Colin Mark. The Gaelic-English Dictionary/Гэльско-английский словарь
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Appendix 2: the Gaelic noun 652
an earb the roe na h-earba don earb aig an earb na h-earban nan earb
Singular Plural
Nom Gen Dat Nom & Dat Gen
a’ chearc the hen na circe don chirc air a’ chirc na cearcan nan cearc
a’ ghaoth the wind na gaoithe don ghaoith aig a’ ghaoith na gaothan nan gaoth
Singular Plural
Nom Gen Dat Nom & Dat Gen
an duais the prize na duaise don duais aig an duais na duaisean nan duaisean
an tìr the land na tìre don tìr aig an tìr na tìrean nan tìrean
an luch the mouse na lucha don luch aig an luch na luchan nan luch
neas weasel na nise don nis aig an nis na neasan nan neas
an reul the star na rèile don rèil aig an rèil na reultan nan reul
Singular Plural
Nom Gen Dat Nom & Dat Gen
g) s followed by sg, sm, sp, st
an sgadan the herring an sgadain don sgadan aig an sgadan na sgadain nan sgadan
an smàl the stain an smàil don smàl air an smàl na smàil nan smàl
an sporan the purse an sporain don sporan air an sporan na sporain nan sporan
an stoc the trunk an stuic don stoc air an stoc na stuic nan stoc
Singular Plural
Nom Gen Dat Nom & Dat Gen
4.2 Feminine
a) Vowels: a, e, i, o, u
b) Gutturals: c, g
c) Dentals and liquids: d, t, l, n, r
653 Appendix 2: the Gaelic noun
a’ bhreug the lie na brèige don bhrèig aig a’ bhrèig na breugan nam breug
a’ phìob the pipe na pìoba don phìob aig a’ phìob na pìoban nam pìob
a’ mheidh the balance na meidhe don mheidh air a’ mheidh na meidhean nam meidhean
Singular Plural
Nom Gen Dat Nom & Dat Gen
an fhras the shower na froise don fhrois aig an fhrois na frasan nam fras
Singular Plural
Nom Gen Dat Nom & Dat Gen
an t-sail the beam na saile don t-sail air an t-sail na sailean nan sailean
an t-slat the rod na slaite don t-slait air an t-slait na slatan nan slat
an t-sneadh the nit na sneadha don sneadh aig an t-sneadh na sneadhan nan sneadh
an t-sròn the nose na sròine don t-sròin aig an t-sròin na sròinean nan sròn
Singular Plural
Nom Gen Dat Nom & Dat Gen
an sgoil the school na sgoile don sgoil aig an sgoil na sgoiltean nan sgoiltean
an smid the syllable na smide don smid aig an smid na smidean nan smidean
an spàin the spoon na spàine don spàin aig an spàin na spàinean nan spàinean
an stoirm the storm na stoirme don stoirm aig an stoirm na stoirmean nan stoirmean
Singular Plural
Nom Gen Dat Nom & Dat Gen
d) Labials: b, p, m
e) f
f) s followed by a vowel or by a liquid sa, se, si, so, su, sl, sn, sr
g) s followed by sg, sm, sp, st
It should be noted that a’ may be used to show elision of the n (in informal speech) before
any of the consonants e.g. Bidh iad a’ cumail a’ leth eile. They will be retaining the other
half. This is not good practice.
4.3 Other uses of the definite article
As well as simply preceding a definite noun, as in English, the definite article is also used
with the noun:
a) when it is accompanied by the dem prons seo, sin or ud:
an cù seo this dog an cù sin that dog an cù ud that dog (yonder)
b) when used with aig and its prep prons to express possession:
a’ bhò agamsa my cow a’ bhò aig Seumas James’ cow
c) when it is accompanied by the interr prons dè? cò? cia? ciod e?:
Dè ‘n uair a tha e? What time is it?
Dè ‘n dath a tha air seo? What colour is this?
Cò an dealbh a b’ fheàrr leat?
Which picture did you prefer?
d) when the noun represents a class, type or species:
Is e an t-òr agus an t-airgead a bha iad ag iarraidh
It was gold and silver that they were after
Bha iad an tòir air na liughanan
They were after lythe
Bha iad a’ goid nan ùbhlan air
They were stealing apples from him
Bha cion an uisge agus a’ bhidhe ann
There was a lack of water and food
Tha a’ bhiorach dèidheil air an rionnach
The dogfish is fond of mackerel
This is particularly common in similes:
Bha a h-aodann cho geal ris an t-sneachda
Her face was as white as snow
e) commonly with abstract nouns:
Chan e dìth na cèille a-mhàin a tha ga chumail air ais
It isn’t only lack of sense that’s holding him back.
Cha dèan an gràdh ràiteachas.
Love does not boast.
Dh’fhàs e dall leis an aois.
