Colin Mark. The Gaelic-English Dictionary/Гэльско-английский словарь
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Appendix 10: Time
1.0 Words for ‘time’
There are five main words to express the idea of ‘time’ and, though they all have some
similarities, there are subtle differences between them. These are given below, with
examples of usage.
There is also a number of other words which may be used to express the idea of ‘time /
times’ in one sense or another, and these follow on at the end of the section.
‘Time’ in the sense of telling the time is dealt with in Section ii) Time of the Clock.
1.1 Àm
The word àm denotes a period of time which is never defined in terms of length, but which
is otherwise very specific. It may be made specific:
1) by the use of aig ‘at’ followed by:
a) the definite article or a demonstrative adjective.
Bha mi ’nam mhaighstir-sgoile aig an àm.
I was a schoolmaster at the time.
Aig an àm ud bha e a’ fuireach ann am baile beag bòidheach.
At that time he was living in a pretty little town.
b) an indefinite noun accompanied by an indefinite pronoun.
Chan fhuirichinn an sin aig àm sam bith den latha.
I wouldn’t stay there at any time of the day.
2) by the use of àm followed by a noun in the genitive case (with or without aig):
Aig àm ar sgeòil bha Calum na sheòladair.
At the time of our story Calum was a sailor.
Tha mòran uan ri am faicinn (ann) an àm an earraich.
There are many lambs to be seen in [the] springtime.
B’ e àm an neadachaidh a bha ann nuair a bha sinn ann.
It was nesting time when we were there.
Fhritheil mi seirbhisean an sin aig àm na Caisge / Càsga agus aig àm na Nollaige.
I attended services there at Eastertime and at Christmastime.
3) by the use of àm followed by de ‘of’ and a noun, when the time is considered as part
of a larger unit of time:
Dè tha a dhìth ort mun àm seo a dh’ oidhche? / de’n oidhche
What do you want at (lit. about) this time of night?
Mun àm ud den bhliadhna tha an dùthaich glè bhrèagha.
At that time of the year the country(side) is very pretty.
4) by the use of a limiting or specifying adjective such as sònraichte, àraidh both
meaning ‘certain’ (i.e. special), specific, and freagarrach, iomchaidh, both meaning
‘suitable’, ‘meet’, ‘fitting’, ‘decent’ etc.:
Aig amannan sònraichte den bhliadhna bithidh eòin a’ tighinn an seo bho
dhùthchannan cèine.
At certain times of the year birds come here from foreign countries.
Dè an t-àm as freagarraiche airson na coinneimh?
What is the most suitable time for the meeting?
Feumaidh tu bhith dhachaigh aig àm iomchuidh.
You must be home at a decent time.
5) by the use of the definite article followed by a construction involving a verbal noun
phrase, aig or ann with the underlying meaning ‘fit, proper, fit etc. time’, but without
adjectives:
Seo an t-àm gu Oidhche Challainn a chumail.
This is the time to keep (i.e. celebrate) Hogmanay.
Nuair a thig an t-àm bithidh sinn deiseil.
When the time comes we shall be ready.
Nach eil an t-àm aig Barabal a bhith a-staigh?
Isn’t it time for Barbara to be in?
Tha an t-àm air tighinn airson an t-airgead a roinn.
The time has come to share (out) the money.
Note also:
Tha e na làn àm agad an tuasaid seo a thoirt gu crìch.
It’s high time you brought this quarrel to an end. (lit. it’s in its full time at you etc.)
6) by the use of descriptive adjectives (but not those specifying length / duration):
‘Se àm trang a tha ann don sgoil.
It’s a busy time for the school.
Ràinig iad Dùn Eideann (ann) an deagh àm.
They reached Edinburgh in good time.
‘Se droch àm den bhliadhna a tha ann gu dearbh.
It’s a bad time of the year indeed.
Bhuail e air inntinn gum bu mhath an t-àm dha faotainn a-mach dè bha air tachairt.
