The Scottish Parliament wants to make sure everyone in Scotland can become involved in its work, whatever language they use. 

Aside from English, one of the most frequently used languages in Parliament is Gaelic, so we thought we would upload some sound clips teaching people how to pronounce words in Gaelic.  

Gaelic Word of the Week

Sreath de phrògraman foghlaim a chaidh a dhèanamh le Fun Kids Radio san Lùnastal 2013, a' coimhead air eachdraidh na Pàrlamaid, mar a nì i laghan agus mar as urrainn dhut pàirt a ghabhail san obair aice. Tha e cuideachd a' coimhead air cuid den bhàrdachd agus abairtean a tha sgrìobhte air Balla a' Chanongate.

Clàran foghlaim / Gaelic education audio

It is now Summer – an Samhradh – and the Scottish Parliament’s gardens are full of life.

At the Scottish Parliament – Pàrlamaid na h-Alba - we are very conscious of our place in the landscape and are keen to ensure that we can contribute to thriving ecology across Scotland - Alba. For this reason, we maintain the grounds with the aim of supporting the biodiversity of the area including with wildflower and tree planting. 

The landscaped area outside the Scottish Parliament – Pàrlamaid na h-Alba - features many native trees - craobhan, wildflowers – flùraichean, plants – lusan and insects - meanbh-fhrìdean. Some of these are rare, and none more so than the Northern Argus Butterfly.

The Gaelic for butterfly is dealan-dè. This translates literally as “the lightning/fire of God”, coming from the word dealan meaning lightening and Dia – God.

According to McBain’s Etymological dictionary of 1911, dealan means a spark or flaming coal and dealan-dè can also be used to describe the appearance produced by whirling a burning stick around. Dealanaich means lightning.

In modern Gaelic, dealan means electricity and is a very common word. You might recognise this from the  Gaelic for email, post-dealain or post-d.

The Gaelic for the northern argus butterfly – dealan-dè - is argas-donn tuathach. The story of this particular dealan-dè is as interesting as the name dealan-dè itself!

Almost exclusively found in Holyrood Park - Pàirc an Ròid - the northern argus butterfly was initially understood by butterfly watchers to be a slightly different version of the Brown Argus butterfly – dealan-dè. In 1793, however, it was found that it is actually a completely different species.

Shortly following its discovery, changes in land use and over-collection by butterfly enthusiasts meant that it was believed extinct, having last been seen in 1869. 

This story has a happy ending, however, as the Northern Brown Argus was re-discovered at Holyrood in 2005 and the population has continued to increase annually, with this iconic type of dealan-dè being a regular visitor to the landscaped area outside Pàrlamaid na h-Alba. 

The Northern Brown Argus is particularly fond of rock-rose - grian-ròs – a flower which we intentionally cultivate in the Scottish Parliament’s landscaped areas. 

The next time you visit the Scottish Parliament, have a look at which flowers – flùraichean, dealanan-dè – butterflies and other wildlife you can find!

Let’s practice: dealan-dè.

This week’s Gaelic WoW has been read by Alasdair MacCaluim, Gaelic Development Officer.

Gaelic Word of the Week - Butterfly - Dealan-dè

The Scottish Parliament – Pàrlamaid - is all about opinions. We spend a lot of time considering, discussing, and developing all the points of view to land on something we believe may be the best for Scotland - Alba.

At the moment, the new committees of the Scottish Parliament – Pàrlamaid na h-Alba - are seeking your opinions about what the priorities should be for the next five years. 
The Gaelic for opinion is beachd or barail.

This is a very useful word to learn in Gaelic as it appears in many phrases. For example, to ask “what do you think”, you’d say “dè do bheachd?” – what’s your opinion?

And the word beachd is the basis for the word beachdachadh – to discuss – a key activity of the Scottish Parliament – Pàrlamaid na h-Alba! 

To say someone is opinionated, you would say that they are fada nam beachd – literally that they are “long in their opinion”.

The Gaelic word for idea is beachd-smaoin – literally opinion-thought, though in practice idea is often simply used instead, this being a loan word from Greek into English.

So, we mentioned that our committees are looking for your beachdan – opinions on what their priorities should be for 2021 – 2026 (what we call “Session 6”). But what does that mean, exactly?

Basically, we need you to tell us your beachdan on what Scotland, and its laws, should concentrate on. The things that could be better and the things that we maybe haven’t considered before. Every beachd-smaoin – idea – is welcome!

You can tell us what your prìomhachasan – priorities are by following this link https://engage.parliament.scot/group/10027. Let us know your beachd – opinion - and you can also vote to show that you agree or disasgree with other people’s beachdan – opinions. 

The word prìomh is also a good word to learn as it means first, main or lead. You might recognise it from the Gaelic for First Minister – Prìomh Mhinistear.

Whatever your beachdan are, don’t forget to take part and have your say!

Let’s practice.

Beachd

Beachd

Beachd

Beachd

This week’s Gaelic word of the week has been read by Alasdair MacCaluim, Gaelic Development Officer, who would love to see some beachdan submitted in Gàidhlig!

Gaelic Word of the Week - Opinion - Beachd

This week is National Marine Week and Scotland is also observing a Year of Coasts and Waters, celebrating our oceans, beaches, rivers, lochs and anything in between. 

For this reason, we will be looking at all things watery with a’ Mhuir – the sea - as our Gaelic Word of the Week. 

The Scottish Parliament – Pàrlamaid na h-Alba – is responsible for the environment and also for agriculture, forestry and fisheries so marine matters are often discussed. This has included passing the Marine (Scotland) Act for example.  

The Gaelic for the sea is a’ mhuir but the marine act is called Achd na Mara (Alba), We don’t like to talk about too much grammar here – but mara is the genitive case of muir and means “of the sea” – or marine. The genitive case is the case a noun goes into when it is indicating origin, possession or character. 

Mara is often seen in house names like Taigh na Mara, Sealladh na Mara or Fuaim na Mara – sea house, sea view and sound of the sea. And the public body Marine Scotland is called Cùisean Mara na h-Alba.
Fans of Gaelic-speaking rock band Runrig will also recognise Mara as the name of the band’s 1995 album. 

The sea features in many Gaelic proverbs and sayings. One of these is:

Cho fad’s a bhios muir a’ bualadh ri lic – as long as the sea beats on stone

Another one is: 

Bidh dùil ri fear-fairge ach cha bhi ri fear-reilige – there is hope of the man at sea but none for the man in the churchyard. We suppose this means that there is always hope - until there isn’t!

You can see that a different word is used for sea here – fairge. And the word Cuan also means sea or ocean. Runrig fans might once again recognise this from the song Air a’ Chuan from the Heartland album.

Some important sea names in Scotland are: 

An Cuan a Tuath – the North Sea

An Cuan Siar – The Atlantic (literally the western ocean)

An Cuan Sgìth – the Minch (literally the weary sea) 

This week’s Gaelic Word of the week is a’ mhuir – the sea

Let’s practice, muir, muir, muir, muir

This week’s Gaelic Word of the Week has been read by Alasdair 
MacCaluim, Gaelic Development Officer who spent many happy - and cold - hours swimming in An Cuan a Tuath on his holidays as a child!

Gaelic Word of the Week - the sea - a' mhuir

Every school– sgoil – in Scotland – Alba has recently received a copy of our new Scottish Parliament 2021 election map.

For this reason, this week’s Word of the Week is mapaichean – maps.
Our map – mapa – shows the makeup of the new session of the Parliament, showing all the MSPs, which constituency or region they represent and which party, if any, they belong to.

The map – mapa - is available in both English – Beurla - and Gaelic – Gàidhlig.

Amongst other things, the mapa features the names of every parliamentary constituency and region.

We often use Gaelic placenames here at Pàrlamaid na h-Alba not only for the map but also because the Parliament works with communities throughout Scotland – Alba and we use the Gaelic for these areas for our Gaelic publications, social media and more.

But how do we know the Gaelic placenames?

Good question! 

All Gaelic speakers know the Gaelic names for the main towns, cities and islands in Scotland – Alba - and probably many more in their local area too. However, when we’re talking about a small area which isn’t often discussed or perhaps about an area which hasn’t been speaking Gaelic for a long time, it can be difficult to know what the correct Gaelic form is – even when it is clear that it is a name which originated in Gaelic!