He became blind with age.
f) in titles of rank, such as captain, commander etc. when accompanied by a name:
An Rìgh Seumas a sia.
King James the sixth.
An t-Easbaig Dòmhnall MacDhòmhnaill.
Bishop Donald McDonald.
Mhìnich an Commandair Seagha an suidheachadh.
Commander Shaw explained the situation.
Nochd iad air beulaibh an t-Siorraim Chaimbeil.
They appeared before Sheriff Campbell
This applies to Mrs and Miss, but not to Mr.
Thàinig Maighstir MacLeòid, a’ Bhean-phòsta Nic a’ Phearsain agus A’
Mhaighdeann NicNèill a-steach.
Mr MacLeod, Mrs MacPherson and Miss MacNeill entered.
Appendix 2: the Gaelic noun 654
g) before baile, eaglais, sgoil and taigh when used with various prepositions, where
English does not use the definite article:
Bha mi anns a’ bhaile an-raoir
I was in town last night.
An robh e anns an eaglais an-diugh?
Was he in church today?
Cha robh e anns an sgoil an-dè.
He wasn’t in school yesterday.
A bheil e aig an taigh?
Is he at home?
But note aig baile ‘at home’ (in town)
h) before ath meaning ‘next’:
An ath sheachdain
Next week
An ath bhliadhna
Next year
i) unlike the English usage, the definite article is always repeated in lists:
na bàird ’s na soisgeulaich
the poets and (the) evangelists
4.4 The definite article is not used:
a) with the governing word when one noun governs another in the genitive:
earball a’ chait the tail of the cat / the cat’s tail
earbaill nan cat the tails of the cats / the cats’ tails
b) with the indefinite pronoun càch ⫽ the others / the rest:
Càit a bheil càch? Where are the others / the rest?
c) when a first name is used with the name of a trade:
Iain gobha John the blacksmith
Seòras saor George the joiner
But note:
Iain Domhnallach, an gobha John MacDonald, the blacksmith
Seòras Caimbeul, an saor George Campbell, the joiner
655 Appendix 2: the Gaelic noun
Appendix 3: The Gaelic Adjective
1.0 Introduction
Like the noun, the adjective is inflected for case and number, but may also change initially
according to the gender of the noun.
Since the vocative case of common nouns, particularly when accompanied by an
adjective, is quite rare, it has not been shown in the following tables. Information about
the vocative case is given in Appendix 2: the Gaelic noun, Section 2.1.2 and Appendix 12,
Sections 1.2 and 1.3.
1.1 Types of adjective
Adjectives may be divided into four classes.
1.1.1 Adjectives which have a broad root vowel
When accompanied by a masculine noun, the inflections in the singular are like those of
Type 1 nouns, and when accompanied by feminine nouns they are like those of Type 2
nouns. After a plural noun they have an a augment.
Mòr great
Singular plural
masculine feminine common
nom mòr mhòr mòra
gen mhòir mòire mòra
dat mòr mhòir mòra
1.1.2 Vowel change when i is introduced
As with Type 1 and Type 2 nouns, certain vowels or vowel groups may change when the i
is introduced. These changes are very similar to those shown in the Table of vowel changes
in Type 1 nouns (Fig. 1) e.g.
geal white
Singular Plural
masculine feminine common
nom geal gheal geala
gen ghil gile geala
dat gil ghil geala
Note that, like polysyllabic Group 2 nouns, polysyllabic adjectives (usually ending in ach /
mhor) tend to drop the e augment.
1.1.3 Adjectives which have a slender root vowel
These are inflected in the same way as those in 1.1.1, but, of course, cannot show slen-
derisation:
glic wise
Singular Plural
masculine feminine common
nom glic ghlic glice
gen ghlic glice glice
dat glic ghlic glice
1.1.4 Adjectives with a augment in the feminine singular
A very few adjectives which have a broad root vowel do not decline in the singular, though
they do have an a augment in the feminine singular instead of an e. They also show the a
augment in the plural.
bochd poor
Singular Plural
masculine feminine common
nom bochd bhochd bochda
gen bhochd bochda bochda
dat bochd bhochd bochda
1.1.5 No inflection in the singular
Some adjectives do not inflect in the singular or show a change in the plural, though they
do lenite where necessary.
ceàrr wrong
Singular Plural
masculine feminine common
nom ceàrr cheàrr ceàrr
gen cheàrr ceàrr ceàrr
dat ceàrr cheàrr ceàrr
2.0 Adjectives declined with an indefinite noun
2.1 Masculine
cat mòr a big cat
Singular Plural
nom cat mòr cait mhòra
gen cait mhòir fchat mòra
dat cat mòr cait mhòra
2.2 Feminine
cearc bhàn a white hen
Singular Plural
nom cearc bhàn cearcan bàna
gen circe bàine* chearcan bàna
dat circ bhàin cearcan bàna
Note:
a) *this shows the traditional agreement after a feminine noun in the gen case, both def
and indef, but nowadays the adjective usually agrees as for a masculine noun in the
gen case e.g. circe bhàin, na circe bhàin
657 Appendix 3: the Gaelic adjective
b) with the definite article, the dative masculine singular is lenited e.g. don chat mhòr
to the big cat. This is the only difference between adjectives accompanying a definite
or an indefinite noun.
