Revised and Improved – So what is your ‘Official Outlander name’ in Gàidhlig?

Note that I have reworked this list and added additional names. First, the list is now alphabetized by English name which I hope will make it much easier to use. I have also come across a list of name translations from a book circa the early 1900’s thanks to KristenK! These names have been added to the list but I don’t have pronunciations for them.

Welcome to the Clan!

Àdhamh Ó Broin (@an_comhghallach), Gàidhlig ambassador extraordinaire and tutor to the Outlander cast and crew, invites you to find your name below and then use your imagination to hear him (or Sam if you prefer) saying the following in his best ‘How to Speak Outlander’ voice:

 “Say it with me,  __insert your Gàidhlig name here__ . You now have your own official OUTLANDER name! Latha math leibh!”

If there is no pronunciation guide given, then it is pronounced the same as English or I don’t have a pronunciation for the name yet. Also, keep in mind that because some of our more modern names don’t truly exist in Gàidhlig, what is given here is an approximation using the equivalent Gàidhlig spelling for the English sounds.

Abigail –  Abagail /AHbagle/ ‘gle’ like in waggle

Adam – Àdhamh /AHgiv/

Adeline – Àdailin /AHdaleen/

Adriana – Driàna /DreeAHna/

Agnes – Una

Alana – Alàna / /

Albert – Ailbert

Alice – Ailis

Alexander – Alasdair

Alison – Àlasan / ALison

Allan – Ailean

Amber – Òmarag /AWmarak/

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Outlander Episode 304 – Of Lost Things – All the Gàidhlig Bits I Could Decipher

So, has everyone recovered yet from this week’s heartbreaking episode? I was greetin’ so hard there towards the end that it took 3 viewings and multiple people pointing it out to me on Twitter to recognize that there was even Gaelic in this week’s offering from the Outlander Writers’ Room. However, I’ve dried my tears, consulted the oracle and have the below translation to offer.

48:47  Jamie to Willie after calling him a wee bastard

Na bith còin, a bhalaich. Bithidh e glè cheart. – Don’t cry, my lad. It’ll be quite (i.e. all) right.

Outlander Episode 303 – All Debts Paid – All the Gàidhlig Bits I Could Decipher

I know I’m more than a wee bit late with this, but here’s the fevered ramblings of Duncan Kerr from “All Debts Paid”.

14:37  Duncan Kerr wandering on the moor (this is tricky as only part of what he says is Gaelic. He also speaks French and English.)

Bana-bhuidseach gheal – White witch

 

21:57 Jamie and Duncan at Ardsmuir

Because this scene is so garbled between English, Gaelic, and French, I’m going to just post the actual script, so you can see for yourselves, rather than trying to do line by line.

Stay tuned for episode 304 – Of Lost Things shortly.

 

 

Outlander Episode 301 – The Battle Joined – All the Gàidhlig Bits I Could Decipher

Boy, that Droughtlander seemed to last forever, didn’t it? Do I even still remember how to use WordPress? Whew, it seems I do.

But, at last, our long international nightmare is over and Outlander is back with season 3 and we have our first (and only) bit of Gàidhlig for the episode. It just had to happen at one of the most tear jerking parts of the episode, right? Luckily it’s not even a phrase I had to look up, as I often use a form of it to close my travel blogs.

39:36  Jamie after Rupert is shot

Slàn leat, a Ràibeirt! – Goodbye (or Farewell), Rupert (Don’t forget that b has a p sound in Gàidhlig. Yes, I know that’s confusing. Welcome to Gàidhlig!)

And just in case you don’t believe me, here is confirmation right (write?) from the writers mouth, um tweet:

And in the script:

Updated 6/10/2015 – Outlander Episode 209 – Je Suis Prest – All the Gàidhlig Bits I Could Decipher

What a beautiful episode! The Scottish scenery was breathtaking as always, but for me, what truly added another dimension to this episode was the spectacular score by Bear McCreary. The haunting songs, some familiar and some new, really brought home to me to reality of the task Jamie and Claire were taking on.  And in terms of Gaelic, almost all the Gaelic this episode was in the music other than a few stray Sassenach and Mo nighean donn endearments. (If I’ve missed something else in the dialog, let me know!)  Therefore, this post is going to concentrate on the lyrics and background of the Gaelic songs used by Bear McCreary this week.

Edit: someone did point out that there was a new Gaelic phrase that Jamie used with the men at one point. I believe that is ‘a’ mhór-fhaiche’ (the great field), one of the Fraser battle cries.

Further edit: Here are more details on the other Gaelic words/phrases used this week. Thanks to all those who pointed them out while I was so taken with the music. 😉

17:28 Jamie to the marching men

Stadaibh! – Stop!

20:07 Jamie and the men give the Fraser battle cry

a’ mhór-fhaiche – Fraser Battle cry that roughly translates to ‘the great field’. Prounounced /ə VORE EYEch/

20:12 Dougal and the MacKenzies

Tulach Ard – MacKenszie battle cry that translates to ‘the high hill’.

26:58 Jamie to one of the men

a-rithist – again

38:22 Jamie to Claire

Mo nighean donn – My brown-haired lass

49:53 Jamie as Dougal leaves

siud – that/yes

I should note that I had some help in gathering this information from Bear’s tweet, as well as from CompuServe member AlexL who tracked down a lot of this information and was happy for me to share it!

An Fhìdeag Airgid

Many of you may recognize this as song used in season one of Outlander and sung by Gwyllyn the Bard (played by Gillebrìde MacMillan) in episode 103 – Rent. You can find that version, which does not contain any reference to the Prince, on volume 2 of the season 1 Outlander soundtrack, also available on Spotify.