It struck him that it would be a good time for him to find out what had happened.
7) by the use of phrases meaning ‘such a time’ or ‘a time like this’:
Chan eil mi ag iarraidh dragh a chur ort aig a leithid seo de àm.
I don’t want to bother you at such a time.
Chan eil fhiosam dè a’ bhuaidh a bhitheas orra aig àm den t-seòrsa seo.
I don’t know what the effect will be on them at a time like this. (lit. a time of this sort)
8) by the use of adjectives meaning ‘the same’ or ‘the very same’:
Bithidh iad a’ tighinn an seo aig na h-aon àmannan a h-uile seachdain.
They come here at the same times every week. (Note the fut. tense indicating
‘habitual’ action)
Aig an aon àm agus a bha na h-atharrachaidhean seo a’ gabhail àite …
At the same time as these changes were taking place …
Note: aon meaning ‘one’ is the only numerical adjective used with àm and is always
accompanied by aig:
Aig aon àm bha mi a’ smaoineachadh gur e duine math a bh’ ann.
At one time I thought he was a good man.
9) by describing the time period with a relative clause, àm being definite or indefinite as
required:
Bha e ag innse sgeulachdan mu àm nach till ruinn.
He was telling stories about a time which will not return to us.
Tha ùidh aige anns an àm a dh’fhalbh agus anns an àm (a) tha làthair.
He is interested in the past and in the present.(lit. the time that has gone and the time
that is present -see Note iii following).
Bha àm ann nuair a bha a’ Chruithnis ’ga labhairt an seo.
There was a time when Pictish was (being) spoken here.
693 Appendix 10: time
Note:
i) anns / ann an are frequently used with the type of construction shown above, with
the meaning ‘during the period that / while’. Anns and the definite article may be
shortened to san:
San àm a bha e beò agus tacan math às a dhèidh …
During the time he was alive and for a good time after it … (for tacan see ‘Other
Words for Time Section 7).
ii) (ann) an àm means ‘in time’ (to do something)
Ràinig iad an t-àite (ann) an àm (an duine a shàbhaladh).
They reached the spot in time (to save the man).
iii) ‘the future’ is an t-àm ri teachd
Tha mi an dòchas gum bi nithean fada nas fheàrr ’san àm ri teachd.
I hope things will be much better in the future.
iv) o àm gu àm meaning ‘from time to time’
Bithidh mi a’ tadhal orra o àm gu àm.
I visit them from time to time.
v) ri àm meaning ‘during’
Ri àm na gaillinn as seirbhe
During the bitterest gale.
1.2 Uair
The word uair means both ‘hour’ and ‘time’. In the former meaning it is used to ask and
tell the time. In this section we shall not be dealing with this aspect of the word, but only
with its usage as a word denoting ‘time(s)’.
uair is used when the time mentioned is considered as part of a series or of a repetition.
This may be shown in a number of ways:
1) by the use of ordinal adjectives such as first, second, hundredth, last etc.
Bha Calum anns a’ bhaile-mhòr an-dè airson na ciad uair(e) an còrr is fichead
bliadhna. (note that many people would say / write airson a’ chiad uair – see ciad )
Calum was in the city yesterday for the first time in more than twenty years.
Cha b’ e seo a’ chiad uair no an uair mu dheireadh a thachair e rium. (see ciad
and tachair )
This wasn’t the first time or the last time that I had met him.
2) by the use of numerical adjectives such as one, two, three etc.
Ma chuala mi an sgeul seo aon uair chuala mi ceud uair e.
If I heard this story once I heard it a hundred times. (See ceud)
Bha na binichean air an lìonadh dà uair ’san latha.
The bins were filled twice a day.
3) by any other means which express or imply a series, repetition or contrast.
Bha na spreaghaidhean na b’ fhaide air falbh an uair ud.
The explosions were further away that time.