So, when we are looking for a Gaelic name to put mapaichean or in a publication, we turn to a group called Ainmean-àite na h-Alba – Gaelic Placenames of Scotland – the national expert group on Gaelic placenames. These are the people who conduct academic research on the correct forms of Gaelic placenames for such things as railway station signs, road signs and indeed maps – mapaichean so the chances are that you’ll have seen some of their work!

It was also Ainmean-àite na h-Alba who researched the Gaelic versions of the Scottish Parliament constituencies and regions for us.

You can see our Scottish Parliament mapa at the link in the description https://twitter.com/ParlAlba/status/1430115173449224192 

You can also see a link to the fascinating Ainmean-àite na h-Alba placenames database there. 

This week’s Gaelic Word of the Week is mapa.

Let’s practice: mapaichean, mapaichean, mapaichean, mapaichean 
This week’s Gaelic Word of the Week has been read by Alasdair MacCaluim, Gaelic Development Officer who lives in An Dùn Breac – Dumbreck – literally “the speckled fort or hill” but whose favourite Gaelic placename is Ceann Loch Chille Chiarain (“at the head of st Ciaran’s loch”) – Cambeltown –as it is so long!

Gaelic Word of the Week - maps - mapaichean

This week’s word of the week is ‘Cothrom na Fèinne’, a phrase meaning ‘a fair hearing’ or ‘fair chance’. 

The word ‘cothrom’ is made up of two words ‘comh’ and ‘trom’ literally meaning of equal weight and by extension ‘opportunity’ and/or ‘equity’. In the Parlianment, fairness – [GAELIC] – is an issue that we often discuss and the word ‘cothromach’ (fair) even appears in the Gaelic name for the Economy and Fair Work Committee (Comataidh Eaconamaidh is Obair Chothromach). 

The phrase ‘na Fèinne’ means ‘of the Fingalians’. The Fingalians were a mythological band of roving warriors led by a hero called Fingal (or in Gaelic ‘Fionn'). Tales of their adventures were once very popular in Gaelic-speaking areas of Scotland and Ireland, surviving in the oral tradition to be recorded in the 20th century.  

The 18th century Scottish poet James MacPherson, from Ruthven (Ruadhainn), in Badenoch (Bàideanach) had international success with his publications ‘Fingal’ and ‘Temora’ in the 1760s based on the Fingalian tales. These works were best-sellers in their day, admired by the likes of Napoleon and Sir Walter Scott. 

The name Fingal is also attached to the famous cave on the island of Staffa (Stafa) known in English as ‘Fingal’s Cave’ and in Gaelic as ‘An Uamh Bhinn’ (The Melodious Cave). This place was also used as an alternative title for ‘The Hebrides’ overture by the German composer Mendelssohn after his visit to the island in 1829. 

John Francis Campbell (known as ‘Iain Òg Ìle’ in Gaelic) collected many Fingalian traditions in his ‘Popular Tales of the West Highlands’ and Leabhar na Fèinne (The Book of the Fingalians) published in the late 1800s.  

Personal names associated with characters in the Fingalian stories are well-known outside of Gaelic, examples of these would be: Finn (Fionn), Ossian (Oisean), Oscar (Osgar), Conan, Dermot (Diarmad) and Deirdre.  

Fingal, or ‘Fionn’ as he is known in Gaelic, was the epitome of a wise hero. Not only was he swift and brave; ‘Cruas na creige is luathas na dreige’ (Hard as a rock and swift as a meteor) but according to one Gaelic proverb he was also famed for his generosity as you can see from this piece of poetry:   

Nam b’e òr an duilleach donn  
A chuireas dhith a’ choill, 
Nam b’e airgead a' gheal-tonn, 
Thìodhlacadh Fionn 
  
(If the Autumn leaves  
of the forest were gold, 
If the crest of the waves were silver, 
Fingal would give them away).  
 
Fingal was also famed for his fairness in disputes hence this week’s phrase ‘Cothrom na Fèinne’ (a fair hearing). Despite the phrase being an old one it is still common in modern spoken Gaelic. 

You might use it in a sentence when you say something like “bha an neach fianais den bheachd gun tug a’ chomataidh Cothrom na Fèinne dha” – the witness believed that the committee had given him a fair hearing.
 
Let’s practice 
Cothrom na Fèinne
This week’s Gaelic Word of the Week has been written by Mark McNeilly, Gaelic Development Officer and read by Alasdair MacCaluim, Gaelic Development Officer.

Gaelic Word of the Week - A fair chance/hearing - Cothrom na Fèinne

Gaelic Word of the Week – St Andrews Day – Latha Fèill Anndrais

This week sees the day of Scotland’s Patron Saint – Saint Andrew – Naomh Anndras.  Saint Andrews Day, 30th November, is known as Latha Fèill Anndrais in Gaelic. 

The university town of St Andrews – situated in the Scottish Parliament’s North East Fife constituency – is named after the saint. It is said that St Rule brought the bones of the apostle to St Andrews to rest there. The Gaelic name for the town does not refer to St Andrew – Naomh Anndras – however. The Gaelic name is Cill Rìmhinn which was the basis of the town’s former English name of Kilrymont. 

There is an interesting connection between the Scottish Parliament – Pàrlamaid na h-Alba - and St Andrews University – Oilthigh Chill Rìmhinn – is the home of the Records of the Scottish Parliament to 1707 project which catalogues the proceedings of the pre-1707 Scottish Parliament – Pàrlamaid na h-Alba. 

To wish someone a happy St Andrews Day, you would say “Latha Fèill Anndrais Sona”. 


Gaelic Word of the Week 35 – St Andrews Day – Latha Fèill Anndrais

Gaelic Word of the Week – Mid Fife and Glenrothes –Fìobha 
Meadhanach is Gleann Rathais

This week we’re looking at another of the Scottish Parliament’s constituencies – sgìrean.

We are back in Fife – Fìobha. This week we are looking at Fìobha Meadhanach is Gleann Rathais– Mid Fife and Glenrothes.

While Fife – Fìobha - isn’t always the first place that people think of when they think of Gaelic, the county in fact has a strong Gaelic heritage, and this can be seen clearly from the place-names of the Fìobha Meadhanach is Gleann Rathais constituency.

Markinch for example is from the Gaelic Marc-Innis which means horse-haugh. The word innis is an interesting word in Gaelic as it can mean either a river meadow – as in Marc-Innis and can also mean island – though the word eilean is more common for this. The island of Inchcolm in the Forth for example is Innis Chaluim – Columba’s Island.

Another Gaelic name in the area is Star which comes from the Gaelic Stair meaning stepping stones across a river or bog.
And Largo is An Leargach which means the settlement on a hill slope – the hill in question being Largo law. 

Leven in Gaelic is Inbhir Lìobhann – meaning the mouth of the river Leven. Inbhir – pronounced inver or inner is a common place-name element which you can also see all over Scotland – Alba - in names such as Inverness, Innerleithen, Invergowrie, Inverkeithing, Inverkip and many more! And it is more common in Gaelic names than in their English equivalents – for example, Ayr is Inbhir Air in Gaelic and Wick and Thurso are Inbhir Ùige and Inbhir Theòrsa. 

The biggest town in the Fìobha Meadhanach is Gleann Rathais constituency is, of course, Glenrothes. As a new town, established in 1948 under the New Towns Act, the town also has a new name. The element Rothes comes from of the earls of Rothes who historically owned some of the land on which the new town was founded. Glen – from the Gaelic gleann - was added to distinguish the town from Rothes in Moray and to reflect the fact that the town is in the river Leven valley. The Gaelic name for Glenrothes is Gleann Rathais.

This week’s Gaelic Word of the week is Fìobha Meadhanach is Gleann Rathais.

Let’s practice:

Fìobha Meadhanach is Gleann Rathais

Fìobha Meadhanach is Gleann Rathais

Fìobha Meadhanach is Gleann Rathais

Fìobha Meadhanach is Gleann Rathais

This week’s Gaelic Word of the Week has been read by Alasdair MacCaluim, Gaelic Development officer, who is looking forward to going to Inbhir Lìobhann on the train when the new Levenmouth railway opens in 2024!

Gaelic Word of the Week - Mid Fife and Glenrothes

Gaelic Word of the Week – Galloway and West Dumfries

This week we’re looking at another constituency - sgìre - of the Scottish Parliament – Pàrlamaid na h-Alba. We’re going to the South West – an Iar-dheas – to visit Galloway and West Dumfries.

This is a great constituency Gaelic wise as both Galloway and Dumfries are Gaelic names! In Gaelic it is Gall-Ghàidhealaibh agus Dùn Phris an Iar.

