Colin Mark. The Gaelic-English Dictionary/Гэльско-английский словарь
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air càch but this poem outshone the
others (see càch)
□
chan eil a h-aon
a tha a’ toirt bàrr air an eilean seo
(ann) am maise there is not one that
surpasses this island in beauty
□
chan
eil teagamh nach toireadh e bàrr air
càch (ann) an tuigse there’s no doubt
that he would excel over others in
intelligence 2. crop
□
tha e doirbh am
bàrr a chaoineachadh it’s difficult to
dry the crop
□
bha iad uile gu lèir an
eisimeil na chuireadh an t-eilean
dheth de bhàrr they were entirely
dependent on what crop the island pro-
duced (lit. what the island put from it
of a crop) 3. cream (milk product)
□
bàrr reòta ice cream
a bhàrr adv besides, over
□
a bhàrr (air
seo) moreover
□
a bhàrr air sin
besides that, furthermore
□
a bhàrr air
beagan an siud ’s an seo except for
a little here and there
□
a bhàrr air gur
e Raibeart a b’ainm dha … apart from /
other than (the fact that) his name was
Robert …
□
a bhàrr air oibreachadh
an croitean besides working their
crofts …
□
see also bhàrr
bàrr-airgid nm cash crop b.-bìdh nm
food crop b.-a’ mhilltich nm arrow-
grass b.-bhalla nm
□
see barrabhalla
nm b.-gùc / b.-gùg nf blossom on
potatoes
□
bha a’ ghrian a’ deàlradh
air duilleach a’bhuntàta leis a’ bhàrr-
gùc the sun was shining on the foliage
of the flowering potatoes b.-mhais nm
cornice b.-throm a top-heavy b.-
urram nm in such phrases as: a’ toirt
bàrr-urraim thar gach bàrdachd eile a
sgrìobh e excelling over / outshining
every other (piece of ) poetry that he
wrote
□
cha robh aon ann a bheireadh
bàrr-urram oirre there wasn’t one that
could outshine her
barrach, -aich nm brushwood, top
branches of trees
barrachan, air na barrachan adv high
and dry
□
tha coltas ann gum bi iad air na
barrachan a dh’aithghearr it seems that
they will be high and dry soon
barra-bhailc 62
barra-bhailc nm
□
see barrabhailc nm
b.-chaol a conical, tapering
□
fàs barra-
chaol taper v b.-mhìslein nm bird’s foot
trefoil
barrabhailc, -ean nm cornice
barrabhalla nm parapet, battlement
Barrach, -aich, -aich nm native of Barra,
a person from Barra
Barrach a of, belonging to or pertaining to
Barra
barrachd nf more, predominance,
preponderance
barrachd is often followed by a noun in
the gen case
□
tha fada barrachd
eòlais againn mu an deidhinn a-nise
we have far more knowledge about
them now
□
tha feum againn air bar-
rachd sreinge we need more string
barrachd may also be followed by de
and a noun in the dat case
□
bha bar-
rachd de dhaoine a’ fuireach ann aig
an àm sin na bha ann am Peairt there
were more people living in it at that
time than there were in Perth
□
bha iad
a’ toirt orra barrachd is barrachd de
bhàrr a thogail they were making them
raise more and more [of] crops
□
sometimes barrachd becomes
a bharrachd
□
thuirt e gun d’fhuair e
a bharrachd de mhisneachadh bhon
leabhar seo na fhuair e bho ghin sam
bith eile he said that he got more
encouragement from this book than he
got from any other
□
tha fada a bhar-
rachd de oileanaich a’ dèanamh
Gàidhlig a-nise there are far more
students doing Gaelic now
barrachd aca more of them
□
… agus
barrachd aca ag obair air na
bàtaichean iasgaich … and more of
them working on the fishing boats
barrachd may also be accompanied by
the verbal noun
□
chì sibh gu bheil
barrachd ri dhèanamh na nuair
a thòisich sinn you will see that there
is more to do than when we began
barrachd agus / air more than
□
bar-
rachd air deich more than ten
□
feu-
maidh sinn barrachd air sin an-diugh
we need more than that nowadays
□
fhuair e barrachd ormsa he got more
than I
□
bha barrachd air sin ann there
was more than that to it (lit. in it)
□
ma
dh’fhaoite gum bu chòir do bharrachd
airsan sin a dhèanamh perhaps more
than he ought to do that
□
barrachd air
aon more than one
□
mar a thachair
barrachd air aon uair as happened
more than once
□
tha barrachd, is
fada a bharrachd, ann na tha daoine
a’ tuigsinn there is more, [and] far
more in it / him than people realise
a bharrachd air prep in addition to,
besides
□
a bharrachd air sin in
addition to that
□
a bharrachd air
a bhith sgìth bha an t-acras orm in
addition to being tired, I was hungry
□
tha sin aon a bharrachd air an
àireamh a bha ann an-uiridh that is
one more than the number there was
last year
□
tha còig no sia a bhar-
rachd air an-uiridh there are five or
six more than last year
a bharrachd adv over – which often
translates as an adj ⫽ additional,
extra, surplus
□
fear a bharrachd an
additional one
□
fear-aisig a bhar-
rachd an additional passenger
□
bidh
dà dhuilleig a bharrachd againn
ann an iris an Òg-mhìos we will have
an additional two pages / two extra
pages in the June magazine
□
nuair
a bhios stuth a bharrachd againn
when we have surplus material
□
bu mhath leinn fada bharrachd
a dhèanamh we would like to do
far more
Note: cha robh e an sin a bharrachd
he wasn’t there either
□
chan fhaca e
a’ chiad luch no an dara tè a bhar-
rachd he didn’t see the first mouse or
the second one either
□
note also that
thoir barrachd air is sometimes
used for thoir bàrr air (see bàrr)
con seo the surpassing quality of these
dogs
□
tha iad barrail air a h-uile dòigh
airson uallaichean troma a ghiùlan they
are excellent in every way for carrying
heavy loads
□
chan eil mòran dhùthchan-
nan eile a tha cho barrail rithe there aren’t
many other countries that are as excellent
as it
barraist, -e nm borage
barrall, -aill, -an nf lace (of a shoe), shoe-
lace (from older barr-iall)
□
dh’fhuasgail
mi barrallan mo bhrògan I untied my
shoelaces
barrantach, -aiche a warrantable
barrantachadh, -aidh nm & vn of barran-
taich commissioning etc.
