Welsh & Scottish Gaelic
Welsh (Cymraeg)
Welsh is a Celtic language spoken by about 900,000 people — in Wales, all road signs are bilingual (English/Welsh), and in North Wales (especially Gwynedd and Anglesey), Welsh is the everyday language for many. The language looks intimidating with its consonant clusters (ll, dd, ff, ch) but follows clear rules.
| Welsh | Pronunciation | German |
|---|---|---|
| Bore da | Boreh da | Good morning |
| Prynhawn da | Prennhaun da | Good afternoon |
| Nos da | Nohs da | Good night |
| Diolch | Dee-olch | Thank you |
| Iechyd da! | Jechid da! | Cheers! |
| Croeso | Kroy-so | Welcome |
| Cymru | Kumri | Wales |
Fun Fact: Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch on Anglesey is the longest place name in Europe. It means: "St Mary's Church in the Hollow of the White Hazel near a Rapid Whirlpool and the Church of St Tysilio by the Red Cave." Locals simply say "Llanfair PG".
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)
Scottish Gaelic is still spoken by about 57,000 people — mainly in the Outer Hebrides, on Skye, and parts of the Highlands. In Edinburgh and Glasgow, there are Gaelic schools and bilingual road signs.
| Gaelic | Pronunciation | German |
|---|---|---|
| Madainn mhath | Matin va | Good morning |
| Tapadh leat | Tapa let | Thank you |
| Slàinte mhath! | Slahntsche va! | Cheers! |
| Fàilte | Fahltsche | Welcome |
| Alba | Alapa | Scotland |
Scottish Slang Expressions (Scots English):
| Scottish | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Aye | Yes |
| Nae | No / Not |
| Wee | Small. "A wee dram" = A small whisky |
| Bonnie | Pretty, beautiful. "Bonnie Scotland" |
| Braw | Great, splendid |
| Ken | Know. "D'ye ken?" = Do you know? |
| Loch | Lake (not pronounced "Lock" — the "ch" as in "ach"!) |
| Glen | Valley |
| Ben | Mountain (Gaelic: Beinn) |
| Dram | A glass of whisky |
💡 Tipp
"Slàinte mhath!" (Cheers! — pronounced "Slahntsche va!") is the Scottish equivalent of the Irish "Sláinte!" and will make you instantly popular in any pub. And: Never say "Scotch" to a Scot — the person is a Scot, the country is Scotland, and only the drink is called Scotch (or better: Whisky).
