Language/Scottish-gaelic/Vocabulary/Numbers-1-20
As a complete beginner in Scottish Gaelic, it's essential to learn the numbers first, especially if you're traveling to a Gaelic-speaking area in Scotland. In this lesson, you will learn the twenty numbers in Scottish Gaelic and how to use them in sentences.
Numbers in Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic numbers are relatively straightforward, and unlike some other languages, there are no masculine or feminine forms for numbers. The numbers in Scottish Gaelic are as follows:
| Scottish Gaelic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| aon | [ɨn] | one |
| dhà | [ɣɑː], [d̪̊ɑː] | two |
| trì | [t̪ɾʲi] | three |
| ceithir | [ˈkʲʰɛhɪɾʲ] | four |
| còig | [kʰɔjk] | five |
| sia | [ʃiə] | six |
| seachd | [ʃɛxtʃt̪] | seven |
| ochd | [ɔxt] | eight |
| naoi | [nɯːə] | nine |
| deich | [dʲɛx] | ten |
| fichead | [fikˠʲət̪] | twenty |
| fichead 's a h-aon | [ˈfikʲət̪ ʃt̪ ə hʌn̪ˠ] | twenty-one |
| fichead 's a dhà | [ˈfikʲət̪ ʃt̪ ə ɣɑː], [ˈfikʲət̪ ʃt̪ ə d̪̊ɑː] | twenty-two |
| fichead 's a trì | [ˈfikʲət̪ ʃt̪ ə t̪ɾʲi] | twenty-three |
| fichead 's a ceithir | [ˈfikʲət̪ ʃt̪ ə xɛhɪɾʲ] | twenty-four |
| fichead 's a chòig | [ˈfikʲət̪ ʃt̪ ə kʰɔjk] | twenty-five |
| fichead 's a sia | [ˈfikʲət̪ ʃt̪ ə ʃiə] | twenty-six |
| fichead 's a seachd | [ˈfikʲət̪ ʃt̪ ə ʃɛxtʃt̪] | twenty-seven |
| fichead 's na thoghta | [ˈfikʲət̪ ʃt̪ nə ˈthoɣt̪ə] | twenty-eight |
| fichead 's a naoi | [ˈfikʲət̪ ʃt̪ ə nɯːə] | twenty-nine |
| deichd | [dʲɛxd̪ˠ] | thirty |
The numbers from 11 to 19 are formed by adding the numbers one to nine to the word deug:
- 11: aon deug
- 12: dhà dheug
- 13: trì deug
- 14: ceithir deug
- 15: còig deug
- 16: sia deug
- 17: seachd deug
- 18: ochd deug
- 19: naoi deug
In addition, when the number 2 (dhà) is followed by a noun, it changes to dà, as in dà chairt (two cards).
It is also essential to note that Scottish Gaelic follows a vigesimal number system, which means that twenty is a significant number that is often used as a base.
Using Numbers in Sentences
Now that you have learned how to count to twenty in Scottish Gaelic let's see some example sentences using these numbers:
- Tha aon duine ann an t-seòmar - There is one person in the room.
- Tha leth-cheud muinntir anns a 'bhus - There are fifty people on the bus.
- Chan eil dà sheanair agam - I don't have two grandparents.
- Tha ceithir chù anns an làrach - There are four dogs in the yard.
- Chaidh aon cheist a fhreagairt - One question was answered.
- Chaidh a dhà chloich a tharraing - Two stones were pulled.
- Bidh sinn a 'dol air cuairt air leth-cheud bhus - We will travel on a fifty-seater bus.
- Tha deich òran air an CD - There are ten songs on the CD.
- Tha an taigh dà bhallaichean agad - Your house has two windows.
- Tha iad air leth-cheud bliadhna dh'aois - They are fifty years old.
In Scottish Gaelic there is no verb "to have," and the construction used to indicate having something is as follows:
- Tha ... agam - I have ...
- Tha ... agad - You have ...
- Tha ... aige - He has ...
- Tha ... aice - She has ...
- Tha ... againn - We have ...
- Tha ... agaibh - Y'all have ...
- Tha ... aca/oibh - They have ...
For example, to say "I have four dogs," you would say, "Tha ceithir chù agam."
Conclusion
Now you have learned the Scottish Gaelic numbers, and you can use them in different situations or while counting things. In the next lesson, you will learn about telling time in Scottish Gaelic.