Tha mi tinn
I am sick
Usage
To say that you are unwell
Grammar Note
"tinn" is the adjective for "ill". State is expressed as "Tha mi + adjective"
Càit a bheil an t-ospadal?
Where is the hospital?
Usage
To ask where the hospital is
Grammar Note
"ospadal" is masculine and starts with a vowel, so the article is "an t-"
Tha ceann goirt orm
I have a headache
Usage
When you have a headache
Grammar Note
Literally "a sore head is on me". "orm" is "air + mi" (on me)
Cuiribh fios gu dotair, mas e ur toil e
Please call a doctor
Usage
To ask people nearby to get a doctor
Grammar Note
"cuir fios gu …" means "send word to …". "cuiribh" is the plural/polite imperative of "cuir". Composed sentence.
Tha feum agam air cungaidh-leighis
I need medicine
Usage
When you need medication
Grammar Note
"I need …" is "Tha feum agam air …" (I have a need of …)
Tha fiabhras orm
I have a fever
Usage
To say that you have a fever
Grammar Note
Symptoms are expressed as "Tha … orm" (… is on me)
Cuidich leam!
Help me!
Usage
When you suddenly need help
Grammar Note
Imperative to one person you know; to several people or politely use "Cuidichibh leam"
Tha aileirdsidh agam ri ...
I have an allergy to ...
Usage
Add the cause after it to state your allergy
Grammar Note
Put the allergen after "ri" (for example "ri maorach" for shellfish). "agam" is "at me"
Tha mi gu math a-nis
I am well now
Usage
To say that you have recovered
Grammar Note
"gu math" means "well"; "a-nis" means "now"
Tha mi torrach
I am pregnant
Usage
To tell a doctor or pharmacist you are pregnant
Grammar Note
"torrach" means both "fertile" and "pregnant"
Tha a' chuing-analach orm
I have asthma
Usage
To tell people about your asthma
Grammar Note
The condition takes the article, and the feminine noun lenites after it (cuing becomes chuing)
Tha tinneas an t-siùcair orm
I have diabetes
Usage
To tell people about your diabetes
Grammar Note
Literally "the sickness of the sugar"; "an t-siùcair" is the genitive of "siùcar"
Tha brùthadh-fala àrd orm
I have high blood pressure
Usage
To tell people about your high blood pressure
Grammar Note
"brùthadh-fala" is "blood pressure" and "àrd" is "high"
Tha tinneas-cridhe orm
I have a heart condition
Usage
To tell people about a heart condition
Grammar Note
"tinneas-cridhe" is a compound meaning "heart disease"
Tha an tinneas-tuiteamach orm
I have epilepsy
Usage
To tell people about epilepsy
Grammar Note
Literally "the falling sickness". The condition takes the article "an"
Àrachas slàinte
Health insurance
Usage
Used on forms or when asked about insurance
Grammar Note
A second noun (slàinte, health) placed after the first gives "insurance of health"
Tha cnàimh briste agam
I have a broken bone
Usage
To say you may have a fracture
Grammar Note
"briste" means "broken"; the adjective follows the noun. Composed sentence.
Tha duilgheadas agam anail a tharraing
I have difficulty breathing
Usage
When you have trouble breathing
Grammar Note
"To breathe" is "anail a tharraing" (to draw breath); "a" lenites the verb. Composed sentence.
Tha tuaineal orm
I feel dizzy
Usage
When you feel dizzy
Grammar Note
"tuaineal" means "dizziness". Symptoms are said with "Tha … orm". Composed sentence.
Tha mi a' call fala
I am bleeding
Usage
When you are bleeding from an injury
Grammar Note
Literally "losing blood". "fala" is the genitive of "fuil" (blood). Composed sentence.
Tha mi air mo losgadh
I have been burnt
Usage
When you have burnt yourself
Grammar Note
"air mo + verbal noun" expresses a passive state ("been burnt"); the l of "losgadh" is not lenited
Tha mi air mo ghoirteachadh
I am hurt
Usage
When you have been injured
Grammar Note
"air mo + verbal noun" gives a passive state; the verbal noun lenites after "mo". Composed sentence.
