A h-aon, a dhà, a trì, a ceithir, a còig
One, two, three, four, five
Usage
The counting form, used when no noun follows
Grammar Note
Before a noun: aon, dà (lenites: "dà chù"), trì, ceithir, còig. The "h-" is inserted between "a" and a vowel
A sia, a seachd, a h-ochd, a naoi, a deich
Six, seven, eight, nine, ten
Usage
The counting form for 6 to 10 when no noun follows
Grammar Note
11 to 19 add "deug" (aon deug = 11). 20 = fichead, 100 = ceud, 1000 = mìle
Fichead, trithead, ceathrad, caogad
Twenty, thirty, forty, fifty
Usage
The modern decimal way of counting tens
Grammar Note
The older system counts in twenties (ceithir fichead = 80); modern speech uses forms like "trithead" and "ceathrad"
Ceud, dà cheud, mìle
One hundred, two hundred, one thousand
Usage
Used for larger numbers and prices
Grammar Note
"Dà" lenites the next word (dà cheud). "Mìle" means "thousand" and also "mile"
Dè an uair a th' ann?
What time is it?
Usage
To ask the time
Grammar Note
"Uair" means "hour, time". "A th' ann" is a set ending, roughly "that it is"
Seasgad, seachdad, ochdad, naochad, ceud
Sixty, seventy, eighty, ninety, one hundred
Usage
The tens from 60 to 100
Grammar Note
These are the modern forms. The older system says "ceithir fichead" (80) and "ceithir fichead 's a deich" (90)
Tha e sia uairean
It is six o'clock
Usage
How to give the time on the hour
Grammar Note
After a numeral "uair" takes the plural "uairean". Built from dictionary words
Dà phunnd is caogad peighinn
Two pounds and fifty pence
Usage
For saying a price in pounds sterling, the currency in Scotland
Grammar Note
"Dà" lenites the next word (dà phunnd). The noun stays singular after a number like fifty. Built from dictionary words
Cia mheud duine?
How many people?
Usage
To ask the number of people, for example in a restaurant
Grammar Note
The noun after "cia mheud" stays singular ("duine", person)
An ath fhear
The next one
Usage
Used to call the next person in a queue
Grammar Note
"Ath" lenites the next word (ath fhear). "Fear" means "man" or "one"
Tha mi seachd bliadhna fichead a dh'aois
I'm 27 years old
Usage
To state your age, in the traditional counting by twenties
Grammar Note
"Seachd bliadhna fichead" is literally "seven years twenty", i.e. 27. "A dh'aois" means "of age"
Bidh mi ochd bliadhna fichead a dh'aois am-bliadhna
I turn 28 this year
Usage
To say what age you reach this year. Built from dictionary words
Grammar Note
"Bidh" is the future of "bi" (be), "will be". "Am-bliadhna" means "this year"
More Scottish Gaelic phrases
- Basic Words
- Basic Nouns
- Basic Verbs
- Adjectives
- Question Words
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