Gaelic, also known as Scottish Gaelic or Gàidhlig, is a Celtic language primarily spoken in Scotland. If you’re interested in learning how to say years in Gaelic, this guide will provide you with both formal and informal ways for expressing years. While Gaelic exhibits some regional variations, we will focus on the most common and widespread terms. So, let’s dive into the fascinating world of Gaelic time expressions!
Table of Contents
1. Talking About Years in Formal Contexts
In formal contexts, such as business or official communication, it is essential to use the proper expressions to convey the year accurately. Here are some key phrases:
A. Stating the Year
In Gaelic, you would say “year” by using the word “bliadhna” (pronounced blee-an-ah). To express specific years, follow this structure:
Bliadhna + number + a’ + year
For example:
- Bliadhna 2022 a’ Ghàidhlig – The year 2022 in Gaelic
- Bliadhna 1990 a’ Chrìosdaidh – The year 1990 in Christendom
B. Referring to Decades
The Gaelic language also provides specific terms to refer to decades:
Deich bliadhna deichdù – The 1900s
Here are two examples:
- Tha sin air tachairt anns na deich bliadhna deichdù – That happened in the 1900s
- Bu chòir dhuinn obair le bhith ullamh airson na deich bliadhna deichdù – We should prepare for the 1900s
2. Informal Expressions for Talking About Years
When conversing informally, Gaelic speakers might use simpler and more colloquial expressions to refer to years. Here are some examples:
- An-dè bhon a bh’ ann – The year before last
- An-dè – Last year
- Am-bliadhna – This year
- A-rithist – Again (to express a repeated year)
For instance:
- Tha sin air tachairt an-dè bhon a bh’ ann – That happened the year before last
- An-dè bha mi ann an Irland – I was in Ireland last year
- Tha mi a’ smaoineachadh mu dheidhinn na h-ìreim dheireannach am-bliadhna – I’m thinking about the last sprint this year
- Fàgaidh mi an sgoil a-rithist aig deireadh na bhliadhna – I will leave school again at the end of the year
3. Common Regional Variations
While Gaelic has regional variations, the differences in expressing years are not significant. However, it’s worth highlighting a few variances:
A. Highland Gaelic
Highland Gaelic often uses the phrase “san t-suidheachadh” instead of “a’ Ghàidhlig” when referring to the Gaelic language. For example, “Bliadhna 2022 san t-suidheachadh” means “The year 2022 in Gaelic” in the Highland dialect.
B. Island Gaelic
In some of the Gaelic dialects spoken on the islands, the word “Gaelic” itself may differ. An example is the word “Gàidhlig” being substituted with “Gaedilge.” However, when expressing the years, the structure explained above remains fairly consistent.
4. Conclusion
Congratulations! You now have a solid understanding of how to say years in Gaelic. Remember to use the appropriate expressions based on the context. Whether it’s a formal occasion or a casual conversation, you can confidently express historical dates or refer to the present and future years in Gaelic. Practice using these phrases, and you’ll quickly become familiar with the nuances of Gaelic time expressions.
