Scottish Gaelic proverbs

A

• A 'nighean mar a mathair.
  • Translation: Such mother, such daughter.
  • English equivalent: Like mother, like daughter.
  • Meaning: Daughters may look and behave like their mothers. This is due to inheritance and the example observed closely and rarely.
  • Source for meaning and proverb: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 137. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

• Am mac mar an t-athair.
  • Translation: Such father, such son.
  • English equivalent: Like father, like son.
  • Meaning: Sons may look and behave like their fathers. This is due to inheritance and the example observed closely and daily.
  • Source for meaning and proverbs: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 170. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

• Aon ghlainne, chan fheàirrde ’s cha mhiste. Dà ghlainne, ’s fheàirrde ’s cha mhiste. Trì glainneachan, ’s miste ’s chan fheàirrde.
  • Translation: One glass, not the better of it and not the worse of it. Two glasses, the better of it and not the worse of it. Three glasses, the worse of it and not the better of it.
  • Variant: Aon ghlainne, chan fheàirrde ’s cha mhiste mo chorp no m’ anam e. Dà ghlainne, ’s fheàirrde mo chorp e, ’s cha mhiste m’ anam e. Trì glainneachan, ’s miste m’ anam e, ’s chan fheàirrde mo chorp e.
    • Translation: One glass, not the better and not the worse my body or my soul of it. Two glasses, the better my body of it and not the worse my soul of it. Three glasses, the worse my soul of it and not the better my body of it.
      • Quoted in BBC's educational programme Litir do Luchd-ionnsachaidh (Litir 547) by Ruairidh MacIlleathain (2010).

• Asteigh air an dala cluais 'samach air a' chluais eile (or an t-eile).
  • Translation: In at one ear and out at the other.
  • English equivalent: Advice most needed are the least heeded.
  • Meaning: For various reasons a good advice or a genuine warning is often disregarded or considered of no importance.
  • Source for meaning and proverb: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 179. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

B

• Bainne nan gobhar fo chobhar ’s e blàth, ’s e chuireadh an spionnadh sna daoine a bha.
  • Translation: It is the milk of the goat foaming and warm, that gave the strength to the past generations of people.
    • Quoted by Alexander Robert Forbes in Gaelic names of beasts (Mammalia), birds, fishes, insects, reptiles, etc. in two parts (1905).

C

• Cha bhòrd bòrd gun aran ach 's bòrd aran leis fhèin.
  • Translation: A table without bread is not a table but bread is a table on its own.
    • Quoted by Alexander Nicolson in A collection of Gaelic proverbs and familiar phrases : based on Macintosh's collection (1882).

• Chan eil tuil air nach tig traoghadh.
  • Translation: There isn't a flood which will not subside.
    • Quoted by Colin B D Mark in The Gaelic-English dictionary, p 595 (2003).

• Chan ith a shàth ach an cù.
  • Translation: None but a dog eats his fill.
    • Quoted by Edward Dwelly in his Scottish Gaelic-English Dictionary (1911).

• Chan urrainn do dhuine 'sambith seirbhis a dhéanamh do dhà mhaighstir.
  • Translation: Nobody can serve two masters.
  • English equivalent: Also, Nobody can serve two masters.
  • Meaning: One cannot serve two conflicting causes simultaneously. If this is attempted neither will be served properly.
  • Source for meaning and proverbs: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 283. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

• Chuir sin an clamhan gobhlach am measg nan cearc.
  • Idiomatic translation: That put the cat among the pigeons.
  • Literal translation: That put the red kite among the hens.
    • Quoted in BBC's educational programme Litir do Luchd-ionnsachaidh (Litir 480) by Ruairidh MacIlleathain (2008).

D

• Dail chuach am bainne ghobhar, suath ri d’ aghaidh, ’s chan eil mac rìgh air an domhan nach bi nad dhèidh.
  • Translation: With violets and goats’ milk anoint your face, and every king’s son in the world will be after you.
    • Quoted in BBC's educational programme Litir do Luchd-ionnsachaidh (Litir 539) by Ruairidh MacIlleathain (2009).

E

• Èisd ri gaoth nam beann gus an traogh na h-uisgeachan.
  • Meaning: Keep a low profile until danger passes.
  • Literal translation: Listen to the wind upon the hill till the waters abate.
    • Quoted by Sir Walter Scott in Waverley (1814).

G

• Ge fàgas clach don làr, is faisge na sin cobhair Choibhi.
  • Translation: Though near be the stone to the ground, closer is the help of Coivi.
  • According to Edward Dwelly in his Scottish Gaelic-English Dictionary (1911), "The fanciful “Coibhi, the Celtic archdruid,” is due to a confusion of the obsolete coimhdhe [=God, the Trinity] and the Northumbrian Coifi of Bede".
    • Quoted by Alexander Nicolson in A collection of Gaelic proverbs and familiar phrases : based on Macintosh's collection (1882).

I

• Innsidh na geòidh as t-fhoghar e.
  • Meaning: All will be revealed in due course.
  • Literal translation: The geese will tell it in autumn.
    • Quoted by Alexander Nicolson in A collection of Gaelic proverbs and familiar phrases : based on Macintosh's collection (1882); explanation from Cothrom, published by Clì Gàidhlig, issue 68 (2011), p 9

• Is fheàrr Gàidhlig bhriste na Gàidhlig sa chiste.
  • It is better to have broken Gaelic than dead Gaelic.
    • Quoted in BBC's educational programme Litir do Luchd-ionnsachaidh (Litir 622) by Ruairidh MacIlleathain (2011).

• Is leigheas air gach tinneas creamh is ìm a’ Mhàigh; òl am fochair siud bainne ghobhar bàn.
  • Translation: To heal all disease, take garlic and May butter; drink along with that white goats’ milk.
    • Quoted by Alexander Robert Forbes in Gaelic names of beasts (Mammalia), birds, fishes, insects, reptiles, etc. in two parts (1905).

N

• Nuair a thig air duine thig air uile.
  • Idiomatic translation: It never rains but it pours.
  • Literal translation: When it comes on one it comes on all.
    • Quoted by Edward Dwelly in his Scottish Gaelic-English Dictionary (1911).

S

• Sheideadh e na h-adharcan de ghobhar.
  • Translation: It would blow the horns off a goat.
    • Quoted by Alexander Robert Forbes in Gaelic names of beasts (Mammalia), birds, fishes, insects, reptiles, etc. in two parts (1905).

T

• Triùir a thig gun iarraidh – gaol, eud is eagal.
  • Translation: Three that come unbidden – love, jealousy and fear.
    • Quoted by Alexander Nicolson in A collection of Gaelic proverbs and familiar phrases : based on Macintosh's collection (1882).
  • Variant: Thig trì nithean gun iarraidh, an aois, an gaol, agus an t-siataig.
    • Translation: Three things come without being wanted, age, love, and rheumatism.
      • Quoted by Murchadh MacLeòid in Caledonian Mercury: Useful Gaelic word: Aois (2010)

• Tuig thus’ an t-eathar, 's tuigidh an t-eathar thu.
  • Translation: Understand the boat and the boat will understand you.
    • Quoted by Alexander Nicolson in A collection of Gaelic proverbs and familiar phrases : based on Macintosh's collection (1882).

See also

• Welsh proverbs
• Irish proverbs