barrantaich, -achadh v commission, guar-
antee, warrant
□
chaidh an rannsachadh
seo a bharrantachadh le … this study was
commissioned by …
barrantas, -ais, -an nm authority, commis-
sion, guarantee, pledge, warrant(y)
□
bar-
rantas bàis death-warrant
□
tha barrantas
anns an sgrìobhainn seo there is a guaran-
tee in this document
□
bheir na h-innealan
seo barrantas de bheatha nas fallaine don
chinne-daonna these machines will guar-
antee a healthier life for mankind
□
thug
iad barrantas don ùghdar they gave the
author a commission / they commissioned
the author
□
ciamar as e barrantas bàis
a tha seo don chànain? how is this a death
warrant for the language?
barras, -ais, -an nm surplus
□
barras
malairt trade surplus
bàs, -àis, -an nm death, decease, demise
□
leabaidh bhàis death-bed
□
an dèidh bàis
posthumous
□
an dèidh a bhàis after his
death, posthumously
□
thugadh bonn dha
an dèidh a bhàis he was awarded a medal
posthumously
□
o bhàis, càit a bheil do
ghàth? o death, where is thy sting?
□
ag
adhbharachadh am bàs causing their
deaths (note the sing)
□
cuir gu bàs kill,
put to death
□
cur gu bàs execution
□
chaidh a chur gu bàs ann an Dun Èideann
he was put to death in Edinburgh
□
lois-
geadh gu bàs iad uile they were all burned
to death
□
ma leigeas sinn leis a’ chleach-
dadh seo a dhol bàs … if we allow this
custom to die …
□
tha na bàsan a’ dol am
meud air an rathad seo deaths are increas-
ing on this road
□
faigh bàs to die, perish
(lit. find death)
□
… a fhuair bàs ann an
1949 … who died in 1949
□
ma gheàrrar
na freumhan gheibh a’ chraobh bàs if the
roots are severed the tree will die
□
fhuair
63 bàs
barrag-ruadh nf yellow horned poppy
b.-uaine nf
□
see barraig-uaine
barragach, -aiche a creamy
barraichte a outstanding, superb, superla-
tive
□
bha na dealbhan barraichte the pic-
tures were outstanding
□
bha e na sgoilear
cho barraichte ’s a bha ri fhaotainn na
linn he was a scholar as outstanding as any
that was to be found in his time / day
□
bàrdachd bharraichte outstanding /
superlative poetry
barraid, -e, -ean nf terrace
□
taigh barraide
terraced house
barraig-uaine nf algae
barrail, -e a eminent, excellent, excelling,
ideal, surpassing
□
buaidh bharrail nan
e bàs ann an Dun Phris air a’ mhìos seo
chaidh he died in Dumfries last month
□
their iad gur e gaol a thug bàs dha they
say that it is love that caused his death (lit.
gave death to him)
bàs-bhuille nm coup-de-grace, death-blow
b.-cot nm cot death
bas, boise, -an nf palm (of the hand)
□
tha an t-saoghal na bhois the world is in
his palm
□
làn na boise a palmful (lit. a fill
of the palm)
□
le bualadh bhas with
a beating of palms
bas-bhuail v applaud, clap b.-bhualadh
nm & vn of b.-bhuail clapping etc.,
applause, clap
bàsachadh, -aidh nm & vn of bàsaich
dying etc.
bàsaich, -achadh v die, expire
□
bha iad a’
bàsachadh le acras they were dying of
hunger
□
bha i a’ bàsachadh den
chaithimh she was dying of consumption
□
bhàsaich an duine aice her husband died
□
… far an do bhàsaich e de a chreuchdan
… where he died of his wounds
□
bàsaichidh sinn leis an acras we shall die
of hunger (in some areas bàsaich is rarely,
if ever, used for people, euphemisms such
as caochail or siubhail being used
instead)
bastalach, -aiche a gallant, flashy, gaudy,
showy
□
le a bhrògan bastalach with his
flashy shoes
bastalachd nf gallantry
Basgach, -aich, -aich nm Basque
Basgach a Basque
basgaid, -e, -ean nf basket
□
basgaid bidhe
□
hamper
□
basgaid truileis waste-paper-
basket
Basgais nf Basque (lang.)
bàsmhor a fatal, lethal, mortal
□
duine
bàsmhor mortal
□
thug e buille bhàsmhor
do gach aon a thigeadh dlùth he delivered
a fatal blow to everyone who came near
bàsmhorachd nf mortality
□
bha mi
a’ meòrachadh air bàsmhorachd an duine
I was contemplating man’s mortality
bàt’ – a shortened form of bàta used in
compounds where the second element
begins with a vowel to show the elision of
the vowel which takes place in speech e.g.
