A puckle of words in the braw Scots tongue

"YOU SPEAK very good English for someone who comes from Scotland," an American neighbour once said to me.

Gaelic is just one of the languages to have influenced the Scots tongue. Many Gaelic words are now in common use by Sassenachs - even the word Sassenach. Often defined as a word to describe those of English origin, the word means Saxon, and includes lowland Scots and by default anyone who does not speak Gaelic. The word also comes from Irish Gaelic to describe those from England. According to the Oxford English Dictionary it was first recorded in written use in 1771. Nowadays it is a light-hearted if somewhat derogatory term.

If there is one Gaelic pastime highlanders and lowlanders alike love more than any other, it's a good ceilidh. Defined as "an informal social gathering at which there is Scottish or Irish folk music and singing and folk dancing and story telling" by the OED, these events have become very popular south of the Border.

On the web

Gaelic dictionaries online

With all that dancing where would we be without a toast? Slàinte mhath, is still in use, or the simple slàinte if you're too tired and emotional to recite the whole phrase. It means "to your good health" and is often heard on Hogmanay.

A classic Gaelic word used by parents across Scotland is bùrach, used to describe a child's messy room. But according to Etymological Dictionary of the Gaelic Language by Alexander McBain (Gairm Publications, 1982) burach means "turning up of the earth, digging; from the Scottish bourie, English burrow. The Scottish bourach, enclosure, cluster, knoll, heap, etc., is the English bower."


These are just a few of the many Gaelic words and phrases that have crossed over into common usage. But if you really want to put your linguistic skills to the test, then try our simple multiple-choice quiz. Good luck or Gur math a thèid leibh as they'd say in the islands.


Test your knowledge of Gaelic phrases with our simple multiple choice quiz.

1. Tiaraidh an dràsda

That's a bit drastic

Cheerio for now

Is my tiara straight?

Turn left at the lights

2. Cad is ainm duit?

Are you a bounder?

What is your name?

Does this computer work?

Do you play golf?

3. Slan leat, a charaid choir

Swing low sweet chariot

Do you sing in the choir?

Farewell, kind friend

Turn the volume down

4. Ciamar a tha thu?

How are you?

Do you have the flu?

Holier than thou?

Do you want some stew?

Check out the answers and see how you did.