You might recognise the word “Gall” in Gall-Ghàidhealaibh. It means “lowlander” today but historically could also mean “foreigner”. You might also recognise the second part which contains the word “Gàidheal” which means Gael or Gaelic speaker – and also means Highlander - though not in this particular case. 

So, Gall-Ghàidhealaibh means “the land of the foreign Gael” in Gaelic! Similarly the name Donegal in Ireland comes from Dùn na nGall in Irish or, as we’d say in Scotland Dùn nan Gall. Again, this means “hill-fort of the foreigner”. 

Dumfries in the east of the constituency is Dùn Phris, this means copse-fort. Again, Dùn means hill-fort and can be seen in a range of place-names from Dundee – Dùn Dè to Dumbarton – Dùn Breatann.

Another major town in the constituency – sgìre – with a Gaelic name is Stranraer. If you know a little Gaelic, you might be able to recognise the elements in an t-Sròn Reamhar. Sròn means nose and reamhar means fat and in this case, we can translate it as the “broad headland”. 

The Gaelic form of Kirkcudbright is  Cille Chuithbeirt which is arguably easier to spell than the English and means St Cuthbert’s Church. St Cuthbert was an important saint in southern Scotland – Alba - and northern England – Sasainn - with links to Melrose – Maol Ros and to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne and is buried in Durham cathedral.

Talking of Melrose – Maol Ros, takes us back to the Gall-Ghaidhealaibh is Dùn Phris an Iar constituency as Maol also features in the Gaelic for the Mull of Galloway – Maol nan Gall. Maol can mean bald, bare or a rounded headland. In this case, it means the rounded headland of the foreigners – the Gall again!

Gaelic was spoken in parts of Galloway far later than other parts of the Lowlands, surviving into the early modern period. 

One notable more recent Gaelic speaker in Galloway – Gall-Ghàidhealaibh - was William Neill (1922-2010), a fluent Gaelic learner and celebrated poet in Gaelic, Scots and English. On his trilingual poetry he once said: "Poets like to play with words, and there's nothing wrong with having a bigger toy box than the man next door!" 

I’m sure as language fans we can all agree with this sentiment. 

This week’s Gaelic Word of the Week is:  Galloway and West Dumfries - Gall-Ghàidhealaibh agus Dùn Phris an Iar.

Let’s practice: 

Gall-Ghàidhealaibh agus Dùn Phris an Iar 

Gall-Ghàidhealaibh agus Dùn Phris an Iar

Gall-Ghàidhealaibh agus Dùn Phris an Iar

Gall-Ghàidhealaibh agus Dùn Phris an Iar

This week’s Gaelic Word of the Week has been read by Alasdair MacCaluim, who has climbed the 325 steps to the tower of Durham Cathedral, above the burial place of St Cuthbert, and survived to tell the tale!

Gaelic Word of the Week - Galloway and West Dumfries

Gaelic Word of the Week – North East Fife – Fìobh an Ear Thuath

This week we’re going back to Fife – Fìobha, often known as the Kingdom of Fife - Rìoghachd Fhìobha. 

The word rìoghachd is often used in Gaelic to mean “country” as well as kingdom and you will often hear native Gaelic speakers say “an rìoghachd” as well as “an dùthaich” to mean “the country”.

This week’s constituency is North East Fife – Fìobh an Ear Thuath.
The biggest town in the sgìre – constituency is St Andrews. In Gaelic, the name of the town isn’t related to St Andrew at all – it is Cill Rìmhinn. This means church of Rìmhinn. In fact, the original English name of the town, Kilrymont, was an anglicisation of this. The name changed after the relics of St Andrew – Naomh Anndras, were supposedly brought to the town and it gained the name we know and love today. In Gaelic, though, it is still Cill Rìmhinn! 

Also in the constituency, but famous for its fine name rather than for golf or an ancient university is Auchtermuchty. This means “Upland of the place of pigs”. The Auchter part - uachdar – meaning uplands or upper part can also be seen in placenames like Auchterarder. And uachdar can also mean cream in Gaelic, called this because it is what you find at the top of the milk.

The element meaning pig is muc. You might recognise this from the Isle of Muck – Eilean nam Muc. However, in this case the “pigs” in question are “mucan-mara” – literally sea-pigs, that’s to say whales. 
And in Gaelic, unlike in English, you don’t say “as fat as a pig” but rather “as fat as a seal” – cho reamhar ri ròn.

On the coast in the East Neuk too are many beautiful fishing villages. Crail is Cair Ail – the settlement at the rock and Pittenweem is Peit na h-Uamha – the estate of the cave. 

This week’s Gaelic Word of the Week is North East Fife - Fìobh an Ear-Thuath: 

Let’s practice:

Fìobh an Ear-Thuath

Fìobh an Ear-Thuath

Fìobh an Ear-Thuath

Fìobh an Ear-Thuath

This week’s Gaelic Word of the Week has been read by Alasdair MacCaluim, Gaelic Development Officer who spent all his childhood holidays in Cair Ail and whose granny lived in Ladybank!

Gaelic Word of the Week - North East Fife - Fìobh an Ear Thuath

This week we continue with the our series on Scottish Parliament constituency names with a trip to East Lothian – Lodainn an Ear. 

Gaelic placenames are thinner on the ground in this area than they are in other parts of Scotland – Alba - but there are still more than enough for us to look at!  

People who regularly travel by train may well recognise the name of Drem station where the line to North Berwick – Bearaig a Tuath – splits from the east coast main line which goes on to such places as Newcastle - An Caisteal Nuadh, and London – Lunnainn. 

Did you know that Drem is a Gaelic name? It comes from the word Druim which means ridge or backbone. It also features in the name Drum in Kinrosshire, Drumnadrochit – Druim na Drochaid in Invernesshire (meaning “the ridge of the bridge”) and Taigh an Droma – Tyndrum in the Stirling council area which means “the house on the ridge”.   

Another Gaelic name is Gullane - A’ Ghualainn – meaning shoulder. If you look at the town on the map, the coastline certainly has a shoulderline shape!  

East Lothian – Lodainn an Ear – is famous for many things including castles – caistealan.  As it says on the boundary signs, it was also the birthplace of Scotland’s flag – bratach. In Gaelic the saltire, or St Andrews cross is called Crann na h-Alba. Crann means mast, cross, plough or beam and was also a word for tree in the past. This has led to the strange coincidence that the biblical word for olive tree – crann ola – is the same as the modern Gaelic for oil rig!  

Those who have studied history may know that an important battle was fought in Prestonpans during the 1745 Jacobite uprising – the Battle of Prestonpans or Battle of Gladsmuir which is known in Gaelic as Blàr Sliabh a' Chlamhain (The battle of the buzzard’s slope). If you visit the site of the battle, you will see that the signs are bilingual, in recognition that many of the soldiers were Highlanders.  

Regular listeners will recognise the word “dùn” meaning fort and this is the basis of the name Dunbar – Dùn Bàrr– Barr’s fort. Another major town with a Gaelic name is Cockenzie – Cùil Choinnich – Coinneach’s neuk. Like many names and placenames, this would have once been pronounced more like the Gaelic but had a Z sound inserted where people mistook the old Scots letter yough which made a Y sound with the letter Z – the same thing that has changed MacCoinnich to MacKenzie, Menzies to Menzies and Leanaidh to Lenzie! 

As well as towns with Gaelic names and English names, some of the settlements in East Lothian – Lodainn an Ear - have Brithonnic names such as Tranent and Pentaitland – from the old brythonnic language similar to Welsh which was once spoken in southern Scotland - Alba.  

Let’s practice: 

Lodainn an Ear 

Lodainn an Ear 

Lodainn an Ear 

Lodainn an Ear 

This week’s Gaelic WoW has been read by Alasdair MacCaluim, Gaelic Development Officer, who has a lifelong ambition to set foot on the Bass Rock!

Gaelic Word of the Week - East Lothian - Lodainn an Ear

This week we continue our journey around the different sgìrean – constituencies – of the Scottish Parliament – Pàrlamaid na h-Alba. 

We are back in the Central Belt for Falkirk East – An Eaglais Bhreac an Ear. 

Falkirk is an interesting name. In Gaelic An Eaglais Bhreac means the speckled kirk. This doesn’t make too much sense until we look at the Scots form the Faw kirk –  ‘faw’ meaning speckled.  

Falkirk East – An Eaglais Bhreac an Ear is full of many fascinating placenames including California and Bo’ness or, to give it its full name – Borrowstounness. 