bat’-aiseig ferry-boat – this is not obliga-
tory in the written form
bata, -aichean nm bat, cane, cudgel, staff,
stick, walking stick or any long, thin stick
bàta, -aichean nm boat, craft
□
note that, as
in English, all boats are referred to as ‘she’
□
nuair a bha am bàta a’ dlùthachadh ris
an tìr bhuail i air crèig as the boat was
nearing the land she struck a rock
□
rach
air a’ bhàta go by boat
bàta-aigil nm submarine
□
air bord a’
bhàt’-aigil on board the submarine (see
bat’- above) b.-aiseig nm ferry-boat
□
tè
de na bàtaichean-aiseig aig Mac a’
Bhruthainn one of MacBrayne’s ferry-
boats (tè is fem though bàta is masc – see
bàta) b.-athais nm pleasure boat b.-
foluaimein nm hovercraft b.-giomaich nm
lobster boat b.-iasgaich nm fishing boat
b.-itealaich nm hovercraft b.-saoraidh nm
rescue ship b.-seilg na muice whaler
b.-sgrìobaidh nm trawler b.-smùide nm
steamboat
□
bàta-smùide le rothan plead-
hanach a steamboat with paddle wheels /
a paddle steamer b.-teasairginn nm
lifeboat, rescue ship
□
bidh na bàtaichean-
teasairginn a’ sàbhaladh beatha dhaoine
air a’ mhuir the lifeboats save people’s
lives on the sea b.-tumaidh nm submarine
batail, -e, -ean nf battle
batal, -ail, -ail nm battle
batan, -ain, -an nm baton
bataraidh, -aidhean nm battery
bàth, -adh v drown, quench, saturate, sub-
merge (note that this verb may be used
transitively only i.e. one cannot say as in
English ‘he drowned’, but must say ‘he
was drowned’ i.e. bha e air a bhàthadh /
chaidh a bhàthadh
□
similarly: bha i air
a bàthadh / chaidh a bàthadh she was
drowned
□
bhàth e e fhèin he drowned
himself
□
bàth (fuaim) muffle
□
bhàth iad
fuaim nan ràmh le luideagan they muffled
the sound of the oars with rags
bàthach, bàthcha, bàthaichean /
bàthchannan nf byre, cowshed
bàthadh, -aidh nm & vn of bàth drowning
etc. elision (gram.), extinction
bathais, -ean nf brow, forehead
□
often
used like the English ‘cheek’ and hence:
audacity, effrontery, impudence
□
chan eil
cion bathais orra they don’t lack cheek
□
thuirt e nach bitheadh de bhathais ach
aige fhèin sin fhaighneachd he said that
none but he would have the effrontery to
ask that
□
’s ann ort a tha a’bhathais! you
have a cheek!
bathar, -air nm (also badhar) commodity,
goods (for sale), merchandise, product(s),
wares
□
bathar àrd-theicneolach high
technology products / goods
□
bathar
bainne dairy products
□
bathar gro-
saireach groceries
□
bathar truiste bale
□
bathar aotrom fancy goods
□
thàinig iad
bàs-bhuille 64
gu bathar de gach seòrsa a cheannach
they came to buy goods of every kind
□
a’
reic bathar selling merchandise
□
bathar
o thall thairis / bathar o chèin import(s)
□
thoir a-steach bathar import v
□
bha iad
a’ dèiligeadh ann an toirt a-steach bathar
o thall thairis they were dealing in impor-
tation
bathar-amh nm commodity, commodities
b.-bog nm software
□
bathar-bog choimpi-
utair computer software
□
bha e a’
reic bathair-bhuig airson companaidh
Ameireaganach he was selling software
for an American company b.-cruaidh nm
hardware b.-iarainn nm ironmongery
b.-luach nm turn-over
batharnach, -aich, -aich nm warehouse
bàthte pp drowned, extinct, sunk etc.
beach, -a, -an nm bee
beach-lann nf beehive, hive
□
na beach-
lannan the beehives
size up, study, survey, view
□
ghabh
e beachd air cho àlainn glan ’s a bha
na sràidean he observed how beautiful
and clean / how beautifully clean the
streets were
□
… a’ gabhail beachd air
cùisean a bhuineas ri … … paying
particular attention to matters which
relate to …
□
a bharrachd air a bhith
a’ gabhail beachd air cia mheud duine
a bha anns an talla … apart from not-
ing how many men were in the hall
□
tha iad a’ gabhail beachd air stuth
a bhiodh freagarrach airson nan sgoil-
tean they are examining material
which would be suitable for (the)
schools
□
nuair a ghabhas sinn beachd
air mar a thatar a’ sgrios na h-
àrainneachd when we consider how
the environment is being destroyed
□
gabh beachd math air approve
□
bi den
bheachd be of the view / opinion
□
bha
iad uile den aon bheachd they were all
of one accord / of the same opinion
□
chualas beachdan de gach seòrsa
opinions of every kind were heard
□
bha cothrom agam beachd a ghabhail
air I had a chance to study him
□
thoir
(seachad) beachd give an opinion
□
thug seo cothrom do na h-oileanaich
am beachd a thoirt seachad this gave
[to] the students an opportunity to give
their opinions 2. intention
□
mu
thuathanas-èisg a tha iad am beachd
a chur air chois about a fish-farm they
intend to set up
□
’s e [a] tha nar
beachd cuairt-litir a chur a-mach
ceithir uairean sa bhliadhna it’s our
intention to put out a circular four
times a year (lit. it is what is in
our intention etc.)
