Scottish Gaelic orthography has evolved over many centuries and is heavily etymologizing in its modern form. This means the orthography tends to preserve historical components rather than operating on the principles of a phonemic orthography where the graphemes correspond directly to phonemes. This allows the same written form in Scottish Gaelic to result in a multitude of pronunciations, depending on the spoken variant of Scottish Gaelic. For example, the word Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: coimhead ('watching') may result in in Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic pronounced as /ˈkʰõ.ət̪/, in Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic pronounced as /ˈkʰɔ̃jət̪/, in Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic pronounced as /ˈkʰɤi.ət̪/, or in Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic pronounced as /ˈkʰɛ̃.ət̪/. Conversely, it allows the sometimes highly divergent phonetic forms to be covered by a single written form, rather than requiring multiple written forms.
The alphabet (Scottish Gaelic: Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: aibidil, formerly Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Beith Luis Nuin from the first three letters of the Ogham alphabet) now used for writing Scottish Gaelic consists of the following Latin script letters, whether written in Roman type or Gaelic type:
Vowels may be accented with a grave accent but accented letters are not considered distinct letters. Prior the 1981 Gaelic Orthographic Convention (GOC), Scottish Gaelic traditionally used acute accents on to denote close-mid long vowels, clearly graphemically distinguishing pronounced as //ɛː// and pronounced as //eː//, and pronounced as //ɔː// and pronounced as //oː//. However, since the 1981 GOC and its 2005 and 2009 revisions, standard orthography only uses the grave accent.[2] Since the 1980s, the acute accent has not been used in Scottish high school examination papers, and many publishers have adopted the Scottish Qualifications Authority's orthographic conventions for their books.[3] Despite this, traditional spelling is still used by some writers and publishers, although not always intentionally.[4] In Nova Scotia, the 2009 Gaelic language curriculum guidelines follow the 2005 GOC orthography, but do not change the traditional spelling of words and phrases common to Nova Scotia or in pre–spelling-reform literature.[5]
The early Medieval treatise Irish, Old (to 900);: [[Auraicept na n-Éces]] ('The Scholars' Primer') describes the origin of alphabets from the Tower of Babel. It assigns plant names and meanings to the Ogham alphabet, to a lesser extent to Norse Younger Futhark runes, and by extension to Latin letters when used to write Gaelic. Robert Graves' book The White Goddess has been a major influence on assigning divinatory meanings to the tree symbolism. (See also Bríatharogam.) Some of the names differ from their modern equivalents (e.g. dair > darach, suil > seileach).
| Letter | Name(s) (meaning) | |
|---|---|---|
| Aa | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Ailm (elm) | |
| Bb | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Beith (silver birch) | |
| Cc | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Coll (hazel) | |
| Dd | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Dair (oak) | |
| Ee | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Eadha (aspen) | |
| Ff | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Feàrn (alder) | |
| Gg | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Gort (ivy) | |
| Hh | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Uath (hawthorn) | |
| Ii | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Iogh (yew) | |
| Ll | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Luis (rowan) | |
| Mm | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Muin (vine) | |
| Nn | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Nuin (ash) | |
| Oo | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Onn (furze) | |
| Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Oir (spindle) | ||
| Pp | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Peith (downy birch) | |
| Rr | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Ruis (elder) | |
| Ss | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Suil (willow) | |
| Tt | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Teine (furze) | |
| Uu | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Ura (heather) |
The consonant letters generally correspond to the consonant phonemes as shown in this table. See Scottish Gaelic phonology for an explanation of the symbols used. Consonants are "broad" (velarised) when the nearest vowel letter is one of and "slender" (palatalised) when the nearest vowel letter is one of . A back vowel is one of the following; pronounced as /[o(ː) ɔ(ː) ɤ(ː) u(ː) ɯ(ː) a(ː) au]/; a front vowel is any other kind of vowel.
