grànda inneal-measgachaidh iubailidh jubilee
greann Innse Gall Iuchar (An t-)
grèata grate (fireplace) inntinn Iùgoslàibhia
grèim ìocshlaint Iupatar
greusaiche iòga yoga
gu leòr iogart yogurt L
gun fhiosta ioma(dh) Lacasdal
gun do rinn/gun rinn ioma-dhathach lachdann
gun robh iomadh duine lagchuiseach
iomadh-fhillte laimrig
H ioma-ghaoth laiste
haidhp hype iomchaidh Latha/Là Luain
haidridean hydrogen iom-fhillte làmh-an-uachda(i)r
hama Ìomhar làmhchair
hangar iomnaidh lampa
heileacoptar iomrall làrach-lìn
Hiort ionad-fàilte làraidh

26
làrna-mhàireach Loch Baghasdail maids v match vn maidseadh
lastaig logaidh maids(e) match, game
latha/là loibh(t) rotten maighdeann
Latha/Là na Sàbaid loidhne maighstir
latheigin loidseadh maighstir-sgoile
lèabag/leòbag loidsear màileid
leabaidh loidsig logic mairtfheòil
leabhar-latha/leabhar-là loidsigeach logical maith/math forgive
leabharlann loiliopop maitheanas/mathanas
leaghte loisgte forgiveness
leagte lom maitheas/mathas goodness
leann luathaireach high-spirited, manaidsear
leasbach lesbian mischievous maoil forehead
leathann luaths mar-aon
leig mu sgaoil lùbach mar-bhith fault, blame
lèine lùbte mar eisimpleir (me for short)
leis-san luchd margaid
leiteachas bias luchd-ciùil màrsail
leòbag/lèabag luchd-ealain mar sin air adhart
leònte luchd-obrach (msaa for short)
leòman moth luchdte Màrt (Am)
leòmhann lion luchd-turais mar-thà/mu thràth
leòr Lùnastal (An) ma-thà/ma-tà
l(e)òsan window pane Lunnainn matamataig
lethbhreac lùths matamataigeach
leth-bhreith math/maith forgive
lethchar M mathanas/maitheanas
lethcheann Mac a’ Ghobhainn forgiveness
leth-cheud MacAilein mathas/maitheas goodness
lethchiallach MacAmhlaigh m’ athair
leth-chuairt Mac an Aba math dh’fhaodte
letheach Mac an t-Saoir math ’s gu bheil e
lethoireach isolated Mac-a-phì meacanaig
leth-uair MacCoinnich/MacChoinnich meacanaigeach
lì surface film MacIlleMhaoil meadhan
lide(adh) mac-meanmainn/mac-meanmna meadh-bhlàth
lilidh mac-meanmna/mac-meanmainn mean/mion small
liodraig mac-samhail mèaran/mèanan yawn
lìomhte mac-talla mèaranaich/mèananaich
liosta madadh-allaidh yawning
lobhte madainn mèarrsadh
locair maicreasgop microscope meas

