Gaelic in the Highlands
Gàidhlig sa Ghàidhealtachd
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The Highlands and Islands are home to Scotland’s national language – Gaelic – so it’s only fitting that you’ll see Gaelic signs and references at the World Cup and in Fort William. If you meet up with some native speakers, here are some key phrases to help break the ice.
| English | Gaelic | Phonetics |
| Welcome | Fàilte | Fal-tcha |
| A hundred thousand welcomes | Ceud Mìle Fàilte | Kee-ut Meel-uh Fal-tcha |
| Thank you | Tapadh leat | Tapa-let |
| Please | Mas e do thoil e | Mas e doh hol e |
| Excuse me | Gabh mo leisgeul | Gav mo lay-shgal |
| Where is the railway station? | Càit a bheil stèisean na trèana? | Catch a vail station na train-u? |
| Where is the Mountain Bike World Cup? | Càit a bheil Cupa na Cruinne? | Catch a vail Koo-pu na Kroon-yu? |
| Where is the nearest bar? | Càit a bheil am bàr as fhaisge? | Catch a vail am bar as ash-ku |
| Big Mac and fries please? | Big Mac is Sliseagan mas e do thoil e | Big Mac is shlees-a-gan mas e doh hol |
| Can I have this dance? | An danns thu còmhla rium? | An downs oo cowla room? |
| The mountains are beautiful | Tha na beanntan àlainn | Ha na bee-own-tan aleen |
| My bike has a puncture | Tha toll air taidhr mo bhaidhsagail | Ha towl air tyre mo vi-cycle |
| Two beers please | Dà ghloinne leanna mas e do thoil e | Da glan-ya lee-own mas e doh hol e |
| Two whiskies please | Dà ghloinne uisge-beatha mas e do thoil e | Da glan-ya oosh-ku beh-ha mas e doh hol e |
Common words for geographical features
| Gaelic | English | Phonetics | |
| Abhainn | River | A veen | Audio |
| Achadh | Field | Ach-ugh | Audio |
| Allt | Large stream | Awlt | Audio |
| Baile | Township | Balu | Audio |
| Beinn | Mountain (‘Ben’ in Scots) | Bein | Audio |
| Bràigh | Upland (‘Brae’ in Scots) | Bry | Audio |
| Caochan | Small stream | Ki-chan | Audio |
| Càrn | Cairn shaped mountain | Karn | Audio |
| Clach | Stone | Klach | Audio |
| Cnap | Lump | Knap | Audio |
| Cnoc | Low hill | Knoc | Audio |
| Coille | Forest | Kul-ya | Audio |
| Coire | Large hollow in hillside (‘Corrie’ in Scots) | Kor-u | Audio |
| Craobh | Tree | Kriv | Audio |
| Creag | Crag/mountain of medium height | Kraik | Audio |
| Dail | Riverside meadow | Dal | Audio |
| Druim | Small ridge | Drime | Audio |
| Fiacaill | Narrow ridge | Fee-uch-al | Audio |
| Gleann | Tributary river valley (‘Glen’ in Scots) | Glawn | Audio |
| Inbhir | River mouth | Invir | Audio |
| Làirig | Mountain pass | La-rik | Audio |
| Loch | Lake | Loch | Audio |
| Lochan | Little lake | Lochan | Audio |
| Meall | Conical hill/hill with conical summit | Mee-awl | Audio |
| Monadh | Mountain range, usually with passes | Mon-ugh | Audio |
| Sgòr | Peak | Sgor | Audio |
| Srath | Main river valley (‘Strath’ in Scots) | Stra | Audio |
| Sròn | Nose-shaped ridge | Sron | Audio |
| Tom | Small hillock | Towm | Audio |