Chuala mi e a’ bruidhinn air an rèidio grunn uairean.
I have heard him speaking on the radio a number of times.
Gach uair a chithinn e bhitheadh e air fàs na bu mhotha.
Each time I saw him, he had grown bigger.
Theirte gum bitheadh an t-each-uisge ra fhaicinn air uair na dhuine agus air uair
na each.
It was said that the water horse was to be seen at times as a man and at times as
a horse. (also ‘at one time … at another / sometimes … sometimes’).
‘Sometimes’ appears in a variety of forms:
Bha e doirbh a thuigsinn uaireannan.
It was difficult to understand him sometimes.
Appendix 10: time 694
Cha robh i ’gam thuigsinn air uairean.
She did not understand me sometimes / at times
Bhitheadh iad a’ tadhal oirnn air uairibh.
They used to visit us sometimes.
Some other usages of uair are:
Agus, gu dearbh, b’ ann an uair a dh’eubh e.
And. indeed, it was [ just] in time that he shouted.
Seallaidh mi e dhut uaireigin.
I’ll show it to you sometime.
Feumaidh sinn dol suas an sin uair air choreigin.
We must go up there sometime or other.
1.3 Ùine
The word ùine is used for a space of time, or for time as a usable commodity. It is defined
only in terms of duration, and never of quality.
1) as a space of time:
Ann an ùine gu math goirid cha robh duine ra fhaicinn.
In quite a short time there wasn’t a person to be seen.
Bha e air falbh ùine mhòr.
He was gone a long time. (lit. a great time)
Anns an ùine o dh’fhàg e tha an eaglais air a bhith bàn.
In the time since he left the church has been without a minister. (see bàn)
Ùine an dèidh seo dh’fhàg e a’ choimhearsnachd.
Some time after this he left the district. (Note that Gaelic does not always use a word
for ‘some’)
Fad na h-ùine seo bha e fon choill.
All this time he was / had been an outlaw. (see fo)
2) as a commodity which one may have, give, take, need, spend, waste, etc. (or where
such usefulness is implied):
Cha robh ùine aige airson na pàipearan sin a sgrùdadh.
He had no time to examine those papers.
Tha ùine gu leòr ann.
There is plenty of time.
Thug e do na h-oileanaich aige a’ chuid a b’ fheàrr de a ùine is de a thalannan.
He gave [to] his students the best part of his time and [his] talents.
Chaith e an ùine sin ’ga dheasachadh fhèin airson nan deuchainnean.
He spent that time preparing himself for the examinations.
Cha do chaill mi mòran ùine a’ lìonadh mo cheasaichean.
I didn’t lose much time packing my cases.
Tha iad a’ ruith a-null ‘s a-nall gun ùine airson bruidhinn ri càch.
They are running hither and thither with no time for talking to others.
3) as something which passes:
Mar a chaidh an ùine seachad dh’fhàs e na bu mhì-fhoighidniche (is na bu
mhì-fhoighidniche).
As the time passed, he grew more (and more) impatient.
Ruith an ùine seachad gus an robh an t-àm ann a dhol dhachaigh.
The time ran past until it was time to go home. (see àm Sect. 5)
Bha an ùine air ruith.
The time had run out / passed.
4) ‘in time’ with the meaning ‘in course of time’:
Bha dòchas aige gum bitheadh e ri ùine na mhaighstir-luinge.
He hoped that in (course of) time he would be a ship’s master.
695 Appendix 10: time
1.4 Tìde
The word tìde is used, for the most part, in the same circumstances as the word ùine.
1) as a space of time:
Aig ceann na tìde sin bha iad deiseil.
At the end of that time they were ready.
Chaochail Seumas beagan tìde air ais.
James died a short time ago. (lit. a little time back)
Bha e a’ bruidhinn fad na tìde.
He was talking all [of] the time.
2) as a commodity to be spent, wasted, passed etc.:
Chuir e seachad a’ chuid a b’ fheàrr den tìde a’ leughadh a leabhraichean.