| Letter(s) | Phoneme(s) | Examples | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| b | broad | pronounced as //p// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: bàta pronounced as //ˈpaːʰt̪ə//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: borb pronounced as //ˈpɔɾɔp// | |
| slender | before front vowel, or finally | pronounced as //p// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: bean pronounced as //pɛn//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: caibe pronounced as //ˈkʰapə//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: guib pronounced as //kɤp// | |
| before back vowel | pronounced as //pj// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: beò pronounced as //pjɔː//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: bealltainn pronounced as //ˈpjaul̪ˠt̪ɪɲ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: bealach pronounced as //ˈpjal̪ˠəx// | ||
| bh | between vowels, sometimes | pronounced as //.// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: siubhal pronounced as //ˈʃu.əl̪ˠ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: iubhar pronounced as //ˈju.əɾ// | |
| finally, sometimes | none | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: dubh pronounced as //t̪u//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: ubh pronounced as //u// | ||
| usually | broad | pronounced as //v// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: cabhag pronounced as //ˈkʰavak//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: sàbh pronounced as //s̪aːv// | |
| slender, before front vowel | pronounced as //v// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: dhuibh pronounced as //ˈɣɯiv//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: dibhe pronounced as //ˈtʲivə// | ||
| slender, before back vowel | pronounced as //vj// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: ro bheò pronounced as //ɾɔ vjɔː//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: dà bhealltainn pronounced as //t̪aː ˈvjaul̪ˠt̪ɪɲ// | ||
| see below for when they precede consonants | ||||
| c | broad | initially, or non-finally after consonant | pronounced as //kʰ// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: cas pronounced as //kʰas̪//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: cam pronounced as //kʰaum// |
| between vowels | pronounced as //ʰk// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: bacadh pronounced as //ˈpaʰkəɣ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: mucan pronounced as //ˈmuʰkən// | ||
| finally after vowel | pronounced as //ʰk// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: mac pronounced as //maʰk// | ||
| finally after consonant | pronounced as //k// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: corc pronounced as //kʰɔɾʰk// | ||
| slender | initially or after consonant | pronounced as //kʰʲ// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: ceòl pronounced as //kʰʲɔːl̪ˠ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: ceum pronounced as //kʰʲeːm// | |
| between vowels | pronounced as //ʰkʲ// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: lice pronounced as //ˈʎiʰkʲə//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: brice pronounced as //ˈpɾʲiʰkʲə// | ||
| finally after vowel | pronounced as //ʰkʲ// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: mic pronounced as //miʰkʲ// | ||
| finally after consonant | pronounced as //kʲ// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: cuilc pronounced as //kʰulʰkʲ// | ||
| ch | broad | pronounced as //x// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: loch pronounced as //l̪ˠɔx//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: dòchas pronounced as //ˈt̪ɔːxəs̪// | |
| slender | pronounced as //ç// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: deich pronounced as //tʲeç//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: dìcheall pronounced as //ˈtʲiːçəl̪ˠ// | ||
| chd | pronounced as //xk// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: lionntachd pronounced as //ˈʎuːn̪ˠt̪əxk//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: doimhneachd pronounced as //ˈt̪ɔiɲəxk// | ||
| cn | pronounced as //kʰɾ// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: cneap pronounced as //kʰɾʲɛʰp//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: cneasta pronounced as //ˈkʰɾʲes̪t̪ə// | ||
| d | broad | pronounced as //t̪// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: cadal pronounced as //ˈkʰat̪əl̪ˠ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: fada pronounced as //ˈfat̪ə// | |
| slender | pronounced as //tʲ// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: diùid pronounced as //tʲuːtʲ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: dearg pronounced as //ˈtʲɛɾak// | ||
| dh | in final - | none | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: pòsaidh pronounced as //ˈpʰɔːs̪ɪ// | |
| broad | between vowels | pronounced as //.// pronounced as //ɣ// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: odhar pronounced as //ˈo.ər//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: cladhadh pronounced as //ˈkʰl̪ˠɤ.əɣ// Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: modhail pronounced as //ˈmɔɣal// | |
| elsewhere | pronounced as //ɣ// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: dhà pronounced as //ɣaː//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: modh pronounced as //mɔɣ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: tumadh pronounced as //ˈt̪ʰuməɣ// | ||
| slender | between vowels | pronounced as //.// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Gàidheal pronounced as //ˈkɛː.əl̪ˠ// | |
| elsewhere | pronounced as //ʝ// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: dhìth pronounced as //ʝiː//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: dhìol pronounced as //ʝiəl̪ˠ// | ||
| see below for when they precede consonants | ||||
| f | broad | pronounced as //f// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: fathan pronounced as //ˈfahan//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: gafann pronounced as //ˈkafən̪ˠ// | |
| slender | before front vowel | pronounced as //f// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: fios pronounced as //fis̪//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: fèill pronounced as //feːʎ// | |
| before back vowel | pronounced as //fj// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: fiùran pronounced as //ˈfjuːɾan//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: feòl pronounced as //fjɔːl̪ˠ// | ||
