Little by Little Beag air Bheag

Introduction

Làithean-saora

Holidays

Most of us manage a holiday at some time or another. Here’s some words that will be useful in the following conversations:

In Conversation 1 Pòl and Iain are discussing a summer holiday in Scotland:

Conversation 1

Listen to the conversation:

Pòl:

Tha mi ag iarraidh a dhol don Eilean Sgitheanach air mo làithean-saora.

I want to go to Skye on my holidays.

Iain:

Carson a tha sin?

Why is that?

Pòl:

’S toigh leam an t-Eilean Sgitheanach. Bha mo mhàthair à Port Rìgh.

I like Skye. My mother was from Portree.

Iain:

Am bi thu a’ fuireach ann am Port Rìgh?

Will you be staying in Portree?

Pòl:

Cha bhi. Is fheàrr leam Dùn Bheagan.

No. I prefer Dunvegan.

Iain:

Tha Dùn Bheagan glè shnog. Ach tha mise a’ dol a dh’Arcaibh am-bliadhna.

Dunvegan is very nice. But I’m going to Orkney this year.

Pòl:

Carson Arcaibh?

Why Orkney?

Iain:

Tha ùidh agam ann an airceòlas.

I’m interested in archaeology.

Pòl:

Ceart gu leòr. Tha àiteachan matha aca.

Fair enough. They have good places.

Iain:

Am bi thu a’ fuireach ann an leabaidh is bracaist?

Will you be staying in bed and breakfast?

Pòl:

Cha bhi. Fhuair sinn taigh air mhàl.

No. We are renting a house [lit. we got a house on rent].

Iain:

Tha sin math. A bheil an taigh mòr?

That’s good. Is the house big?

Pòl:

Mòr gu leòr airson dithis agus cù.

Big enough for two people and a dog.

Iain:

Tha an cù againne a’ dol don taigh-chon.

Our dog is going to the kennels [lit. house of dogs].

Pòl:

Bidh leabaidh is bracaist aige fhèin!

He’ll have his own bed and breakfast!

Iain:

Bithidh! Bidh sinn a’ siubhal air baidhsagal ann an Arcaibh. Bhiodh an cù anns an rathad.

Indeed. We’ll be travelling by [on] bicycle in Orkney. The dog would be in the way.

Pòl:

Am bi sibh a’ campachadh?

Will you be camping?

Iain:

Cha bhi. Bidh sinn a’ fuireach ann an taighean-aoigheachd is taighean-òsta.

No. We’ll be staying in guest houses and hotels.

Pòl:

Uill, tha mi an dòchas gun còrd e ribh.

Well, I hope you enjoy it.

Iain:

Tha mi cinnteach gun còrd.

I’m sure we will.

On holiday

Làithean-saora

Holidays

In Conversation 2, Ceitidh and Anna are discussing a summer holiday outside Scotland.

Before we start here is some more vocabulary. Note that the names of countries usually carry the article (eg an Spàinn rather than just Spàinn) and that they are feminine:

Conversation 2

Listen to the conversation:

Ceitidh:

Càite a bheil thu a’ dol air do làithean-saora?

Where are you going on your holidays?

Anna:

Tha mi a’ dol don Spàinn.

I’m going to Spain.

Ceitidh:

Dè tha math mun Spàinn?

What’s good about Spàin?

Anna:

Tha i teth is tioram!

It’s hot and dry!

Ceitidh:

Càite am bi thu a’ fuireach?

Where will you be staying?

Anna:

Ann an taigh-òsta mòr le amar-snàmh.

In a big hotel with a swimming pool.

Ceitidh:

Bidh sin math. A bheil thu math air snàmh?

That will be good. Are you good at swimming?

Anna:

Chan eil. Cha bhi mi a’ snàmh. Bidh mi dìreach gam bhlianadh fhèin.

No. I don’t swim. I just sunbathe [myself].

Ceitidh:

Bidh mise a’ dol don Fhraing.

I’ll be going to France.

Anna:

Cuin a tha sin? Anns an Iuchar?

When’s that? In July?

Ceitidh:

Chan ann. Anns an Lùnastal.

No. In August.

Anna:

Bidh an Fhraing teth cuideachd.

France will be hot as well.

Ceitidh:

Bithidh. Tha dùil agam a bhith a’ snàmh gu tric.

It will. I expect I will be swimming a lot.

Anna:

Tha an duine agam ag iarraidh a dhol a Mhuile an àite na Spàinn.

My husband wants to go to Mull instead of Spain.

Ceitidh:

Carson a tha sin?

Why is that?

Anna:

’S toigh leis a bhith a’ coiseachd nam beann.

He likes to walk the mountains.

Ceitidh:

Tha Muile brèagha ach chan eil e teth is tioram.

Mull is beautiful but it’s not hot and dry.

Anna:

Tha sin fìor, agus bidh meanbh-chuileagan ann.

That’s true, and it has midges.

Ceitidh:

Cha toigh leam meanbh-chuileagan.

I don’t like midges.

Anna:

Cha toigh l' no leamsa.

Nor do I.

Ceitidh:

Is toigh leam am biadh san Fhraing cuideachd.

I like the food in France as well.

Anna:

Mmm. Aran ùr is croissants anns a’ mhadainn!

Mmm. Fresh bread and croissants in the morning!

Ceitidh:

Agus tha am fìon cho saor.

And the wine is so cheap.

Anna:

Tha. Tha e saor san Spàinn cuideachd.

Yes. It’s cheap in Spain as well.

Ceitidh:

O uill, tha mi an dòchas gun còrd do làithean-saora riut.

Oh well, I hope you enjoy your holidays.

Anna:

Tapadh leat. Tha mi an dòchas gun còrd an Fhraing riut fhèin

Thanks. I hope you enjoy France [yourself].

Ceitidh:

Tha mi cinnteach gun còrd.

I’m certain I shall.

Anna:

’S dòcha gum faic mi ann am Muile thu an ath-bhliadhna.

Perhaps I’ll see you in Mull next year.

Ceitidh:

Muile? Ciamar?

Mull? How?

Anna:

Uill, tha sinn a’ dol don Spàinn am-bliadhna ach a Mhuile an ath-bhliadhna.

Well, we’re going to Spain this year but to Mull next year.

Ceitidh:

Bho Thorremolinos gu Tobar Mhoire! Abair e!

From Torremolinos to Tobermory! What a thing!