How to Say “Happy New Year” in Scottish Gaelic

By Anne Rose • Updated October 16, 2026

Bliadhna mhath ùr

greeting

To say "Happy New Year" in Scottish Gaelic you say Bliadhna mhath ùr. Literally it means "a good new year".

Add dhut for one person or dhuibh for several, as in Bliadhna mhath ùr dhuibh.

Meaning: greeting for the new year (phrase)

What does it mean word for word?

Bliadhna means "year", mhath is math, "good", softened after a feminine noun, and ùr means "new".

When do people say it?

Hogmanay, the Scottish New Year celebration, is Oidhche Challainn in Gaelic.

Did you know?

The word ùr means "new" and also "fresh", as in aran ùr, "fresh bread".

Examples in context

Bliadhna mhath ùr dhuibh uile!
Happy New Year to you all!
Bliadhna mhath ùr dhut, a charaid.
Happy New Year, my friend.

Example conversation

Neighbours meet at midnight on New Year's Eve.

Mairi

Bliadhna mhath ùr!
Happy New Year!
Calum

Bliadhna mhath ùr dhut fhèin.
Happy New Year to you too.
Mairi

Slàinte mhath!
Cheers!

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About The Author

Anne Rose

Hello there! I'm Anne, a passionate advocate for the Gaelic language, and culture. My hobbies include writing comprehensive guides about Gaelic words, phrases, and their proper usage. Be it simple terms like 'cara,' Irish for friend, or endearing expressions like 'anam cara,' which translates to soul friend, I've a knack for explaining it all. When I'm not writing, you could find me concocting delicious Irish recipes, or simply enjoying mother nature. Biadh, meaning food, and bheatha, meaning life, sums up my philosophy entirely. Stop by for a visit, mo chairde (my friends)! Let's uncover the magical world of Gaelic together.

Anne RoseHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.

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