FaclairDictionary EnglishGàidhlig

Beginners' course

Welcome to our free online course for absolute beginners! Get started by selecting a lesson, or use the question mark to go directly to a quiz on what you've learnt. It may be easier to begin with Lesson 1 and work through to Lesson 60, as there is some progression in the level of language difficulty.

Talking about the weather

The weather is often a topic of conversation in Scotland. Probably because we usually have five different types of weather before breakfast!

In this lesson, you’ll learn how to use basic adjectives like hot and cold along with the phrase it is to comment on the weather.

A1 - Beginners
More about the weather

We really can’t say enough about an t-sìde - the weather! This lesson builds on the vocabulary you learnt in Lesson 1.

You’ll learn how to describe different times of the day. And you’ll learn more basic adjectives like good and bad and the phrase it is not.

A1 - Beginners
Describing physical characteristics

In this lesson you’ll learn adjectives that describe the physical characteristics of people, like tall or small, young or old, well or sick.

You’ll also learn the phrases he is and he is not so that you can put sentences together and join in the chat when it starts!

A1 - Beginners
More physical characteristics

In this lesson you’ll learn more adjectives that describe people, whether they are strong or weak, fat or thin.

You’ll learn the phrases I am and I am not so you can describe yourself.

You’ll also learn how to say you are and you are not, so you can describe others.

A1 - Beginners
Where is she?

Now you'll learn location words such as here, there, inside, outside, above and below.

Then you'll meet a nice young man who's looking for love!

You’ll learn how to say she is and she is not, as well as how to ask a question using is she.

A1 - Beginners
Where are they?

In this lesson you'll search for more people.

You’ll learn words to describe different kinds of people like man, woman, boy, girl, mummy and daddy.

Then you'll learn how to ask where are they?

A1 - Beginners
Describing locations

In this lesson you'll learn how to talk about different types of transport like bus, boat, car or train. You'll also learn how to say anyone and anything.

A1 - Beginners
Forms of transport

In this lesson you'll learn how to describe locations.

Then you'll be able to say where someone is, whether they're at home, in the kitchen, in the bed or in the school.

But first, you'll take a look at some of the ways in which in the is used.

A1 - Beginners
The Police

Now you'll learn the words for police officer and teacher.

You'll also learn more words to describe locations, like at the church and at the shop.

A1 - Beginners
Food, glorious food!

In this lesson you'll learn words to describe meals such as breakfast or lunch.

In Scotland, there are a lot of different words for your evening meal. Some people call it tea, some call it dinner, others call it supper. It's really up to you!

A1 - Beginners
Who is that?

If you are inquisitive like the people in this lesson you'll definitely want to know how to ask questions using who and who is.

A1 - Beginners
Food basics

In this lesson you'll learn the words to describe different kinds of food staples, like bread, butter, milk and tea. Then you'll be able to ask for what you want at the dinner table!

A1 - Beginners
On the …

In this lesson you'll learn the word for on so you can describe different situations, such as on the bus, on the road or on the aeroplane.

You'll be able to ask where people are with the words for isn't he and aren't they.

A1 - Beginners
More verbs

In this lesson you'll learn new verbs such as dancing, talking, working and learning.

You'll then be able to put them into sentences to describe the actions of other people.

A1 - Beginners
Cutlery and crockery

In this lesson you'll learn words to describe the cutlery and crockery in your home, whether it is a knife, fork and spoon, or a plate, cup and saucer.

A1 - Beginners
The past tense and more verbs

In this lesson you'll learn new verbs to describe actions, such as eating, drinking, running and playing.

You'll also learn how to put these verbs into the past tense by learning the words for he was and they were.

A1 - Beginners
More than one

In this lesson you'll learn how to describe people in the plural. You'll be able to talk about the boys, the girls, the children and the teachers.

You'll also learn how talk to about negatives by learning the words for he wasn't and they weren't.

A1 - Beginners
In a …

In this lesson you'll learn how to say in a so you can talk about being in a bus, in a train or in an aeroplane.

You’ll be able to ask questions about where people are with the words for wasn’t he and weren’t they.

A1 - Beginners
Animals

In this lesson you'll learn words for different animals, such as cat, dog, cow and sheep.

You'll also learn the words for there and how to ask where was he?

A1 - Beginners
Numbers and telling the time

In this lesson you will learn how to count from one to six and how to tell the time.