c) where a noun has the last vowel slender in the plural, the adjective is lenited, but where
the plural ends in an there is no lenition e.g. na h-eich dhubha the black horses na
caileagan mòra the big girls na h-eich thinne the sick horses na caileagan tinne the
sick girls
d) It must be noted, however, that the lenition after a plural noun occurs only after a noun
ending in a slender vowel, and has nothing to do with the noun being masculine /
feminine e.g. caora fem. a sheep na caoraich mhòra the great sheep bàta masc.
a boat na bàtaichean beaga the little boats
e) polysyllabic adjectives do not increase after a plural noun e.g. balaich chrùbach lame
boys; caileagan crùbach lame girls
f) as a general
rule, nouns which have a plural ending in an, but which have the genitive
plural the same as the nominative singular, have the genitive plural the same as the
nominative plural when accompanied by an adjective e.g.
i) na cearcan bàna the white hens a’ biadhadh nan cearc feeding the hens a’
biadhadh nan cearcan bàna feeding the white hens
ii) na h-eileanan beaga the small islands; muinntir nan eilean the people of the
islands muinntir nan eileanan beaga the people of the small islands
iii) a-measg nam beann amidst the mountains; a-measg nam beanntan
binneanach amidst the pinnacled mountains
g) when an adjective forms part of the predicate it retains the simple form:
caileag mhath a good girl but tha a’ chaileag math the girl is good
h) final n in a noun traditionally prevents lenition in a following adjective beginning with
d or t:
i) Mo nighean donn bhòidheach
My pretty brown-haired maiden
ii) Tha an duthaich seo làn de bheanntan àrda is de ghlinn domhainn
This country is full of high mountains and deep valleys
iii) Anns an Eilean Dubh, buntàta an Eilean Duibh.
In the Black Isle, Black Isle potatoes.
– but this rule is often disregarded nowadays.
i) adjectives modifying more than one noun agree with the nearest noun:
Cha robh athair no màthair ghaolach aige
He had no loving father or mother
j) In some areas the dative case is being modified e.g. don chaileag bheag instead of
don chaileig bhig to the little girl
k) Though the majority of adjectives follow their nouns, some always precede their
nouns. Most notable of these are:
ath next deagh good droch bad
fìor true sàr excellent seann old
These generally lenite their nouns where possible, but see exceptions under the
appropriate entries in the dictionary:
i) Bha e a-mach ro cheann na h-ath bhliadhna.
It was out before the end of the following year.
ii) Bha deagh shlàinte aige a-riamh.
He always enjoyed good health.
iii) Is e fìor dhroch bhalach a th’ann.
He’s a very bad boy.
iv) Bha iad a’ cur a-mach an sàr dhàintean.
They were producing their excellent poems.
v) Air a’ bhalla bha dealbh seann bhoireannaich.
On the wall was the picture of an old woman.
Appendix 3: the Gaelic adjective 658
l) mòr is often used before a noun for emphasis:
Tha mòr fheum air leabhraichean.
There is a great need of books. Cf. cruaidh
3.0 Comparison of adjectives
3.1 Regular adjectives
Gaelic adjectives have only one degree of comparison, the Comparative, which is used to
express both Comparative and Superlative degrees. This takes a form which is identical to
the genitive feminine singular of the simple adjective e.g.
bàn fair bàine fairer
geal white gile whiter
glic wise glice wiser
3.2 Irregular adjectives
As in English, the most commonly used adjectives tend to be irregular. Some irregular
adjectives are shown below, though it must be pointed out that some of these merely
suffer from syncope e.g. mìlse is simply a shortened form of milise which would be the
form one would expect.
Adjective Comparative
beag small lugha* smaller
cumhang narrow cuinge narrower
duilich difficult dorra / duilghe more difficult
furasta easy fasa easier
goirid / geàrr short giorra shorter
iomhainn loved annsa more loved
làidir strong treasa* stronger
leathann broad leatha broader
math good feàrr better
milis sweet mìlse sweeter
mòr big mò / motha bigger
olc / dona bad miosa worse
reamhar fat reamhra fatter
teth hot teotha hotter
tioram dry tiorma drier
*the normal forms bige and làidire are also found.
It should also be noted that, unlike regular adjectives, where the comparative / superlative
form corresponds to the genitive feminine singular of the simple adjective, these irregular
forms are used as comparatives and superlatives only. The genitive singular of the simple
forms is quite normal. e.g. a’ chearc mhòr the big hen na circe mhòir / mòire
of the big
hen a’ chaileag mhath* the good girl na caileige mhaith / maithe* of the the good girl.
