Materials for Gaelic Conversation

Frequent Phrases

When addressing more than one person or one person who is your superior in rank or age, use the word bracketed (thus) instead of the word immediately preceding.

There is or areTha
I amTha mi
You areTha thu (sibh)
We, they areTha thu (iad)
He, she isTha e (i)
Is it I?Am mi-se?
It is youIs tu (sibh)
Is it? Is he?An e?
Is this?N e so?
This is’Se so
Was there? were there?An robh?
There was or wereBha
Is there? are there?Am bheil?
Will there be?Am bi?
There will beBithidh
Who is there?Co tha ’n sin?
I amTha mi-se
Who are these?Co iad sin?
Where is or are?C’ aite ’m bheil?
It is hereTha e’n so
To whom do you speak?Co ris a tha thu (sibh) ’bruidhinn?
To youTha riut-sa (ribh-se)
When will there be?C’uin a bhitheas?
When is there?C’uin a tha?
A little while agoO chionn ghoirid
In a little whileAnn an tiota
What is that?Ciod e sin?
What more?Ciod tuille?
What harm?De ’n dolaidh?
What’s this?Ciod so?
Take careThoir (thoiribh) toigh
Do you hear?An cluinn thu (sibh)
Tell meInnis (innsibh) domh
Do not tellNa innis (innsibh)
Do you know?An aithne duit (duibh)?
Are you aware?Am bheil fios agad (agaibh)?
I do not knowCha’n’eil fhios a’am
I am not awareCha’n aithne domh
I knowIs aithne domh
Do you not know?Nach aithne duit (duibh)?
Are you serious?Bheil thu (sibh) rireadh?
Do you say so?Bheil thu (sibh) ’radh sin?
Yes, indeedTha gu dearbh
I will take you at your wordGabhaidh mi air t’ fhocail (bhur focail) thu (sibh)
Will you believe me?An creid thu (sibh) mi?
I willCreididh
I won’t believe it at allCha chreid mi idir e
Really and trulyGu dearbh ’s gu deimhinn
Upon my wordAir m’ fhocail
Upon my honourAir m’ onoir
As sure as it can beCho cinnteach ’s is urrainn da bhi
There is no doubt of itCha’n’eil teagamh ann
I am not sureCha’n’eil mi cinnteach
You are rightTha thu (sibh) ceart
I am in the beliefTha mi’n duil
In my opinionA reir mo bharail-sa
I am sorryTha mi duilich
We are very gladTha sinn gle thoilichte
I cannot help itCha’n urrainn mi leasachadh
Never mindComa leat (leibh)
I don’t mindIs coma leam
I don’t careTha mi coma
I do mindCha choma leam
Will you speak?Am bruidhinn thu (sibh)?
I willBruidhinnidh
I’ll say nothingCha’n abair mi dad
Let me aloneLeig (leigibh) leam
I will notCha leig mi
I willLeigidh
Do not trouble meNa cuir (cuiribh) dragh orm
Go awayBi (bithibh) falbh
Leave meFag (fagaibh) mi
Will you take?An gabh thu (sibh)?
I will, will notGabhaidh, cha ghabh
Give meThoir (thoiribh) domh
Come hereTrothad (trothaibh) an so
Come awayTiucainn (tiucainnibh)
I will goTheid mi
Show meFeuch domh
Look at thisSeall ri so