There isn’t a Gaelic term for California – “the sunshine village” or for Bo’ness – but there is one for Kinneil, which you may have heard of if you are a rail enthusiast, since it is on the Bo’ness and Kinneil heritage railway. The name Kinneil comes from Ceann Fhàil – the head or end of the wall, referring to the Antonine Wall.  

Ceann appears in many placenames and is often anglicised as Kin in names such as Ceann Loch Liobhainn – Kinlochleven, Ceann Loch Raineach – Kinloch Rannoch.  

Once connected with Ceann Fhàil by a long-closed railway is the village of Slammanan – possibly the most interesting placename in the Eaglais Bhreac an Ear constituency. It comes from the Gaelic Sliabh Mhanann. Sliabh means hillside, slope or moor. The second part is more intricate. One theory is that the Mannan part comes from Manannán mac Lir, a sea god of Gaelic mythology. It is from him that the Isle of Man – Mannin/Manainn gained its name! According to mythology, he wore impenetrable armour, carried an invincible sword and rode over the waves in a splendid chariot.  

However, the more likely theory, accepted by Ainmean-àite na h-Alba, the national expert group on Gaelic placenames is that Sliabh Mhanann means the moor associated with the area of the Manu – a Brythonic-speaking tribe which was then part of the Kindgom of Gododdin. 

So Falkirk East – An Eaglais Bhreac an Ear has ties to Wales – a’ Chuimrigh, Ireland – Èirinn, the Isle of Man – Eilean Mhanainn – and of course, in the US – na Stàitean Aonaichte to California!  

This week’s Gaelic Word of the Week is: An Eaglais Bhreac an Ear – Falkirk East. 

An Eaglais Bhreac an Ear 

An Eaglais Bhreac an Ear 

An Eaglais Bhreac an Ear 

An Eaglais Bhreac an Ear 

This week’s Gaelic Word of the Week has been read by Alasdair MacCaluim, Gaelic development officer who is rather fond of railways and has had many happy visits to Rathad-iarainn Bo’ness is Cheann Fhàil!

Gaelic Word of the Week - Falkirk East - An Eaglais Bhreac an Ear

The Mòd, or to give it its full name – the Royal National Mòd – am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail is currently taking place.

The Royal National Mòd - Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail - is a week-long festival of Gaelic song, arts and culture which takes place in a different town or city each year. It is a key event in the Gaelic calendar and attended by thousands of people from all over Scotland - Alba- and around the world.

This year am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail is hosted in the city of Perth. The Gaelic for Perth is Peairt. It is believed that the meaning of the word is ‘thicket’.
Perth – Peairt – is mentioned in some interesting Gaelic phrases. Firstly, the traditional definition of the Highlands in Gaelic is “Bho Pheairt gu Hiort” – “from Perth to St Kilda”.

Perth isn’t just important to the Highlands, however. In Gaelic, to say that something is particularly Scottish, you can say “Cho Albannach ri Siorrachd Pheairt” – “as Scottish as Perthshire”.

In addition to the National Mòd – am Mòd Nàiseanta - there are also various local Mòds held all over Scotland - Alba.

But what is the connection of the Mòd to the Scottish Parliament – Pàrlamaid na h-Alba?

Interestingly, the word Mòd comes from a Gaelic term for a parliament or congress. This initially came from Old Norse and is linked to the English word moot.

If you’re curious to learn more, tune in for a Members Bill Debate on 27th of October, led by Murdo Fraser MSP on the subject of The Mod Coming Back to Perth. Don’t forget to follow the discussion on Scottish Parliament TV! 

This week’s Gaelic Word of the Week is Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail. 
Let’s practice:

Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail

Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail

Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail

Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail

This week’s Gaelic WoW has been read by Alasdair MacCaluim, Gaelic Development Officer who once worked as Gaelic development officer at Perth and Kinross Council!

Gaelic Word of the Week - the Royal National Mòd - am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail

Today’s Gaelic word of the week has a festive flavour for Halloween – Oidhche Shamhna.

When ghouls, ghosts and witches abound, it is always useful to have a rowan tree around as they are traditionally said to repel evil spirits and to bring good luck.

The Gaelic for rowan is caorann.

The Scottish Parliament – Pàrlamaid na h-Alba - is lucky to have such a tree growing outside.

This is a special rowan – caorann – as it was gifted to the Scottish Parliament – Pàrlamaid na h-Alba – by the late Queen on her Golden Jubilee in 2002. It was then planted at the opening of Holyrood – Taigh an Ròid – the permanent home of the Scottish Parliament in 2004.

The rowan tree – caorann – is also famously mentioned in Sorely MacLean’s most acclaimed poem Hallaig.

Another Oidhche Shamhna connection is one piece of legislation from the old Scottish Parliament when it dealt with a very relevant subject – witchcraft - buidseachd.

The Witchcraft Act 1563 stated that anyone practising witchcraft, sorcery or necromancy would be punished by death. Consequently, hundreds of witches were tried and put to death, with the last execution taking place at Dornoch in 1722. Fortunately, this act has been long repealed. 

Recently, the modern Scottish Parliament – Pàrlamaid na h-Alba has been looking at the legacy of this act. Earlier this year, the Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee considered a petition calling for a pardon and memorial of the Witchcraft Act victims and Nathalie Don MSP submitted a proposal for a Members’ Bill on the subject. 

We hope you will have a happy Halloween – Oidhche Shamhna!
This week’s Gaelic word of the week is Oidhche Shamhna – Halloween. 

Let’s practice:

Oidhche Shamhna

This week’s Gaelic WoW has been read and written by Alasdair MacCaluim, Gaelic Development Officer who well remembers how difficult it was to make turnip lanterns out of very hard turnips back in the 1980s!

Gaelic Word of the Week - Halloweeen - Oidhche Shamhna

Mun cuairt mun cuairt!

If you are a Gaelic speaker, one of the first things people ask is often “what does mun cuairt, mun cuairt mean?”

This expression even made its way into the Scottish Parliament – Pàrlamaid na h-Alba recently!

In a Members’ Business Debate led by Murdo Fraser MSP on the Royal National Mòd – Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail - Scotland’s largest Gaelic event, Clare Baker MSP mentioned that she had learnt the expression from TV.

So where does this mysterious expression come from and why do so many people know it? 

As Clare Baker pointed out, it comes from the introduction to the Gaelic children’s television programme Dòtaman which starts with the words “Mun cuairt mun cuairt a dhòtamain bhig, mun cuairt mun cuairt, saoil de thig?”. This means “around and around wee spinning top, around and around, I wonder what will come?”.

“Dòtaman” means “spinning top” and “mun cuairt” means “around”. 
Dòtaman ran from 1985 to 2000  and was a staple show for young Gaelic speakers. But because it aired on BBC 2, it was also seen by many non-Gaelic speakers and became a cult TV favourite..

The show’s presenter Donnie MacLeòd – Donnie Dòtaman – is famous for singing songs and for wearing amazing hats relating to subjects he was singing about – ranging from a koala bear to castles and a seagull and much more.

We wonder if Dòtaman was still running if Donnie Dotaman would consider making a hat of the Scottish Parliament building?

The word cuairt  is useful to know on its own. It means a cycle, circuit or rotation. It can also be translated as a wee walk or trip.

Let’s practise:

Mun cuairt

Mun cuairt

Mun cuairt

Mun cuairt

This week’s Gaelic Word of the Week has been written and read by Alasdair MacCaluim, Gaelic Development Officer who has spent many happy hours watching Gaelic children’s programmes, Murdaidh being his all time favourite!

Gaelic Word of the Week - Mun cuairt mun cuairt - around and around

This week’s Gaelic word of the week is bee – seillean – to celebrate the fact that the Scottish Parliament has this week taken delivery of two beehives – sgeapan. 

The arrival of the bees will see the Scottish Parliament – Pàrlamaid na h-Alba - become the first legislature in the UK to have a beehive and help support the honey bee population. 

The Gaelic for honey is - mil - and the Gaelic for honey bee is seillean-meala .

The bee hives - sgeapan, which will be installed by Kelvin Valley Honey, will be home to Scottish honey bees – seilleanan-meala - which will arrive later in the year.

This week’s Gaelic word of the week is seillean – bee.

