Òraid 1 (Lecture 1)
1.1 An Aibidil (The Alphabet)
Gaelic is similar to other European languages, in that it uses an alphabet based on the Latin alphabet. This alphabet is made up of only eighteen letters, however others may be seen in loan words as well as in mathematical and scientific works.
| Aa | Bb | Cc | Dd | Ee | Ff | Gg | Hh | Ii |
| Ll | Mm | Nn | Oo | Pp | Rr | Ss | Tt | Uu |
The letters Aa, Ee, Ii, Oo and Uu are all classed as vowels, while remaining letters are classed as consonants. Vowels can be written in in both ’short form’ as above, and in long form; Àà, Èè, Ìì, Òò and Ùù.
Traditionally there were two different forms of the alphabet in use: ordinary Roman lettering and Gaelic lettering which is a medieval varient, however the Roman form has become the more common. Similarly, the traditional names of the letters have widely been replaced by their English names.
1.2 Fuaimneachadh (Pronounciation)
While not all Gaelic letters have an English equivalent, the list below attempts to give an approximate equivalent.
Fuaimreagan (Vowels)
| VOWEL | GAELIC SOUND | ENGLISH EQUIVALENT |
| a | bata | cat |
| a | bàta | rather |
| ao | caol | cool |
| e | le & teth | get & gate |
| è | sèimh & fhèin | longer version of e |
| i | sin & ith | tin & sweep |
| ì | sìn | longer version of i as in evil |
| o | poca & bog | top & boat |
| ò | pòcaid & mòr | jaw & door |
| u | tur | brood |
| ù | tùr | brewed |
Gàidhlig can be regarded as having two complete (or nearly complete) sets of consonant sounds, which are sorted according to the class of vowel with which they are combined. In addition to this, the sound of a consonant can be changed if it is followed by an h. The two sets of consonants are referred to as Connragan leathann (Broad Consonants), which are preceded or followed by a, o or u and Connragen caola (Slender Consonants), which are preceded or followed by e or i.
Connragan Leathann (Broad Consonants)
| CONSONANT | GAELIC SOUND | ENGLISH EQUIVALENT |
| b | bata | at the start of a word, as b in English elsewhere in a word, as p in English captive |
| bh | bha abhainn |
at the start of a word, as v in English vent elsewhere in a word, as v or w |
| c | cù aca |
at the start of a word, as in English cup elsewhere in a word, like chk in Loch Katrine |
| ch | loch | as ch in loch |
| d | dubh ad |
at the start of a word, as d in English elsewhere in a word, as t in English cattle |
| dh | dhà | see gh |
| f | fada | as in English |
| fh | fhada | usually silent |
| g | gabh adag |
at the start of a word, as in English elsewhere in a word, as k in English ankle |
| gh | ghabh | a blurred version of g/voiced version of ch |
| h | hama | as in English |
| l | latha | similar to English pulled |
| m | mòr | as in English |
| mh | mhòr | as Gaelic bh or English v |
| n | a-nochd | as in English kindred |
| p | pàigh ròpa |
at the start of a word, as in English elsewhere in a word, preceded by a h sound |
| ph | phàigh | as in English pheasant |
| r | rùm | as in English |
| s | sona | as in English |
| sh | shona | as in English hat |
| t | trì cat |
at start of a word, as English true elsewhere in a word, preceded by an h sound |
| th | tha | as in English hat |
Connragan Caola (Slender Consonants)
| CONSONANT | GAELIC SOUND | ENGLISH EQUIVALENT |
| c | ceòl aice |
at the start of a word, as in English kilt elsewhere in a word, as in German ich kenne |
| ch | chì | as in German ich |
| d | deiseil | as in English jet |
| dh | dheth | as in English yet |
| g | geal aige |
at the start of a word, like g followed by y elsewhere in a word, as in English neck |
| gh | gheal | as in English yet |
| l | leabhar | as in English allure |
| n | nighean | as in English new |
| s | sin | as in English shin |
| t | teth cait |
as in English chin elsewhere in a word, preceded by an h sound |
