Language/Scottish-gaelic/Grammar/Questions

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Questions Words in Scottish Gaelic - How to ask questions
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➡ In today's lesson you will learn how to ask Questions in the Scottish Gaelic language, mainly spoken in Scotland and the Hebrides islands. 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. Happy learning!

Question Words[edit | edit source]

What: "Dè"[edit | edit source]

"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"[edit | edit source]

"Cò" is used to ask questions about people. It corresponds to the English word "who."

Example:

Cò tha sin? - Who is that?

When: "Cuin"[edit | edit source]

"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"[edit | edit source]

"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"[edit | edit source]

"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"[edit | edit source]

"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"[edit | edit source]

"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"[edit | edit source]

"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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

a' cheist / na ceistean - question words[edit | edit source]

Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) English
Cò ? Who?
Dè ? What?
Ciamar ? How?
  • Cò mheud ?
  • or Cia mheud ?
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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

Scottish Gaelic Lesson 1: Answer "Yes" or "No" to simple questions[edit | edit source]

Gaelic Foundations 1: Eight Important Words in Scottish Gaelic[edit | edit source]

How to ask "how are you?" in Scots Gaelic[edit | edit source]

Quiz[edit | edit source]

Questions[edit | edit source]

  1. What is the Scottish Gaelic word for "what"?
  2. How do you say "who" in Scottish Gaelic?
  3. What is the Scottish Gaelic equivalent of the English word "when"?
  4. In Scottish Gaelic, how do you ask about a location?
  5. Which Scottish Gaelic word is used to ask about reasons or motives?
  6. How do you say "how" in Scottish Gaelic?
  7. What is the Scottish Gaelic word for "which"?
  8. How do you ask about the quantity or amount in Scottish Gaelic?
  9. In Scottish Gaelic, how can you turn a statement into a question?
  10. Translate the following Scottish Gaelic question into English: "Ciamar a tha thu?"

Answers[edit | edit source]

  1. Cuin
  2. Càite
  3. Carson
  4. Ciamar
  5. Dè an
  6. Dè cho mòr (how much) or Dè cho iomadh (how many)
  7. By raising the pitch of your voice at the end of a sentence (intonation)
  8. How are you?

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