Goireasan Ionnsachaidh   –   Gaelic Learning Resources

Online Resources

Dictionaries
  • Common words - Akerbeltz has compiled a list of the most common words used in written Gaelic
  • Dwelly-d - The online version of Dwelly's great Scots-Gaelic/English dictionary
  • Am Faclair Beag - A comprehensive Scottish Gaelic / English Bidirectional Dictionary incorporating Dwelly. The Faclair nan Gnàthasan-cainnte which used to be on the Akerbeltz site has been integrated into the Faclair Beag.
  • Colin Mark's Dictionary @ Google Books - You can use Google Book's search function to search the dictionary in both directions. Not all pages are available for display, but if you own the dictionary you can use the page number to check in your copy when searching for English words.
  • Faclair airson Riaghaltas Ionadail - Gàidhlig agus Beurla - Dictionary for Local Government - Scottish Gaelic and English [...]
  • Stòr-Dàta Briathrachais Gàidhlig - The dictionary of Sàbhal Mòr Ostaig. The search interface also ties in with a list of other online dictionaries. As with most online-dictionaries, you get a big list of words without explanations, so finding the right one can be a bit difficult sometimes. It will do for starters though, and I use it all the time. It's also very convenient for finding words fast that you have forgotten, or if you wish to read a text and don't want to spend ages trawling though a book for the words. It has the base forms of words listed, so if you run across an irregular form you don't know the base form for, you won't find it. Select Briathrachan Beag for that, it has some inflected forms listed. It's only a little dictionary though, as the name says (beag = little).
Grammar
  • akerbeltz.org - Two sections of this site will be interesting for you grammar-wise. Beagan Gràmair - A Bit of Grammar - Explains how the pronunciation works, and covers some important grammar points. Some of it is written in a humorous way, so it's actually quite fun to read. It uses the IPA for pronunciation, which might look a bit complicated in the beginning. Don't let it put you off, you only need to learn to recognize the symbols used for Gaelic, and not the whole alphabet. It's the only way to get an exact transcription of the sounds. Fuaimean na Gàidhlig - The Sounds of Gaelic - Here you can fill the IPA symbols with life and listen to MP3s.
  • Bloigh Gràmair - Àite san tèid bloighean beaga taitneach gràmair a thogail.
  • TAIC - This is not a grammar page per se, but an online course. Still, it is pretty grammar oriented, so you can use it as a grammar resource as well. If you have problems with their programming, here's a direct link to the lessons.
  • Gaelic Tip of the Week - Colin Mark's Gaelic tip of the week. He explains how to find the right expressions for what you want to say, so you won't be speaking Beurlig.
  • Introduction au gaelique - Si tu es francophone, cette page donne des éxplications, surtout les verbes. C' est pas complet, mais c' est util peut-être: Les règles de prononciation du Gaélique; Les verbes "être", "avoir" et la conjugaison au présent; Les possessifs et les numéraux; Petit lexique de mots et phrases courants; Correspondance entre le Gàidhlig et le Gaeilge.
Online Courses
  • Beag air Bheag - Little by Little - The BBC's online course. Each lesson gives a few phrases, then a bit of explanation, and some sample conversations. You can listen to all of it.
  • Can Seo (Say this!) - Format: 20 video series originally for TV, from the 1970s, accompanied by vinyl/cassette plus a book that is available through Amazon and a photocopied PDF download [...]
  • Colin and Cumberland - The BBC's learning game. It's good to practice some basic vocabulary in a fun way. I started in Colin's house in the hall, with Parts of the Body. For some of the games you should have a faster computer than I have though, but I guess that won't be too much of a challenge... [...]
  • Duolingo - Duolingo is an online language learning platform. There's a Scottish Gaelic course available that was created by volunteers.
  • Gaelic with Jason - Gaelic with Jason is a YouTube channel with Gaelic lessons in it. There are multiple series to choose from, so you can follow story-driven teaching or get some information on how the grammar works - whichever works best for you! You can also book lessons with Jason if you want.
  • LearnGaelic Beginner's Course - Format: 60 lesson series of flash-card-style material with cartoons and audio plus speaking practice. [...]
  • Speaking Our Language, Series 1 - Format: 18 video series originally for TV, from the 1990s, accompanied by a book that is available through Amazon [...]
  • TAIC - An online course that is a bit more grammar-oriented, and also provides sound. If you have problems with their programming, here's a direct link to the lessons.
Other Online Resources
  • BBC Alba - If you're in the UK, you can watch Gaelic TV online.
  • BBC Learn Gaelic - There are more learning resources on the BBC site, e.g. An Litir Bheag for relative beginners and Litir do Luchd-Ionnsachaidh for advanced learners. You can download MP3 files and the corresponding text as PDF. At Aig Cridhe ar Ciùil, you can listen to Gaelic music; written lyrics are provided. I always found music a very convenient and fun way to practice my pronunciation, so give it a try.
  • Ceitidh, an guth Gàidhlig TTS - Seo teacsa 'na chainnt ann an Gàidhlig. Gus èisteachd ri demo, tagh "Ceitidh (Gaelic, Scotland)" - feumaidh tu sgroladh sìos air an duilleag 's an earrann Gaelic a lorg - sgrìobh no cuir ann an teacsa agad an uairsin agus brùth air a' phutan cluiche. [...]
  • Learning Scottish Gaelic - This is an occasional blog about books and websites that are helping the author to learn Scottish Gaelic.
  • Radio nan Gaidheal - The BBC's Gaelic language radio station. Go to "Èist a-rithist" to listen. I suggest you do this a lot, even if you don't understand a word, just let it run in the background. It will help you get used to the patterns of the language, even if you don't pay any attention. Over time, you will learn a lot without having to expend any extra effort.
  • Zero to Gaelic Master Index - Students of Gaelic use different textbooks and this table makes it easier to find similar topics from different books, especially since most of them do not have good indexes. Different books may use different terms for the same thing and this table tries to reconcile them while respecting the individual choices of the authors.
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Last edited: 12 June 2022 19:53:26