He spent most of the time (lit. the best part of the time) reading his books.
B’ urrainn dhut sin a dhèanamh gun mòran tìde a chall.
You could do that without losing much time.
Ciamar a bha e a’ caitheamh a thìde?
How was he spending his time?
Nì sinn sin ma bhitheas de thìde againn.
We shall do that if we have enough time. (see de)
Gabhaibh ur tìde.
Take your time.
Cha do chosg e mòran tìde a’ dèanamh air a’ bhàta.
He didn’t waste much time making for the boat.
Thuirt mi rithe gum feumainn tìde airson smaoineachadh mun cheist.
I said to her that I would need time to think about the problem.
Cha robh an còrr aige ri dhèanamh le a thìde.
He had nothing else to do with his time.
3) as something which passes:
Cha do dh’fhairich iad an tìde a’ dol seachad idir.
They were not (at all) aware of the time passing.
Bha an tìde air ruith a-mach.
(The) time had run out.
4) like àm, tìde may be used to imply ‘high’ time:
Tha a thìde aig Raibeart a bhith pòsta.
It’s (high) time Robert was married. (lit. it’s its time at Robert to be married)
Ach bha a thìde aice sgioblachadh beag a dhèanamh.
But it was time she did a little tidying up.
Sometimes làn is used:
Tha mi a’ smaoineachadh gu bheil làn thìde ann dòighean ùra a lorg air
cumhachd fhaighinn.
I think it’s high time to find new ways of obtaining power.
5) some other usages:
Tha (a) dhìol tìde aige a-nise gu bhith a’ gabhail aithreachais airson a dhò-
bheartan.
He has all the time he needs now to repent his misdeeds. (see ‘Other Words for Time’
Section 14 – dìol)
Tha dòchas againn gun cluinn sinn mun deidhinn ann an tìde.
We hope we shall hear about them in time (i.e. in sufficient time.)
Sheas e air a’ chnoc far an togtadh ri tìde taigh mòr brèagha.
He stood on the hill where there would be built, in (course of) time, a big fine house.
Tre / tro thìde bhiodh seòmar-ionnlaid anns gach taigh.
In time (lit. through time) there would be a bathroom in every house.
Bithidh mi a’ sgrìobhadh thugad ma cheadaicheas an tìde dhomh.
I shall be writing [to] you if time allows [to me] / if time permits.
Appendix 10: time 696
Tha sinn an dòchas gum mair an gnàths seo beò ged is e tìde a dh’innseas.
We hope that this custom will survive though [it is] time [that] will tell.
Thàinig e on chlò mu bhliadhna na tìde seo.
It it was printed / published about a year ago (lit. it came from the press about a year
of this time).
Rugadh e dà cheud bliadhna na tìde seo.
He was born two hundred years ago.
6) a usage that is unique to tìde is to stipulate the meaning ‘hours’ or ‘o’clock’ when
using uair:
Chuir e seachad trì uairean a thìde anns an taigh-tasgaidh.
He spent three hours [of time] in the museum.
Bithidh mi air ais ann an leth uair a thìde.
I will be back in half an hour’s time.
1.5 Tìm
This word is less frequently used than the previous four and, though it has some usages in
common with ùine and tìde, its main use nowadays is as a word meaning time at its most
abstract i.e. as a dimension, or as a personification of time.
1) as usable time or a period of time:
Nach taitneach an obair sin airson cur seachad tìm?
Is that not a pleasant task for passing time? (lit. is it not pleasant that task etc.)
Chleachd e a thìm ann a bhith a’ glanadh a’ ghàrraidh.
He employed his time in weeding (lit. cleaning) the garden.
Bha fhios aige nach robh tìm ann airson leum bhàrr a’ bhàta mun do bhuail i.
He knew that there was no time to jump from the boat before she struck.
Bha ceann a thìmse air tighinn.