You will also learn the word for clock and how to ask what time it is.

The word in Gaelic for clock time is uair, e.g.

an uair a tha e?

What time is it?

Uair also means one hour of time, which means that one o'clock is just uair, while three o'clock is trì uairean (literally, three hours).

A1 - Beginners
Counting money

In this lesson you'll learn how to count money.

You'll learn how to count in pounds and pence as well as how to ask how much something is and how to say it costs.

A1 - Beginners
Clothing

In this lesson you'll learn how to describe different items of clothing, whether it be dresses, socks and hats or coats, trousers and caps.

A1 - Beginners
Past tense verbs

In this lesson you'll take some of the verbs you learnt in lessons 14 and 16 and you’ll discover how to use them when talking about the past.

Learn how to say he came, he walked, he leapt and he fell. You'll also learn the words for in, out and homewards so that you can describe where someone is going.

A1 - Beginners
Past tense verbs in the negative

You've learnt how to use verbs to talk about things in the past. Now you'll learn how to use the negative forms of verbs.

Using the last lesson's verbs, you'll learn how to say he didn't come, he didn't walk, he didn't leap and he didn't fall.

A1 - Beginners
Telling the time

This lesson builds on what you learnt in lesson 20. You'll learn how to count from 7 to 12 and how to tell the time.

You'll also learn how to ask and answer the question what time did he come?

A1 - Beginners
Questions

In this lesson you'll learn how to ask simple questions by putting an do in front of the sentence.

You'll also learn how to ask a question in the negative by using nach do.

A1 - Beginners
At school

In this lesson you'll learn words to describe school activities.

You'll learn the word for lessons and past tense verbs such as said, did, saw and heard.

A1 - Beginners
Negative past tense verbs

In this lesson you’ll learn how to put six of the ten irregular verbs into the negative past tense, using cha or cha do. Some of the irregular verbs use cha instead of the usual cha do.

You’ll be able to talk about what someone did not do, whether they didn’t say, didn’t see or didn’t hear.

Don’t worry, there are only ten irregular verbs in Gaelic (or eleven if we include the verb is) compared to hundreds in English. You’ll soon get the hang of them!

A1 - Beginners
Questions at school

In this lesson you'll learn the words for all, any and some.

You'll learn how to ask questions using verbs so you'll be able to keep a close eye on everything your friends are up to.

A1 - Beginners
Counting money from 7 to 12

This lesson extends your ability to talk about money. You’ll learn how to count from 7 to 12.

You'll also discover how to ask and reply to the question how much did you pay for it?

A1 - Beginners
Directions

In this lesson you'll learn how to describe directions - so you can say whether something is up, down, in or out.

You’ll also learn another way to ask questions using did they go and didn’t they go and to say they went.

A1 - Beginners
More groceries

In this lesson you'll revise basic foods such as milk, bread and butter and learn new ones like jam.

You'll learn the verb to put, so you can say I put, I didn't put, and did you put?

A1 - Beginners
More clothing

In this lesson you'll learn words for different items of clothing such as shirt, socks, shoes and coat.

You'll also learn how to talk about putting them on.

A1 - Beginners
Everyday objects

In this lesson you'll learn words to describe everyday things like chair, money, sweets and biscuits.

You'll also learn the verb to have so that you can talk about what you have or haven't got.

A1 - Beginners
Counting money from 11-16

In this lesson you'll learn to count from 11 to 16 as well as how to talk about money.

You'll revise the verb to give and then put everything together to talk about what you've bought when out shopping and how much things cost!/p>

A1 - Beginners
And even more verbs!

In this lesson you'll learn new verbs that describe actions such as to stay, to walk and to go away.

You'll also learn how to say I can and I cannot.

A1 - Beginners
Can you ...?

In this lesson you'll add the word it to some of the verbs you already know so that you can say to see it, to do it and to get it.

A1 - Beginners
Under the …

In this lesson you'll learn the word for under as well as words to describe different items of furniture such as dresser, stool, cupboard and table.

A1 - Beginners
Undressing

In this lesson you'll learn words for clothing such as jacket and scarf.

You'll learn the verbs to take and to throw as well as putting these with the phrase off him to make to take off and to throw off.

A1 - Beginners
Counting money from 17 to 40

In this lesson you'll learn how to count from 17 to 20 and the numbers 30 and 40.

You'll see a man go shopping and find out what he buys and how much it costs.