| fh | usual | none | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: fhios pronounced as //is̪//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: a fharadh pronounced as //ˈaɾəɣ// | |
| exceptionally | pronounced as //h// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: fhathast pronounced as //ha.əs̪t̪//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: fhèin pronounced as //heːn//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: fhuair pronounced as //huəɾʲ// | ||
| g | broad | pronounced as //k// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: gad pronounced as //kat̪//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: ugan pronounced as //ˈukan// | |
| slender | pronounced as //kʲ// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: gille pronounced as //ˈkʲiʎə//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: leig pronounced as //ʎekʲ// | ||
| gh | finally, sometimes | none* | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: an-diugh pronounced as //əɲˈtʲu//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: nigh pronounced as //ɲiː// | |
| between vowels | pronounced as //.//
| Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: aghaidh pronounced as //ˈɤː.ɪ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: fiughar pronounced as //ˈfju.əɾ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: nigheann pronounced as //ˈɲiː.an̪ˠ// Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: laghail pronounced as //ˈl̪ˠɤɣal// | ||
| elsewhere | broad | pronounced as //ɣ// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: mo ghoc pronounced as //mə ɣɔʰk//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: lagh pronounced as //l̪ˠɤɣ// | |
| slender | pronounced as //ʝ// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: mo ghille pronounced as //mə ʝiʎə//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: do thaigh pronounced as //t̪ə hɤj// | ||
| see below for lengthened when preceding another consonant | ||||
| gn | pronounced as //kr// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: gnè pronounced as //kɾʲɛː// | ||
| h | pronounced as //h// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: a h-athair pronounced as //ə hahɪɾʲ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Hearach pronounced as //ˈhɛɾəx// | ||
| l | broad | pronounced as //l̪ˠ// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: lachan pronounced as //ˈl̪ˠaxən//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: a laoidh pronounced as //ə l̪ˠɯj//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: balach pronounced as //ˈpal̪ˠəx// | |
| slender | initially, unlenited | pronounced as //ʎ// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: leabaidh pronounced as //ˈʎepɪ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: leum pronounced as //ʎeːm// | |
| initially, lenited | pronounced as //l// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: dà leabaidh pronounced as //t̪aː lepɪ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: bho leac pronounced as //vɔ lɛʰk// | ||
| elsewhere | pronounced as //l// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: cuilean pronounced as //ˈkʰulan//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: sùil pronounced as //s̪uːl// | ||
| ll | broad | pronounced as //l̪ˠ// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: balla pronounced as //ˈpal̪ˠə//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: ciall pronounced as //kʰʲiəl̪ˠ// | |
| slender | pronounced as //ʎ// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: cailleach pronounced as //ˈkʰaʎəx//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: mill pronounced as //miːʎ// | ||
| m | broad | pronounced as //m// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: maol pronounced as //mɯːl̪ˠ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: màla pronounced as //ˈmaːl̪ˠə// | |
| slender | before front vowel | pronounced as //m// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: milis pronounced as //ˈmilɪʃ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: tìm pronounced as //tʰʲiːm// | |
| before back vowel | pronounced as //mj// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: meall pronounced as //mjaul̪ˠ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: meòg pronounced as //mjɔːk// | ||
| mh | between vowels, sometimes | pronounced as //.// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: comhairle pronounced as //ˈkʰo.əɾlə// | |
| broad | pronounced as //v// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: àmhainn pronounced as //ˈaːvɪɲ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: caomh pronounced as //kʰɯːv// | ||
| slender | before front vowel | pronounced as //v// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: caoimhin pronounced as //ˈkʰɯːvɪɲ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: làimh pronounced as //ˈl̪ˠaiv// | |
| before back vowel | pronounced as //vj// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: do mhealladh pronounced as //t̪ɔ ˈvjal̪ˠəɣ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: dà mheall pronounced as //t̪aː vjaul̪ˠ// | ||
| see below for when they precede consonants | ||||
| n | broad | initially, unlenited | pronounced as //n̪ˠ// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: nàbaidh pronounced as //ˈn̪ˠaːpi//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: norrag pronounced as //ˈn̪ˠɔrˠak// |
| initially, lenited | pronounced as //n// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: mo nàire pronounced as //mɔ ˈnaːɾʲɪ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: bho nàbaidh pronounced as //vɔ ˈnaːpɪ// | ||
| elsewhere | pronounced as //n// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: dona pronounced as //ˈt̪ɔnə//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: sean pronounced as //ʃɛn// | ||
| slender | initially, unlenited | pronounced as //ɲ// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: neul pronounced as //ɲial̪ˠ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: neart pronounced as //ɲɛɾʃt̪// | |
| initially, lenited | pronounced as //n// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: mo nighean pronounced as //mɔ ˈni.an//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: dà nead pronounced as //t̪aː nɛt̪// | ||
| elsewhere, after back vowel | pronounced as //ɲ// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: duine pronounced as //ˈt̪ɯɲə//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: càineadh pronounced as //ˈkʰaːɲəɣ// | ||
