ciamar a tha thu?
/ˈkʲʰimaɾ ə ha u/word by word
How are you? In Gaelic is ciamar a tha thu?
This is a common greeting used to ask someone about their current well-being.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase translates literally as 'how is you?' because the verb tha is the third-person singular form of 'to be'.
Which one should you use?
ciamar a tha thu? is the informal version, while ciamar a tha sibh? is used when addressing more than one person or when using the formal/polite second-person pronoun.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Ciamar a tha thu fhèin? is a phrase used in some areas, including the Western Isles.
How does it change in a sentence?
ciamar a tha sibh? is the form used when addressing more than one person or when using the formal/polite second-person pronoun sibh.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkʲʰimaɾ ə ha u/
When do people say it?
A standard response to this greeting is Tha mi gu math (I am well).
Did you know?
- The word ciamar is actually a 'linguistic fossil' resulting from the contraction of three separate words: 'cia', 'e', and 'mar'.
- The polite form ciamar a tha sibh? uses a plural pronoun even when speaking to a single person, similar to the 'vous' used in French.
- While tha mi gu math means 'I am well', Gaelic speakers often use a wide variety of more descriptive responses to indicate their mood or health rather than a simple 'good'.
Example conversation
Isla and Finlay meet on the street.
- IslaHalò, Finlay! Ciamar a tha thu?Hello, Finlay! How are you?
- FinlayTha mi gu math, Isla. Agus thu?I am well, Isla. And you?
- IslaTha mi gu math cuideachd, tapadh leat.I am well also, thank you.
- FinlayMath a chluinntinn.Good to hear.