The end of his time (of imprisonment, service etc.) had come. (see the suffix -se)
2) as abstract or personified time:
Ma ghabhas sinn ceum air ais ann an tìm ….
If we (will) take a step back in time ….
Tha an camara, mar gum bitheadh, air tìm a stad.
The camera has, as it were, stopped time.
Bha tìm air iomadh atharrachadh a dhèanamh.
Time had wrought many changes.
Tha iad a’ feuchainn ris an droch là a chur cho fada bhuapa ann an tìm ’s a
ghabhas.
They are trying to put the evil day as far from them in time as possible. (see gabh)
3) it is occasionally used in a historical sense:
B’ iad seo fasain nan tìmeannan anns an robh e beò.
Those were the fashions of the times in which he lived.
2.0 Other words for ‘time’
In addition to the five words already given for ‘time’ there is a number of words which are
less commonly used or are mainly used in rather special circumstances.
In some situations, Gaelic may not use a word for ‘time’ at all, though it is used in the
English version, or may use a word which has nothing to do with time.
1) aimsir
This word may mean ‘time’, ‘weather’ or ‘season’ (especially in the sense ‘appropri-
ate / fit season’). In usage it has similarities to all the words studied except uair,
though in most instances it has an underlying meaning of ‘historical time’.
Bha an sluagh borb aineolach anns an aimsir a chaidh seachad.
The people were barbaric and ignorant in the past.
697 Appendix 10: time
Bha an caisteal mar theachdaire bhon t-seann aimsir.
The castle was like a messenger from the old time(s).
Cha robh iad mar thogalaichean mòra na h-aimsire seo.
They were not like the great buildings of these times. (i.e. of today)
2) linn
Linn may mean a space of time, times, age, era or century. It is frequently used in the
form ri linn followed by a noun in the gen case with the meaning ‘during the time of’.
Rachamaid air ais gu linn nan Ròmanach.
Let us go back to the time of the Romans / to Roman times.
Bha daoine a’ fuireach an seo ri linn an t-Seann Tiomnaidh.
People were living here in Old Testament times.
Bithidh sinn a’ gabhail ceum air ais gu linn nuair a bha na Cruithnich a’ tàmh
ann an Albainn.
We shall be stepping back to a time / age when the Picts inhabited Scotland.
3) turas
This word really means ‘a turn’. In usage it is very similar to uair in that it stands for
‘time in a series’.
Tha còig àil aca sa bhliadhna agus deichnear air a h-uile turas.
They have five broods per year and ten (offspring) every time.
Mar a thuirt mi an turas mu dheireadh chan esan as coireach ri seo.
As I said last time, he is not to blame for this.
B’ e sin a’ chiad turas a chunnaic mi e.
That was the first time I saw him / it. (see ciad)
Note also:
Bha e turas a’ searmonachadh anns an eaglais ainmeil sin.
He was once preaching in that famous church.
4) tràth is not now commonly used on its own, but is occasionally encountered in asso-
ciation with other nouns to indicate ‘ -time’.
Cuin a tha an tràth-dinneireach?
When is dinner-time?
Thachair e rium anns an tràth-nòin.
I met him in the afternoon. (see tachair)
Choisich sinn anns an tràth-feasgair chiùin.
We walked in the calm eventide.
Chan eil tràth-bidhe sàmhach a-riamh anns an taigh seo.
There’s never a quiet meal-time in this house.
Note also:
Cha d’fhuair iad air ais ann an tràth.
They didn’t get back in time.
It is perhaps worth noting here that the phrase an tràth seo (not now used) has been
transmuted into an-dràsta, just now, at present.
5) greise and greiseag both mean ‘a short time / while’.
Sheall e sìos air a’ bhaile greiseag.
He looked down upon the town for a while / short time.
An ceann greise dh’èirich e agus chaidh e a-mach.
After a while he rose and went out.
6) tac is very limited in usage.
