An diofar eadar na mùthaidhean a rinneadh air "Vowels"
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| (11 mhùthadh eadar-mheadhanach le 2 chleachdaiche eile nach eil 'ga shealltainn) | |||
| Loidhne 2: | Loidhne 2: | ||
==Long and short== | ==Long and short== | ||
| − | Gaelic uses the five symbols<span style="color: #008000;"> a, o, u, i, e</span> to represent a large number of Gaelic vowel sounds. This is achieved by using accents and by combining the five basic vowels in various ways. In Gaelic there are both short and long vowels. Long vowels are indicated by means of accents. There are two accents used in Scottish Gaelic: | + | Gaelic uses the five symbols<span style="color: #008000;"> a, o, u, i, e</span> to represent a large number of Gaelic vowel sounds. This is achieved by using accents and by combining the five basic vowels in various ways. In Gaelic there are both short and long vowels (and they often differentiate different words, for more on that, check out [[Why you should pay attention to long vowels|this]] page). Long vowels are indicated by means of accents. There are two accents used in Scottish Gaelic: |
*the acute ( <span style="color: #008000;">´</span> ) found only on the letters <span style="color: #008000;">e</span> and <span style="color: #008000;">o</span> (and <span style="color: #008000;">á</span> in the words <span style="color: #008000;">á</span> and <span style="color: #008000;">ás</span>) | *the acute ( <span style="color: #008000;">´</span> ) found only on the letters <span style="color: #008000;">e</span> and <span style="color: #008000;">o</span> (and <span style="color: #008000;">á</span> in the words <span style="color: #008000;">á</span> and <span style="color: #008000;">ás</span>) | ||
*the grave ( <span style="color: #008000;">`</span> ) found on a, o, u, i, e | *the grave ( <span style="color: #008000;">`</span> ) found on a, o, u, i, e | ||
| Loidhne 8: | Loidhne 8: | ||
The difference in pronunciation between <span style="color: #008000;">a, o, u, i, e</span> and <span style="color: #008000;">à, ò, ù, ì, è</span> respectively is one of pure length. The difference on the other hand between <span style="color: #008000;">è, ò</span> and <span style="color: #008000;">é, ó</span> respectively is one of quality. Listen to the difference between <span style="color: #008000;">è</span> and <span style="color: #008000;">é</span> and <span style="color: #008000;">ò</span> and <span style="color: #008000;">ó</span>: | The difference in pronunciation between <span style="color: #008000;">a, o, u, i, e</span> and <span style="color: #008000;">à, ò, ù, ì, è</span> respectively is one of pure length. The difference on the other hand between <span style="color: #008000;">è, ò</span> and <span style="color: #008000;">é, ó</span> respectively is one of quality. Listen to the difference between <span style="color: #008000;">è</span> and <span style="color: #008000;">é</span> and <span style="color: #008000;">ò</span> and <span style="color: #008000;">ó</span>: | ||
| − | [[File: | + | [[File:vowels01.mp3]]<br /> |
{| style="width: 25%;" border="0" | {| style="width: 25%;" border="0" | ||
| Loidhne 43: | Loidhne 43: | ||
==Open and rounded vowels== | ==Open and rounded vowels== | ||