beachd-bharail nf hypothesis b.-
rannsaich v canvass b.-smaoin nf idea,
theory
□
beachd-smaointean soilleir
clear ideas b.-smaoineachadh nm
consideration, meditation, musing
□
tha e an urra ruinne beachd-
smaoineachadh a dhèanamh air a’
chuspair it is up to us to meditate
on the subject b.-smaoinealach a
ideological b.-smaoinealas nm ideol-
ogy
□
cha do lean e am beachd-
smaoinealas seo he didn’t follow this
ideology b.-smaoinich v contemplate,
meditate, muse, ponder b.-smuain—
□
see b.-smaoin—
65 beach-lann
beachd, -a, -an nm 1.attitude, concep-
tion (of thought), hunch, idea, impres-
sion, judgment, notion, opinion,
survey, tenet, theory, view
□
beachd
cothromach objective view
□
beachd
(math) conceit
□
bha beachd aige air a
sin he had an idea of that
□
an robh iad
uile den bheachd gun robh mi …? were
they all of the opinion that I was …?
□
cha tug e aire do bheachdan chàich he
paid no attention to the opinions of
others (see càch)
□
beachdan breith-
nichte na comhairle the considered
views of the council
□
dè do bheachd
(air)? what’s your opinion / impression
(of it)?
□
tha mi eadar dà bheachd I
can’t make up my mind, I’m in two
minds
□
bha e làidir den bheachd gun
robh … he was strongly of the opinion
that … was …
□
tha mi cinnteach gur e
droch bheachd a tha aca orm I’m sure
it is a poor opinion they have of me
□
nam bheachd fhèin in my opinion
□
chuir iad [ann] an cèill beachd gun …
they expressed the (lit. a) view that…
□
… airson beachd fhaighinn air mar a
tha muinntir nan eilean a’ gleidheadh
na Sàbaid … to get some idea / an
impression of how the people of the
islands keep the Sabbath
□
gabh
beachd air examine, note, observe,
pay particular attention to, refer to,
beachdach, -aiche a notional
beachdachadh, -aidh nm & vn of beach-
daich considering etc., cogitation, specu-
lation, thought (the process)
□
is fhiach e
beagan beachdachaidh it’s worth a little
thought
beachdachail, -e a speculative
beachdaich, -achadh v consider, discuss,
eye, fancy, imagine, observe, speculate,
study, think about, view
□
agus nuair
a bheachdaicheas sinn air … and when we
think about it …
□
cha robh iad a’ beach-
dachadh air dè a’bhuaidh a bhiodh aig na
gnìomhan sin they weren’t thinking of the
effect these actions would have
□
thathas
a’beachdachadh air a’cheist the matter is
under consideration
beachdaichte pp considered etc.
□
comhairle bheachdaichte considered advice
beachdail, -e a 1. abstract, theoretical
2. discerning, observant
□
bha a shùilean
gu beachdail a’ lorg comharradh his eyes
were observantly looking for a sign
3. opinionated
beachdair, -ean nm scout, speculator, spy,
theorist
beachdte a certain, sure, accurate
beadaidh, -e a flippant, forward, imperti-
nent, impudent, insolent, pert, saucy
beadaidheachd nf flippancy, impudence,
insolence, pertness
beadarrach
□
see beadrach
beadrach, -aiche a playful
beadradh, -aidh nm dalliance, frolic
is beag nach … almost …
□
is beag
nach eil mi cinnteach gu …I am
almost certain that …
Further examples: bha iad ann an cun-
nart nach bu bheag they were in no lit-
tle danger
□
is beag a bha fhios aige
dè … little did he know what …
□
car
beag ’s a’ chòir … a little too …
□
tha
thu car beag ’s a’ chòir earbsach asta
you are a little too trusting of them
□
is
beag an t-iongnadh gun robh an
fhearg air / is beag an t-iongnadh ged
bha an fhearg air it’s little wonder that
he was angry
beag, big, big nm little one, few, small
amount
□
an nì a chì na big, is e a nì
na big what the little ones see the little
ones do (proverb)
□
le làithean gri-
anach is glè bheag de dh’uisge with
sunny days and very little [of] rain
□
’s
e glè bheag obrach a thatar a’
dèanamh air an diugh (or glè bheag
a dh’obair) very little work is done on
it today
□
bha ro bheag de dh’airgead
aca they had an insufficient amount
of money
□
tha e coltach gur e cho
beag ’s a thàinig de luchd-turais
a rinn am milleadh it seems that it’s
so few tourists coming that did the
damage (lit. so little that came of
tourists etc.)