Gaelic Word of the Week 45 - Seillean - Bee

Sreath de phrògraman foghlaim a chaidh a dhèanamh le Fun Kids Radio san Lùnastal 2013, a' coimhead air eachdraidh na Pàrlamaid, mar a nì i laghan agus mar as urrainn dhut pàirt a ghabhail san obair aice. Tha e cuideachd a' coimhead air cuid den bhàrdachd agus abairtean a tha sgrìobhte air Balla a' Chanongate.

Prògram 4: Mar a nithear laghan. Faigh a-mach mar a nì Pàrlamaid na h-Alba laghan.

Prògram 4: Mar a nithear laghan

Sreath de phrògraman foghlaim a chaidh a dhèanamh le Fun Kids Radio san Lùnastal 2013, a' coimhead air eachdraidh na Pàrlamaid, mar a nì i laghan agus mar as urrainn dhut pàirt a ghabhail san obair aice. Tha e cuideachd a' coimhead air cuid den bhàrdachd agus abairtean a tha sgrìobhte air Balla a' Chanongate.

Prògram 3: Dè th' ann an Deamocrasaidh? Sa phrògram seo, faigh a-mach mun t-siostam dheamocratach. 

Prògram 3: Dè th' ann an Deamocrasaidh?

Sreath de phrògraman foghlaim a chaidh a dhèanamh le Fun Kids Radio san Lùnastal 2013, a' coimhead air eachdraidh na Pàrlamaid, mar a nì i laghan agus mar as urrainn dhut pàirt a ghabhail san obair aice. Tha e cuideachd a' coimhead air cuid den bhàrdachd agus abairtean a tha sgrìobhte air Balla a' Chanongate.


Prògram 2: Toglaichean na Pàrlamaid. Sa phrògram seo, faigh a-mach mu càite am bi Pàrlamaid na h-Alba a' coinneachadh.

Prògram 2: Toglaichean na Pàrlamaid

Sreath de phrògraman foghlaim a chaidh a dhèanamh le  Fun Kids Radio san Lùnastal 2013, a' coimhead air eachdraidh na Pàrlamaid, mar a nì i laghan agus mar as urrainn dhut pàirt a ghabhail san obair aice. Tha e cuideachd a' coimhead air cuid den bhàrdachd agus abairtean a tha sgrìobhte air Balla a' Chanongate. 

Prògram 1: Eachdraidh a' Chanongate. Sa phrògram seo, gheibh thu a-mach mu àite a tha loma-làn eachdraidh: an Canongate. 

Prògram 1: Eachdraidh a' Chanongate

Sreath de phrògraman foghlaim a chaidh a dhèanamh le Fun Kids Radio san Lùnastal 2013, a' coimhead air eachdraidh na Pàrlamaid, mar a nì i laghan agus mar as urrainn dhut pàirt a ghabhail san obair aice. Tha e cuideachd a' coimhead air cuid den bhàrdachd agus abairtean a tha sgrìobhte air Balla a' Chanongate.

Prògram 5: Ag obair mar BhPA. Anns a' phrògram seo, faic seachdain ann am beatha aig Ball Pàrlamaid na h-Alba!

Prògram 5: Latha ann am Beatha BPA

Simple Gaelic phrases from the Blasad Gàidhlig leaflet.

Oidhche mhath (Good night)

This week, Gaelic Word of the Week will be celebrating the national bard, Robert Burns as we prepare to celebrate Burns night - 25 January.

Robert Burns is celebrated at the Scottish Parliament - Pàrlamaid na h-Alba - where a quote from his poem To a Louse is engraved in the Canongate Wall. 

O wad some Pow'r the giftie gie us 
To see oursels as others see us! 
It wad frae monie a blunder free us 
An' foolish notion.

There is also a Burns related artwork in the Scottish Parliament - Robert Burns Match Heads by David Mach. 
These are two busts of the bard made out of match heads.

A Burns song, A Man's A Man for 'a That, was sung by Sheena Wellington at the official opening - fosgladh - of the Scottish Parliament in 1999.

We've already seen the Gaelic for a poet and for poetry - bàrd and bàrdachd so we're going to look at what you would eat at a Burns Supper.  Burns wrote the poem “Address to a haggis” to celebrate his appreciation of the dish. As a result, Burns and Haggis have been forever linked.  This poem is the first item on the programme of Burn's suppers, held across the world around 25 January. 

The Gaelic for haggis is taigeis. 

To say tatties, neeps and haggis you would say buntata, sneap agus taigeis. 

Robert Burns is, of course, famous for writing in Scots. Did you know, however, that his entire works have been translated into Gaelic?  This was done by the late Rev. Roderick MacDonald - father of Lewis MacDonald MSP. 

This week's Gaelic Words of the Week are: buntata, sneap agus taigeis.

Gaelic Word of the Week 83 - Haggis, Neeps and Tatties - Taigeis, Sneap is Buntàta

We recently looked at the Gaelic for the Highlands - a' Ghàidhealtachd.

As the Scottish Parliament - Pàrlamaid na h-Alba - is soon to visit Dumfries - Dùn Phris for a Parliament day, this week's Gaelic word of the week is the Lowlands.

The Gaelic for Lowlands is a' Ghalldachd. 

The Gaelic for a Lowlander is Gall.

The word Gall is engraved on the Parliament's Canongate wall in a quotation from George Campbell Hay - Deòrsa Mac Iain Dheòrsa - one of the most acclaimed 20th century Gaelic poets.

Is i Alba nan Gall's nan Gaidheal is gàire is blàth is beatha dhomh. 

“It is Scotland, Highland and Lowland that is laughter and warmth and life for me.”

Parliament days are being held all over Scotland - Alba -, both in the Gàidhealtachd and the Galldachd to encourage participation in the work of the Parliament.

On Dumfries Parliament Day on Monday 23rd February, young women studying at Maxwelltown High School will tell the Presiding Officer – an t-Oifigear Riaghlaidh - what inspires them and find out how they can get involved in politics.  

The Public Petitions Committee will also be meeting locally. For more information about the Parliament day – Latha na Pàrlamaid – see our website: www.scottish.parliament.uk. 

Dumfries – Dun Phris – will also see a Communities Conference for local groups on Saturday 21st February focussing on engaging successfully with MSPs and the Parliament. 

This week's Gaelic word of the week is:

A' Ghalldachd


Gaelic Word of the Week 87 - A' Ghalldachd - the Lowlands

This week’s Gaelic Word of the Week is a rather unusual one. We are going to be teaching you how to pronounce a word both correctly and incorrectly!

This is the Gaelic Word for eagle – Iolaire.

This is spelt IOLAIRE. While it is pronounced iolaire in Gaelic, you may recognise it from a mispronunciation of the name as “Iolaire”.

This was the name of an ill-fated ship, the HMY Iolaire. HMY Iolaire was carrying Hebridean sailors who had fought in the First World War back to the Isle of Lewis – Eilean Leòdhais. Early on New Year’s day 1919, the Iolaire hit rocks near Stornoway – Steòrnabhagh - and sank.  Of the 205 who perished, 181 were islanders. This was the worst peacetime disaster involving a British ship since the Titanic in 1912.

If you would like to learn more about this tragic story, come along and see the play Iolaire at the Scottish Parliament – Pàrlamaid na h-Alba - at 6pm on Wednesday 16 March.
The premiere of the play of the Iolaire disaster of 1919 is performed and sung by Gaelic learners at Tynecastle High School and Stenhouse Primary School in Edinburgh- Dùn Èideann. 

The 19-strong cast of pupils will premiere the production in Edinburgh before it tours the Western Isles – na h-Eileanan Siar - in Spring 2016.
The production is 30 minutes in duration and is performed in English – Beurla - but contains 20 key Gaelic words that are used throughout.  The production is funded by Bòrd na Gàidhlig.

To arrange tickets, email eventsandexhibitions@scottish.parliament.uk or phone  0131 348 6933

This week’s Gaelic Word of the Week is Iolaire – eagle. 

Iolaire.

Iolaire.

This Gaelic Word of the Week has been read by Alasdair MacCaluim, Gaelic Development Officer. 


Gaelic Word of the Week 138 - Iolaire - Eagle

This week Gaelic Word of the Week looks at all things transport as the Scottish Parliament - Pàrlamaid na h-Alba - launches its sustainable travel plan.

The Gaelic for travel is siubhal. Sustainable travel is siubhal seasmhach.

The Scottish Parliament sustainable travel plan shows how people who work at the Parliament – Pàrlamaid na h-Alba - can travel sustainably and reduce their carbon footprint from travel activities. 

Let’s look at some of the forms of transport in Gaelic.
Plane is plèana or itealan, train is trèana, tram is trama and bicycle is rothair.
Bus and car are the same as they are in English.
Another very important form of travel in the plan is walking – coiseachd.

