l n r
Except for a small group of exceptions, all sonorants have their strong value at the beginning of words.
L sounds
There are 3 different L sounds:
Sound | Position | Example | Gaelic | English |
---|---|---|---|---|
[L] | Initial broad l broad ll and l |
[La.ə] | latha | day |
Download gloraich01 ɫ̪ Initial broad l latha, loch, lùb, làidir, glan, blàth
Broad ll and l balach, falamh, cadal, balla, fallain, poball
ʎ Initial slender l lìon, leth, lionn, lios, litir, leac
Slender ll buille, cailleach, duilleag, caill, coill, saill
l (non-initial) slender l baile, caileag, cuileag, uile, eile, duilich
Note: the preposition le and its prepositional pronouns (leam, leat, leis, leatha, leinn, leibh, leotha etc. ) are normally pronounced as [l], not [ʎ].
Download gloraich02 n̴̪ Initial broad n nàbaidh, nathair, naomh, nasg, nochd, Nollaig
Broad nn Anna, ceannaich, beannachd, ann, teann, ceann
ɲ Initial slender n Niall, nighe, nead, nigh, neach, nighean
Slender nn fàinne, bainne, seinn, tinne, binne, cainnt
n Slender and broad n dona, sona, anam, banail, déanamh
(non initial) sin, mìn, ainm, uain, coin
Note: some dialects pronounce non-initial slender n as /ɲ/ (i.e. as slender nn) rather than n, e.g.
sin, mìn, ainm, uain, coin
Download gloraich03 r̴ Initial broad and slender r roth, ròn, Rob, Ruaraidh, rionnag, riochd
Broad (and slender) rr bàrr, còrr, corrach, carraig, curran, urra
ɾ (non-initial) broad r aran, òran, dearg, cur, marbh, car ɾʲ (non-initial) slender r aire, airidh, fuireach, cuiridh, airgead
Note: the preposition ri and its prepositional pronouns (rium, riut, ris, rithe, riutha etc.) are normally pronounced as [ɾʲ].