Category Archives: Gaelic Words

Updated 6/30/14 : So what is your ‘Official Outlander name’ in Gàidhlig?

Àdhamh Ó Broin (@an_comhghallach) has most kindly been running an Outlander Fan name translation service via Twitter. 😉  Just find your name below and then use your imagination to hear Àdhamh saying the following in his best ‘How to Speak Outlander’ voice:

 “Say it with me,  __insert your Gàidhlig name here__ . You now have your own official OUTLANDER name! Latha math leibh!”

As I see new names come across Twitter, I’ll add them here. If there is no pronunciation guide, then it is pronounced the same as English. Also, keep in mind that because some of our more modern names don’t truly exist in Gàidhlig, what is given here is an approximation using the equivalent Gàidhlig spelling for the English sounds.

Abagail /AHbagle/ – Abigail  ‘gle’ like in waggle

Àdailin /AHdaleen/ – Adeline

Alàna / / – Alana

Àlasan / ALison – Alison

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How to speak Outlander Lesson 4: Laoghaire and Geillis

In Lesson 4, Àdhamh is kind enough to introduce us to Nell and Lotte for lessons in how to pronounce some challenging character names. Hmm is that challenging as in ‘hard to pronounce’ or challenging as in ‘We love to hate them.’ I’ll let you decide. Either way proper pronunciation would be very helpful.

P.S. I see still more people I recognize from the LA event!

Gàidhlig Song of the day (February 13, 2014) The Rankin Family – Chi Mi Na Morbheanna

The Gàidhlig song of the day is by one of my favorite Cape Breton groups – The Rankin Family.  The Rankin Family group was comprised of 3 brothers and 2 sisters from Mabou, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.  Unfortunately, two members of the group, John Morris Rankin and Raylene Rankin, are no longer with us, but the pure harmonies in the recordings they left behind are magical.  I was privileged to see the Rankin Family perform live many times and it was through hearing them talk about the beauty of their home in Cape Breton that I began visiting there myself.  I can honestly say that I don’t think I have been any more beautiful than Mabou, Cape Breton.

The Rankin Family – Chi Mi Na Morbheanna

Gaelic Medley by the Carolina Chocolate Drops

I thought in addition to the Gaelic words and phrases, it might be interesting to feature some Gaelic songs from time to time. The song I’m featuring this week is actually by an American group called the Carolina Chocolate Drops.  There has been a lot of preservation of traditional Gaelic songs in the American south due to the influence of the Scots and Irish settlers who came here and settled.

I hope you enjoy it!

Weekly Gaelic Phrase roundup – February 10, 2014

OK.  I promise at some point to come up with a better organizational structure for all of these! BUT, since Àdhamh promised a round up (which in all fairness I promised him first), here goes.

Overheard on Twitter the week prior to February 10, 2014, I present the following useful Gàidhlig words and phrases courtesy of  Àdhamh Ó Broin (@an_Comhghallach).

dealbhan ealanta /JAlavan YALanta/ artful pictures

Cianalas /quia-nalas/ (Latin pron.) kind of spiritual homesickness

Taing dhut! /tang ghooht/ Thanks

m’ eudail darling/dear  like the way a Scottish person pronounces ‘cradle’ or ‘ladle’ except jauntier /MAYdal

Tha usa air a’ chuthach air fad! /ha usa aira chuach air fat/ You’re absolutely nuts!

nach tu tha briagh! /nach tu ha bría/ Aren’t you lovely

còir” /kawr/ dear, kind Continue reading →