The word siubhal is a very useful word to talk about travel. Be careful about how you use it though, as it can also be a euphemism for death! 

The sustainable travel plan can be found on the Scottish Parliament – Pàrlamaid nah-Alba website – parliament.scot. 

Let’s practice:

Alasdair: Siubhal seasmhach

Victoria: Siubhal seasmhach

Alasdair: Siubhal seasmhach

Victoria: Siubhal seasmhach

This week’s Gaelic word of the week has been read by Victoria Barby, Environmental Manager.

Gaelic Word of the Week 154 - Sustainable travel - Siubhal Seasmhach

The Scottish Parliament’s Education and Skills Committee has begun a new enquiry into the recruitment and retention of teachers for Scotland’s schools. 

For this reason, this week’s Gaelic word of the week is teachers – luchd-teagaisg.

Some of the questions being asked by the committee include:

•	What are the main challenges in relation to teacher recruitment and retention?
•	What are the factors that influence whether teaching is considered an attractive profession compared to other professions by those that might consider a career in teaching?
•	What is the impact of teacher shortages in certain parts of Scotland or in specific disciplines? 
There are of course, many Gaelic teachers – luchd-teagaisg Gàidhlig – in Scotland - Alba. These include both teachers teaching Gaelic and teachers teaching through the medium of Gaelic. At primary school level, for example, there are 60 Gaelic medium schools and units throughout Scotland across 14 Local Authorities. 

Whether you are involved in Gaelic-medium or English-medium education, the committee would be interested in hearing your views. 

You can find out more about the enquiry on the Scottish Parliament – Pàrlamaid na h-Alba – website. The final date for responses is 26 April 2017. 

This week’s Gaelic word of the week is teachers – luchd-teagaisg.

Lets practice: 

Alasdair: luchd-teagaisg

Hayley: luchd-teagaisg

Alasdair: luchd-teagaisg

Hayley: luchd-teagaisg

This week’s Gaelic Word of the Week has been read by Hayley Cole, Outreach Services Officer.

Gaelic Word of the Week 179 - teachers - luchd-teagaisg

Gaelic Word of the Week - 2018

The Scottish Parliament offers an education programme where schools can visit the Parliament - Pàrlamaid na h-Alba - or where we can come out and visit your school - sgoil.

One of the schools visiting us is Bunsgoil Ghàidhlig Ghleann Dail. Over the festive period, some of the P7 pupils are going to help us learn some new year terminology.

If your New Year's resolution is to improve your Gaelic - and maybe your maths too, you've come to the right place!

Over to you Bunsgoil Ghàidhlig Ghleann Dai!

We're now in 2018 - how do you say that in Gaelic?

The Gaelic for two thousand is dà mhìle.

The Gaelic for 18 is ochd deug.

So to say 2018, you would say:

Dà mhile sa h-ochd deug.

Let's practice: 

Dà mhile sa h-ochd deug.

Dà mhile sa h-ochd deug.

Dà mhile sa h-ochd deug.

Happy new year to everybody - Bliadhna Mhath ùr a h-uile duine!

This week's Gaelic Word of the Week has been read by Finlay from Bunsgoil Ghàidhlig Ghleann Dail.

Gaelic Word of the Week 207 - 2018

Gaelic Word of the Week - Christmas

The Scottish Parliament offers an education programme where schools can visit the Parliament - Pàrlamaid na h-Alba - or where we can come out and visit your school - sgoil.

One of the schools visiting us is Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghleann Dail in Glasgow. Over the festive period, some of the P7 pupils are going to help us learn some Christmas and new year terminology.

Over to you Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghleann Dail!

The Gaelic for Christmas is Nollaig.

Nollaig.

Nollaig.

To say merry Christmas you would say Nollaig Chridheil.

Nollaig Chridheil.

Nollaig Chridheil.

Nollaig Chridheil.

And to say Merry Christmas and a Happy new year, you could say: 

Nollaig Chridheil is Bliadhna Mhath Ùr.

Nollaig Chridheil is Bliadhna Mhath Ùr.

Nollaig Chridheil is Bliadhna Mhath Ùr.

Some other Christmas words are Santa Claus - Bodach nan Nollaig and Christmas Tree - Craobh Nollaig.

This week's Gaelic Word of the Week has been read by Iris from Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghleann Dail.

Gaelic Word of the Week 205 - Christmas - Nollaig

This week saw the opening of Scotland’s new Lobbying Register – Clàr-coiteachaidh. 

The Gaelic for lobbying is coiteachadh. 

Lobbying – coiteachadh - takes many different forms and is done by individuals and interest groups, by bodies representing their members or professions; charities and the voluntary sector and those who act in a professional capacity to lobby others. 

What is regulated lobbying?

Regulated lobbying is a core concept of the Lobbying (Scotland) Act 2016.

Regulated lobbying is lobbying which takes place face-to-face with MSPs, members of the Scottish Government, Special Advisers or the Permanent Secretary, and relates to Scottish Government or Parliamentary functions. 

The Act requires that regulated lobbying must be recorded in the lobbying register. 

For more details of what constitutes regulated lobbying or for more details of the Lobbying Register, check out the website at https://www.lobbying.scot/ or follow the Lobbying Register on twitter at @SP_LobbyingScot

This week’s Gaelic Word of the Week is lobbying – coiteachadh.


Let’s practice: 

Alasdair: Coiteachadh

James: Coiteachadh

Alasdair: Coiteachadh

James: Coiteachadh

This week’s Gaelic Word of the Week has been read by James Drummond, – Support Manager, Lobbying Register Team

Gaelic Word of the Week 216 - Lobbying - Coiteachadh

Earlier this week saw the International Day of Forests – Latha Eadar-nàiseanta nan Coilltean.

The Gaelic for forest or wood is coille.

Topically, forests – coilltean - have been under the consideration of the Scottish Parliament – Pàrlamaid na h-Alba this week and the Forestry and Land Management (Scotland) Bill was passed on Tuesday.

The Gaelic for tree is craobh.

Did you know that there are also various native Scottish trees – craobhan - in landscaped area outside the Scottish Parliament – Pàrlamaid na h-Alba?

These include darach – oak, giuthas – pine and teile – lime.

Trees are very important in Gaelic tradition. Indeed, letters of the Gaelic alphabet are named after trees.

A, B, C in Gaelic, for example, comes from A - ailm – elm, b – beith – birch and c – coll – hazel.

Trees also feature in many place-names in Scotland - Alba. If you have travelled on the Kyle Line you may recognise Achnashellach station. In Gaelic this is Achadh nan Seileach – the field of willows. 

As we’ve seen, the Gaelic for a pine tree is giuthas. This is contained in Kingussie – Ceann a’ Ghiuthsaich – the head of the pine forest.

And perhaps the best example of all is Creiff – Craoibh – which means ‘tree place’.

This week’s Gaelic word of the week is coille – forest.

Let’s practice: 

Alasdair – Coille

Mary – Coillle

Alasdair – Coille

Mary - Coille

This week’s Gaelic Word of the Week has been read by: Mary Hershaw, Education Manager.

Gaelic Word of the Week 218 - Forest - Coille

We’ve seen various animals in Gaelic word of the week before but this week we’re going to look at a very special animal, a mythical animal – the unicorn.

Earlier this week saw National Unicorn Day and you can see the post we did to celebrate this on our Instagram feed at @scotparl. 

The Gaelic for unicorn is aon-adharcach. Aon means one and adharcach means horned. Aon-adharcach – unicorn – is not to be confused with the sròn-adharcach meaning ‘horned nose’ the Gaelic for rhinoceros! 

The unicorn is a national symbol of Scotland – Alba - and if you visit the Scottish Parliament – Pàrlamaid na h-Alba – you may well see one. Not a real live unicorn, alas, but a carved one on the coat of arms at our Visitors Service desk in the main hall. This was designed by Romilly Squire and gifted to the Parliament by the Heraldry Society of Scotland.

This design is a Scottish version of the coat of arms of the UK. It shows the Scottish quartered coat of arms, with the lion rampant in two quarters. The coat of arms is supported by the unicorn and the lion. The arms are wreathed by the Order of the Thistle. You can learn more about the coat of arms on the Scottish Parliament website. 

The Gaelic for lion is leòmhann. 