| elsewhere, after front vowel | pronounced as //n// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: cana pronounced as //ˈkʰanə//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: teine pronounced as //ˈtʰʲenə// | ||
| ng | broad | pronounced as //ŋɡ// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: teanga pronounced as //ˈtʰʲɛŋɡə//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: fulang pronounced as //ˈful̪ˠəŋɡ// | |
| slender | pronounced as //ŋʲɡʲ// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: aingeal pronounced as //ˈaiŋʲɡʲəl̪ˠ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: farsaing pronounced as //ˈfaɾs̪ɪŋʲɡʲ// | ||
| nn | broad | pronounced as //n̪ˠ// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: ceannaich pronounced as //ˈkʰʲan̪ˠɪç//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: ann pronounced as //aun̪ˠ// | |
| slender | pronounced as //ɲ// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: bainne pronounced as //ˈpaɲə//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: tinn pronounced as //tʰʲiːɲ// | ||
| p | broad slender not before back vowel | initially or after consonant | pronounced as //pʰ// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: post pronounced as //pʰɔs̪t̪//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: campa pronounced as //ˈkʰaumpə//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: peasair pronounced as //ˈpʰes̪ɪɾʲ//, |
| between vowels | pronounced as //ʰp// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: cupa pronounced as //ˈkʰuʰpə//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: cipean pronounced as //ˈkʰʲiʰpan// | ||
| finally after vowel | pronounced as //ʰp// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: cuip pronounced as //ˈkʰuiʰp// | ||
| finally after consonant | pronounced as //p// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: ailp pronounced as //alp// | ||
| slender before back vowel | after consonant, or initially | pronounced as //pj// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: piuthar pronounced as //ˈpʰju.əɾ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: peall pronounced as //pʰjaul̪ˠ// | |
| ph | broad | pronounced as //f// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: sa phost pronounced as //s̪ə fɔs̪t̪//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: bho phàiste pronounced as //vɔ ˈfaːʃtʲə// | |
| slender | before front vowel | pronounced as //f// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: dà pheasair pronounced as //t̪aː ˈfes̪ɪɾʲ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: mo pheata pronounced as //mɔ ˈfɛʰt̪ə// | |
| before back vowel | pronounced as //fj// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: mo phiuthar pronounced as //mɔ ˈfju.əɾ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: sa pheann pronounced as //s̪ə fjaun̪ˠ// | ||
| r | initially, unlenited | pronounced as //rˠ// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: ràmh pronounced as //rˠaːv//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: rionnag pronounced as //ˈrˠun̪ˠak// | |
| initially, lenited | pronounced as //ɾ// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: do rùn pronounced as //tɔ ɾuːn//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: bho rèic pronounced as //vɔ ɾeːʰkʲ// | ||
| elsewhere | broad | pronounced as //ɾ// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: caran pronounced as //ˈkʰaɾan//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: mura pronounced as //ˈmuɾə// | |
| slender | pronounced as //ɾʲ// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: cìr pronounced as //kʰʲiːɾʲ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: cuireadh pronounced as //ˈkʰuɾʲəɣ// | ||
| rr | pronounced as //rˠ// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: cearr pronounced as //kʰʲaːrˠ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: barra pronounced as //ˈparˠə// | ||
| -rt, -rd | pronounced as //ɾʃt̪// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: neart pronounced as //ɲɛɾʃt̪//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: bord pronounced as //pɔːɾʃt̪// | ||
| s | broad | pronounced as //s̪// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: sàr pronounced as //s̪aːɾ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: casan pronounced as //ˈkʰas̪an// | |
| slender | pronounced as //ʃ// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: siùcair pronounced as //ˈʃuːʰkɪɾʲ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: càise pronounced as //ˈkʰaːʃə// | ||
| sh | broad | pronounced as //h// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: ro shalach pronounced as //ɾɔ ˈhal̪ˠəx//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: glè shoilleir pronounced as //kleː ˈhɤʎɪɾʲ// | |
| slender | before front vowel | pronounced as //h// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: dà shìl pronounced as //t̪aː hiːʎ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: glè shean pronounced as //kleː hɛn// | |
| before back vowel | pronounced as //hj// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: de shiùcair pronounced as //tʲe ˈhjuːʰkɪɾʲ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: a sheòladh pronounced as //ə ˈhjɔːl̪ˠəɣ// | ||
| sr, str | pronounced as //s̪t̪ɾ// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: sràc pronounced as //s̪t̪ɾaːʰk//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: strì pronounced as //s̪t̪ɾʲiː// | ||
| t | broad | initially, or non-finally after consonant | pronounced as //t̪ʰ// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: tasdan pronounced as //ˈt̪ʰas̪t̪an//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: molta pronounced as //ˈmɔl̪ˠt̪ə// |
| between vowels | pronounced as //ʰt̪// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: bàta pronounced as //ˈpaːʰt̪ə// | ||
| finally, after vowel | pronounced as //ʰt̪// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: put pronounced as //pʰuʰt̪// | ||
| finally, after consonant | pronounced as //t// | |||
| slender | initially, or non-finally after consonant | pronounced as //tʰʲ// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: tiugh pronounced as //tʰʲu//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: caillte pronounced as //ˈkʰaiʎtʲə// | |
| between vowels | pronounced as //ʰtʲ// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: litir pronounced as //ˈʎiʰtʲɪɾʲ// | ||