| − | <p style="text-align: left;">You may have noticed that there is a slight difference between the two short <span style="color: #008000;">e</span> sounds and the two short <span style="color: #008000;">o</span> sounds. These differences can be | + | <p style="text-align: left;">You may have noticed that there is a slight difference between the two short <span style="color: #008000;">e</span> sounds and the two short <span style="color: #008000;">o</span> sounds. These differences can be deduced from the spelling but it's not obvious so we'll explain that elsewhere. Listen to them again for now:</p> |
{| style="width: 25%;" border="0" | {| style="width: 25%;" border="0" | ||
| Loidhne 58: | Loidhne 58: | ||
Here are some more words to practice your pronunciation of Scottish Gaelic vowels: | Here are some more words to practice your pronunciation of Scottish Gaelic vowels: | ||
===Short [i] and long [iː]=== | ===Short [i] and long [iː]=== | ||
| − | [[File: | + | [[File:vowels02.mp3]]<br /> |
{| style="width: 30%;" border="0" | {| style="width: 30%;" border="0" | ||
| Loidhne 96: | Loidhne 96: | ||
| − | {| style="width: | + | {| style="width: 60%;" border="0" |
!colspan="3;" align="left" | <strong>Long [iː] (from <span style="color: #008000;">i, ì</span><span style="color: #008000;">, ìo</span>)</strong> | !colspan="3;" align="left" | <strong>Long [iː] (from <span style="color: #008000;">i, ì</span><span style="color: #008000;">, ìo</span>)</strong> | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Loidhne 119: | Loidhne 119: | ||
| '''[kʲiːLʲ]''' || <span style="color: #008000;">'''cill'''</span> || churchyard | | '''[kʲiːLʲ]''' || <span style="color: #008000;">'''cill'''</span> || churchyard | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | '''[fiːr]''' || <span style="color: #008000;">'''fìor'''</span> || true | + | | '''[fiːr]''' || <span style="color: #008000;">'''fìor'''</span> || true (this speaker has the common variant [fiər]) |
|- | |- | ||
| − | | '''[ʃiːs]''' || <span style="color: #008000;">'''sìos'''</span> || down! | + | | '''[ʃiːs]''' || <span style="color: #008000;">'''sìos'''</span> || down! (this speaker has the common variant [ʃiərs]) |
|- | |- | ||
| '''[ʃiːdə]''' || <span style="color: #008000;">'''sìoda'''</span> || silk | | '''[ʃiːdə]''' || <span style="color: #008000;">'''sìoda'''</span> || silk | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | '''[krʲiːx]''' || <span style="color: #008000;">'''crìoch'''</span> || border (n.) | + | | '''[krʲiːx]''' || <span style="color: #008000;">'''crìoch'''</span> || border (n.) (this speaker has the common variant [krʲiəx]) |
|- | |- | ||
|} | |} | ||
===Short [e] and long [eː]=== | ===Short [e] and long [eː]=== | ||
| − | [[File: | + | [[File:vowels03.mp3]]<br /> |
{| style="width: 30%;" border="0" | {| style="width: 30%;" border="0" | ||
!colspan="3;" align="left" | <strong>Short [e] from <span style="color: #008000;">e(i), ea</span></strong> | !colspan="3;" align="left" | <strong>Short [e] from <span style="color: #008000;">e(i), ea</span></strong> | ||
| Loidhne 193: | Loidhne 193: | ||
===Short [ɛ] and long [ɛː]=== | ===Short [ɛ] and long [ɛː]=== | ||
| − | [[File: | + | [[File:vowels04.mp3]]<br /> |
{| style="width: 30%;" border="0" | {| style="width: 30%;" border="0" | ||
| Loidhne 222: | Loidhne 222: | ||
| '''[gɛː.əL]''' || <span style="color: #008000;">'''Gàidheal'''</span> || Gael | | '''[gɛː.əL]''' || <span style="color: #008000;">'''Gàidheal'''</span> || Gael | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | '''[pɛːhpɛr]''' || <span style="color: #008000;">'''pàipear'''</span> || paper (this speaker has the dialectal variant '''[paihbɛr]) | + | | '''[pɛːhpɛr]''' || <span style="color: #008000;">'''pàipear'''</span> || paper (this speaker has the dialectal variant '''[paihbɛr]''') |
