LearnGaelic.scot uses cookies. By continuing to use this site we assume you consent to this. You can read about exactly what cookies we use, and why we set them, on our cookies page. This banner will not appear again, but you may read our cookie policy at any time by following the link at the bottom of all our pages.
Dictionary Gàidhlig

53: Land and Sea

B1 - Intermediate - The Little Letter

A simple weekly letter to Gaelic learners with audio, transcription and translation.

The little letter is integrated with the dictionary. Select the tab ‘Gaelic text’ and choose any word and the dictionary will open and you will see the English explanation of the Gaelic word.

00:00
00:00

Audio is playing in pop-over.

Muir is Tìr

Gaelic

Tha mi a’ toirt sùil a-rithist air an leabhar aig Seòras Chaluim Sheòrais nach maireann. ’S e an t-ainm a th’ air Muir is Tìr. Bha Seòras à Beàrnaraigh, air taobh an iar Leòdhais. Bha e eòlach air a’ mhuir. Is bha e eòlach air an aimsir.

Seo tòimhseachan dhuibh, stèidhichte air fiosrachadh anns an leabhar: Tha sibh a’ lorg rudeigin air grunnd na mara. Air an rud tha na pìosan seo: crùn, gàirdean, fiacail, bas, amhach, gob, calpa, stoc, gualann is fàinne. Dè th’ anns an rud air grunnd na mara?

A bheil sibh ag aithneachadh nam faclan sin? Crùn – crown. Gàirdean – arm. Amhach – throat. Calpa – shank. Seo an tòimhseachan a-rithist. Tha sibh a’ lorg rudeigin air grunnd na mara. Air an rud tha na pìosan seo: crùn, gàirdean, fiacail, bas, amhach, gob, calpa, stoc, gualann is fàinne. Dè th’ anns an rud air grunnd na mara?

Dè thuirt sibh? “Duine”? Oir tha na rudan sin air daoine. Uill, chan e duine a th’ ann, ach acair. Acair. Rud a cheanglas bàta ri grunnd na mara.

A bheil sibh fhèin eòlach air na sgòthan? Na seòrsaichean sgòthan anns an adhar? Seo trì seòrsaichean. Dè na seòrsaichean a th’ annta? 1. Sgòthan glè àrd. Tha iad geal mìn-shìodach mar itean. Sgòthan glè àrd. Tha iad geal mìn-shìodach mar itean. ’S e sin cirrus. Cirrus. 2. Sgòthan meadhanach àrd. Tha iad cnapach cruinn, sgapte air feadh an adhair. Sgòthan meadhanach àrd. Tha iad cnapach cruinn, sgapte air feadh an adhair. ’S e sinalto-cumulus. Alto-cumulus. 3. Sgòthan ìosal. Tha iad mar chlòimh canaich. Sgòthan ìosal. Tha iad mar chlòimh canaich.’S e sin cumulus. Cumulus.

Agus dè mu dheidhinn seo mar chomharra sìde anns na h-eileanan? Deàlradh na maidne: The too brilliant sunny morning, foretelling showers and rain(!) Chan eil math dhuinn a bhith ro dhòchasach mun aimsir, a bheil?!

Faclan is abairtean: tha mi a’ toirt sùil a-rithist air: I am looking again at; Seòras Chaluim Sheòrais: George, son of Calum [who was] son of George; Beàrnaraigh: [Great] Bernera; tòimhseachan: tha sibh a’ lorg rudeigin air grunnd na mara: you find something on the seabed; crùn: crown; gàirdean: arm; fiacail: tooth, fluke; bas: palm; amhach: throat; gob: bill; calpa:shank; stoc: stock; gualann: shoulder; fàinne: ring; acair: anchor; rud a cheanglas bàta ri grunnd na mara: a thing that attaches a boat to the seabed; na seòrsaichean sgòthan anns an adhar: the types of clouds in the sky; geal mìn-shìodach mar itean: white [and] silky smooth like feathers; cnapach cruinn, sgapte air feadh an adhair: in globular masses, scattered throughout the sky; mar chlòimh canaich: like cotton wool; dè mu dheidhinn seo mar chomharra sìde anns na h-eileanan?: what about this as a weather-sign in the islands?; deàlradh na maidne: the shining, effulgence of the morning; chan eil math dhuinn a bhith ro dhòchasach mun aimsir, a bheil?!: it doesn’t do us [any] good to be too optimistic about the weather, does it?!

PDF

Download the text of this week's letter as a PDF:

Download File

PDF documents are especially suited for printing out. Most computers can open PDF files, but if you have problems viewing them you may need to install reader software such as Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Litir do Luchd-ionnsachaidh

This letter corresponds to Litir do Luchd-ionnsachaidh 357

Podcast

BBC offers this litir as a podcast: Visit the programme page for more info and to download or subscribe.

Other letters

The Death of Conlaoch

The Black Bodach of Morven (2)

The Hump-backed Old Men and the Fairies

The witches' brooms (1)

How Fionn got Bran (1)