| finally, after vowel | pronounced as //ʰtʲ// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: cait pronounced as //kʰɛʰtʲ// | ||
| finally, after consonant | pronounced as //tʲ// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: ailt pronounced as //altʲ// | ||
| th | finally | none | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: teth pronounced as //tʰʲe//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: leth pronounced as //ʎe//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: strath pronounced as //s̪t̪ɾa// | |
| between vowels | pronounced as //.// pronounced as //h// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: leotha pronounced as //ˈlɔ.ə//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: piuthar pronounced as //ˈpʰju.əɾ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: cnòthan pronounced as //ˈkɾɔː.ən// Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: beatha pronounced as //ˈpɛhə//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: fathan pronounced as //ˈfahan//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: a mhàthair pronounced as //ə ˈvaːhɪɾʲ// | ||
| initially | broad | pronounced as //h// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: mo thòn pronounced as //mɔ hɔːn//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: do thaigh pronounced as //t̪ɔ hɤʝ// | |
| slender, before front vowel | pronounced as //h// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: thig pronounced as //hikʲ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: ro thinn pronounced as //rˠɔ hiːɲ// | ||
| slender, before back vowel | pronounced as //hj// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: do theaghlach pronounced as //t̪ɔ ˈhjɔːl̪ˠəx//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: glè thiugh pronounced as //kleː hju// | ||
Many of the rules in this section only apply in stressed syllables. In unstressed syllables, the range of vowels is highly restricted, mainly pronounced as //ə, ɪ, a// appearing and on occasion pronounced as //ɔ//. Only certain vowel graphs appear in unstressed syllables: and very infrequently .
| Letter(s) | Phoneme(s) | Examples | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| a | unstressed | in - in - (when not plural) | pronounced as //a// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: cnèatag pronounced as //ˈkʰɾʲiaʰt̪ak//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: luchag pronounced as //ˈl̪ˠuxak// Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: lochan pronounced as //ˈl̪ˠɔxan//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: beagan pronounced as //ˈpekan// |
| elsewhere | pronounced as //ə// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: balach pronounced as //ˈpal̪ˠəx//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: balla pronounced as //ˈpal̪ˠə// | ||
| stressed | before + vowel or word finally | pronounced as //ɤ// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: dragh pronounced as //t̪ɾɤɣ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: laghail pronounced as //ˈl̪ˠɤɣal// | |
| before + consonant or word finally | pronounced as //au// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: bann pronounced as //paun̪ˠ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: calltainn pronounced as //ˈkʰaul̪ˠt̪ɪɲ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: campa pronounced as //ˈkʰaumpə// | ||
| before + consonant or word finally before | pronounced as //aː// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: barr pronounced as //paːrˠ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: carnadh pronounced as //ˈkʰaːɾnəɣ// | ||
| elsewhere | pronounced as //a// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: acras pronounced as //ˈaʰkɾəs̪//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: gealladh pronounced as //ˈkʲal̪ˠəɣ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: barra pronounced as //ˈparˠə// | ||
| See below for when they precede consonants | ||||
| ai | unstressed | in - | pronounced as //a// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: modhail pronounced as //ˈmɔɣal//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: eudail pronounced as //ˈeːt̪al// |
| elsewhere | pronounced as //ɪ// pronounced as //e// pronounced as //ə// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: caraich pronounced as //ˈkʰaɾɪç//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: mholainn pronounced as //ˈvɔl̪ˠɪɲ// Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: air an fhèill pronounced as //eɾʲəˈɲeːʎ// Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: comhairle pronounced as //ˈkʰo.əɾlə// | ||
| stressed | before + consonant or word finally before + consonant | pronounced as //ai// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: caill pronounced as //ˈkʰaiʎ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: cainnt pronounced as //ˈkʰaiɲtʲ// Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: aibhne pronounced as //ˈaivɲə//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: aimhreid pronounced as //ˈaivɾʲɪtʲ// | |
| before + consonant or word finally before | pronounced as //aː// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: aird pronounced as //aːɾʃt̪// | ||
| elsewhere | pronounced as //a// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: baile pronounced as //ˈpalə//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: lainnir pronounced as //ˈl̪ˠaɲɪɾʲ// | ||
| See below for, when they precede consonants | ||||
| à | pronounced as //aː// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: àlainn pronounced as //ˈaːl̪ˠɪɲ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: bràmar pronounced as //ˈpɾaːməɾ// | ||
| ài | pronounced as //aː// pronounced as //ɛː// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: àite pronounced as //ˈaːʰtʲə//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: càil pronounced as //kʰaːl// Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Gàidheal pronounced as //ˈkɛː.əl̪ˠ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: pàipear pronounced as //ˈpʰɛːʰpəɾ// | ||
| ao | pronounced as //ɯː// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: maol pronounced as //mɯːl̪ˠ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: caomh pronounced as //kʰɯːv// | ||
| aoi | before + consonant or word finally | pronounced as //ɯi// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: aoibhneas pronounced as //ˈɯivɲəs̪//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: caoimhneas pronounced as //ˈkʰɯivɲəs̪// | |