 

Lyrics: English Translation:
Co a sheinneas an fhideag airigid Who will play the silver whistle?
Sèist: Chorus (after each verse):
Ho ro hu a hu il o Ho ro hu a hu il o
Hi ri hu o, hi ri hu o Hi ri hu o, hi ri hu o
Mac mo righ air tighinn a dh’Alba Since the son of my king has come to Scotland
Air lang mhar nar tri chrann airgid On a great ship with three masts of silver
Air long riomhach nam ball airgid On the handsome vessel with the silver rigging
Tearlach og nan gorm shuil mealach Young Charles with the blue bewitching eyes
Failte, failte mian is clui dhuit Welcome, welcome, may you be desired and famous
Fidhleireachd is ragha a’uil dhuit May there be fiddling and the choicest music before you
Co a sheinneadh? Nach seinninn fhin i? Who’d play it? Who’d say that I’d not play it myself?
Co a sheinneas an fhideag airigid Who will play the silver whistle?
Source: http://www.celticlyricscorner.net/matheson/anfhideag.htm

Moch sa mhadainn ’s mi dùsgadh (also called Oran Eile Don Phrionnsa – Song to the Prince)

This is the haunting song that is played during the drill scenes and at the end on the approach to the Prince’s camp to such devastating effect. This is what Bear had to say on Twitter:

 

 

I have had the pleasure of hearing Griogair Labhruidh perform live and he is a brilliant musician. I can also definitely say that I will be pre-ordering the Outlander season 2 soundtrack as soon as it is available based solely upon my desire to have this one song alone.

Lyrics: English Translation:
Sèist: Chorus (after each verse):
Thug ho-o, laithill ho-o Thug ho-o, laithill ho-o
Thug o-ho-ro an aill libh Thug o-ho-ro an aill libh
Thug ho-o, laithill ho-o Thug ho-o, laithill ho-o
Seinn o-ho-ro an aill libh Seinn o-ho-ro an aill libh
Och ‘sa mhaduinn’s mi dusgadh Early as I awaken
‘S mor mo shunnd’s mo cheol-gaire Great my joy, loud my laughter
O’n a chuala mi ‘m Prionnsa Since I heard that the Prince comes
Thighinn do dhuthaich Chlann Ra’ill To the land of Clanranald
O’n a chuala mi ‘m Prionnsa Since I heard that the Prince comes
Thighinn do dhuthaich Chlann Ra’ill To the land of Clanranald
Grainne mullaich gach righ thu Thou art the choicest of all rulers
Slan gum pill thusa, Thearlaich Here’s a health to thy returning
Grainne mullaich gach righ thu Thou art the choicest of all rulers
Slan gum pill thusa, Thearlaich Here’s a health to thy returning
‘S ann th ‘n fhior-fhuil gun truailleadh His the royal blood unmingled
Anns a ghruadh is mor-naire Great the modesty in his visage
‘S ann th ‘n fhior-fhuil gun truailleadh His the royal blood unmingled
Anns a ghruadh is mor-naire Great the modesty in his visage
Mar ri barrachd na h-uaisle With nobility overflowing
‘G eirigh suas le deagh-nadur And endowed with all good nature
Mar ri barrachd na h-uaisle With nobility overflowing
‘G eirigh suas le deagh-nadur And endowed with all good nature
Us nan tigeadh tu rithist And shouldst thou return ever
Bhiodh gach tighearn’ ‘n aite At his post would be each laird
Source: http://www.celticlyricscorner.net/capercaillie/oraneile.htm

When researching this song, I stumbled across a fascinating video about the author of the original poetry the song is based upon.   The dialogue in the video is in Gaelic but a written English translation is available on the LearnGaelic web site. I find seeing the Gaelic and English transcription as I’m watching to be an excellent way to learn Gaelic words and sounds.

 

I hope you enjoy this look behind two of the Gaelic songs used to such effect by Bear McCreary this week!

Outlander Episode 208 – The Fox’s Lair – All the Gàidhlig Bits I Could Decipher

Fàilte gu Alba a h-uile duine! (Welcome to Scotland everyone!) If there was anyone who was not sure of the main locale for the rest of the season, the change in the main title sequence should remove any doubts. Not just that, but the baroque arrangement of the Sky Boat Song has been altered in favor of a much more Celtic version complete with drums providing the illusion of cannon fire in the last verse and then melting into the very martial sound of snare drums as the episode proper opened.

And is it just me or did everyone breathe a little bit easier now that the show and our favorite couple are back in the familiar surrounds of Scotland? I’m expecting the Gaelic to be a bit more plentiful now and this episode sure didn’t disappoint. We had, in my opinion, the most beautiful Gaelic scene since episode 116. Thanks for everyone’s patience as I worked to make sure that I got the Gaelic translation correct for what actually made the episode’s final cut, and not just what was in the script.

Let’s get right to it.

4:16  Jamie to Ian after receiving the post

Taing dhut – Thank You

4:41 Jamie curses reading the letter from Paris

a mhealltair mhallaichte –  ‘Cursed deceiver’ (Hard to translate directly. This is my best attempt.)

12:38 Jamie to baby Catrìona

Na dìochuimhnich…. – never forget

Shin u…. a ghràidh…. Catrìona ….  – love… Catherine…

mo bhràthair Uilleam, mi fhéin, Sorcha. – my brother William, myself, Claire

Tha sinn san fhiodh, sa chloich…. – We’re in the wood, the stone…

agas ann an gach fuaim ‘s fàile an àite seo… – And in the sounds and smells of this place…

‘s e an obair sin, a chaileag, gum fàs u làidir agas sona…. – Your role, wee lass, is to grow strong and happy…