Unit 5 - Useful expressions around the house
Dùin an doras! "Close the door"
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In Section 4 you might have met ann which means "in it". The similar anns an or anns a' means "in the". Tha mi anns an taigh - I am in the house. Here are some useful phrases. Listen to them and try to pick out the new words.
- Tha mi anns an taigh.
- I am in the house.
- A bheil sibh anns an taigh?
- Are you in the house?
- 'S e taigh mòr a th' ann.
- It is a big house.
- Chan eil telebhisean anns a' chidsin.
- There's no television in the kitchen.
Note that taigh beag (literally "little house") actually means "toilet". However when we say "in the toilet" the "b" at the beginning of beag changes to a "v" sound and is spelt "bh". This type of sound change is common in Gaelic and is called lenition. Look out for further examples later in the section.
- Càite a bheil an taigh beag?
- Where is the toilet?
- A bheil Iain anns an taigh bheag?
- Is John in the toilet?
- Cò bha anns an taigh mhòr?
- Who was in the big house?
Note that when we say taigh mhòr, "in the big house", the "m" at the beginning of mòr changes to a "v" sound and is spelt "mh". This type of sound change is common in Gaelic and is called lenition.