| elsewhere | pronounced as //ɯː// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: faoileag pronounced as //ˈfɯːlak//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: caoimhin pronounced as //ˈkʰɯːvɪɲ// | ||
| e | unstressed | pronounced as //ə// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: maise pronounced as //ˈmaʃə//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: cuine pronounced as //ˈkʰuɲə// | |
| stressed | pronounced as //e// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: teth pronounced as //tʰʲe//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: le pronounced as //le// | ||
| ea | unstressed | in - | pronounced as //a// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: faoileag pronounced as //ˈfɯːlak//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: uiseag pronounced as //ˈɯʃak// |
| elsewhere | pronounced as //ə// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: rinnear pronounced as //ˈrˠiɲəɾ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: mìltean pronounced as //ˈmiːltʲən// | ||
| stressed | before finally | pronounced as //ɤ// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: feadh pronounced as //fjɤɣ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: seagh pronounced as //ʃɤɣ// | |
| before | pronounced as //e// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: eadar pronounced as //ˈet̪əɾ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: creagan pronounced as //ˈkʰɾʲekən// | ||
| before + consonant or word finally | pronounced as //au// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: peann pronounced as //pʰjaun̪ˠ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: teannta pronounced as //ˈtʰʲaun̪ˠt̪ə// | ||
| before + consonant or word finally before | pronounced as //aː// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: fearna pronounced as //ˈfjaːɾnə//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: dearrsadh pronounced as //ˈtʲaːrˠs̪əɣ// | ||
| before + vowel, initially | pronounced as //ja// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: eallach pronounced as //ˈjal̪ˠəx//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: earrach pronounced as //ˈjarˠəx// | ||
| before + vowel, elsewhere | pronounced as //a// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: ceannard pronounced as //ˈkʰʲan̪ˠəɾʃt̪//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: gealladh pronounced as //ˈkʲal̪ˠəɣ// | ||
| elsewhere | pronounced as //ɛ// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: fear pronounced as //fɛɾ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: earrann pronounced as //ˈjarˠən̪ˠ// | ||
| See below for when they precede consonants | ||||
| èa | pronounced as //ia// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: dèan pronounced as //ˈtʲian//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: cnèatag pronounced as //ˈkʰɾʲiaʰt̪ak// | ||
| ei | unstressed | pronounced as //ɪ// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: aimhreid pronounced as //ˈaivɾʲɪtʲ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: bigein pronounced as //ˈpikʲəɲ// | |
| stressed | before + consonant or word finally | pronounced as //ei// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: greim pronounced as //ˈkɾʲeim//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: peinnsean pronounced as //ˈpʰeiɲʃan// | |
| elsewhere | pronounced as //e// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: ceist pronounced as //kʰʲeʃtʲ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: seinneadair pronounced as //ˈʃeɲət̪ɪɾʲ// | ||
| è, èi | pronounced as //ɛː// pronounced as //eː// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: crè pronounced as //kʰɾʲɛː//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: sèimh pronounced as //ʃɛːv// Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: dè pronounced as //tʲeː//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: cèile pronounced as //ˈkʰʲeːlə// | ||
| eo | pronounced as //ɔ// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: deoch pronounced as //tʲɔx//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: leotha pronounced as //ˈlɔ.ə// | ||
| eò, eòi | initially | pronounced as //jɔː// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: eòlas pronounced as //ˈjɔːl̪ˠəs̪//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: eòin pronounced as //jɔːɲ// | |
| elsewhere | pronounced as //ɔː// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: seòl pronounced as //ʃɔːl̪ˠ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: meòir pronounced as //mjɔːɾʲ// | ||
| eu | before or in literary words | pronounced as //eː// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Seumas pronounced as //ˈʃeːməs̪//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: leum pronounced as //ʎeːm//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: treun pronounced as //t̪ʰɾʲeːn// | |
| elsewhere | pronounced as //ia// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: ceud pronounced as //kʰʲiat̪//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: feur pronounced as //fiaɾ// | ||
| i | unstressed | pronounced as //ɪ// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: litir pronounced as //ˈʎiʰtʲɪɾʲ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: fuirich pronounced as //ˈfuɾʲɪç// | |
| stressed | before + consonant or word finally | pronounced as //iː// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: till pronounced as //tʰʲiːʎ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: sinnsear pronounced as //ˈʃiːɲʃəɾ// | |
| elsewhere | pronounced as //i// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: thig pronounced as //hikʲ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: tinneas pronounced as //ˈtʰʲiɲəs̪// | ||
| ì | pronounced as //iː// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: cìr pronounced as //kʰʲiːɾʲ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: rìbhinn pronounced as //ˈrˠiːvɪɲ// | ||
| ia | pronounced as //iə// pronounced as //ia// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: liath pronounced as //ʎiə//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: iarraidh pronounced as //ˈiərˠɪ// Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: sgian pronounced as //s̪kʲian//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: dia pronounced as //tʲia// | ||
| io | before + consonant or word finally | initially | pronounced as //ju// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: ionnsaich pronounced as //ˈjuːn̪ˠs̪ɪç// |
