Gnàthasan-cainnte Gaidhealach - Gaelic Idiom

Here we present a series of idiomatic Gaelic phrases.

CEANN - the head

There are many idomatic phrases based on parts of the body. Here are some based on the word ceann meaning head.

air a cheann direach Thuit e air a cheann direach dhan toll	head first He fell head first into the hole
cha do thog e ceann Cha do thog mo leabhar ceann a-riamh	it/he never turned up My book never turned up
às a cheann fhèin Rinn e sin às a cheann fhèin	of his own volition He wasn't asked to do that
air a cheann fhèin Tha e ag obair air a cheann fhèin	for himself (Used when a person is self employed) He works for himself
leig/chuir mi mo cheann fodham	I had a rest/ I put my head down
ceann-cinnidh	a clan chief
ceann-suidhe	a chairman
leth-cheann	a cheek (i.e. a half-head)
ceann-clò 'Se ceann-clò a th'anns a duine sin	a naive person (i.e. a tweed-head!)
duine fada 'na cheann An rud a chuireas e 'na cheann cuiridh e 'na chasan e	a stubborn person What he puts into his head he'll put into his feet! - a good expression to describe a stubborn person.

Here are more phrases based on the word ceann meaning end.
ceann an taighe Tha a'gharaids aig ceann an taighe	the end of the house The garage is at the end of the house
ceann na leap' Tha a' chluasag aig ceann na leap' an ceann adhairt	the bedhead The pillow is at the bedhead the forward end (i.e. the pillow end)
ceann caol	the narrow end - prow of a boat
o cheann gu ceann Leugh mi an leabhar o cheann gu ceann	from end to end I read the book from beginning to end
an ceann seachdain Thàinig e an ceann seachdain	at the end of the week He came at the end of the week
ceann an rathaid Choinnich mi e aig ceann an rathaid	The end of the road I met him at the end of the road
Cum ceann a'mhaide ris	keep the end of the stick to him i.e. don't give in to him/stand up to him

Other Body Parts

More expressions based on the body

Hear these phrases :

Thug e a chasan leis	He ran off (He took his feet with him) - He took to his heels
Rug e air làimh orm	He shook hands with me (He caught my hand)
Tha sin agam air mo theangaidh	I know that off b y heart (I have that on my tongue)
Thug e dòrn dhomh	He punched me (He gave me a fist)
Tha tusa le do chab air do ghualainn	You talk too much/You can't keep a secret (Your mouth is on your shoulder)
Cha leaghadh an t-ìm na bheul	Butter wouldn't melt in his mouth
Thug e droch bheul dhomh	He verbally abused me (He gave me a bad mouth)
'Sann ort a tha an aghaidh!	The cheek of you! (What a face is on you!) How dare you!
Dhùin e an doras air mo shròn	He shut the door in my face (He shut the door on my nose)

How are You?

Ciamar a tha sibh? Here are some answers.

Cha robh mi riamh cho math	I've never been better
Chan eil adhbhar a bhith a' gearain	No cause for complaint (There is no reason to complain)
Chan eil ach meadhanach	Only middling /so-so
Tha mi beò air èiginn	I'm barely alive
Chan eil ach bochd	I'm in a poor way
Chan eil ach truagh!	Just terrible!
Chan eil gu ri radh	No complaints (There is nothing to say)
Is math mar a tha	Good
Tha an teas a'cur orm!	The heat is bothering me/getting me down!

Holidays

Feast days and holidays in Gaelic.

Samh.30 Là Naoimh Anndrais	St. Andrew's Day
Dùbh. 6 Latha Bodach na Nollaige	St. Nicholas' Day
Dùbh. 21 Grianstad a'Gheamhraidh	Winter Solstice
Dùbh. An Nollaig (fem.) [na Nollaig/e]	Christmas
Dùbh. 24 Oidhche nam Bannag/Oidhche Nollaige	Christmas Eve
Dùbh. 25 Latha na Nollaige/Oidhche Nollaige	Christmas Day/Christmas Night
Nollaig Chridheil	Merry Christmas
Dùbh. 26 Là Naoimh Steafain	St. Stephen's Day
Dùbh. 28 Là Fèill nan Leanaban Neochiontach	Feast of the Holy Innocents
Dùbh. 31 Oidhche Challainn	Hogmanay/ New Year's Eve
Fao. 1 Là na Bliadhn'Uire	New Year's Day
Bliadhna Mhath Ùr!	Happy New Year

More Idiom

Tha mòran gnàthasan-cainnte Gaidhealach mar gnàthasan-cainnte Bheurla, ach tha iomadach èile eadar-dhealaichte.
Seo beagan.

Cuir am buntàta – Plant the potatoes
Cuir an sìol – Sow the seed
Cuir teine air – Kindle a fire
Cuir às an teine – Extinguish the fire
Cuir air falbh – Send away
Cur-na-mara – Sea sickness
Cuir Bheurla air – Translate to English
Tog an taigh – Build the house
Fear togail nan Salm – The Precentor
Tog do dhealbh – Get your photograph taken
Bainne togalaich – Skimmed milk
Ceann-goirt – Headache
Thug e droch cheann domh – He ill-treated me
Air a'cheann thall – Ultimately, at long last
Thug e a cheann fodha – He disappeared
Na caill do cheann – Don't get excited
Beul an latha – Daybreak
Beul na h-oidhche – Dusk
Port-a-beul – Mouth tune
Duine beulach – Flatterer
Beul a'bhàta – Gunwhale of a boat
An cois na cloinne – In charge of the children
Ri cois na mara – Close by the shore
A bhèist air do chasan – You monster!
An comhair a chùil – Backwards
An geall mo chridhe – I am very eager
Cridhe na h-àirde deas – Exactly due south
A chridhe 'na shlugan – His heart in his mouth
A chridhe ri bualadh – His heart beating
Air leth glic – Exceptionally wise
A'fuireach air leth – Living apart
Ceud gu leth – One hundred and fifty
Buille cridhe – Heartbeat
Buuille cridhe mi-riaghailteach – Irregular heartbeat
Barr mo mheòir – Tip of my finger
Barr na slaite – Point of the rod
Barr a bhalla – Top of the wall
Càirich an leabaidh – Make the bed
Càirich na brogan – Repair the boots
Cha dèanainn facal a-mach – I couldn't understand a word
Tha mi a'dèanamh dheth – I understand
Dèan seanachas – Tell a story
Dèan suidhe a-steach ris an teine – Sit by the fire
A'dèanamh òrain – Composing a song
Crathadh-làimhe – A handshake
Craobh ag crathadh ri gaoithe – A tree swaying in the wind
Tha thu agam a-nis – I understand you now
Chan eil aige ach an òige – He is but young
An dùine aig Mairi – Mary's husband
Tha fhios aig an t-saogal – Everyone knows
B'eòlach do sheanair air – Your grandfather knew it
A-mach air an uinneig – Out of the window
A-mach air a'mhuir – Into the sea
Tha mi air mo dhòigh – I am doing well

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Originally published in ATG issue 78 September 2007 (Aireamh 78 An t-Sultain 2007)