27
meata mìorbhail N
meatafor mìorbhaileach nàbaidh
meidigeach mì-phroifeiseanta na b’ òige
meileabhaid velvet mìos month nach bi
mèinneadair mì-rùn nàdar
mèinnir miseanaraidh nàdarrach
mèinnireach mocheirigh Na Hearadh
mèirle modail model naidheachd
meòrachadh modal module nàidhlean
meòrachail mòdam naochad
meòrachan moileciuil naoi/naodh
meòraich Moire the Virgin Mary naoi air fhichead/naodh air
meud mo leabhar-sa fhichead
meudaich monmhar naoi-deug/naodh-deug
meur mòr naoidheamh/naodhamh
meuran thimble mòrchuis naoinear/naodhnar
meur-chlàr mòrchuiseach neach-ciùil
mial mòr-dhail neach-ealain
mia(tha)laich morgaids(e) neacheigin
mial-chù mòr-roinn continent neach-gairm
mias basin mòr-shluagh neach-labhairt
miast(r)adh havoc mòr-thìr mainland neach-sgrùdaidh
mì-chàilear mosgìoto mosquito neach-teagaisg
mì-chiatach mu choinneamh/mu choinneimh nèamh
mì-chliù mu chuairt nèapaigin, nèapraig(ear)
mì-chofhurtail mu dheidhinn neas weasel
mì-fhallain muicfheòil neasgaid a boil
mi fhèin/mi fhìn muileann/muilinn nèibhidh
mi fhìn/mi fhèin muilinn/muileann neo-ar-thaing
mìlegram (mg for short) muilicheann/muinichill neochoireach
mìleliotair (ml for short) muiltfheòil neo-eisimeileach
mìlemeatair (mm for short) muilicheann/muinichill neo-fhoirmeil
mill spoil; showers muinighin neòghlan
millean muinntir neoichiontach
milleanair millionaire muncaidh neoichiontachd
mì-mhodh mur(a) unless neo-lochdach
mì-mhodhail murt neoni
minig murtaidh sultry nìghneag
ministear murtair nithear will be done
mion/mean small Muslamach niùclasach
mion-chànan mu thràth/mar-thà nobhail
mions mince nuair

28
O òraidiche peile
obair-dachaigh orains peinnsean
obair-ghrèis orainsear peirceall
obair-làimhe òran càraid piàno
obair-latha òran luaidh pinc
Òban (An t-) òrdaich pìob-mhòr
Obar Dheathain òrdaighean pioramaid
obraichean òrdugh/òrdan piotsa pizza
ochdad òrdugh cùirte pitheid
ochd-deug os cionn plana cànain
Ògmhios (An t-) os ìosal secretly plana leasachaidh
ogsaidean oxygen os làimh plastaig
Oidhche Ardaoin os-nàdarra(ch) plèan(a)
Oidhche Challainn òson ozone plèastair/plèastraig v plaster
Oidhche Chiadain ostail plèastar/pleastar n
Oidhche Dhòmhnaich Ostair (An) pleidhe playtime, interval
Oidhche Haoine òstair hotelier plòidh
Oidhche Luain othaisg pl othaisgean/òisgean poball
Oidhche Mhàirt poblach public
Oidhche na Sàbaid P poblachd republic
Oidhche Shamhna Pabaigh poidhleat pilot
Oidhche Shathairne paidh pie poidsear
oidhirp paidhir poidsig
oifigear paidse patch poileas
oifigeach airm pàigh pay poileasaidh
oifigear leasachaidh pàipear-naidheachd poilitigeach
oifigeil paireafain paraffin poilitigs
òigear pairilis paralysis, palsy poirdse porch
oilisgin paisgte pòla/pòile pole
oillteil pàiste pongail
oilthigh paistiuraich pasteurise post(a)
òinseach pannal panel pòsta
oirbh(se) paraimeatair parameter post-dealain (post-d for short)
òirdheirc paraisiut practaigeach
òirleach paròil pragmatach
oisean parsail praighig/fraighig
Ollamh (An t-) partaidh/pàrtaidh preusant
(An t-Oll for short) pàrtaidh/partaidh prìomh bhaile
onair pasgan Prìomh Mhinistear
onarach pathadh prionnsapal
opairèisean operation peansail pròbhaist
opara opera pears-eaglais proifeasair