| elsewhere | pronounced as //uː// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: lionn pronounced as //ʎuːn̪ˠ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: fionntach pronounced as //ˈfjuːn̪ˠt̪əx// | ||
| before + vowel | pronounced as //u// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: fionnar pronounced as //ˈfjun̪ˠəɾ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: sionnach pronounced as //ˈʃun̪ˠəx// | ||
| elsewhere | pronounced as //i// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: fios pronounced as //fis̪//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: lios pronounced as //ʎis̪// | ||
| See below for when they precedes consonants | ||||
| ìo | pronounced as //iə// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: mìos pronounced as //miəs̪//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: cìoch pronounced as //kʰʲiəx// | ||
| iu | initially | pronounced as //ju// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: iubhar pronounced as //ˈju.əɾ// | |
| before | pronounced as //uː// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: ciurr pronounced as //kʰʲuːrˠ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: siursach pronounced as //ˈʃuːɾs̪əx// | ||
| elsewhere | pronounced as //u// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: fliuch pronounced as //flux//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: siubhal pronounced as //ˈʃu.əl̪ˠ// | ||
| iù, iùi | pronounced as //uː// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: diù pronounced as //tʲuː//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: ciùil pronounced as //kʰʲuːl// | ||
| o | before or + vowel | pronounced as //o// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: gob pronounced as //kop//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: bogha pronounced as //ˈpo.ə// | |
| before + consonant or word finally | pronounced as //ɔu// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: tom pronounced as //ˈt̪ʰɔum//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: tolltach pronounced as //ˈt̪ʰɔul̪ˠt̪əx// | ||
| before + consonant or word finally before | pronounced as //ɔː// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: torr pronounced as //t̪ʰɔːrˠ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: dornan pronounced as //ˈt̪ɔːɾnan// | ||
| elsewhere | pronounced as //ɔ// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: loch pronounced as //l̪ˠɔx//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: follais pronounced as //ˈfɔl̪ˠɪʃ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: dorra pronounced as //ˈt̪ɔrˠə// | ||
| See below for when it comes before consonants | ||||
| oi | before or + vowel | pronounced as //o// | ||
| before + consonant or word finally | pronounced as //əi// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: broinn pronounced as //pɾəiɲ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: oillt pronounced as //əiʎtʲ// | ||
| elsewhere | pronounced as //ɤ// pronounced as //ɔ// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: goid pronounced as //kɤtʲ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: doirbh pronounced as //ˈt̪ɤɾʲɤv//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: coileach pronounced as //ˈkʰɤləx// Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: toil pronounced as //t̪ʰɔl//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: coire pronounced as //ˈkʰɔɾʲə// | ||
| See below for when they precede consonants | ||||
| ò, òi | pronounced as //oː// pronounced as //ɔː// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: bò pronounced as //poː//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: còig pronounced as //kʰoːkʲ// Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: òir pronounced as //ɔːɾʲ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: bòid pronounced as //pɔːtʲ// | ||
| u | before + consonant or word finally before | pronounced as //uː// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: cum pronounced as //kʰuːm//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: sunndach pronounced as //ˈs̪uːn̪ˠt̪əx//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: murn pronounced as //muːɾn// | |
| elsewhere | pronounced as //u// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: dubh pronounced as //t̪u//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: cumail pronounced as //ˈkʰumal// | ||
| ua, uai | before | pronounced as //ua// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: cuan pronounced as //ˈkʰuan//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: uaine pronounced as //ˈuaɲə// | |
| elsewhere | pronounced as //uə// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: tuagh pronounced as //t̪ʰuəɣ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: duais pronounced as //t̪uəʃ// | ||
| ui | before | pronounced as //ɯ// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: uisge pronounced as //ˈɯʃkʲə//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: duine pronounced as //ˈt̪ɯɲə// | |
| before | pronounced as //ɯi// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: buidhe pronounced as //ˈpɯi.ə//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: suidhe pronounced as //ˈs̪ɯi.ə// | ||
| before + consonant or word finally | pronounced as //ɯi// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: druim pronounced as //ˈt̪ɾɯim//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: muinntir pronounced as //ˈmɯiɲtʲɪɾʲ// | ||
| before + vowel | pronounced as //ɯ// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: cluinneadh pronounced as //ˈkl̪ˠɯɲəɣ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: tuilleadh pronounced as //ˈt̪ʰɯʎəɣ// | ||
| elsewhere | pronounced as //u// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: cuir pronounced as //kʰuɾʲ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: tuit pronounced as //t̪ʰuʰtʲ// | ||
| See below for when it precedes consonants | ||||
| ù, ùi | pronounced as //uː// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: sùil pronounced as //s̪uːl//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: cùis pronounced as //kʰuːʃ// | ||
are commonly pronounced as vowels or are deleted if they are followed by a consonant. For example, in Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: cabhag the is usually pronounced as //v// but in Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: cabhlach the has turned into an pronounced as //u// vowel, yielding pronounced as //au// rather than pronounced as //av// in the first syllable.
