Ways to say it
| Gaelic | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| tha gaol agam ort | /ha(ː)ˈkɯːɫ̪ ˌakəm ˈɔrˠst/ | intimate |
| tha gràdh agam dhut | intimate | |
| tha gràdh agam dhuibh | formal, plural |
These phrases are used to express affection or romantic feelings toward others.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase tha gaol agam ort literally translates to "There is love at me" or "Love is at me".
Which one should you use?
Use tha gaol agam ort for general affection or romantic love. In contrast, tha gràdh agam dhut is more intense and specifically denotes deep, passionate or romantic love. To address a group of people or to show high respect, use the plural/formal form tha gràdh agam dhuibh.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The forms tha gràdh agam dhut and tha gaol agam ort are both considered intimate. The form tha gràdh agam dhuibh is the formal version used to address more than one person or to show high respect.
How does it change in a sentence?
The prepositional pronoun ort is used with gaol to indicate the direction of the feeling toward a single person. However, the prepositional pronoun dhut is used with gràdh to indicate the direction toward a single person. For the formal/plural version, the pronoun dhuibh is used.
How do you pronounce it?
/ha(ː)ˈkɯːɫ̪ ˌakəm ˈɔrˠst/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly try to use the direct object pronoun thu in a phrase like "Tha gaol agam thu". Instead, you must use the required prepositional pronouns ort or dhut depending on the word you have chosen.
Did you know?
- The word gràdh is related to the Sanskrit word gūrti, which means 'praise' or 'benediction'. This reveals an ancient, distant linguistic connection between Gaelic and Sanskrit.
- In Gaelic, the word agam serves as a possessive marker, meaning 'at me' or 'with me'. Therefore, these expressions of love are technically statements about what you possess rather than an action you perform.
- Because gaol is rooted in the word for relationship, using tha gaol agam ort often implies a deep, familial bond as well as romantic affection.
Examples in context
- Tha gaol agam ort.I love you.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase tha gaol agam ort.Tatoeba #773096 by marloncori, translation #1434 by awael58
- Tha gaol agam ort, a ghràidh.I love you, my darling.
Example conversation
Hamish and Catriona are saying goodbye for the evening.
- HamishTha gaol agam ort, a Chatriona.I love you, Catriona.
- CatrionaTha gaol agam ort cuideachd, a Hamish.I love you too, Hamish.
- HamishGluais gu sàbhail.Travel safely.
- CatrionaTapaidh, tha mi.Thanks, I will.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I love you” translations and entries tha gaol agam ort, tha gràdh agam dhut, tha gràdh agam dhuibh, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries agam, dhuibh, dhut, gaol, gràdh, ort, tha, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
