Consonants

Gaelic spelling only uses 13 consonant symbols (b, c, d, f, g, h, l, m, n, p, r, s, t) to represent almost 30 different Gaelic consonant sounds. In Gaelic the consonants may be divided into two groups, the 'broad' consonants and the 'narrow (slender)' consonants.

Broad and slender pairs

For every broad consonant, there is a corresponding narrow consonant; so we may speak of a broad and slender s, d and so on. Listen to the difference between:

Broad s	Slender s
[kas]	cas	leg	[kaːʃ]	càis	cheese
[suːl]	sùil	eye	[ʃuːl]	siùil	sails
Broad d	Slender d
[bad]	bad	clump (n.)	[badʲ]	baid	clump (genitive)
[duːd]	dùd	blast (n.)	[dʲuːdʲ]	diùid	shy

Note that d and t are dental sounds in Gaelic (i.e. the tongue touches the teeth).

How does the spelling show broad and slender?

A consonant is broad if it is preceded or followed by any of the broad vowel letters a o u (short or long); a consonant is slender if it is preceded or followed by any of the slender vowel letters i e (short or long). Preceding or following a o u therefore indicate that a consonant is broad. Similarly, preceding or following i e indicate that a consonant is slender. Since a consonant can not be both broad and slender, vowels on both sides of a consonant must agree according to colour (broad or slender). This is sometimes stated as a rule:

caol ri caol is leathann ri leathann
slender with slender and broad with broad

Consider the following examples:

[kalag]	[baLə]	[gʲiLʲə]	[dɯːNʲə]	[bagə]	[pɛhbɛr]	[ʃeːməs]	[maːrʲɪ]	[brɔːgən]
caileag	balla	gille	daoine	baga	pàipear	Seumas	Máiri	brògan
girl	wall	boy	people	bag	paper	James	Mary	shoes

The Pronunciation of Gaelic Consonants

The pronunciation of the broad consonants is in some cases similar to their English counterparts but there are many differences. The pronunciation of l n r is radically different in Gaelic and treated in a special section, although some of the sound files are located on this page.

The only accurate guide to the pronunciation of these sounds is the IPA representation. Ideally you should use these guides in conjunction with the help of a native speaker, but even without such help the IPA gives a very good guide to the pronunciation. Don't shun it - it is a tool especially designed for this use by professionals - accurate representation of sounds in other languages. See also our Rough Guide to the IPA.

B sounds

Broad b is like the p in spit or sport.

This is a devoiced and unaspirated bilabial stop. Devoiced means that your vocal chords are not vibrating. You can check this by putting your hand on your throat - if you feel vibration, it is voiced, if there is no vibration, it is devoiced. The hardcore IPA transcription is [b̊] or [p].

[baLə]	balla	wall (n.)
[bad]	bad	clump (n.)
[bahdə]	bata	stick (n.)
[balə]	baile	town
[basgadʲ]	basgaid	basket
[ab]	ab(a)	abbott
[kab]	cab	gap (n.)
[piːb]	pìob	pipe (n.)
[dʲiːləb]	dìleab	legacy
[abɪrʲ]	abair	say!
[kabər]	cabar	rafter

Slender b is pronounced similarly to broad b, but is accompanied by a /j/ sound like the <y> in <yes> if followed by a back vowel. The hardcore IPA symbol for this is [b̊j].

[biː]	bidh	will be
[bir]	bior	sharp
[bɛn]	bean	wife
[bjɔː]	beò	alive
[bjuːg]	biùg	faint sound
[kaibə]	caibe	spade
[Luib]	lùib	bend (n.)

D sounds

Broad d is close to <t> in <start> or <stuck>.

This is a devoiced and unaspirated dental stop. Dental means that the tip of your tongue touches your teeth. Devoiced means that your vocal chords are not vibrating. You can check this by putting your hand on your throat - if you feel vibration, it is voiced, if there is no vibration, it is devoiced. The full IPA symbol is [d̪̊] or [t̪].

[dah]	dath	colour (n.)
[darə]	dara	second (adj.)
[dãv]	damh	stag
[duːl]	dùil	hope, expectation
[bad]	bad	clump (n.)
[dad]	dad	anything
[sad]	sad	shake!
[kLɔgəd]	clogad	helmet
[kadəL]	cadal	sleep

Slender d is somewhat similar to <j> in <judge>, but devoiced.

This is both devoiced and dental. Note: use the blade of the tongue rather than the tip and with less lip rounding. In full IPA, we'd write [d̊ʲ] or [tʲ].

[dʲeː]	dé	what?
[dʲigʲ]	dig	come (future dependent)
[dʲɛrɛg]	dearg	red
[dʲɛLɛv]	dealbh	picture
[madʲə]	maide	stick (n.)
[karɪdʲ]	caraid	friend
[bɔːdʲ]	bòid	vow (n.)

G sounds

Broad g is like the <k> or <c> in <skunk> or <scorn>.

This is a devoiced and unaspirated stop. Devoiced means that your vocal chords are not vibrating. You can check this by putting your hand on your throat - if you feel vibration, it is voiced, if there is no vibration, it is devoiced, so the pure IPA symbol would be [g̊] or [k].