| Letters | Phoneme(s) | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| abh, amh | pronounced as //au// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: cabhlach pronounced as //ˈkʰaul̪ˠəx//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: samhradh pronounced as //ˈs̪auɾəɣ// |
| adh, agh | pronounced as //ɤː// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: adhbran pronounced as //ˈɤːpɾan//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: ladhran pronounced as //ˈl̪ˠɤːɾan// |
| aidh | pronounced as //ai// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: snaidhm pronounced as //ˈs̪n̪ˠaim// |
| aigh | pronounced as //ɤi// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: saighdear pronounced as //ˈs̪ɤitʲəɾ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: maighdean pronounced as //ˈmɤitʲən// |
| eagh | pronounced as //ɤː// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: do theaghlach pronounced as //t̪ə ˈhjɤːl̪ˠəx// |
| eamh | pronounced as //ɛu// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: geamhradh pronounced as //ˈkʲɛuɾəɣ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: leamhrag pronounced as //ˈʎɛuɾak// |
| iodh, iogh | pronounced as //iə// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: tìodhlaic pronounced as //ˈtʰʲiəl̪ˠɪʰkʲ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: ioghnadh pronounced as //ˈiənəɣ// |
| ogh | pronounced as //oː// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: foghnaidh pronounced as //ˈfoːnɪ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: roghnaich pronounced as //ˈrˠoːnɪç// |
| oibh | pronounced as //ɤi// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: goibhle pronounced as //ˈkɤilə//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: goibhnean pronounced as //ˈkɤinən// |
| oigh | pronounced as //ɤi// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: oighre pronounced as //ˈɤiɾʲə//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: sloighre pronounced as //ˈs̪l̪ˠɤiɾʲə// |
| oimh | pronounced as //ɔi// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: doimhne pronounced as //ˈt̪ɔiɲə//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: doimhneachd pronounced as //ˈt̪ɔiɲəxk// |
| uimh | pronounced as //ui// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: cuimhne pronounced as //ˈkʰuiɲə//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: cuimhneachadh pronounced as //ˈkʰuiɲəxəɣ// |
Where an is followed (or in the case of, preceded) by a, an epenthetic vowel is inserted between the two. This is usually a copy of the vowel that preceded the . Examples; Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Alba pronounced as //ˈal̪ˠapə//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: marbh pronounced as //ˈmaɾav//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: tilg pronounced as //ˈtʰʲilikʲ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: arm pronounced as //ˈaɾam//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: iomradh pronounced as //ˈimiɾəɣ//.
If this process would lead to the sound sequence pronounced as //ɛɾɛ//, the epenthetic vowel is an pronounced as //a// in many dialects, e.g Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: dearg pronounced as //ˈtʲɛɾak//.
The acute accent is no longer used in standard Scottish Gaelic orthography, although it may be encountered in late 20th century writings, and occasionally in contemporary writings, especially in Canadian Gaelic.
| Letter(s) | Phoneme(s) | Examples | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| á | pronounced as //a// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: ás pronounced as //as// | ||
| é, éi | pronounced as //eː// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Éideann pronounced as //dun ˈeːtʲən̪ˠ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: éirigh pronounced as //eːɾʲɪ// | ||
| ó, ói | pronounced as //oː// | Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: bó pronounced as //poː//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: cóig pronounced as //kʰoːkʲ//, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: mór pronounced as //moːɾ// | ||
Certain spellings have also been regularised where they violate pronunciation rules. "Tigh" in particular can still be encountered in house names and certain place names, notably Tighnabruaich and Eilean Tigh.