a bheag (lit. its little) is used as follows:
chan fhaic sinn a bheag romhainn ach
àmhghar we see little before us but
tribulation (lit. we do not see its little
before us but tribulation)
□
cha do lorg
e a bheag ach pìosan fiodha is glainne
bhriste he found little but pieces of
wood and broken glass
□
cha robh seo
a’ cur a bheag de dhragh oirnn this
wasn’t bothering us one little bit
□
’se
glè bheag de litreachas Gàidhlig a tha
air a chur gu Beurla very little Gaelic
literature is translated into English
□
cha robh duine againn nach do
dh’fhairich a bheag no a mhòr de
chianalas there wasn’t one of us who
didn’t feel some homesickness (lit. its
big or its little of)
beag is beag / beag air bheag
adv little by little, gradually, by
degrees
□
is ann beag air bheag
a thig atharrachadh change comes
gradually
air bheag prep ⫹ gen for little
□
air
bheag prìs cheap(ly)
□
bha iad ag
beachdach 66
beag, lugha / bige a light (of import),
little, minor, petty, puny, slender,
slight, small, trifling, wee
□
duine
beag ruamhar a little fat man
□
rud
beag a little / somewhat adv
□
see
under rud
is beag agam / leam I care little for / it
is of little concern to me
□
is beag
agam iad I care little for them
□
bu
bheag leo na dhòirteadh iad de fhuil
they cared little how much blood they
spilled
is beag orm I dislike bu bheag oirnn
iad we disliked them
□
is beag orm an
fheadhinn sin I dislike those (ones)
□
see also lugha
ach beag almost
□
tha e a’ tighinn beò
ach beag gu buileach air iasg he lives
almost completely on fish
obair gu cruaidh agus sin air bheag
thaing they were working hard and that
for little thanks
□
air bheag stàth to
little purpose / end
□
bha e air a bhith
a’ bualadh air an doras fad deich
mionaidean air bheag stàth he had
been knocking on the door for ten
minutes to little purpose
beag-aigneach a narrow-minded
b.-airgead nm petty-cash b.-amar
nm hod b.-bìodach a infinitesimal
b.-chogach a guerilla b.-chuid nf
minority
□
bidh a’ mhòr-chuid daon-
nan a’ sparradh an cànain fhèin air a’
bheag-chuid the majority are always
thrusting their language upon the
minority
□
bidh sinn tric a’ cluinntinn
an-diugh mu dheidhinn bheag-
chodaichean cànanach we often hear
nowadays about linguistic minorities
□
cànainean nam beag-chodaichean the
languages of the minorities b.-fhaclair
nm glossary b.-nàrach a impertinent,
impudent, shameless b.-nàraich v
embarrass b.-nàire a impertinent,
impudent, shameless
□
nach tu tha
beag-nàire! how shameless you are!
b.-nobhail nf novella b.-sgèile a small
scale
□
map beag-sgèile small scale
map b.-shaoghal nm microcosm
b.-shileadh nm dribble, trickle b.-
shluagh nm ethnic minority
□
cànainean nam beag-shluaghan the
languages of the ethnic minorities
b.-uaill nf indignity, shame
□
chuir
iad cùl ris a’ bheag-uaill a bha sin
they turned their backs on that
indignity
beagan, -ain nm few, little, modicum,
small amount, some (⫽ a little), touch
□
beagan ro àm an Dealachaidh a lit-
tle before the time of the Schism
□
tha
beagan eadar do ghul agus do ghàire
there is little between [your] crying
and [your] laughing
□
may be foll. by
a noun in the gen
□
le beagan
saothrach with a little labour
□
cha
d’fhuair e ach beagan sgoile he
received but little schooling (lit. of
school)
□
beagan dhaoine a few peo-
ple
□
ann am beagan mhionaidean in
a few minutes
□
ann am beagan
bhriathran in a few words
□
thug e am
beagan a bha aige fhèin seachad do
chàch he gave the little [that] he had
himself to others
□
cha do choinnich
sinn ach fìor bheagan de mhuinntir a’
bhaile we met but very few of the
townspeople (lit. we didn’t meet but
truly few of (the) people of the town)
□
agus beagan ceò ag èirigh aiste
fhathast and a little / some smoke still
rising from it fem
The noun may be in the dat case pre-
ceded by de
□
cha bu mhiste seo bea-
gan eile de chùram this would be none
the worse of a little more care (lit.
another little of etc.)
beagan adv a little, somewhat
□
fol-
lowed by an adjective or adjectival
phrase
□
bha e a’ faireachadh beagan
na b’fheàrr he was feeling a little
better / somewhat better
□
tha mi a’
faireachdainn beagan sgìth ma
dh’fhaodte I am feeling a little [bit]
tired perhaps
□
beagan shìos fodham a
little below me (lit. a little down below
me
□
see sìos and App. 4 Sect. 10.0
Adverbs of Motion and Rest)
□
beagan
os cionn a cut above
beagan agus / is / ’s a little more than
□
bha am balla beagan is còig troighean
the wall was a little more than five feet
□
chan eil ach beagan is seachdain
bhon d’fhuair iad e it’s only a little
over a week since they got it
a lìon beagan is beagan little by little –
uncommon now except in the saying: a
lìon beagan is beagan mar a dh’ith an
cat an sgadan little by little as the cat
ate the herring (proverb)
air bheagan (followed by a noun in the
gen) having little (of something)
□
bha
feadhainn a bha air bheagan Gàidhlig
67 beagaich
beagachadh, -aidh, -aidhean nm & vn of
beagaich decreasing etc., deduction,
reduction
□
aig amannan faodar bea-
gachadh a dhèanamh occasionally
a reduction may be made
beagaich, -achadh v decrease, deduct,
diminish, reduce
□
beagaich (coire) exten-
uate
□
tha àireamh nam ball a’ sìor bhea-
gachadh the number of members is
continually decreasing
□
beagaich air cut
down on
□
bidh sinn a’ beagachadh air
foillseachadh we will be cutting down on
publishing
beairt, pl beairt nf engine, hand-loom,
proposal (also beart in nom sing)
beairt-fhuaigheil nf sewing machine
b.-ghunna nm machine-gun
b.-thuairnearachd nf lathe
beairteach, -iche a affluent, rich, wealthy
□
also beartach
beairteas, -eis nm affluence, riches, wealth
□
beairteas neo-chrìochnach an t-
saoghail the boundless riches of the world
□
cuid den bheairteas òran a tha againn
some of the wealth of song that we possess
□
also beartas
bealach, -aich, -aichean nm access,
breach, detour, gangway, gap, inlet, open-
ing, pass (e.g. mountain pass), tract (anat.)