Dè tha thu ag iarraidh mun tac seo den mhadainn?
What do you want at (lit. about ) this time of [the] morning?
Tha iad daonnan glè thrang mun tac seo den bhliadhna.
They are always very busy at / around this time of the year.
Note: tac seo is frequently represented as tac-sa e.g. mun tac-sa (a) dh’ oidhche at /
about this time of night, and the svarabhakti vowel is sometimes written e.g. mun taca
ud den mhadainn at / about that time of the morning.
Appendix 10: time 698
7) tacan is a diminutive form of the above, and is used with the meaning ‘while / short
time’. One example has already been given under àm (Sect. 9 Note (1)).
Fanamaid tacan anns an Òban.
Let us stay a while in Oban.
8) tamall is now uncommon, but is used in the same way as tacan.
an ceann tamaill after a while
rè tamaill for a while
car tamaill bhig for a short while
9) seal is likewise rarely seen.
mun t-seal seo de a bheatha about this time of his life
10) siubhal, basically meaning ‘travelling / a journey’ may also mean ‘time’ in the fol-
lowing situation:
Is fheudar don a h-uile duine a bhith fad an t-siubhail ri leasachadh a thàlan-
nan.
Every man ought to be improving his talents all the time. (lit. it is behoving to every
man to be all the time at improving his talents)
11) mithich means ‘fit time’, ‘high time’, and is usually now met only in such con-
structions as:
Is mithich dhomh bhith (a’) falbh.
It’s high time I was going / leaving.
Is mithich dhut a bhith (a’) dol dhachaigh.
It’s high time you were going home.
12) ‘times’ in a multiplicative sense may be expressed in a number of ways:
Tha cudthrom na talmhainn a cheithir fichead uiread ri truimead na gealaich.
The weight of the earth is eighty times the weight of the moon.
Tha am màl a thrì uibhir ’s a bha e.
The rent is three times as much as it was.
Tha prisean còig tursan / turais nas àirde a-nise.
Prices are five times higher now.
13) o chionn is derived from a word meaning ‘time’ (cian) and can be said, loosely, to
mean ‘ago’:
o chionn fhada long ago / a long time ago
o chionn ghoirid a short time ago / recently
o chionn nan cian a long, long time ago
Connected with this, but not so common, is a chianamh meaning ‘a little time ago /
recently’:
Chunnaic mi e a chianamh.
I saw him recently. (just a little while ago)
14) dìol is rather more difficult to explain. Basically it means ‘satiety / satisfaction /
abundance’ and can be seen clearly enough with this meaning in:
Tha a dhìol ùine aige. He has plenty of time. (see also tìde – section 5)
The same basic meaning can be seen in:
Ghabh e a dhìol ùine ag èirigh which literally means ‘He took his satisfaction of
time rising’ i.e. ‘He took his time getting up’ with an underlying meaning of ‘delib-
erately and defiantly’.
15) sometimes, in the phrase ‘a long time’, the word for time is omitted:
Ach is dòcha gur fada gus an tachair sin.
But perhaps it will be a long time before that happens.
’S fhada o bha mi a’ feitheamh ri cothrom den t-seòrsa seo.
I have been waiting a long time for an opportunity like this. (lit. it is long since I
have been waiting …)
Ach is fhada bhon uair sin.
But it’s a long time since then.
699 Appendix 10: time
Intensive variations of the preceding are: is fhada ’s is cian bhon uair sin and ’s fhada
bhon dà latha sin
O chionn fhada an t-saoghail …
Long, long ago (a common beginning to folk tales etc.)
16) occasionally, in the Gaelic idiom, the main word has little or nothing to do with time:
Tha iad uile air chùl an t-seanchais.
They are all behind the times.
Chan eil (gnothach) agam air daoine dha leithid.
I have no time for people like him. (or Tha mi coma de dhaoine dha leithid)
3.0 Time of the clock
Dè an uair a tha e? What time is it?
