Unit 05 - Useful expressions around the house
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In the conversation below, keep a look out for an aspect of Gaelic which is similar to many other languages but different from English - nouns can be either masculine or feminine. If masculine they can be represented by the pronoun 'e', or 'he/him', and, if feminine, by the pronoun 'i', or 'she/her'. Uinneag ('window') is feminine.
- Malcolm: An robh thu anns an taigh an-dè, Anna?
- Were you in the house yesterday, Ann?
- Ann : Bha, a Chaluim. 'S e Disathairne a bh' ann. Bha mi anns an taigh fad an là.
- Yes, Malcolm. It was Saturday. I was in the house all day.
- Malcolm: An robh sin math?
- Was that good?
- Ann : Bha gu dearbh. Ach bha mi trang.
- It sure was. But I was busy.
- Malcolm: Dè bha thu a' dèanamh? An robh thu ag obair anns a' chidsin?
- What were you doing? Were you working in the kitchen?
- Ann : Bha. Ach cha robh mi a' dèanamh biadh.
- Yes. But I wasn't making food.
- Malcolm: Dè bha thu a' dèanamh, ma-thà?
- What were you doing, then?
- Ann : Bha mi a' peantadh a' bhalla seo.
- I was painting this wall.
- Malcolm: Tha e brèagha. Agus soilleir. A bheil e deiseil?
- It's nice. And bright. Is it finished?
- Ann : Chan eil fhathast. Bidh e deiseil a-màireach.
- Not yet. It'll be finished tomorrow.
- Malcolm: Càit' a bheil Catrìona? A bheil i shuas an staidhre?
- Where is Catherine? Is she upstairs?
- Ann : Chan eil. Tha i a-muigh. Thig i air ais feasgar.
- No. She's out. She'll be back this afternoon.
- James: A bheil i toilichte gu bheil dath ùr air a' bhalla?
- Is she pleased that the wall is a new colour? (lit. there is a new colour on the wall)
- Ann: Tha. Agus bidh ise a' peantadh uinneagan a-màireach.
- Yes. And she'll be painting windows tomorrow.
- James: Dè an dath a bhios orra?
- What colour will they be? (lit. what colour will be on them?)
- Ann: Geal. Bidh na h-uinneagan geal.
- White. The windows will be white.