A1 - Beginners
Relatives

In this lesson you'll learn how to describe members of your family, such as a brother, sister, uncle and aunt.

You'll learn how to say he had, they had and had you so you can ask about different members of the family.

A1 - Beginners
Professions

In this lesson you'll learn to talk about different jobs, such as doctor, dentist, nurse and shopkeeper.

You'll learn the phrase to be and how to ask would you like and say I would like and I wouldn't like.

A1 - Beginners
Servings at the dinner table

In this lesson you'll learn how to talk about crockery at the dinner table. You'll learn the words for plate, teapot and jug.

You'll learn the verbs to show, to get and to give, and how to ask for a piece of something.

A1 - Beginners
Visiting places

In this lesson you'll learn to say you're going somewhere whether it's to the school, to the church, to the house, to the town or to the shop.

You’ll also learn how to ask did they go, didn’t they go, as well as how to say they didn’t go.

A1 - Beginners
Numbers from 50-100

In this lesson you'll learn more numbers, how to talk about age, and say how old someone is, whether they are 50 or 100!

A1 - Beginners
I must …

In this lesson you'll learn how to talk about things that you must do. You'll also learn the verbs to read and to write.

You'll see a boy doing tasks he’d rather not do, like schoolwork, taking medicine and chores.

A1 - Beginners
Crops and seasons

In this lesson you'll learn words to describe the seasons.

You'll also learn to talk about crops such as oats, wheat and potatoes being sown as well as when they are being reaped.

And you'll learn the words for done, spent, gone away and broken.

A1 - Beginners
Out of …

In this lesson you'll learn how to talk about someone going out of the house, out of the garden and out of the park.

You'll also learn the verb to go, so you can say he is going, he went and did he go?

A1 - Beginners
Tell your mother …

In this lesson you’ll learn the verb to say or to tell.

You'll learn new words such as milkman and postman and you'll follow a young boy as he tries to find someone to play with. Will he have any success?

A1 - Beginners
I see, I think, I believe and I understand

In this lesson you'll learn how to say:

I see

I think

I believe

I understand

You'll revise the words for broken, made, spent and gone, and then you'll put them all together in sentences.

A1 - Beginners
I think he's not …

In this lesson you'll revise the words for coming, going off, staying, listening and working, and learn the word for looking.

You’ll also learn another way of saying to think or to suppose and put it all together in sentences.

A1 - Beginners
Detective work

In this lesson you'll revise the words for locations, such as up, down, inside and outside.

You’ll also learn verbs which will help with detective work! You'll learn how to say I know, I suppose, I don't suppose and perhaps.

A1 - Beginners
More food … mmm …

In this lesson you'll learn new words for food and drinks, such as cake, soup, coffee and cocoa.

You'll also revise the verb to make, saying he made and he didn't make. And you'll learn how to ask a question using did he make and didn't he make.

A1 - Beginners
Without any …

In this lesson you'll learn the words for without any. You'll learn how to say without any fish, without any meat and without any eggs.

You'll also learn the verb to come in both present and past tenses. And you'll learn how to to ask questions.

A1 - Beginners
Payments

In this lesson you'll learn words for different kinds of payments, including the pay, the rent, the cheque and the bill.

You'll also learn the verb to give in both present and past tenses, as well as being able to ask questions.

A1 - Beginners
Moments in time

In this lesson you'll revise words used to describe moments in time, such as today, yesterday, now and again.

You'll also learn how to construct the verb to be so you can talk in the present and the past, and ask questions.

A1 - Beginners
More professions

In this lesson you'll learn the word from, as well as new professions so you can ask whether you got something from the carpenter, from the tailor or from the shoemaker.

You'll also construct the verb to get.

A1 - Beginners
Didn't you see …?

In this lesson you'll learn basic pronouns such as me, you, him, her, us and them.

You'll revise words to describe direction such as here, there, inside, outside and learn how to construct the verb to see.

A1 - Beginners
Cold weather

In this lesson you'll learn words to describe cold weather in the past and present.

You'll be able to say it is raining, it is snowing and it is freezing as well as it rained, it snowed and it was freezing. You'll also learn the verb to put.

A1 - Beginners
Where are they?

In this lesson you'll learn words to describe compass directions such as north, south, east and west.

You'll learn how to construct the verb to go off so you can ask questions using did he go off and didn't he go off.

A1 - Beginners