3.1 How to use the tables
Table 1. shows the simplest form of time by the clock. For example to say, “It is five
o’clock.” one simply says “Tha e còig uairean.”
In Table 2. the second column is entirely interchangeable. For example, the table shows
“Tha e còig mionaidean gu uair.” “It is five minutes to one.”, but one could also say, “Tha
e còig mionaidean gu seachd, gu naoi.” etc. “It is five minutes to seven, to nine.” etc.
Table 3. shows the minutes after the hour and, again, the second column is completely
interchangeable. For example, the table shows “Tha e còig mionaidean an dèidh seachd.”
“It is five past seven.”, but one could also say, “Tha e còig mionaidean an dèidh aon uair
deug.” “It is five past eleven.”
3.2 Table 1. Hours of the clock
Tha e … It is …
uair one o’clock
dà uair two o’clock
trì uairean three o’clock
ceithir uairean four o’clock
còig uairean five o’clock
sia uairean six o’clock
seachd uairean seven o’clock
ochd uairean eight o’clock
naoi uairean nine o’clock
deich uairean ten o’clock
aon uair deug eleven o’clock
dà uair dheug twelve o’clock
3.3 Table 2. Minutes to the hour
Tha e … It is …
còig mionaidean gu uair 5 to 1
deich mionaidean gu (a) dhà 10 to 2
cairteal gu trì 1/4 to 3
fichead mionaid gu ceithir 20 to 4
còig mionaidean fichead gu * còig 25 to 5
sia – to 6
seachd – to 7
ochd – to 8
naoi – to 9
deich – to 10
aon uair deug – to 11
dà uair dheug – to 12
* see the note following Table 3
Appendix 10: time 700
3.4 Table 3. Minutes after the hour
Tha e … It is …
còig mionaidean an dèidh seachd 5 past 7
deich mionaidean an dèidh ochd 10 past 8
cairteal an dèidh naoi 1/4 past 9
fichead mionaid an dèidh deich 20 past 10
còig mionaidean fichead an dèidh * aon uair deug 25 past 11
leth uair an dèidh dà uair dheug 1/2 past 12
” uair – past 1
” (a) dhà – past 2
” trì – past 3
” ceithir – past 4
” còig – past 5
” sia – past 6
*Note that the new system of counting being currently used in schools would also
apply here. Hence fichead is còig mionaidean gu…and fichead is còig mionaidean
an dèidh …
3.5 Some further examples
Bha e ochd uairean a dh’oidhche.
It was eight o’clock at night.
Thàinig e air ais aig trì uairean sa mhadainn.
He returned at three o’clock in the morning.
The word uairean may be omitted just as ‘o’clock’ may be in English.
Dh’fhalbh e mu chòìg.
He left about five.
Sheòl am bàta aig meadhon oidhche / meadhon latha.
The boat sailed at midnight / midday.
4.0 The calendar
4.1 Làithean na seachdain(e) The days of the week
Diluain nm Monday Dihaoine nm Friday
Dimàirt nm Tuesday Disathairne nm Saturday
Diciadain nm Wednesday Didòmhnaich nm Sunday
Diardaoin nm Thursday Là na Sàbaid nm The Sabbath Day*
*also An t-Sàbaid nf The Sabbath
Some examples
Is e Disathairne a bha ann.
It was [a] Saturday
O Dhiardaoin gu Diluain.
From Thursday to Monday
Note that days of the week do not normally need a preposition for ‘on’.
Thàinig e dhachaigh Dimàirt. He came home onTuesday
Chan fhaca mi e Disathairne. I didn’t see him on Saturday.
– but air is used when indicating an ‘indefinite’ day e.g. air Diluain on a Monday.
4.2 Mìosan na bliadhna The months of the year
It should be noted that the following calendar is a comparatively modern introduction.
The old calendar consisted of periods based upon the weather and the agricultural year.
701 Appendix 10: time