Slang

1. Abair frac!

   What rubbish!

   Usage

   Said at something ridiculous. Informal; listed in the dictionary.

   Grammar Note

   "abair + noun!" means "what a …!"

2. Abair aghaidh!

   What cheek!

   Usage

   At someone's nerve. Informal; listed in the dictionary.

   Grammar Note

   "abair + noun!" means "what a …!" "aghaidh" literally means "face".

3. Tha mi air mo dhòigh.

   I'm chuffed.

   Usage

   When you are pleased and in good form. Based on the dictionary entry "air mo dhòigh" (pleased).

   Grammar Note

   "air mo dhòigh" means "pleased"; "dòigh" lenites after "mo".

4. Tha mi cho sgìth ris a' chù.

   I'm dead tired.

   Usage

   Literally "as tired as the dog". The dictionary lists it as a figurative phrase.

   Grammar Note

   "cho … ri …" means "as … as …". "a' chù" is "the dog" after the preposition.

5. Na gabh cùram!

   Don't worry!

   Usage

   To someone you know well. Listed in the dictionary. For several people: "Na gabhaibh cùram".

   Grammar Note

   "Na" + imperative forms a prohibition. "gabh cùram" is literally "take worry".

6. 'S beag an t-iongnadh!

   No wonder!

   Usage

   Listed in the dictionary. Literally "the surprise is small".

   Grammar Note

   "'S" is short for "Is". "iongnadh" is masculine and vowel-initial, so the article is "an t-".

7. A bheil thu gu snog?

   You all right?

   Usage

   A casual check on how someone is. The dictionary has this example.

   Grammar Note

   "gu snog" means "nicely, well". Formal or plural: "A bheil sibh gu snog?"

8. Tha sin sgoinneil!

   That's brilliant!

   Usage

   Used colloquially for "cool". The dictionary gives "cool, groovy (colloq.)" for "sgoinneil".

   Grammar Note

   "sgoinneil" originally means neat, trim or well-made.

9. Tha e gu dòigheil.

   It's all right.

   Usage

   A casual "that's fine, no problem".

   Grammar Note

   The dictionary gives "all right, correctly" for "gu dòigheil".

10. Tha e uabhasach math!

    It's terribly good!

    Usage

    A colloquial intensifier: "uabhasach" (terrible) is used as "very".

    Grammar Note

    The dictionary lists "uabhasach" as an intensifier meaning "very, terribly".

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