*see Sect. 2.2 Note a)
3.3 Comparison may be expressed in three ways
3.3.1 By the use of as (a ⫹ is) the relative form of the assertive verb
Is e Seumas as àirde na Somhairle.
James is taller than Sorley. (lit. It is James that is taller than Sorley)
In the past tense this would be:
B’e Seumas a b’àirde na Somhairle.
James was taller than Sorley. (lit. It was James who was taller etc.)
659 Appendix 3: the Gaelic adjective
3.3.2 More directly by placing the comparative adjective immediately after is or bu
Is treasa Somhairle na Seumas.
Sorley is stronger than James. (lit. is stronger Sorley than James).
And in the past tense:
Bu treasa Somhairle na Seumas.
Sorley was stronger than James.
3.3.3 By using the verb bi in any tense or mood, the comparative adjective being
preceded by nas (na ⫹ is ‘what is’) or by na bu ‘what was’
Tha Seònaid nas bàine na Mòrag.
Janet is fairer than Morag. (lit. Janet is what is fairer (haired) than Morag.)
Bha aodann na bu duibhe na ’n sùithe.
His face was blacker than [the] soot.
Note that both the verb bi and the assertive verb may be used in the same sentence,
the latter being used for emphasis:
Tha Màiri àrd, ach is i Mòrag as àirde.
Mary is tall, but Morag is taller. (lit. … but it is [she] Morag that is taller.)
Am bi Sìne nas àirde na (a) peathraichean?
Will Jean be taller than her sisters?
3.4 Comparative constructions may be used to make
incomplete comparisons
Chan fhaigheadh e na b’fhaide
He could not get any further (than he already had)
Bha iad na b’fheàrr dheth (na bha sinne)
They were better off (than we were)
3.5 The superlative
The comparative form is also used as the superlative. In this function it is used only with
the assertive verb.
Is e Ruaraidh as òige.
Roderick is the youngest.* (lit. it is Roderick that is youngest.)
Is i Màiri as sìne den triùir.
Mary is the oldest of the three.
* Note that, depending on context, this might mean ‘Roderick is the younger’.
4.0 Possessive adjectives
4.1 One way of showing possession is by the use of
possessive adjectives
Singular Plural
mo my ar our
do your bhur/ur your
a his; her an; am their
Appendix 3: the Gaelic adjective 660
Mo, do and a meaning his / its masc lenite the following consonant where possible, and
also elide before a vowel or fh followed by a vowel. A meaning her / its fem does not lenite
and is separated from a vowel by h-, while ar and bhur / ur are separated from a following
vowel by n.
mo mhac my son do mhac your son a mac his son a mac her son
m’each my horse d’each* your horse each** his horse a h-each her horse
m’fhalt my hair d’fhalt* your hair fhalt his hair a falt her hair
ar n-each our horse ur n-each your horse
*Sometimes written as e.g. t’each and t’fhalt, though this is not now recommended.
** In older writings the missing a is represented by an apostrophe: ’each his horse.
4.2 Emphatic possessive adjectives
These possessive adjectives are made emphatic by suffiixing the following noun by sa, san,
se or ne. It should be noted that these are identical to those used for personal pronouns (see
above) except for the 1st person sing (see Appendix 6 Section 1.0).
mo chat-sa my cat ar cat-ne our cat
do chat-sa your cat ur cat-ne your cat
a chat-san his cat an cat-san their cat
a cat-se her cat
5.0 Prepositional possessive adjectives
Simple prepositions may combine with possessive adjectives to form prepositional pos-
sessive adjectives, the most important ones being those formed from aig, ann and
gu. The prep poss adjs of gu are used only with verbal nouns, but those of the other two,
and of most other simple prepositions, may be used with any nouns, including verbal
nouns.
The forms of these prepositional possessive adjectives are given, where appropriate,
with the simple prepositions in the dictionary. See also Appendix 1 Verbs, Section 7.2
In most cases, all that happens is that a vowel is elided.
e.g. gu
: (before a verbal noun this usually has the meaning “about to”, “with the inten-
tion of ”)
gum bhreabadh, (about) to kick me gar cluinntinn, to hear us
gud bhualadh, (about) to strike you gur faicinn, to see you
ga phutadh, (about) to push him gan cuideachadh, to help them
ga putadh, (about) to push her gam briseadh, to break them
However, with aig (or ag) and ann, the changes are more marked.
Aig:
gam at my gar at our
gad at your gur at your
ga at his gan at their
ga at her gam at their
Ann:
nam in my nar in our
nad in your nur in your
na in his nan in their
na in her nam in their
661 Appendix 3: the Gaelic adjective