Unit 7 - The weather – a good ice breaker
An Aimsir "The Weather"
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It has been said of Scotland that it does not have a climate – only weather. That is maybe a little harsh, but the country’s varied meteorological conditions allow for a considerable vocabulary concerning the weather. Conversations often start with a comment about the prevailing conditions.
It is important to note that the two common words meaning "weather" – aimsir and sìde are both feminine. In fact, weather is a feminine concept in Gaelic – that is why we say such things as tha i brèagha for "it’s [a] fine [day]", using the feminine pronoun "i".
Here are some useful comments which you might make to a stranger about the weather. Why not try out a few of them the next time you talk to a Gaelic speaker?
- Tha i brèagha.
- It’s fine.
- Tha i àlainn.
- It’s beautiful.
- Tha i tioram.
- It’s dry.
- Tha i blàth.
- It’s warm.
- Tha i teth.
- It’s hot.
- Tha i grianach.
- It is sunny.
- Tha i fliuch.
- It’s wet.
- Tha i fuar.
- It’s cold.
- Tha i sgòthach.
- It’s cloudy.
- Tha i garbh.
- It’s rough.
- Tha i grànda.
- It’s horrible.
With tha i grànda just be careful that there is no female in the vicinity about whom the hearer might think you are commenting, because it can also mean "she is ugly"!
