Language/Scottish-gaelic/Grammar/Questions
➡ In today's lesson you will learn how to ask Questions in the Scottish Gaelic language, mainly spoken in Scotland and the Hebrides islands.
Happy learning!
Once you've mastered this lesson, take a look at these related pages: Personal pronouns, Negation, Give your Opinion & How to Use Be.
Scottish Gaelic, a Celtic language spoken primarily in Scotland, has a variety of question words that can be used to ask different types of questions. In this article, we will explore these question words and provide examples of how to use them in sentences.
Question Words
What: "Dè"
"Dè" is used to ask questions about things or objects. It is equivalent to the English word "what."
Example:
Dè tha sin? - What is that?
Who: "Cò"
"Cò" is used to ask questions about people. It corresponds to the English word "who."
Example:
Cò tha sin? - Who is that?
When: "Cuin"
"Cuin" is used to ask questions about time or when something occurs. It is equivalent to the English word "when."
Example:
Cuin a tha iad a' tighinn? - When are they coming?
Where: "Càite"
"Càite" is used to ask questions about location. It corresponds to the English word "where."
Example:
Càite a bheil an taigh? - Where is the house?
Why: "Carson"
"Carson" is used to ask questions about reasons or motives. It is equivalent to the English word "why."
Example:
Carson a tha thu a' falbh? - Why are you leaving?
How: "Ciamar"
"Ciamar" is used to ask questions about the manner or method of doing something. It corresponds to the English word "how."
Example:
Ciamar a tha thu? - How are you?
Which: "Dè an"
"Dè an" is used to ask questions about choosing between options. It is equivalent to the English word "which."
Example:
Dè an leabhar a tha thu ag iarraidh? - Which book do you want?
How much/many: "Dè cho mòr" or "Dè cho iomadh"
"Dè cho mòr" and "Dè cho iomadh" are used to ask questions about quantity or amount. They correspond to the English phrases "how much" and "how many," respectively.
Examples:
Dè cho mòr a tha an taigh? - How big is the house?
Dè cho iomadh daoine a tha a' tighinn? - How many people are coming?
Forming questions
In Scottish Gaelic, questions can be formed by using a question word followed by the subject and verb. The word order may change depending on the type of question being asked. In some cases, the verb "tha" (to be) may be used.
Examples:
Dè tha thu a' dèanamh? - What are you doing?
Cò a tha anns an t-seòmar? - Who is in the room?
Cuin a bhios iad a' tighinn? - When will they come?
Using intonation to ask questions
In spoken Scottish Gaelic, intonation can also be used to turn a statement into a question. Raising the pitch of your voice at the end of a sentence can indicate that you are asking a question, even without using a question word.
Example:
Tha thu a' dèanamh an dìnnear? - Are you making dinner?
Summary
a' cheist / na ceistean - question words
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | English |
|---|---|
| Cò ? | Who? |
| Dè ? | What? |
| Ciamar ? | How? |
|
How much? |
| Càit ? | Where? |
| Cuin ? | When? |
| Carson ? | Why? |
| Oir ... | Because... |
| freagairt(ean) | answer(s) |
| Cò aig | Who has |
| Cò leis | Who owns |
| Dè an aois | How old (What age) |
| Dè seòrsa X | What kind/What sort |
Examples: Useful questions
| Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) | English |
|---|---|
| An do dh'òl thu? | Did you drink? |
| A bheil Gàidhlig agad? | Do you speak Gaelic? |
| Ciamar a tha thu? | How are you? |
| Ciamar a tha sibh? | how are you? formal |
| Ciamar a tha thu? | how are you? informal |
| B' àill leat? | Pardon? |
| Dè rud? [familiar] | What? |
| Dè an t-ainm a th' ort? | What's your name? |
| Cò às a tha thu? | Where are you from? |
Videos
Scottish Gaelic Lesson 1: Answer "Yes" or "No" to simple questions
Gaelic Foundations 1: Eight Important Words in Scottish Gaelic
How to ask "how are you?" in Scots Gaelic
Quiz
Questions
- What is the Scottish Gaelic word for "what"?
- How do you say "who" in Scottish Gaelic?
- What is the Scottish Gaelic equivalent of the English word "when"?
- In Scottish Gaelic, how do you ask about a location?
- Which Scottish Gaelic word is used to ask about reasons or motives?
- How do you say "how" in Scottish Gaelic?
- What is the Scottish Gaelic word for "which"?
- How do you ask about the quantity or amount in Scottish Gaelic?
- In Scottish Gaelic, how can you turn a statement into a question?
- Translate the following Scottish Gaelic question into English: "Ciamar a tha thu?"
Answers
- Dè
- Cò
- Cuin
- Càite
- Carson
- Ciamar
- Dè an
- Dè cho mòr (how much) or Dè cho iomadh (how many)
- By raising the pitch of your voice at the end of a sentence (intonation)
- How are you?
Other Lessons