|- | |- | ||
|} | |} | ||
===Short [a] and long [aː]=== | ===Short [a] and long [aː]=== | ||
| − | [[File: | + | [[File:vowels05.mp3]]<br /> |
| − | {| style="width: | + | {| style="width: 50%;" border="0" |
!colspan="3;" align="left" | <strong>Short [a] from <span style="color: #008000;">a(i), ea | !colspan="3;" align="left" | <strong>Short [a] from <span style="color: #008000;">a(i), ea | ||
</span></strong> | </span></strong> | ||
| Loidhne 253: | Loidhne 253: | ||
| '''[baLəx]''' || <span style="color: #008000;">'''balach'''</span> || boy | | '''[baLəx]''' || <span style="color: #008000;">'''balach'''</span> || boy | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | '''[faLəv]''' || <span style="color: #008000;">'''falamh'''</span> || empty | + | | '''[faLəv]''' || <span style="color: #008000;">'''falamh'''</span> || empty (this speaker has the common spoken variant '''[faLu]''') |
|- | |- | ||
| '''[tahbɪ]''' || <span style="color: #008000;">'''tapaidh'''</span> || quick | | '''[tahbɪ]''' || <span style="color: #008000;">'''tapaidh'''</span> || quick | ||
| Loidhne 321: | Loidhne 321: | ||
===Short [ɔ] and long [ɔː]=== | ===Short [ɔ] and long [ɔː]=== | ||
| − | [[File: | + | [[File:vowels06.mp3]]<br /> |
{| style="width: 30%;" border="0" | {| style="width: 30%;" border="0" | ||
| Loidhne 361: | Loidhne 361: | ||
|} | |} | ||
| − | [[File: | + | [[File:vowels07.mp3]]<br /> |
{| style="width: 30%;" border="0" | {| style="width: 30%;" border="0" | ||
!colspan="3;" align="left" | <strong>Long [ɔː] from <span style="color: #008000;">ò(i), eò | !colspan="3;" align="left" | <strong>Long [ɔː] from <span style="color: #008000;">ò(i), eò | ||
| Loidhne 407: | Loidhne 407: | ||
===Short [o] and long [oː]=== | ===Short [o] and long [oː]=== | ||
| − | [[File: | + | [[File:vowels08.mp3]]<br /> |
{| style="width: 30%;" border="0" | {| style="width: 30%;" border="0" | ||
| Loidhne 456: | Loidhne 456: | ||
===Short [u] and long [uː]=== | ===Short [u] and long [uː]=== | ||
| − | [[File: | + | [[File:vowels09.mp3]]<br /> |
{| style="width: 30%;" border="0" | {| style="width: 30%;" border="0" | ||
| Loidhne 534: | Loidhne 534: | ||
===Long [ɯː]=== | ===Long [ɯː]=== | ||
There are two other long vowels in Scottish Gaelic. The first is spelled <span style="color: #008000;">ao</span> and is pronounced like long <span style="color: #008000;">ù</span> but with the lips spread (i.e. not rounded). Listen to the following examples: | There are two other long vowels in Scottish Gaelic. The first is spelled <span style="color: #008000;">ao</span> and is pronounced like long <span style="color: #008000;">ù</span> but with the lips spread (i.e. not rounded). Listen to the following examples: | ||
| − | [[File: | + | [[File:vowels10.mp3]]<br /> |
{| style="width: 30%;" border="0" | {| style="width: 30%;" border="0" | ||
!colspan="3;" align="left" | <strong>Long [ɯː] from <span style="color: #008000;">ao</span></strong><strong><span style="color: #008000;"><span style="color: #000000;">like [uː] but with spread lips (grin like a maniac while saying it) </span></span></strong> | !colspan="3;" align="left" | <strong>Long [ɯː] from <span style="color: #008000;">ao</span></strong><strong><span style="color: #008000;"><span style="color: #000000;">like [uː] but with spread lips (grin like a maniac while saying it) </span></span></strong> | ||