Cluas
Ear
Usage
A body-part word for describing symptoms
Grammar Note
"cluas" is a feminine noun
Amhach
Neck
Usage
A body-part word for neck or throat pain
Grammar Note
"amhach" is a feminine noun covering both "neck" and "throat"
Gualann
Shoulder
Usage
A body-part word for describing shoulder pain
Grammar Note
"gualann" is a feminine noun
Glùn
Knee
Usage
A body-part word for describing knee pain
Grammar Note
"Glùn" is a feminine noun; "my knee" is "mo ghlùn" with lenition. The dative form is "glùin"
Meur
Finger
Usage
A body-part word for a finger
Grammar Note
"meur" is masculine and also means "branch"
Craiceann
Skin
Usage
A word for describing skin symptoms
Grammar Note
"craiceann" is a masculine noun
Sròn
Nose
Usage
A word for describing nose symptoms
Grammar Note
"sròn" is a feminine noun
Tha casad orm
I have a cough
Usage
To say that you have a cough
Grammar Note
Symptoms use the "Tha … orm" pattern
Tha tachas orm
I am itchy
Usage
When your skin itches
Grammar Note
"tachas" means "itch". Symptoms use the "Tha … orm" pattern
Tha broth air mo chraiceann
I have a rash on my skin
Usage
When a rash appears on the skin
Grammar Note
"craiceann" lenites to "chraiceann" after "air mo". Composed sentence.
Seòrsa fala
Blood type
Usage
For stating or asking a blood type
Grammar Note
"fala" is the genitive of "fuil" (blood); a genitive after a noun means "of"
Tha crith-fhuachd orm
I have the chills
Usage
When you feel chills from a fever
Grammar Note
"crith-fhuachd" is a compound of "crith" (shiver) and "fuachd" (cold)
Tha e goirt an seo
It hurts here
Usage
While pointing to the place that hurts
Grammar Note
"goirt" means "sore, painful"; "an seo" means "here". Composed sentence.
Tha mi fann
I feel weak
Usage
When you feel weak and drained
Grammar Note
"fann" means "weak, faint". Composed sentence.
A bheil fois a dhìth orm?
Do I need to rest?
Usage
To ask a doctor whether you need rest
Grammar Note
"I need X" is "X a dhìth orm" (X is lacking on me). Composed sentence.
Buinneach
Diarrhea
Usage
A symptom word for telling a doctor or pharmacist
Grammar Note
"buinneach" is a feminine noun; with the article it is "a' bhuinneach" (genitive "na buinniche")
Teannachadh-cuim
Constipation
Usage
A symptom word for telling a doctor or pharmacist
Grammar Note
A compound of "teannachadh" (tightening) and "cuim" (of the abdomen); masculine. Listed as "constipation" in Am Faclair Beag
Bab
Poop
Usage
The child-language word for poop; "bab" also means a tuft or a stain
Grammar Note
"bab" is masculine. Am Faclair Beag marks it "child language" and Dwelly gives "child's excrement". Not for adult medical settings
Mùn
Pee
Usage
The everyday word for pee (urine); fine to use with a doctor too
Grammar Note
"mùn" is masculine (genitive "mùin"). A more formal synonym is "fual" (urine)
Tha a' bhuinneach orm
I have diarrhea
Usage
To tell a doctor or pharmacist you have diarrhea
Grammar Note
"Tha X orm" (X is on me) is the pattern for illnesses and symptoms, like "Tha am fiabhras orm". Dwelly gives "buinneach" with the article: "a' bhuinneach". Composed sentence.
Tha teannachadh-cuim orm
I'm constipated
Usage
To tell a doctor or pharmacist you are constipated
Grammar Note
"Tha X orm" is the pattern for illnesses and symptoms. "Teannachadh-cuim" is listed as "constipation" in Am Faclair Beag. Composed sentence.
Feumaidh mi mùn a dhèanamh
I need to pee
Usage
To tell a companion or child that you need to pee
Grammar Note
"Dèan mùn" is listed as "pee" in Am Faclair Beag. "Feumaidh mi … a dhèanamh" means "I must do …". Composed sentence.
More Scottish Gaelic phrases
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- Basic Nouns
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