gaelic signage.jpg

Learning Scottish Gaelic is not about just learning new words - it's about learning a whole new way of thinking.

on you and at you

You don't 'have' a car in Gaelic, but that the car is 'at you' = agid

  • An car ùr agam = My new car

Similarly some things can be 'on you' = air  

  • Tha deoch air  = he is drunk (literally "is drink on him")
  • Tha deoch mòr oirre = she is very drunk (literally "is drink big on her")
  • Tha cnatan orm = I have a cold (literally "is cold on me")
  • Tha eagal oirrn = we are afraid (literally "is fear on us")
  • Tha mi eolach air = I know him (literally "is me knowledge on him")
  • Tha an t-acras/pathadh orm = I am hungry/thirsty (literally "ïs hunger/thirst on me)
  • Tha an dèideadh orra = They have toothache
  • Tha iongantas ort = You are surprised.

Notice that you change the pronoun he/she in English by changing whether
it's on him/her/I/we/the/you. It seems complicated at first but it will soon make sense after you've had some practice!

Need something?

In Gaelic, the need is "on" you also:

  1. I need (something)
  2. Tha feum agam air (deoch)
  3. Is need at me on (a drink) 
  4. I need a drink!