| Loidhne 564: | Loidhne 564: | ||
===Long [ɤː]=== | ===Long [ɤː]=== | ||
The other long vowel in Gaelic occurs in words spelled <span style="color: #008000;">adh</span> + consonant | The other long vowel in Gaelic occurs in words spelled <span style="color: #008000;">adh</span> + consonant | ||
| − | [[File: | + | [[File:vowels11.mp3]]<br /> |
{| style="width: 30%;" border="0" | {| style="width: 30%;" border="0" | ||
!colspan="3;" align="left" | <strong>[ɤː] from </strong><span style="color: #008000;">adh/agh</span> + Consonant</strong><strong><span style="color: #008000;"><span style="color: #000000;">You can produce this sound by making an [oː] and spreading your lips at the same time (as if you were grinning widely).</span></span></strong> | !colspan="3;" align="left" | <strong>[ɤː] from </strong><span style="color: #008000;">adh/agh</span> + Consonant</strong><strong><span style="color: #008000;"><span style="color: #000000;">You can produce this sound by making an [oː] and spreading your lips at the same time (as if you were grinning widely).</span></span></strong> | ||
| Loidhne 579: | Loidhne 579: | ||
===Short [ɯ] and Short [ɤ]=== | ===Short [ɯ] and Short [ɤ]=== | ||
| − | Note: Both of these long vowels ([ɯː] and [ | + | Note: Both of these long vowels ([ɯː] and [ɤː]) have short variants. The short form of <span style="color: #008000;">ao</span> occurs in some words spelled <span style="color: #008000;">-ui-</span>. The short form of <span style="color: #008000;">adh</span> + consonant occurs in words spelled <span style="color: #008000;">-agh-, -adh-</span> and in some words spelled with <span style="color: #008000;">-oi-</span>. |
| − | [[File: | + | [[File:vowels12.mp3]]<br /> |
{| style="width: 30%;" border="0" | {| style="width: 30%;" border="0" | ||
!colspan="3;" align="left" | <strong>Short [ɯ] from <span style="color: #008000;">u</span><span style="color: #008000;">i</span></strong><strong><span style="color: #008000;"><span style="color: #000000;">. Like [ɯː] but short </span></span></strong> | !colspan="3;" align="left" | <strong>Short [ɯ] from <span style="color: #008000;">u</span><span style="color: #008000;">i</span></strong><strong><span style="color: #008000;"><span style="color: #000000;">. Like [ɯː] but short </span></span></strong> | ||
| Loidhne 591: | Loidhne 591: | ||
| − | [[File: | + | [[File:vowels13.mp3]]<br /> |
{| style="width: 30%;" border="0" | {| style="width: 30%;" border="0" | ||
!colspan="3;" align="left" | <strong>Short [ɤ] from <span style="color: #008000;">-(e)agh, -(e)adh, -oi-</span><span style="color: #008000;"></span></strong> | !colspan="3;" align="left" | <strong>Short [ɤ] from <span style="color: #008000;">-(e)agh, -(e)adh, -oi-</span><span style="color: #008000;"></span></strong> | ||
Am mùthadh mu dheireadh on 18:22, 14 dhen Ògmhios 2019
Because it's hard to say anything without a vowel, we'll start with the vowels!
Long and short
Gaelic uses the five symbols a, o, u, i, e to represent a large number of Gaelic vowel sounds. This is achieved by using accents and by combining the five basic vowels in various ways. In Gaelic there are both short and long vowels (and they often differentiate different words, for more on that, check out this page). Long vowels are indicated by means of accents. There are two accents used in Scottish Gaelic:
- the acute ( ´ ) found only on the letters e and o (and á in the words á and ás)
- the grave ( ` ) found on a, o, u, i, e
The difference in pronunciation between a, o, u, i, e and à, ò, ù, ì, è respectively is one of pure length. The difference on the other hand between è, ò and é, ó respectively is one of quality. Listen to the difference between è and é and ò and ó:
| [ʃɛː] | 's e | [dʲeː] | dé |
| [ɔːL] | òl | [boː] | bó |
Notice that 's e, pronounced [ʃɛː], is pronounced as if it were written *'s è.
Consider now the difference of length between a, o, u, i, e and à, ò, ó, ù, ì, è, é:
| Short | Long | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| [kas] | cas | [kaːs] | càs |
| [dɔL] | dol | [ɔːL] | òl |
| [gob] | gob | [moːr] | mór |
| [kur] | cur | [uːr] | ùr |
| [min] | min | [miːn] | mìn |
| [bɛn] | bean | [ʃɛː] | 's e |
| [tʲeh] | teth | [dʲeː] | dé |
Open and rounded vowels
You may have noticed that there is a slight difference between the two short e sounds and the two short o sounds. These differences can be deduced from the spelling but it's not obvious so we'll explain that elsewhere. Listen to them again for now:
| Open | Rounded | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| [dɔL] | dol | [gob] | gob |
| [bɛn] | bean | [dʲeː] | dé |
More examples
Here are some more words to practice your pronunciation of Scottish Gaelic vowels:
Short [i] and long [iː]
| Short [i] from i(o) | ||
|---|---|---|
| [rʲi] | ri | 1 against 2 to |
| [rʲiʃ] | ris | 1 against him 2 to him |
| [min] | min | flour |
| [ʃin] | sin | that |
| [triçgʲ] | tric | often |
| [miçgʲ] | mic | sons |
| [higʲ] | thig | come! |
| [Lʲihdʲɪrʲ] | litir | letter (n.) |
| [milɪʃ] | milis | sweet |
| [imɪç] | imich | go! |
| [sgʲiLʲɪNʲ] | sgillinn | penny |
| [fis] | fios | knowledge |
| [Lʲis] | lios | garden |
| [bir] | bior | point (n.) |
| [brʲigɪʃ] | briogais | trousers |
| Long [iː] (from i, ì, ìo) | ||
|---|---|---|
| [iːm] | ìm | butter (n.) |
| [miːn] | mìn | soft |
| [ʃiːn] | sìn | stretch! |
| [çiː] | chì | will see |
| [sgʲiː] | sgìth | tired |
| [dʲiːrʲəx] | dìreach | straight |
| [biːNʲ] | binn | sweet |
| [kʲiːNʲ] | cinn | heads |
| [tʲiːLʲ] | till | return! |
| [kʲiːLʲ] | cill | churchyard |
| [fiːr] | fìor | true (this speaker has the common variant [fiər]) |
| [ʃiːs] | sìos | down! (this speaker has the common variant [ʃiərs]) |
| [ʃiːdə] | sìoda | silk |
| [krʲiːx] | crìoch | border (n.) (this speaker has the common variant [krʲiəx]) |
Short [e] and long [eː]
| Short [e] from e(i), ea | ||
|---|---|---|
| [dʲe] | de | of |
| [le] | le | 1 with 2 by |
| [tʲeh] | teth | hot |
| [Lʲeh] | leth | half |
| [edər] | eadar | between |
| [kʲed] | cead | 1 permission 2 right |
| [fed] | fead | whistle (n.) |
| [beg] | beag | small |
| [Lʲeg] | leag | chop down! |
| [krʲeg] | creag | cliff |
| [leʃ] | leis | with him |
| [kʲeʃdʲ] | ceist | question (n.) |
| [vel] | bheil | form of the verb tha |
| Long [eː] from é(i), eu | ||
|---|---|---|
| [dʲeː] | dé | what? |
| [əNʲ'dʲeː] | an-dé | yesterday |
| [feːm] | feum | use (n.) |
| [Lʲeːm] | leum | jump (n.) |
| [kʲeːm] | ceum | step (n.) |
| [ʃeːməs] | Seumas | James |
| [feːmɪ] | feumaidh | must |
| [heːn] | fhéin | self |
| [feː] | féidh | deer (plural) |
| [Reː] | réidh | level, flat |
| [Lʲeːrʲ] | léir | visible |
| [kʲeːlə] | céile | partner (n.) |
Short [ɛ] and long [ɛː]
| Short [ɛ] from e(a) | ||
|---|---|---|
| [fɛr] | fear | man |
