An avid learner of Scottish Gaelic - Gàidhlig - I have put together the following list of words that may be useful for learners of the language which refer to Scottish family history, and which may help to express genealogical concepts, terms and events a bit better.
(Image: 1854 Registration Act, National Records of Scotland)
I will keep adding to this as and when, so keep checking back!
Genealogy
- teaghlach – family
- eachdraidh teaghlaich – family history
- sinnsireachd – ancestry
- craobh-ghinealach – genealogy tree
- craobh-theaghlaich – family tree
- leabhar-ginealach – the family history (as published)
- sloinntearachd – genealogy
- sloinntear – genealogist
- dualchas – heritage
- eachdraidh – history
- sinnsear – ancestor
- sinnsearan – ancestors
- sliochd – descendant
- sliochdan – descendants
- sìol – descendants, progeny
- gineadair – progenitor
- ginealach – generation
- clann – children
- ainm – name
- ciad ainm – first name
- sloinne – surname
- a' rannsachadh – researching
- rannsachadh – research
- a' sgrùdail – investigating
- a' sgrìobhadh – writing
- a' leughadh – reading
- aithris – a report
- oraid – a lecture
- iris – a magazine
- artagail – an article
- leabhar – a book
- leabhraichean – books
- breith – birth
- rugadh e ann an... – he was born in...
- thoghadh i ann an... – she was raised in...
- co-là breith – birthday
- baisteadh – baptism
- baiste – baptised
- ban-ghoistidh – godmother
- goistidh – godfather
- sponsair – sponsor
- coitheanal – congregation
Engagement, Marriage & Divorce
- gealladh-pòsaidh – engagement
- èigheachd – proclaiming
- gairm or gairm-phòsaidh – banns, marriage proclamation
- dh'èigheadh iad san eaglais – their banns were called in the church
- chaidh an èigheach san eaglais – their banns were called in the church
- banais – wedding
- bean na bainnse - bride
- fear na bainnse - groom
- a' pòsadh – marrying
- mìos nam pòg – honeymoon ('the month of kisses'!)
- fianais or neach-fianais – witness
- fianaisichean or luchd-fianais – witnesses
- cuirm-bhainnse – wedding reception
- adhaltras or adhaltranas – adultery
- adhaltrach – adulterer
- sgaradh-pòsaidh – divorce
- briseadh-pòsaidh – divorce
- dealachadh-pòsaidh – divorce
- dealaichte – divorced
- a' dealaich ri – divorcing
- a' sgaradh o chèile – separating
- sgaradh – separation
Death & Burial
- a' bàsachadh – dying
- marbh – dead
- corp – body
- creubh – corpse
losgadh-cuirp - losgadh-cuirp – cremation
- tiodhlacadh – funeral
- uaidh – grave
- cladh – graveyard
- tiomnachd – will, testament
- dìleab – legacy, inheritance
- oighreachd – estate
- neach-cùraim tiomnaidh – executor (of a will)
Civil Registration
- teisteanas breithe – birth certificate
- teisteanas pòsaidh – marriage certificate
- teisteanas bàis – death certificate
- teisteans uchd-mhacadhd – adoption certificate
- Sgrìobhadh-Cuimhne nam Breith, nam Bàs, agus nam Pòsaidhean - the Gaelic title for the 1854 Registration Act for Births, Deaths and Marriages
Religion
- Pròstanach – Protestant
- Clèireach – Presbyterian
- Eaglais na h-Alba – Church of Scotland
- Eaglais Easbaigeach na h-Alba – Scottish Episcopal Church
- Caitligeach or Pàpanach – Catholic
- Achd Fuatach nan Caitligeach – Catholic Emancipation Act
- Eaglais Chaitligeach na h-Alba – Scottish Catholic Church
- eaglais – church
- seipeal or caibeal – chapel
- ministear – minister
- sagart – priest
- èildear – church elder
- lagh-eaglaise – church law
- seisean – kirk session
- clèir – presbytery
- oighre – heritor (also means 'heir')
- Briseadh na h-Eaglaise - the Disruption (1843)