Closely related to the unicorn is the humble horse - each. Other equine animals in Gaelic are donkey - asal and mule – leth-asal – literally meaning ‘half-donkey’! Our favourite has to be zebra. Usually the Gaelic for zebra is simply sìobra but some dictionaries give the Gaelic for zebra as asal-stiallach, literally stripey-donkey!

This week’s Gaelic Word of the Week is unicorn – aon-adharcach. Let’s practice! 

Alasdair: aon-adharcach

Tom: aon-adharcach

Alasdair: aon-adharcach

Tom: aon-adharcach


This week’s Gaelic Word of the Week has been read by Tom McEachan, Modern Apprentice with the Web & Social Media Team.

Gaelic Word of the Week 220 - Unicorn - Aon-adharcach

This week is National Parks week which aims to celebrate all that is unique and special about National Parks in the UK. 

This gives us a great excuse to look at Scotland’s National Parks and their connection to the Scottish Parliament – Pàrlamaid na h-Alba and to Gaelic.

The Gaelic for National Park is Pàirc Nàiseanta.

Scotland – Alba – has two national parks. These are the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park – Pàirc Nàiseanta Loch Laomainn is nan Tròisichean and the Cairngorms National Park - Pàirc Nàiseanta a’ Mhonaidh Ruaidh. 

These national parks – Pàircean Nàiseanta – have a strong link to the Scottish Parliament as they were established through Scottish Parliament legislation.

The Scottish Parliament passed the National Parks (Scotland) Act in 2000 which enabled the establishment of national parks. Through this legislation, the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park was designated in 2002 and the Cairngorms National Park in 2003. The area of the Cairngorms national park was also extended by the Scottish Parliament in 2010 to take in parts of Perthshire – Siorrachd Pheairt. 

Both of our National Parks – Pàircean Nàiseanta - are in areas with a strong Gaelic heritage and both parks have Gaelic language plans. You can see this from the place-names in the area.

One particularly interesting place-name is that of the Cairngorms. Even though the English name Cairngorms actually comes from Gaelic, the name used in Gaelic is different – am Monadh Ruadh!

The mountain called the Cairngorm takes its name from the Gaelic an Càrn Gorm – the blue hill. In English the mountain range the Cairngorms takes its name from this. In Gaelic, however, the Cairngorm mountain range is called Am Monadh Ruadh which means -the red-brown mountain range.

This week’s Gaelic Word of the Week is National Park – Pàirc Nàiseanta.

Let’s practice:

Alasdair: Pàirc Nàiseanta

Ewan: Pàirc Nàiseanta

Alasdair: Pàirc Nàiseanta

Ewan: Pàirc Nàiseanta

This week’s Gaelic Word of the Week has been read by Ewan Masson, Outreach Services Officer.

Gaelic Word of the Week 232 - National Park - Pàirc Nàiseanta

This week Gaelic Word of the Week looks at the European Championships which are currently taking place in Glasgow- Glaschu.

The Gaelic for European Championships is na Co-fharpaisean Eòrpach.

The European Championships – na Co-fharpaisean Eòrpach - is a new multi-sport event bringing together some of the continent’s leading sports including the existing European Championships for athletics, aquatics, cycling, gymnastics, rowing and triathlon with a new golf team championship.

The championships – na Co-fharpaisean Eòrpach – also have a cultural programme – Festival 2018. 

If you are interested in finding more out about the work of the Scottish Parliament – Pàrlamaid na h-Alba, you have a great chance to do so at the European Championships – na Co-fharpaisean Eòrpach.

The Scottish Parliament – Pàrlamaid na h-Alba - has a stall at the Year of Young People 2018 Space in Glasgow Green – Rèidhlean Ghlaschu. This is part of the Go live on the Green Event which brings together fitness, health, art, food and drink and encourages a healthy and active life. Come along and meet us and learn about how you can participate in your parliament! We’ll be along all day on Friday 3rd August, Thursday 9th August and Friday 10th August. 

This week’s Gaelic Word of the Week is the European Championships – na Co-fharpaisean Eòrpach.

Let’s practice:

Alasdair: Na Co-fharpaisean Eòrpach

Michaela: Na Co-fharpaisean Eòrpach

Alasdair: Na Co-fharpaisean Eòrpach

Michaela: Na Co-fharpaisean Eòrpach


This week’s Gaelic Word of the Week has been read by Michaela Sullivan, Inward Education Manager.

Gaelic Word of the Week 233 - European Championships - Co-fharpaisean na h-Eòrpa

Gaelic Word of the Week – Culture Summit

This week the Scottish Parliament - Pàrlamaid na h-Alba – has been home to the Edinburgh International Culture summit - Àrd-choinneamh Eadar-nàiseanta Chultair Dhùn Èideann.

The Edinburgh International Culture Summit brings together culture ministers, artists, thinkers and arts leaders from around the world to share ideas, expertise and best practice, with a view to inspiring positive change in cultural policy and investment.

For this reason, this week's Gaelic word of the week is culture - cultar.

The overall theme of Summit 2018 is ‘Culture – Connecting Peoples and Places’, aiming to reflect on the challenges and complexities of the world in which we live and demonstrate how culture can make connections across perceived divisions in society.

For more information, see the Edinburgh Culture summits’ website culturesummit.com or follow them on twitter on @culturesummit. 

Some other relevant culture related words in Gaelic are: the arts - na h-ealain; music – ceòl, heritage – dualchas, the media – na meadhanan and language - cànan.

This week's Gaelic word of the week is culture - cultar.

Let’s practice:

Alasdair - cultar

Kate - cultar

Alasdair - cultar

Kate - cultar

This week’s Gaelic Word of the Week has been read by Kate Smith, Outreach Services Officer.

Gaelic Word of the Week 236 - Culture - cultar

The Scottish Parliament wants to make sure everyone in Scotland can become involved in its work, whatever language they use. Aside from English, one of the most frequently used languages in Parliament is Gaelic, so we thought we would upload some sound clips teaching people how to pronounce words in Gaelic.  

So, how do you say "Scottish Parliament" in Gaelic? It's "Pàrlamaid na h-Alba".

[Pronunciation:: Parlamatch na halapa.]

Gaelic Word of the Week 1 - Parlamaid na h-Alba

Last week we learned the Gaelic for Scottish Parliament.  This week we hear how to say 'Scottish Government' in Gaelic.

(Pronunciation: reeyultus na halapa.  International phonetic alphabet: Riə.əLdəs nə haLabə.)

Gaelic Word of the Week 2 - Riaghaltas na h-Alba

We have learned how to say 'Scottish Parliament' and 'Scottish Government' in Gaelic - but neither of these would exist without devolution, or Fèin-riaghladh.

Pronunciation: fayn reealug

Gaelic Word of the Week 3 - Fèin-riaghladh

We already know that Scottish Parliament in Gaelic is Pàrlamaid na h-Alba, so we just need to find out how to say Member and then we can join the two together.

So, what is the Gaelic for Member of the Scottish Parliament? 

It's Ball Pàrlamaid na h-Alba.

Pronunciation: bawl parlamatch na halapa.

Gaelic Word of the Week 4 - Ball Pàrlamaid na h-Alba

Last week we heard that the Gaelic for MSP – the elected representatives who work at Pàrlamaid na h-Alba – is Ball Pàrlamaid na h-Alba. 

But how do these individuals end up working as MSPs?  This is, of course, by members of the public voting for them.

So our Gaelic word of the week is Bhòtadh (voting).

Pronunciation: votag – IPA vɔːhdəɣ.

Gaelic Word of the Week 5 - Bhòtadh

We recently looked at the weather here in Gaelic Word of the Week. 

We’ve seen that rain is uisge. 

Since then, we’ve been lucky enough to enjoy some sun. The Gaelic for the Sun is a’ ghrian and sunny is grianach.

To say it is sunny, you would say “Tha i grianach”.

The sun features in many Gaelic idioms. 

In English, when something surprises you, you say “what on earth?” To say the same thing in Gaelic, you’d say “Dè fon ghrèin” – what under the sun?

To say “make hay when the sun shines” in Gaelic, however, you wouldn’t use the  word sun at all. You would say dèan maorach fhad 's a bhios an tràigh ann – “collect shellfish while it is high tide”. 

The word grian appears in an important Gaelic placename – Grianaig – Greenock which means ‘the sunny knoll’. 

If it is grianach – sunny, the landscaped area outside the Scottish Parliament is a good place to visit. 

This area features wild flower meadows, ponds, plants, wildflowers and trees and is a great place to sit and relax.