| [bɛn] | bean | wife |
| [Lʲɛn] | lean | follow! |
| [ʃɛn] | sean | old |
| [Lʲɛbɪ] | leabaidh | bed (n.) |
| Long [ɛː] from è(i), ài | ||
|---|---|---|
| [ʃɛːv] | sèimh | quiet, calm |
| [grɛ̃ː] | gnè | gender |
| [ʃɛː] | 's e | it is (as if it was spelled 's è) |
| [gɛː.əL] | Gàidheal | Gael |
| [pɛːhpɛr] | pàipear | paper (this speaker has the dialectal variant [paihbɛr]) |
Short [a] and long [aː]
| Short [a] from a(i), ea
| ||
|---|---|---|
| [ad] | ad | hat |
| [kas] | cas | leg |
| [kan] | can | say! |
| [maxg] | mac | a son |
| [abɪrʲ] | abair | say! |
| [aran] | aran | bread |
| [ahɪrʲ] | athair | father (n.) |
| [bahdə] | bata | bat, stick |
| [fadə] | fada | long |
| [baLəx] | balach | boy |
| [faLəv] | falamh | empty (this speaker has the common spoken variant [faLu]) |
| [tahbɪ] | tapaidh | quick |
| [mah] | math | good |
| [balə] | baile | town |
| [kalag] | caileag | girl |
| [kaLʲəx] | cailleach | old woman |
| [madʲə] | maide | stick (n.) |
| [jax] | each | horse |
| [ʃaxg] | seachd | seven |
| [sbjaL] | speal | scythe |
| [dʲaLav] | dealbh | picture |
| [ʃaLag] | sealg | hunt! |
| Long [aː] from à(i), eà
| ||
|---|---|---|
| [aːRd] | àrd | tall |
| [aLɪNʲ] | àlainn | wonderful |
| [baːRd] | bàrd | bard, poet |
| [baːʰdə] | bàta | boat |
| [Laːv] | làmh | hand (n.) |
| [Laːr] | làr | ground (n.) |
| [maːhɪrʲ] | màthair | mother |
| [aːʰdʲə] | àite | place (n.) |
| [saːl] | sàil | heel |
| [daːl] | dàil | delay (n.) |
| [kaːʃə] | càise | cheese |
| [kaːl] | càil | anything |
| [kaːNʲ] | càin | slander! |
| [taːrʲ] | tàir | base (adj.) |
| [gʲaːR] | gearr | short |
| [ʃaːR] | 's fhearr | better |
| [dʲaːRsəx] | dearrsach | shining |
Short [ɔ] and long [ɔː]
| Short [ɔ] from o(i), eo
| ||
|---|---|---|
| [Lɔx] | loch | loch |
| [ɔLə] | ola | wool |
| [ɔxg] | ochd | eight |
| [trɔd] | trod | scuffle |
| [dɔnə] | dona | bad |
| [sɔnə] | sona | happy |
| [bɔxg] | bochd | poor |
| [bɔdəx] | bodach | old man |
| [krɔ̃xk] | cnoc | hill |
| [sɔxgɪrʲ] | socair | gentle |
| [kɔLəx] | coltach | similar |
| [tɔhdʲ] | toit | smoke |
| [tɔl] | toil | desire (n.) |
| [kɔrʲə] | coire | kettle |
| [dʲɔx] | deoch | drink (n.) |
| [ʃɔ] | seo | this |
| Long [ɔː] from ò(i), eò
| ||
|---|---|---|
| [ɔːL] | òl | drink! |
| [ɔːg] | òg | young |
| [mɔːd] | mòd | Mòd |
| [pɔːg] | pòg | kiss! |
| [tɔːR] | torr | a lot |
| [kɔːR] | corr | rest (n.) |
| [brɔːn] | bròn | sorrow |
| [sdrɔːn] | sròn | nose (n.) |
| [kɔːRd] | còrd | agree! |
| [bɔːRʃd] | bòrd | table |
| [kɔːʰdə] | còta | coat |
| [dɔ̃ː.əL] | Dòmhnall | Donald |
| [kɔːʰdə] | còta | coat |
| [gLɔːrʲ] | glòir | glory |
| [bɔːdʲ] | bòid | vow (n.) |
| [kɔːrʲ] | còir | right (n.) |
| [kʲɔːL] | ceòl | music |
| [ʃɔːL] | seòl | sail (n.) |
| [bjɔː] | beò | alive |
Short [o] and long [oː]
| Short [o] from o(i)
| ||
|---|---|---|
| [bog] | bog | soft |
| [gob] | gob | mouth |
| [obɪrʲ] | obair | work (n.) |
| [tobər] | tobar | well (n.) |
| [komə] | coma | indifferent |
| [koməN] | comann | society |
| [o.ə] | ogha | nephew |
| [bo.ər] | bodhar | deaf |
| [Loʃgʲ] | loisg | burn! |
| Long [oː] from ó(i), -oghn- | ||
|---|---|---|
| [boː] | bó | cow |
| [koː] | có? | who? |
| [moːr] | mór | big |
| [moːrag] | Mórag | Morag |
| [moːran] | móran | a lot |
| [foːnɪ] | foghnaidh | will suffice |
| [koːgʲ] | cóig | five |
| [moːrʲ] | móir | big (genitive) |
Short [u] and long [uː]
| Short [u] from u(i), iu
| ||
|---|---|---|
| [u] | ugh | egg |
| [du] | dubh | black |
