An Gàidheal – Riddles
Hello again, friends. Do you like riddles? I found some the other day.
They were in an old newspaper that was published in the nineteenth
century – An Gàidheal. I was reading it on the internet.
To begin with, two riddles that play with the word ‘fada’ (long). Here
is the first one: Why is the lazy man’s bed too short for him? Do you
understand the word
slaodair
? Someone who is lazy and slow. Why is the lazy man’s bed too short for
him? Because he is too long in it. Because he is too long in it.
Here is another riddle for you that is in the same edition of An
Gàidheal. Who are the laziest people, and why? The solution is – the
tallest people, because they are longer in bed than the rest! They are
longer in bed than the rest. The tallest people, because they are
longer in bed than the rest!
The old Gaels were always fond of riddles. Here is another for you: Why
is a pig in the room like a house on fire? Why is a pig in the room
like a house on fire? The sooner you put it out, the better. The sooner
you put it out, the better
. The sooner you put it out, the better.
And another. Why is a tooth that has been extracted like something that
has been forgotten? Why is a tooth that has been extracted like
something that has been forgotten? The solution is – it has left the
head!
And one other. Perhaps this won’t be as easy for you. But think of a potato
and what is on it. Why are tears like potatoes? Why are tears like
potatoes? They grow from the eye. They grow from the eye. That’ll do for
riddles just now, I’d say. Cheerio.
An Gàidheal – Tòimhseachain
Halò a-rithist, a chàirdean. An toigh leibh tòimhseachain? Fhuair mi lorg
air feadhainn an latha eile. Bha iad ann an seann phàipear-naidheachd a
chaidh fhoillseachadh anns an naoidheamh linn deug – An Gàidheal. Bha mi ga
leughadh air an eadar-lìon.
An toiseach, dà thòimhseachan a tha a’ cleas leis an fhacal ‘fada’. Seo
agaibh a’ chiad fhear: Carson a tha leabaidh an t-slaodair ro ghoirid air a
shon? A bheil sibh a’ tuigsinn an fhacail slaodair? Cuideigin a
tha leisg is slaodach. Carson a tha leabaidh an t-slaodair ro ghoirid air a
shon? A chionn ʼs gu bheil e ro fhada innte. Because he is too long in it. A chionn ʼs gu bheil e ro fhada
innte.
Seo agaibh tòimhseachan eile anns an aon iris dhen Ghàidheal: Cò an sluagh
as leisge, agus carson? Cò an sluagh as leisge, agus carson? ʼS e am
fuasgladh – An fheadhainn as àirde, oir bidh iad nas fhaide anns a’
leabaidh na càch! They are longer in bed than the rest. An
fheadhainn as àirde, oir bidh iad nas fhaide anns a’ leabaidh na càch!
Bha na seann Ghàidheil riamh measail air tòimhseachain. Seo agaibh fear
eile: Carson a tha muc anns an t-seòmar coltach ri taigh na theine? Carson
a tha muc anns an t-seòmar coltach ri taigh na theine? Mar as luaithe a
chuireas tu às i, ʼs ann as fheàrr. The sooner you put it out, the better. Mar as luaithe a chuireas
tu às i, ʼs ann as fheàrr.
Agus fear eile. Carson a tha fiacail a chaidh a tharraing coltach ri nì a
chaidh air dìochuimhne? Carson a tha fiacail a chaidh a tharraing coltach
ri nì a chaidh air dìochuimhne? ʼS e am fuasgladh – Dh’fhalbh e às a’
cheann!
Agus aon fhear eile. ʼS dòcha nach bi seo cho furasta dhuibh. Ach
smaoinichibh air buntàta agus na tha air. Carson a tha deòir coltach ri
buntàta?
Why are tears like potatoes?
Tha iad a’ fàs às an t-sùil.
They grow from the eye.
Nì sin an gnothach airson tòimhseachain an-dràsta, chanainn. Mar sin leibh.