Amongst the trees are birch – Beith and oak – Darach. You might recognise these from placenames including Beith in Ayrshire – Beithe – and from the fictional village Glendarroch in the 1980s soap opera Take the High Road!

Trees are very important in Gaelic literature as the letters in the Gaelic alphabet are named after trees with Beith, birch, representing B and Darach, oak representing D. 

If it gets too hot outside and you can’t find shade under one of our trees, you can always come into the Parliament building to enjoy some shade while also learning about the work of the Scottish Parliament – Pàrlamaid na h-Alba - or visiting our shop or cafè.

This week’s Gaelic Word of the Week is a’ Ghrian – the sun.

Let’s practice: 

A’ ghrian
A’ ghrian
A’ ghrian
A’ ghrian

This week’s Gaelic Word of the Week has been read by Alasdair MacCaluim, Gaelic Development Officer.

Gaelic Word of the Week - Sun - Grian

We’ve been looking at the weather here at Gaelic Word of the Week over the last few weeks.

If you’ve been listening, you will maybe remember that the Gaelic for rain is uisge and that sun is grian.

When it’s been sunny – grianach – for a long time, we often see thunder and lightning. 

This week’s Gaelic word of the week is dealanaich – lightening.

Thunder is tairneanaich so thunder and lightning is tairneanaich agus dealanaich. 

To protect the Scottish Parliament building from dealanaich – lightning – we have  giùlanairean-dealanaich – lighting conductors! 

As you might expect, the Gaelic word for electricity – dealan – is closely related to dealanaich – lightning.

At the Scottish Parliament – Pàrlamaid na h-Alba as part of our commitment to sustainability we buy all of our electricity from sustainable sources. We are also are reducing our consumption of electricity – dealan. - 

We are now using 30% less dealain – electricity – than we were in 2005/6 . 

This week’s Gaelic Word of the Week is dealanaich – lightning.

Let’s practice:

Alasdair: Dealanaich
Ewan: Dealanaich
Alasdair: Dealanaich
Ewan: Dealanaich

This week’s Gaelic word of the week has been read by: Ewan Masson, Outreach Services Officer.

Gaelic Word of the Week - Lightning - Dealanaich

This week in Gaelic Word of the Week we are looking at possibly the most important and best sounding word in the language!

This is the word Srùbag. It comes from the word srùb meaning spout like on a teapot, and ag which means wee, and so literally means a wee spouty. But what does Srùbag actually mean?

Srùbag is an informal word for a cuppa!  

While it originally meant just a cup of tea – teatha – nowadays it can mean any hot drink and often carries the implication of coffee – cofaidh – and cake – cèic – or tea – teatha – and biscuits – briosgaidean.

If you fancy a good srùbag – why not come along to the Scottish Parliament café to enjoy an afternoon tea? After all, it is Afternoon Tea week! 

If you are having a srùbag, you can enjoy tea – teatha and coffee – cofaidh. Other great srùbag words are cèic – cake and ceapaire – sandwich.

Another great tea-related Gaelic word is cluasag-tì. This literally means ‘tea-pillow’ and is the Gaelic for a tea-cosy.

This week’s Gaelic Word of the Week is srùbag.

Let’s practice: 

Alasdair: Srùbag
Kate: Srùbag
Alasdair: Srùbag
Kate: Srùbag

This week’s Gaelic Word of the Week has been read by Kate Smith, Outreach Services Officer

Gaelic Word of the Week - Cup of tea - Srùbag

This week, the Royal National Mòd is taking place. In Gaelic it is called Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail. 

The Royal National Mòd - Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail - is a week long festival of Gaelic song, arts and culture and takes place in a different town or city each year. It is attended by many thousands of people from all over Scotland and the world and is a key event in the Gaelic calendar. 

This year it is taking part in Glasgow – Glaschu – which has the nickname of Baile Mòr nan Gàidheal – the city of the Gaels. 
There are also various local Mòds held all over Scotland - Alba. 

But what is the connection of the Mòd to the Scottish Parliament – Pàrlamaid na h-Alba? 

Interestingly, the word Mòd comes from a Gaelic word which means a parliament or congress. This initially came from Old Norse and is linked to the English word moot.

This week’s Gaelic Word of the Week is Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail. Let’s practice:

This week’s Gaelic WoW has been read by Alasdair MacCaluim, Gaelic Development Officer:

Gaelic Word of the Week - the Royal National Mòd - Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail

We’ve now entered the month of an Dùbhlachd – December, which is coincidentally this week’s Gaelic Word of the Week.

If you know your Gaelic colours, you might recognise the dubh in Dùbhlachd as meaning black, as it is the “black” month when things are dark! You might also recognise it from the word sgian dubh – literally a “black knife” which can be part of Highland dress.

For Dùbhlachd, the Gaelic dictionary gives us a number of definitions. The first is “the depth of winter”, the second is “gloominess”, the third is “winter doldrum” and the fourth is (with def. art.) December.

It’s not all gloominess and doldrums however, as the beginning of December – an Dùbhlachd - brings with it the advent – aidbhein. For Christians, advent – aidbhein - is the season marking the preparation for and celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ who in Gaelic is known as Iosa Crìosd. 

Many of us will also have started aidbhein with advent calenders – mìosachain na h-aidbhein.

At the beginning of December – An Dùbhlachd - many people also put up and decorate a Christmas tree – Craobh Nollaig, craobh meaning tree and Nollaig being the Gaelic for Christmas.

The Scottish Parliament – Pàrlamaid na h-Alba – celebrates Christmas – Nollaig - like the rest of Scotland – Alba. However, the pre-union Scottish Parliament wasn’t always so supportive. In 1640, it passed a law banning the "Yule vacation and all observation thereof in time coming". Don’t worry, however, this legislation has now been repealed so we can enjoy our Christmas celebrations in an Dùbhlachd!

Keep an eye on Gaelic word of the week for more festive vocabulary!
Let’s practice:

An Dùbhlachd

An Dùbhlachd

An Dùbhlachd

An Dùbhlachd

This week’s Gaelic Word of the Week has been read by Alasdair MacCaluim, Gaelic Development Officer.

Gaelic Word of the Week - December - An Dùbhlachd

Gaelic Word of the Week – Rùn na Bliadhna Ùire

Bliadhna mhath ùr a chàirdean – happy new year everybody!
Our first Gaelic Word of the Week for 2021 is rùn na bliadhna ùire – new year’s resolution

This is the time of year when many people make their new year’s resolution – rùn na bliadhna ùire. Have you made any this year? A lot of people have decided to make learning Gaelic or improving their Gaelic one of their rùn na bliadhna ùire for 2021. If you can count yourself as one of them, we’d like to say– glè mhath – very good! We’ll do all we can to help you through our Gaelic resources, twitter account and more!

The word rùn is an interesting one. It can mean resolution like a new year’s resolution or a motion passed by a meeting of a Parliament! Here at Pàrlamaid na h-Alba, however, we usually use the word gluasad for a motion.

Rùn can also mean someone or something you love. If you like the band Runrig, you may know the song Dùisg mo Rùn – which means “wake up my love”. 

Rùn can also mean intention or will – droch rùn is bad intention and deagh rùn is good intention or will. You might hear these in Gaelic news programmes where they discuss court cases for example.
And rùn or rùn-dìomhair can even mean a secret! 

These are a lot of meanings for such a little word but in practice it is easy to work out the meaning of Rùn from the context! It’d be a little strange to assume the Presiding Officer was talking about love, rather than a motion in the Debating Chamber for example!

If your rùn na bliadhna ùire is to work on your Gaelic, why not follow our Gaelic twitter account @ParlAlba both to help your Gaelic and learn more about Pàrlamaid na h-Alba!

And for information about all the Gaelic learning opportunities in Scotland and worldwide, check out the official one-stop shop website for Gaelic learning LearnGaelic.Scot.

This week’s Gaelic Word of the Week is Rùn na Bliadhna Ùire.

Let’s practice: 

Rùn na Bliadhna Ùire

Rùn na Bliadhna Ùire

Rùn na Bliadhna Ùire

Rùn na Bliadhna Ùire

This week’s Gaelic Word of the Week has been read by Alasdair MacCaluim, Gaelic Development Officer, whose successful Rùn na Bliadhna Ùire in 1992 was to learn Gaelic!

Gaelic Word of the Week - Rùn na Bliadhna Ùire - New Years Resolution

Sounds and interviews from the Scottish Parliament. (Please note that opinions expressed during event-related interviews are those of individuals rather than the SPCB.)

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