29
proifeiseanta rionnag salchar
proipeilear ris(-san) samhail
pròiseact ri taobh Samhain (An t-)
proiseactair ro (not roi/roimh) samhla
pronn roghainn sa, san in the
pronnasg sulphur roilear ’s a, ’s an and his/her/the/their
Pròstanach roilig ’s ann
pròtacal roinn dealbhachaidh saorsainneachd joinery
prothaid ro-innleachd saorsainneil
prothaideach roinn ionmhais Sasainn/Sasann
prothaidich v rola/roile roll Sasannach
protractair ro-ràdh ’s dòcha
pùdar/fùdar n ròsta ’s e
purpaidh/purpar purple rothaig wind up seabra zebra
rùbarab rhubarb seachain
R rubha seachdad
raidhc rake (person) rudeigin seachdain pl seachdainean
raighd ride r(u)idhil v seadh aye, yes
ràinig r(u)idhle n seagh sense
ràith(e) rùilear seaghail
raon-cluiche rùisg v peel seagsaidh sexy
rathad-mòr main road Rùm seal a while
rèabhaireachd rambling ruma rum sealastair/seileastair
reasabaidh rùm-cadail seall
rèidio rùm-suidhe Sealtainn
rèidiografaidh rùm-teagaisg seanail channel
rèidium rùrach/rùileach seanailear
rèidius rùsg n peel; fleece seanchaidh
rèisimeid seanchas/seanachas
reoth freeze S seanfhacal
reothadh sabhal pl saibhlean seansa/teans(a)
reòthta/reòthte sabhs sauce seansailear chancellor
rèothte/rèothta sàibhear culvert seantans
reubte saidhbhir rich seaplain chaplain
reudan woodworm, etc saidhbhreas riches searaidh sherry
riaghailt saidhleafòn searmon
ribh(se) sail pl sail(th)ean beam searmonaich
ribheid sàil heel seasgad
rinc-deighe saill v salt vn sailleadh seatlaig
rinn(e) to us saimeant seic cheque
rìoghachd sàirdseant seiche hide
rionnach sàl brine seilear

30
seileastair/sealastair siabann smiogaid
seirbheis sian storm smior
seirbheiseach siad hero smocadh
sèithear ’s iad smocaig v smoke
sèithear-cuibhle similear snaidhm/snaoim
seit-phlèan sinc sink; zinc snaigheadair
seo sinn-seanair snaigheadh
seòclaid sinn-seanmhair snàithlean
seòmar-bìdh sìochaint snaoim/snaidhm
seòmar-ionnlaid Siog Sikh snàthainn
seòmar-leapa siogàr cigar snèap
seud jewel siogarait cigarette snìomhte
seun charm, spell sìon anything so-dhèanta
seunta Sìona China soidhne
seusan Sìonach Chinese soidhnig
’s fheudar sionnsar soifiostaigeach
Sgalpach siop zip soircas
Sgalpaigh siopsach gypsy sòisealta
Sgarpach sioraf giraffe soisgeul
sgeidse sketch siorc shark soitheamh tame
sgeul siorraidh/siorram solas light
sgì v ski vn sgitheadh siorram/siorraidh sòlas joy
sgiamh siostam sòn zone
sgian sitheann sònraichte
sgileil siud spaidsir v
sgillinn siuga Spainn(t)each
sgiort(a) slac slack, weak Spainn(t)is
Sgitheanach slaic blow spanair
sgìths slaighd speal
sglèat slaightear spìosrach
sgoilear slaightearachd splais
sgoinneil sleamhainn spreadh vn spreadhadh
sgreamh sleids spreig
sgreamhail sliseag spreòt incite
sgreataidh sloc pit sprochd
sgreuch scream smachd sprùilleach
sgrìob-cheangail smaoinich vn smaoineachadh srac vn sracadh
sgriubha ’s math Sràid na h-Eaglais(e)
sgriubhaig (’s) math dh’fhaodte srainnsear
sgriubhaire ’smaite/’s mathaid srath
sguilearaidh ’s mathaid/’s maite sreap/streap
’s i smeur berry sreapadair/streapadair