Censuses
- cunntas-sluaigh – census
- cunntasan-sluaigh – censuses
- teaghlach – family, household
- ceann-taigh – head of the family or household
- muinntir an taigh – members of the household
- àireamhaiche – enumerator
Archival Institutions
- tasglann – archive
- taigh-tasgaidh – museum
- taisbeanadh – exhibition
- leabharlann – library
- comhairle – council
- Clàran Nàiseanta na h-Alba – National Records of Scotland
- Leabharlann Nàiseanta na h-Alba – National Library of Scotland
- Àrainneachd Eachdraidheil Alba – Historic Environment Scotland
Family Members / Relationships
- màthair – mother
- athair – father
- mac – son
- mhic – sons
- nighean – daughter
- nigheannan – daughters
- piuthar – sister
- peathraichean – sisters
- bràthair – brother
- bràithrean – brothers
- leth-leanabh – twin
- leth-aonan co-ionann – identical twins
- leas-mhàthair – stepmother
- leas-athair – stepfather
- leas-phiuthar – stepsister
- leas-bhràthair – stepbrother
- uchd-mhac – adopted son
- uchd-nighean – adopted daughter
- uchd-leanabh – adopted child
- co-dhalta – foster sibling/foster brother
- ban-dalta or nighean-dalta – foster daughter
- dalta – foster son
- uime or muime – foster mother
- oid' altraim – foster father
- co-ogha – first cousin
- co-oghaichean – first cousins
- dà-ghlùn or iar-ogha sinn-seanar – second cousin
- fionn-ogha sinn-sinn-seanair – third cousin
- seanmhair – grandmother
- sinn-seanmhair – great grandmother
- sinn-sinn-seanmhair – great great grandmother
- seanair – grandfather
- sinn-seanair – great grandfather
- sinn-sinn-seanair – great great grandfather
- ogha – grandchild/grandson
- iar-ogha – great grandchild/grandson
- ion-ogha or gar-ogha – great great grandchild/grandson
- ban-ogha or ian-bhan-ogha – great granddaughter
- ban-fhionn-ogha – great great granddaughter
- uncail – uncle
- brathair m' athair – paternal uncle / brother of my father
- brathair mo mhàthair – maternal uncle / brother of my mother
- antaidh – aunt
- piuthar m' athair – paternal aunt / sister of my father
- piuthar mo mhàthair – maternal aunt / sister of my mother
- bean – wife (also 'woman')
- fear-taighe or duine – husband
- cèile or caidreach – spouse
Clans
- cinneadh – clan
- cinnidhean – clans
- ceann-cinnidh – clan chief
- cinn-cinnidh – clan chiefs
Land Records
- fiùdalachd – feudalism
- ranntannan iomchair – title deeds
- clàr còir-fearainn - sasine (TBC)
- luachadh – valuation
- cuairt luachaidh – valuation court
- Oighreachdan Arfuntaichte – Forfeited Estates
- oide – tutor, foster father
- oideachadh – tutelage
Heraldry
- gearradh arm – coat of arms
- neach-taice – supporters
- àrdarc – blazon, armorial bearings
For pronunciation of the above words, try looking the words up in the excellent dictionary at LearnGaelic (https://learngaelic.scot/dictionary/), which also has additional tools, such as a thesaurus.
Don't forget the Scottish Gaelic Duolingo course is free to access at https://www.duolingo.com if you fancy learning some of the basics, whilst BBC Alba's SpeakGaelic course is freely available at https://speakgaelic.scot to help push you along further!
Finally, I'm participating in the Glasgow Kiltwalk on April 28th 2024 to raise money for the An Lòchran Gaelic arts and cultural centre in Partick, Glasgow. If you would like to help with the ongoing effort to support Gaelic language learners in Glasgow please consider sponsoring me via https://www.justgiving.com/page/chris-paton-stewarton - every penny donated is appreciated!
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