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 |
head first |
cha do thog e ceann |
it/he never turned up |
às a cheann fhèin |
of his own volition |
air a cheann fhèin |
for himself (Used when a person is self employed) |
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 |
a naive person (i.e. a tweed-head!) |
duine fada 'na cheann |
a stubborn person |
Here are more phrases based on the word ceann meaning end. |
|
ceann an taighe |
the end of the house |
ceann na leap' |
the bedhead |
ceann caol |
the narrow end - prow of a boat |
o cheann gu ceann |
from end to end |
an ceann seachdain |
at the end of the week |
ceann an rathaid |
The end of the road |
Cum ceann a'mhaide ris |
keep the end of the stick 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)