Gàidhlig / English
Seann Abairtean Sgitheanach

Seann Abairtean Sgitheanach

Posted by Eilidh on 25th April 2019
I thought, for this week’s blog, that it would be a good idea to have a look through Faclan bhon t-Sluagh to try and learn a few more ‘Skye’ words in order to strengthen my dialect and to perhaps bring some of the phrases in which they are used back into conversation. I came across the list of words given by Murdo MacKenzie of Portree, and he was full of phrases I’d never heard! With that, here are a few words and phrases I picked up from this man.
 
‘Rinn e an t-sùil-bheag orm’. I’d only ever had the word priobadaich for ‘winking’ before this, but I much prefer an t-sùil-bheag!
 
 ‘Tha beagan suaithealas aige ris’. The word suaithealas is in Am Faclair Beag as ‘suathalas’, but I’d never had a good word for something bearing a resemblance to something else. Before, I would have had to say: ‘Tha esan rudeigin coltach ris-san’ (He is somewhat like him) – but suaithealas seems much better put!
 
‘Duine làn mealghan’: mealghan is in Am Faclair Beag as ‘wrangling’. I love the connotations of this phrase and the image it throws up – someone who likes to stir up trouble wherever they go!
 
I don’t believe I’ve ever heard the word fosgarra before, but I’ll certainly be doing my best to use it from now on! It’s a term for somebody open, forthcoming or of a positive disposition.
 
So there are a few words which will help ‘Skye’ up your Gaelic – and who wouldn’t want that?!
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