bealach caoch cul-de-sac dèan bealach
breach v ghabh sinn bealach we made a
detour thàinig e thar a’bhealaich he came
over the pass
bealaidh nm broom (plant)
□
bealaidh
Frangach laburnum
Bealltainn, Là Bealltainn Beltane, May-
Day (often referred to as Là Buidhe
Bealltainn), a Celtic fire festival marking
the start of Summer
bean, beantainn v (⫹ do) touch
□
this verb
and buin, buntainn belong (q.v.) have
become inextricably confused, even to the
preps used with them
□
cho luath ’s a
bhean e dha as soon as he touched it
□
bean ri tamper with
the hearts of women / to women’s
hearts
□
còignear bhan five women
□
a’ Bhean-phòsta Nic a’ Phearsain
(abbr. to a’ Bh. Nic a’ Phearsain)
Mrs. MacPherson
□
a’ Bh. Màiri Nic
Labhrainn Mrs. Mary McLaren
□
leis
a’ Mhnaoi-phòsta NicDhòmhnaill
(abbr. leis a’ Mhn. NicDhòmhnaill) by
Mrs. MacDonald
□
thugadh bràiste do
mhnaoi a’ mhinisteir mar thiodhlac
□
a brooch was given to the minister’s
wife as a gift
□
seo mo bhean this is
my wife
bean pref denoting woman / female
agent
□
note that the pref ban- is used
to make a masc agent fem e.g. stiùb-
hard nm steward, but ban-stiùbhard
nf stewardess, while bean (formerly
usually accomp. by a hyphen) is used
to denote the fem equivalent of fear
e.g. fear-teagaisg (male) teacher, but
bean-teagaisg (female) teacher, or to
denote an occupation which does not
(or traditionally did not) have a masc
equivalent e.g. bean-chìche wet nurse
bean-àiteachaidh (female) inmate b.-
an-taighe landlady, ‘lady of the house’
b.-atharrais female mimic b.-chìche
wet nurse b.-chomanachaidh (female)
communicant b.-chomhairle (female)
counsellor b.-chuidich helper b.-
chùraim tiomnaidh executrix b.-
diùraidh (female) juror b.-eiridinn
(female) nurse b.-èisteachd (female)
listener b.-eisimeil (female) dependent
b.-ghlanaidh cleaning woman b.-
ghlùine midwife
□
chuireadh i air
chùram na mna-glùine she was put in
the care of the midwife / in the mid-
wife’s care b.-iùil conductress b.-na
bainnse bride b.-phòsta wife b.-
sgùraidh scrubbing woman b.-shìdh
fairy woman, banshee b.-shnìomh
spinner b.-sholair procuress b.-taighe
hostess, housewife, matron b.-teagaisg
mistress, (female) teacher
□
tha an
dithis bhan-teagaisg a-nise nan
dreuchd the two teachers are now in
their post b.-uasal lady, madam
beairt 68
there were some who had little Gaelic
□
bha iad air bheagan bidh(e) they
had little food
□
tha mi coma ged
a bhithinn air bheagan bìdh I don’t
care if I would have little food
□
bha e
air bheagan maith it was worth little /
of little worth
□
duine air bheagan
tuaireim / air bheagan cèille a man of
little sense
□
air bheagan adhbhair for
little reason
bean, gen sing mnatha dat mnaoi nom
& dat pl mnathan gen pl bhan irreg
nf female, matron, wife, woman
□
bean nuadh-phòsta / bean-na-bainnse
bride
□
bean cluiche (female) performer
□
bean seinn (female) performer (i.e.
singer)
□
… a tha cho speiseil do
chridhe nam ban… which is so dear to
beann gen pl of beinn
beannachadh, -aidh, -aidhean nm & vn of
beannaich blessing etc., benediction,
blessing (the act of blessing), greeting
□
rinn am Moderàtor am beannachadh
ann an Gàidhlig the Moderator gave the
blessing in Gaelic
beannachd, -an nf blessing
□
goireasan
a bhitheadh nam beannachd do mhòran
conveniences that would be a blessing to
many
□
… ach faodaidh e bhith na bhean-
nachd dhuinn… but it may be a blessing
to us
□
gun robh beannachd Dhè air may
God’s blessing be upon him
□
beannachd
(le) farewell (to), goodbye to
□
beannachd
leat / leibh goodbye to you (sing / pl resp.)
□
cha do ghabh i beannachd leis she did
not say goodbye to him
□
nuair a bha
e a’leigeil beannachd leatha when he was
saying goodbye to her
□
leig e beannachd
leatha he said goodbye to her
□
but note
also: dh’fhàg e beannachd aig a chàirdean
he said goodbye to his friends
□
mo bhean-
nachd aig na bodaich sin my blessings on
these old men
□
and also: bu toigh leam
beannachdan na Bliadhna Ùire a ghuidhe
do na h-uile I would like to wish New Year
greetings to everybody
□
leis na bean-
nachdan / leis gach beannachd with best
wishes
beannag, -aige, -an nf coif, kerchief;
a square of cloth folded into a triangle and
worn on the shoulders or head
beannaich, -achadh v bless, greet
□
bean-
naich mise! bless me!
