Cainnt nan eun

Chan eil na h-eòin ag ràdh dìreach facal no dhà sa Ghàidhlig ach rannan gu léir. Cluinnidh tu na h-eòin a' bìogail ma leughas tu iad os àird - agus cuimhnich dèanadh iad air sgàth seo oir uaireannan that feadhainn ann nach eil ro chiallach. Chan eil fhios againn-e carson a tha uimhir dhiubh ann ach tha iad ann co-dhiù. Chuala sinn gun robh caoin ris na rannan seo, ach cha bu urrainn dhuinn an lorg - ma tha thusa eòlach orra, nach innis tu dhuinn?

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Gaelic birds are talkative - they don't only say a word or two but whole rhymes. If you read them aloud, you can almost hear them chatter away - remember that that's why they were made up, since some of them don't make too much sense. Allegedly there once were melodies to go with these - if anyone knows of them, do let us know!

A' bhuidheag-bhealaidh

A ghille bhig chrìn, a ghille bhig chrìn, Till, till, till, till, Na creach mo nead, na creach mo nead, No théid thu dhi, no théid thu dhi.

Mean little boy, mean little boy, Come back, come back, come back, Don't plunder my nest, don't plunder my nest, Or you will be destroyed, or you will be destroyed.

(The Yellowhammer)

Am brù-dhearg (1)

Big, big, bigean! Có a chreach mo neadan? Mas e gille beag e, Cuiridh mi le creig e, Mas e gille mór e, Cuiridh mi le lòn e! Ach mas fear beag gun chéill e, Gun gléidheadh Dia do a mhàthair fhéin e!

Cheep cheep cheep! Who plundered my little nest? If it is a little boy, I shall throw him over a cliff, If it is a big boy, I shall throw him in a marsh! But if it is a little man without sense, God protect his mother!

(The Robin)

Am brù-dhearg (2)

Doire an t-sìthe, Doire an t-sìthe, Doire mo nid, Doire mo nid.

The oak of the hill, The oak of the hill, The oak of my nest, The oak of my nest.

(The Robin)

An calman

Tha mo chùl riut, tha mo chùl riut, Chan ann de mo chuideachd thu, Chan ann de mo chuideachd thu, Chan itheadh tu siud gun mo chuid a thoirt dhomhsa, Gun mo chuid a thoirt dhomhsa.

I have turned my back on you, etc. You are not of my company, You are not of my company, You won't eat that without giving me my share, Without giving me my share.

(The Pigeon)

An t-adharcan-luachrach

Till, till, till, till, Na creach mo nead, na creach mo nead, Imeachd gun teachd dhut, Imeachd gun teachd dhut, A bhraidein, a bhraidein!

Come back, come back, come back, Don't plunder my nest, don't plunder my nest, Go and never return, go and never return, Go and never return, go and never return, Thief, thief!

(The Lapwing)