[gad]	gad	withe
[gax]	gach	every
[gav]	gabh	take!
[gaL]	gal	crying
[Lag]	lag	weag
[pɔːg]	pòg	kiss
[tog]	tog	lift!
[adag]	adag	haddock

Slender g is a little similar to the <g> in <argue>.

This sound is very much like [g] only much more forward in your mouth (at your palate). It is a devoiced and unaspirated, palatalised stop. In full IPA, [g̊ʲ] or [kʲ].

[gʲiLʲə]	gille	boy
[gʲaL]	geal	white
[gʲaːR]	gearr	cut!
[gʲɔːLə]	geòla	yawl
[agʲə]	aige	at him
[Lagʲə]	laige	weaker
[Rugʲ]	ruig	arrive!

P sounds

Broad p is like

in <pad> at the beginning of a word. In full IPA, we'd write [pʰ].

[puhd]	put	push!
[paːʃdʲə]	pàiste	infant
[pɔuL]	poll	mud

Like <p> in <pad> preceded by <h> otherwise. Pre-aspirated in a stressed syllable. In full IPA this would be [ʰp].

[Rahb]	rap	rope (n.)
[drahb]	drap
[kuhban]	cupan	cup (n.)

Slender p is pronounced like broad <p>, but is accompanied by a /j/ sound like the <y> in <yes> after a back vowel. [pʰj] in full IPA.

[pian]	pian	pain (n.)
[pju.ər]	piuthar	sister
[pjauN]	peann	pen (n.)

Like <p> in <pea> preceded by <h> otherwise in a stressed syllable.

[kʲihban]

cipean

stake (n.)

T sounds

Broad t is somewhat like <t> in <tap> at the beginning of a word but dental. Dental means that the tip of your tongue touches your teeth. This sound is also aspirated, so in pure IPA we'd write [t̪ʰ].

[taLə]	talla	hall
[taLəv]	talamh	ground, earth
[tog]	tog	lift!

Like <t> in <tap> preceded by <h> otherwise but dental. This sound is also pre-aspirated, [ʰt̪] in full IPA.

[kahd]	cat	cat
[bahdə]	bata	stick (n.)
[baːʰdə]	bàta	boat

Slender t is somewhat similar to <c> in <chew> at the beginning of words but unvoiced. This sound is palatalised and aspirated. Note: use the blade of the tongue rather than the tip. Pure IPA writes this as [tʲʰ].

[tʲeː]	té	(female) one
[tʲauN]	teann	tight
[tʲaLəx]	teallach	hearth

Similar to <j> in <judge> preceded by <h> otherwise but unvoiced. This sound is palatalised and pre-aspirated. Note: use the blade of the tongue rather than the tip. [ʰtʲ] in full IPA.

[aːʰdʲə]	àite	place (n.)
[içdʲag]	iteag	feather
[Lʲihdʲɪrʲ]	litir	letter (n.)

C sounds

Broad c is the same as <c> in <can> at the beginning of a word. In full IPA, [kʰ].

[kahd]	cat	cat
[kuː]	cù	dog
[kaLʲəx]	cailleach	old woman

Like <c> in <cat> preceded by [x] otherwise. [xk] in pure IPA.

[maxg]	mac	son
[saxg]	sac	sack (n.)
[bɔːʰgan]	bòcan	spectre

Slender c is similar to the <c> in <cue> at the beginning of a word.

This sound is very much like [k] only much more forward in your mouth (at your palate). It is a voiceless and aspirated, palatalised stop. In full IPA, this would be [kʲʰ].

[kʲauN]	ceann	head
[kʲiːLʲ]	cill	churchyard
[kʲed]	cead	permission

Similar to the <c> in <cue> otherwise but pre-aspirated. It is a voiceless and pre-aspirated, palatalised stop.

[miçgʲ]	mic	sons
[açgʲə]	aice	at her
[façgʲ]	faic	see!

M sounds

Broad m is exactly like <m> in <mat>.

[maxg]	mac	son
[mahb]	map	map (n.)
[maːhɪrʲ]	màthair	mother
[maːrʲɪ]	Màiri	Mary

Slender m is pronounced just like broad <m> but accompanied by a /j/ sound like the <y> in <yes> (as in English <mule>) if a back vowel follows.

[mi]	mi	I, me
[miːn]	mìn	soft
[mjauL]	meall	lump
[mjuːg]	miùg	whey

F sounds

Broad f is like <f> in <fat>.

[faːg]	fàg	leave!
[faːs]	fàs	grow!
[faLd]	falt	hair

Slender <f> is pronounced like broad <f>, but is accompanied by a /j/ sound like the <y> in <yes> (similar to English <few>) if followed by a back vowel.

[fis]	fios	knowledge
[feːLʲ]	féill	festival
[fjuː]	fiù	even
[fju.ər]	miùg	expectation

S sounds

Broad s is a bit like s in sat but dental. In pure IPA, [s̪].

[sɔhb]	sop	wisp
[sɔn]	son	sake
[kas]	cas	foot
[Lus]	lus	plant

Slender s is a bit similar to <sh> in <shoe> but without the lip rounding i.e. spread lips.

[ʃɛn]	sean	old
[ʃauL]	seall	look!
[kaːʃə]	càise	cheese