31
sreapadaireachd/ suiteas sweet pl suiteis sweets tèarainte
streapadaireachd suirghe tèarainteachd
sreothart sùith soot tèarmann
sreothartaich Sultain (An t-) teàrn vn teàrnadh
srùb spout teatha/tì
srùbag T tè-eigin
stàball tacsa help teicneòlach
staidhre taghta fine teicneòlas
stairsneach taghte chosen teicnigeach
staitistearachd statistics tagsaidh taxi tèile (ie tè eile)
staitistigeil taidh teleasgop
staoig steak taidhear/taidhr teleafòn
steall taidhl teip
steatasgop taidhp teirm term
steig v stick taidhr/taidhear teis-meadhan
steigeach taigh tè-lagha
stiùidio taigh-bìdh telebhisean
stiùireadair taigh-cluiche teòiridh theory
stiùir vn stiùireadh taigh-cùirte teòiridheach theoretical
stoidhle taigh-òsta teòth
stòiridh taigh-seinnse teòthachd temperature
stòr tàinig thàinig
stràc tairig/tarrag nail tha mi ’n dòchas
strèan tàirnean/tairgean/ thatar/thatas/thathar
streap/sreap tarragan nails thathar/thathas/thatar
streapadair/sreapadair tairsgeir/treidhsgeir thathas/thathar/thatar
streapadaireachd/ taisbeanadh tha toil agam
sreapadaireachd taisgte thig
strì tana thoir fa-near
strìoch tancair thugainn/tugainn/tiugainn
structar taobh-duilleig(e) (td for short) thuirt, thubhairt
sù/sutha zoo Tarasaigh tì/teatha
suaicheanta noteworthy tarcais till vn tilleadh
suaitheanta awful tarcaiseach timcheall
subailte/sùbailte tastan tiogaid ticket
sùbailte/subailte TBh tiona tin
subailteachd/sùbailteachd tè tionsail tinsel
sùbailteachd/subailteachd teacsa tìoraidh goodbye
subsadaidh teampall Tiridheach/Tiristeach
sùgh orainseir teanamaint Tiristeach/Tiridheach
suidse switch teanas tìr-mòr
sùigh teans(a)/seansa chance titheach

32
tiugainn/thugainn/tuggain troilidh trolley Ùna
tobar m gen tobair troimh-a-chèile uncail
f gen tobrach tugainn/tiugainn/thugainn Urànas
Tobar Mhoire truileis ùrlar
tobh(aig) v tow truinnsear ùrnaigh
todha hoe trustar urra
tofaidh tuairmse urrainn
togsaid/tocasaid tuarastal Urramach (An t-)
togte tughadh (An t-Urr for short)
toinisgeil tuilleadh ùruisg
toirds torch tui(r)neap uspag
tomàto pl tomàtothan tuireadh lament
tombaca tuirt, tubhairt X
tò(i)n turadh dry weather x-ghath
tonsail turas
tost silence
tost(a) toast U
tostach uabhar
trafaig uabhas
traidhfeal trifle uabhasach
traidhsagal uamh
traidiseanta uaireigin
trainnse uàlras walrus
tràlair uamhraidh very, terribly
trasta adv diagonal uanfheòil
trealaich ubhal
treamhlaidh bug, illness uèir-bhiorach
trèan(a) ugh
trèan vn trèanadh ùghdarras
trèan(aig) v uidheam-glanaidh
treidhe Ùig/Ùige
treidhsgeir/tairsgeir Ùige/Ùig
tribiùnal uile-gu-lèir
trilleachan uilinn/uileann
trìoblaich triple uill well
triom mood uimhir
trithead uiread
trìtheamh (an) uireasbhaidh
tsinthach (an) uirle-thruis chaos, stramash
tro (not ‘troimh’) uirsgeul
troigh foot (measurement) Ulapul

33
NOTES

34
 Hanover House Ironmills Road
24 Douglas Street Dalkeith
Glasgow Midlothian
G2 7NQ EH22 1LE
UGHDARRAS
T HEISTEANAS Customer Contact Centre
Tel: 0845 279 1000
NA H-A LBA Fax: 0141-242 2244
e-mail: customer@sqa.org.uk

website: www.sqa.org.uk

BB1532 August 2005