□
beannaich sinn
bless us
beannaichte pp blessed
□
chaidh an t-sìth
bheannaichte a bhriseadh the blessed
peace was shattered
beanntach, -aiche a mountainous
beanntan pl of beinn
beantainn nm & vn of bean touching etc.,
a touch
□
gun bheantainn ri untouched
bèan-uiridh, a’ bhèan-uiridh nf the year
before last
□
also a’ bhòn-uiridh
bearbhain nf vervain
beàrn, -àirn / bèirn, -an / -aichean nf
breach, fissure, gap, hiatus, lacuna,
vacancy
□
dèan beàrn breach v beàrnan
a tha feumach air an lìonadh gaps which
must be filled
□
a’ bheàrn a tha eadar na
ginealaichean the generation gap (lit. the
gap which is between… etc.)
□
a’ lìonadh
na beàirn / bèirn filling the gap
□
tro
bheàirn / bhèirn through a gap
□
tha corra
bheàrn ann there are a few gaps in it
□
le
beàrnan co-ionnan equally spaced
beàrn-mhìol nf hare-lip
beàrnach, -aiche a fissured, jagged, jaggy
□
na creagan beàrnach the jagged rocks
beàrnan-Brìde nm dandelion
Beàrnarach, -aich, -aich nm a native of
Bernera(y)
Beàrnarach a of, belonging to or pertain-
ing to Bernera(y)
beàrr, bearradh v (N.B. accent on root, but
not on vn) clip, crop, pare, poll, prune,
shave, shear
□
air a bhearradh clean-shaven
bearradair, -ean nm barber, clipper
bearradh, -aidh, -aidhean nm & vn of
beàrr 1. clipping etc., crop (haircut),
shave, shaving, shearing, tonsure
□
bear-
radh fuilt hair-cut 2. brow / slope of a hill,
crest (geol.), escarpment dhìrich e gu
bearradh a’ chladaich he ascended to the
brow of the shore
bearraideach, -iche a light, nimble, active
□
chan eil mi cho bearraideach ’s a bha mi
I’m not as active as I was
beàrrte pp cropped, shorn etc.
beart, beairt, beairt nf 1. contrivance,
instrument, loom 2. fact
□
also beairt in
nom
beart-dhìridh nf chairlift b.-ola nf (oil) rig
beartach, -aiche a rich, wealthy
□
duine
beartach a rich man
□
na daoine beartach
the rich
□
also beairteach
beartachadh, -aidh nm & vn of beartaich
brandishing etc.
beartaich, -achadh v brandish, flourish,
harness, yoke
□
bheartaich e an t-each he
harnessed the horse
□
bha e a’ bruidhinn
ris na h-eich fhad ’s a bha e gam
beartachadh he was speaking to the horses
while / all the time he was harnessing
them
beartas, -ais nm riches, wealth
□
see
beairteas
beath
□
see beatha- below
69 beath
beatha nf life, existence
□
tha rudeigin
a’ tachairt nar beatha uile aig a bheil
buaidh mhòr oirnn something happens
in all our lives which has a great effect
on us (note the use of the sing of
beatha – see following & notes under
ceann and làmh)
□
bha iad gu bhith
còmhla fad a’chòrr de am beatha they
were (going) to be together the whole
of the rest of their lives
□
bha e a’
spleuchdadh orm mar nach robh e air
m’fhaicinn na bheatha he was staring
at me as if he hadn’t seen me in his life
□
thug e a bheatha gu lèir do dh’obair
na h-eaglaise he gave his life com-
pletely to the work of the church
□
fhuair iad às le am beatha they
escaped with their lives
□
bha e a’
ruith aig peilear (dearg) a bheatha he
was running for dear life
□
bidh na
bàtaichean-teasargainn a’ sàbhaladh
beatha dhaoine air a’ mhuir the
lifeboats save people’s lives on the sea
□
chaith e a bheatha gu stuama he spent
his life temperately
□
chan innseadh
iad air am beatha they would not tell
on their lives
□
’s e do bheatha you are
welcome (lit. he (God) is your life)
□
the pl form is ’s ur beatha
□
an exten-
sion of this is found in such phrases as:
ur beatha dhan dùthaich you are wel-
come to the country (meaning the local
area)
□
see also di-beathte
beatha-aisneis nf memoir (autob.)
b.-shàbhaladh nm life-saving
b.-eachdraiche nm biographer beath-
eachdraidh nf
□
see eachdraidh
beatha
beilear / beileas
□
see bi
Beilgeach, -ich, -ich nm Belgian
Beilgeach a Belgian
beilleag, -eige, -an nf lip
bèin & bèine
□
nom & dat pl and gen sing
respectively of bian
being, -e, -ean nf bench, form
□
bha i na
suidhe air being she was sitting on a bench
being-obrach nf work bench
beinn, -e, beanntan nf (gen pl bheann /
nam beann) hill (high), mount, mountain
□
a’ streap nam beann climbing (the)
mountains, mountain climbing
□
bha e ag
ionndrainn beanntan mòra an eilein he
was missing the island’s great mountains
□
am measg nam beanntan iomallach
□
amidst the lonely mountains
□
am measg
beanntan binneanach na Gaidhealtachd
among the pinnacled mountains of the
Highlands
□
tìr nam beann is nan gleann
the land of mountains and glens
□
for the
different forms of the gen pl used here see
App. 3. Sect. 2.2 (f)
□
sa bheinn on the
mountain / in the mountains
□
latha a
bh’ann ’s mi sa bheinn … one day, as I was
in the mountains …
□
common in place
names – see App. 12 Sect. 4.0
beinn-theine nf volcano
beathach 70
beathach, -aich, -aichean nm animal,
beast, brute
□
beathaichean na macharach
the beasts of the field
□
a’ coimhead an
dèidh nam beathaichean looking after the
beasts / animals
□
bha e a’ feuchainn ri
dealbhannnan bheathaichean a thogail he
was trying to take photographs of animals
□
in some areas e.g. Uist and Barra, beat-
hach is used in the specialised sense of
‘head of cattle’
□
also commonly used as
follows: beathach eich a horse
□
beathach
mairt a cow
□
beathach caorach a sheep
□
beathach coin a dog
beathach-mara nm sea creature
beathachadh, -aidh nm & vn of beathaich
nourishing etc., living, maintenance, nour-
ishment, nutriment, nutrients, sustenance
beathachail, -e a nourishing, nutritious
beathaich, -achadh v feed, nourish, main-
tain
□
cha bheathaicheadh seo luch this
wouldn’t feed a mouse
beathail, -e a 1. vital, pertaining to life
2. lively
beathalachd nf vitality
beathadach, -aich, -aich nm beaver
beic, -e, -eannan nf curtsey
□
rinn i beic do
na h-uaislean she curtseyed to the gentle-
men / gentlefolk
bèicear, -eir, -an nm baker
beil
□
see bi
bèile, bèilichean nf bale
beir, beirsinn / breith irreg v bear
(children, young etc.), give birth to,
bring forth, drop (give birth to), lay (of
eggs), litter (of animal giving birth –
also beir àl) pup, whelp, kitten etc.,
produce
□
this verb is irreg in the past
tense (active & passive) only
ACTIVE VOICE:
Past tense
Indep. & Dep. rug i she bore an do rug
i did she bear? cha do rug i she didn’t
bear nach do rug i? didn’t she bear?