| [muxg] | muc | pig |
| [rug] | rug | grabbed |
| [hug] | thug | gave |
| [bun] | bun | bottom |
| [kuhbə] | cupa | cup |
| [Luxg] | luchd | people |
| [kurʲ] | cuir | put! |
| [kulan] | cuilean | puppy |
| [tuhdʲ] | tuit | fall! |
| [flux] | fliuch | wet (adj.) |
| [ʃu.əL] | siubhal | walking |
| Long [uː] from ù(i), iù(i), -ionn | ||
|---|---|---|
| [uːr] | ùr | new |
| [kuː] | cù | dog |
| [kuːL] | cùl | rear (n.) |
| [duːn] | dùn | fortress |
| [Ruːn] | rùn | secret |
| [buː] | bùth | shop |
| [kruːbag] | crùbag | crab |
| [uːRLər] | ùrlar | floor (n.) |
| [suːl] | sùil | eye |
| [duːl] | dùil | expectation |
| [kuːʃ] | cùis | matter (n.) |
| [kʲuːRəɣ] | ciùrradh | hurt (n.) |
| [kʲuːNʲ] | ciùin | quiet (adj.) |
| [kʲul] | ciùil | music (genitive) |
| [ʃdʲuːrʲ] | stiùir | steer! |
| [ə'NuːL] | a-null | over (adv.) |
| [fjuːN] | fionn | fair (adj.) |
| [LʲuːN] | lionn | beer |
Long [ɯː]
There are two other long vowels in Scottish Gaelic. The first is spelled ao and is pronounced like long ù but with the lips spread (i.e. not rounded). Listen to the following examples:
| Long [ɯː] from aolike [uː] but with spread lips (grin like a maniac while saying it) | ||
|---|---|---|
| [kɯːL] | caol | narrow (adj.) |
| [gɯːL] | gaol | love (n.) |
| [sɯːr] | saor | free (adj.) |
| [dɯːr] | daor | expensive |
| [Rɯːn] | raon | area |
| [Lɯːɣ] | laogh | calf |
| [kɯːrə] | caora | sheep |
| [sɯː.əL] | saoghal | world |
| [ɯːʃ] | aois | age (n.) |
| [fɯːNʲ] | faoin | silly |
| [fɯːlag] | faoileag | seagull |
Long [ɤː]
The other long vowel in Gaelic occurs in words spelled adh + consonant
| [ɤː] from adh/agh + ConsonantYou can produce this sound by making an [oː] and spreading your lips at the same time (as if you were grinning widely). | ||
|---|---|---|
| [Lɤːran] | ladhran | sandpiper |
| [ɤːvər] | adhbhar | reason (n.) |
| [Rɤ̃ː.əL] | Raghnall | Ronald |
| [ɤːbrəN] | adhbrann | ankle |
Short [ɯ] and Short [ɤ]
Note: Both of these long vowels ([ɯː] and [ɤː]) have short variants. The short form of ao occurs in some words spelled -ui-. The short form of adh + consonant occurs in words spelled -agh-, -adh- and in some words spelled with -oi-.
| Short [ɯ] from ui. Like [ɯː] but short | ||
|---|---|---|
| [ɯʃgʲə] | uisge | water (n.) |
| [ɯʃag] | uiseag | lark |
| Short [ɤ] from -(e)agh, -(e)adh, -oi- | ||
|---|---|---|
| [ɤɣ] | agh | heifer |
| [Lɤɣ] | lagh | law |
| [drɤɣ] | dragh | worry (n.) |
| [ɤ.ərg] | adharc | horn |
| [Lɤ.ər] | ladhar | hoof |
| [tɤ.əɣ] | taghadh | election |
| [ʃɤɣ] | seadh | yes |
| [Lʲɤɣ] | leagh | melt! |
| [Lʲɤ.əɣ] | leaghadh | melting |
| [gɤdʲ] | goid | steal! |
| [kɤLʲə] | coille | wood, forest |
| [gɤrʲɪdʲ] | goirid | short |
| [kɤləx] | coileach | cockerel |
| [dɤrʲɤv] | doirbh | difficult |
Summary
Summary Chart of Scottish Gaelic Vowels and common letter combinations used to represent these:
| [i] | i, io | [iː] | ì, ìo | |
| [e] | e, ea, ei | [eː] | é, éi, eu | |
| [ɛ] | ea | [ɛː] | è, èi | |
| [a] | a, ai, ea | [aː] | à, ài, eà | |
| [ɔ] | o, oi, eo | [ɔː] | ò, òi, eò | |
| [o] | o, oi | [oː] | ó, ói | |
| [u] | u, ui, iu | [uː] | ù, ùi, iù, iùi, (u), io | |
| [ɤ] | adh, agh, oi | [ɤː] | adhC, aghC | |
| [ɯ] | ui | [ɯː] | ao, aoi |
| Fuaimean na Gàidhlig | ||||||||||||
| ᚛ Vowels - Consonants - Fricatives - Slenderisation - Pre-aspiration - Lenition - Helping vowel - Diphthongs ᚜ ᚛ Hiatus - l n r - rt & rd - Vowels before rr ll nn - Unstressed vowels ᚜ | ||||||||||||