Pronunciation of Gaelic
The simple vowel sounds are as follows:-
| à, ài | as in English | far | Examples | càs, càil |
| a, ai | as in English | parry | Examples | cas, cailc |
| è, èa, èu | as in English | where | Examples | gnè, nèamh, mèud |
| é, éi, éu | as in English | whey | Examples | dé, céir, rèul ok |
| e, ea, ei | as in English | whet; sur'vey | Examples | deth, fear; breab, geir |
| ì, ìo | as in English | machine | Examples | clì, cìob |
| i, io | as in English | ratify | Examples | clis, fios |
| ò, òi | as in English | cord | Examples | pòr, còir |
| ó, ói | as in English | cold | Examples | có, cóig |
| o, oi | as in English | canto, hot | Examples | crodh, fois; olc, con |
| ù, ùi | as in English | pull | Examples | cù, sùil |
| u, ui | as in English | put | Examples | cur, druid |
The digraphs in the above table practically represent simple vowel sounds, the second vowel being very faintly heard. Before the labials b, f, m, and p, however, i is more distinctly heard. Examples – caib, cnaip.
The single vowels are divided into two classes – the broad, a, o, u, and the small, e, i.
ao, which is a single vowel sound, is always long, like u in purr, pronounced long. Example – maor.
a and o, when followed by ll or nn, are usually pronounced au and ou. Examples – fann, fonn.
a, in an unaccented syllable, or before dh or gh, has the sound of u in but; Examples – coma, lagh.
e, in an unaccented syllable, is pronounced as in cover. Example – duine.
o, followed by b, g, m, p, dh, is pronounced as in canto. Examples – gob, bog, crodh, lomadh.
In the diphthongs and triphthongs èa; eà; eò, eòi; eó, eói; eo, eoi; ia, iai; iù, iùi; iu, iui; ua, uai, the first and second vowels are heard. Examples – gèadh, feàrr; eòlas, feòil; Eòghainn, leòmhann; deòch, geoic; iar, fiaire; iùl, ciùil; iuchair, tiuighe; uan, uaine. Before b, f, m, and p, the final i is also heard. Examples – fuaim, uaip.
eà, èa, eò, and eòi are rarely used.
Most vowels are somewhat nasal when in contact with m, mh, or n.
B is pronounced harder than in English. Example – obair.
C before a broad vowel hard, as in can; before a small vowel as in came; never soft like s; when final chk. Examples – cas, ceum, ioc.
D with a broad vowel a little softer than in English, produced by placing the tongue near the tip in contact with the teeth or between the teeth. Example – da.
D with a small vowel like j or dj in English.
F as in English.
G always hard, as in got or get; when final hard like k. Examples – gu, ge, bog.
H never appears in Gaelic except along with some other consonant or followed by a hyphen.
L with a broad vowel, like lth in although.
L preceded by a small vowel, or initial followed by a small vowel in the past tense of verbs or in the word le and its derivatives.
L, initial with a small vowel, liquid - nearly as in million, formed by placing the surface of the tongue about the centre to the roof of the mouth. Example – lion.
Ll with a broad vowel, thick almost like lth. Example - call
Ll with a small vowel, like l in million. Example - fill
M as in English, but more nasal. Example – cam.
N as in English. Example – bàn
N initial followed by a small vowel (except in nis and the verb ni and past tense of verbs) – liquid, nearly as in pinion. Example – neo.
Nn with a broad vowel, formed by placing the tongue near the tip against the teeth. Example – Bann
Nn with a small vowel, nearly as in pinion. Example – Binn.
P as in English, but after am almost as soft as B. When final, it is more breathy – hp. Examples – Pill, am pill? Cnap.
R with a broad vowel, as in rod. Example – ro.
R with a small vowel, as in Arian. Example – ri.
S with a broad vowel, as in English. Example – Sàl.
S with a small vowel (and in the word so) is equivalent to English sh. (*) Exception – is.
T with a broad vowel, formed not with a hard stiff tongue tip, but with soft pressure of the tongue against the teeth. Example – ta.
T with a small vowel like ch in chase. Example – tinn.
After an, c is softened to g, and t to d, as in an cu; an tonn.
By adding h the consonants b, c, d, f, g, m, p, s, and t are modified, giving a breathy effect, called aspiration.
Bh like v in English.
Ch, guttural as in German, or in the Scotch word trachle.
Dh and gh with a broad vowel almost like gh in ugh, or g in the German word Tag; with a small vowel equal to y.
Fh is silent, except in the words, fhuair, fhein, and fhathast, where the h is heard.
Mh like v, but more nasal.
Ph like f.
Sh and th like h.
The consonants l, n, and r, are never aspirated.
Chd sounds like chk. Example – reachd.
Rt with a broad vowel is like rst; with a small vowel ir sounds like rsj. Examples – mart, beairt.
When l, n, or r, is followed by b, g, m, or p, a vowel is heard between the two consonants. Thus, calg is pronounced like calag; calpa, calapa, falbh, falabh, searg, searag; airm, airim.