□
note that these are often written as an
d’rug i etc. in poetry or representation
of speech
Future tense (reg.)
1. Indep. beiridh i she shall bear etc.
2. Dep. am beir i? shall she bear? cha
bheir iad they will not bear nach
beir iad? will they not bear? etc.
Imperfect / Conditional tense (reg.)
1. Indep. bheirinn I would bear
bheireadh tu you would bear etc.
2. Dep. am beirinn? would I bear?
PASSIVE VOICE:
Past tense
Indep. & Dep. rugadh mi I was born an
do rugadh e? was he born? cha do
rugadh e he wasn’t born nach do
rugadh e wasn’t he born?
Future tense (reg.)
1. Indep. & Dep. (reg.) beirear will
be born am beirear? will… be
born? cha bheirear will not be
born nach beirear? will… not
be born?
Imperfect / conditional tense (reg.)
1. Indep. & Dep. bheirteadh would
have been born am beirteadh
would … have been born? nach
beirteadh would… have not have
been born?
Basic examples: beir ugh lay an egg
□
bidh a’ chuthag a’ breith an uighe aice
anns an nead aig eun eile the cuckoo
lays her egg in another bird’s nest
□
beir laogh calf
□
beiridh i mac she
shall bear a son
□
beirear e anns an
ospadal it’ll be born in hospital
□
thuirt i gum beirteadh e aig an taigh
she said that it would be born at home
□
rug an làir searrach the mare had /
produced etc. a foal
□
rugadh is
thogadh mi ann an Alba I was born and
raised in Scotland
□
’s binn guth an
eòin far am beirear e sweet is the bird’s
voice where he is born (proverb)
Idioms: beir air lay hold of, catch
hold of, catch, snatch, overtake
□
dh’fheumainn breith air na bùthan
mus dùineadh iad I had to catch the
shops before they closed (lit. would
need to … before they would close)
□
beiridh e air bileig feòir he catches /
will catch hold of a blade of grass
□
rug e air mus do ràinig e an geata he
caught him before he reached the gate
beirsinn alt vn of beir bearing etc.
beirm, -e nf barm, yeast
beirmeach a yeasty
beirmear, -eir, -an nm enzyme
beirn
□
gen sing of beàrn gap
bèis nm beige
bèis a beige
bèist, -e, -ean nf beast
□
see biast
bèist-dà-leann nf tapeworm
beitein nm mat-grass
beithe nf birch (tree)
□
beithe gheal silver
birch
□
am measg nan doireachan beithe
amidst the birch groves
□
an siud ’s an seo
bha bad de choille bheithe here and there
was a clump of birch wood
beithir, beathrach, beathraichean nm
thunderbolt
71 beithir
□
thilgeadh e na glainneachan anns an
adhair agus bheireadh e orra a-rithist
he would throw the glasses in the air
and (he would) catch them again
□
ma
bheireas tu air innis dha gu bheil mi
ag iarraidh [a] fhaicinn if you catch
him up, tell him I want to see him
□
rug e air mo mhuinichill he caught my
sleeve
□
beir a thaobh persuade bheir
seo duine a thaobh mar as trice this
will usually persuade one
□
nach ann
dhut a rug an cat an cuilean? (lit.
didn’t the cat give birth to the pup for
you?) lucky you!
□
an latha (a)
bheireas an cuilean an t-ugh! (lit. the
day the pup lays the egg!) never!
Note the idiom often used when refer-
ring to parts of the body: a’ breith air
làimh orm catching me by the hand /
shaking hands with me
□
rug iad air
làimh air a chèile they shook each
other by the hand
□
rug e air cluais a’
bhalaich he seized the boy’s ear
It should be noted that parts of this verb
are very similar to / identical to parts
of the verb thoir (q.v.)
beò, beòtha a alive, live, lively, living,
quick, vital, vivid
□
note that the pl
form of the adj may be beò / beòtha
□
iasg beò live fish
□
gach creutair beò
every living creature
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bi beò live, be
alive, exist
□
bi beò le coexist
□
mair
beò live, survive
□
bi / fan beò nas