Duilleag a h-Ochd (8)
In this section you will hear how to:
* beg someone's pardon;
* ask the name of someone not present;
* tell the name o someone not present.

Read Còmhradh a h-Ochd
Còmhradh a h-Ochd
Morag: Gabh mo leisgeul, a Thòmais. Dè na h-ainmean a tha orra?
Thomas: 'S e Alasdair MacLeòid agus Catrìona NicAsgaill a tha orra.
James: Gabhaibh mo leisgeul, a Thòmais, ach 's e Alasdair MacAsgaill a tha air, agus 's e Catrìona NicLeòid a tha oirre.
Thomas: O, ceart gu leòr. Gabhaibh mo leisgeul.

Obair (Work)
Jot down your answers to these questions. Tha na Freagairtean air Duilleag a Trì-Deug.
1. How would you beg someone's pardon if you did not know them?
2. How would you beg the pardon of someone you know?
3. What phrase do you use to ask what some other people are called?

Mìneachadh (Meaning)
"Gabh mo leisgeul" is how you beg someone's pardon or excuse yourself if you know the person. The formal, polite version is "Gabhaibh mo leisgeul". Have you noticed how the polite versions always seem to end in "-ibh" or "-bh", such as "sibh", "leibh", "oirbh" and now "gabhaibh"?

When Morag wanted to find out Alistair and Catherine's names she asked Thomas "Dè na h-ainmean a tha orra?". Na h-ainmean is the plural of an t-ainm as you saw in Còmhradh a Ceithir. Thomas replied using "air" to refer to him (Alistair) and "oirre" to refer to her (Catherine).

In the phrase "Ceart gu leòr" (Right enough), "gu leòr" means "enough" and it is from this word that the English "galore" comes.

Duilleag a h-Ochd A (8A)
Obair (a-rithist) (Work (Again) )

Jot down your answers to these questions.
4. How would you tell someone that someone else is called Iain MacLeod?
5. How would you say that someone is called Morag MacAskill?
6. Can you work out how you would say that two people are called James MacAskill and Catherine MacAlister?

Mìneachadh (Meaning)
Mary said 'S e Màiri NicAonghais agus Iagan MacNèill a tha oirnn when telling Hector their names correctly. Throughout each Còmhradh from Còmhradh a h-Aon to Còmhradh a h-Ochd you have seen the various ways of telling the names of different people or groups of people.

Saying what my name is: 'S e Iain a tha orm.
Saying what our names are: 'S e Murchadh agus Dòmhnall a tha oirnn.
Asking what your name is: Dè an t-ainm a tha ort? (friendly, familiar)
Dè an t-ainm a tha oirbh? (polite, formal)
Asking what your names are: Dè na h-ainmean a tha oirbh? (to more than one person)
Saying what his name is: 'S e Pàdraig a tha air.
Saying what her name is: 'S e Màiri a tha oirre.
Saying what their names are: 'S e Catrìona agus Calum a tha orra.

Obair Tha na Freagairtean air Duilleag a Trì-Deug.
7. In Còmhradh 8, how might Alistair have told Morag his and Catherine's names?
8. Look at the sentences below and fill in the missing words in each. In some of them there may be a choice of answers.

a. __________ mise Seumas.
b. Dè an _______________ a tha oirbh?
c. A Sheumais, _________ Mòrag.

Duilleag a h-Ochd B (8B)
Obair (a-rithist)

d. _____________ math, a Mhòrag.
e. 'S e Seumas a _____________ orm.
f. Dè an t-ainm _________ tha ort?
g. _______________ a tha thu?
h. Tha gu math, ______________ leat.
i. _____________ eil dona, tapadh leibh.
j. Seo _______________ MacAsgaill.
k. Ciamar a tha ____________ fhèin?
l. 'S e feasgar _______________ a tha ann.
m. Mar _____________ leibh.
n. Mar _____________ leat.
o. Oidhche _______________, a Chatrìona.
p. ______________ mo leisgeul.
q. Dè na _______________ a tha orra?
r. 'S e Alasdair MacLeòid agus Catrìona _______________ a tha oirnn.
s. Gabhaibh mo _________________, a Thòmais.
t. _______________ Alasdair a tha air.
u. 'S e Catrìona a tha ____________________.
v. Ceart ______ _____________________.
w. _____________ ____________________ mhath a tha ann.

All information on these pages supplied by Maitland Kelly, student at
Sabhal Mòr Ostaig
Sleat Isle of Skye
IV44 8RQ

Tel: 01471 888 449
Fax: 01471 888 002
Please contact Sabhal Mòr Ostaig (click on link above) for further information on Gaelic courses.