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Gaelic Language Trivia

Gaelic Language Trivia Quizzes

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Gaelic and other Celtic languages
8 Gaelic Language quizzes and 85 Gaelic Language trivia questions.
1.
  Meaning of Irish Placenames   best quiz  
Match Quiz
 10 Qns
Common Prefixes of Irish Places
If you look at a map of Irish places, you will see many starting with the same prefix. Many of these are in English, but come from Irish words which have meanings relating to the place. Match the prefix with its meaning.
Average, 10 Qns, Flukey, Feb 16 24
Average
Flukey gold member
Feb 16 24
67 plays
2.
  Celtic Languages   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Celtic languages cover Welsh, Cornish, Manx, Gaelic (Scottish and Irish) and Breton. They are different from any other languages, but due to the diaspora of Celtic peoples, some words are recognisable to speakers of other tongues. Let's explore these.
Average, 10 Qns, markswood, Feb 27 12
Average
markswood gold member
3716 plays
3.
  How's Your (Scottish) Gaelic?   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
A short quiz on the Gaelic language. (Quiz is about Scottish Gaelic, which is a little different from Irish Gaelic, if that's what you know.)
Difficult, 15 Qns, LadyCaitriona, Feb 22 20
Difficult
LadyCaitriona gold member
Feb 22 20
865 plays
4.
  Irish Gaelic Placenames   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
For many of us Gaelic placenames are about all the Celtic we need. But do we understand them?
Average, 10 Qns, flem-ish, Jan 15 04
Average
flem-ish
1202 plays
5.
  You Mad Thing You! What Are You Saying in Irish?   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
I am going to write some strange sentences and phrases in Irish. Have a go at translating them into English. Just remember, this is a mad quiz and should be a good laugh!
Average, 10 Qns, papasmurf13, Oct 06 09
Average
papasmurf13
483 plays
6.
  How's Your Gaelic?    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
They say if you have 'cupla focal' (a couple of words) in Irish that you can truly call yourself a Gael! Let's see...
Average, 10 Qns, francisk, Sep 29 15
Average
francisk
1148 plays
7.
  Scottish Gaelic    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is a quiz 'bout Scots Gaelic ... Try it out! I hope you like it, and maybe even learn something new :)
Tough, 10 Qns, Slaintemhath, Sep 29 20
Tough
Slaintemhath
Sep 29 20
614 plays
8.
  Gaelic Phrases and Words    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
What do those phrases/words in Scottish or Irish Gaelic mean in English?
Average, 10 Qns, aetheral_blood, Mar 10 10
Average
aetheral_blood
1226 plays
trivia question Quick Question
When someone is "ag ól", what are they doing?

From Quiz "How's Your Gaelic?"





Gaelic Language Trivia Questions
1. Grammatical structure in Celtic languages differs in many ways. For example there is no "having" of things. They are either "at you" or "with you". The Irish Gaelic "Tá grá agam dhuit" means "I love you", but what is its literal translation?

From Quiz Celtic Languages

Answer: There is love at me to you

The same phrase in Cornish would be "My a'th kar". Which leads on to a more clichéd approach, the chat-up line! I found a great Cornish language website which had some appropriate phrases for Valentine's Day, including the immortal line: "A wre'ta dos omma yn fenowgh?" or "Do you come here often?"

2. What am I saying in Irish here? 'Is maith liom mo geansai gorm'.

From Quiz You Mad Thing You! What Are You Saying in Irish?

Answer: I like my blue jumper (sweatshirt)

'Is maith liom mo geansai gorm' can be pronounced as, iss moth lum mo ganzee gurum. A jumper could also be sweatshirt. The key to the phrase, if you want to use it, is 'Is maith liom mo', or 'I like my' , and you can add other nouns to this to say what you like in Irish. I really do like my blue jumper. I think I'll call it Steve! lol

3. When you arrive in Ireland and someone says "fáilte romhat", what are they saying?

From Quiz How's Your Gaelic?

Answer: Welcome to you

pronounced FAWL-CHEH ROW-ATH. The Irish Tourist Board is called 'Fáilte Ireland'.

4. What does the phrase 'Slan leat, a charaid choir' mean in English?

From Quiz Gaelic Phrases and Words

Answer: Farewell, kind friend

'Choir' is not a choir as you might think. It means 'kind'.

5. Ok, if an older person were to unexpectedly give you a present or gift, what would you say? (Keep in mind that you're a polite person! :) )

From Quiz Scottish Gaelic

Answer: Tapadh leibh

Tapadh leat: thanks :) But you can't say that to old people in this language. Slainte mhath: cheers :) You're not drinking right now. An t-uisge: the rain ... Not much use here eh?

6. What does this mean? 'Sneachta buí'.

From Quiz You Mad Thing You! What Are You Saying in Irish?

Answer: yellow snow

'Sneachta buí' can be pronounced as, snock-ta bwee. Word of warning; never eat the yellow snow! lol

7. Which day of the week follows Diluain (Not too hard this ... guessable)?

From Quiz Scottish Gaelic

Answer: Dimairt

Dihaoine, Disathairne, Didomhnaich are Friday Saturday Sunday and as I'm sure you well know, Tuesday (Dimairt) follows Monday (Diluain). Looks a bit like French, doesn't it?

8. Bara means bread in Welsh, Cornish and Breton, but what is the Gaelic word? (Think of a fisherman's sweater.)

From Quiz Celtic Languages

Answer: Aran

Bara brith is either a Welsh fruit cake (no yeast) or a yeast bread with added fruit, the name means "speckled bread". The Manx for bread is "arran".

9. 'Tá mé ag dul go dtí an leithris'. What have I just said in Irish?

From Quiz You Mad Thing You! What Are You Saying in Irish?

Answer: I am going to the toilet

'Tá mé ag dul go dtí an leithris' can be pronounced as, "Taw may egg dull gu dee on lethuris". There's a great new phrase to wow your friends with at the Christmas party; but just make sure you use the lavatory when you do! lol

10. How would you say 'Bliadhna Mhath Ur' in English?

From Quiz Gaelic Phrases and Words

Answer: Happy New Year

'Ur' is a 'year'. It even sounds similar.

11. The expression used when you're in a pub, roughly meaning 'cheers!' (literally: 'good health!' ... This is a giveaway! Slainte_____.

From Quiz Scottish Gaelic

Answer: mhath & Mhath

Slainte mhath ... Cheers, my username and a folk band from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

12. What are the two groupings that the six living Celtic languages are sorted into?

From Quiz Celtic Languages

Answer: Brythonic and Goidelic

The six living Celtic languages are Welsh, Breton and Cornish, which fit the Brythonic grouping as well as Irish, Scottish Gaelic and Manx, which are the Goidelic grouped languages. Gaulish and Hispano-Celtic language groupings are all extinct in modern times.

13. 'Calum is ainm dom' in English means what?

From Quiz Gaelic Phrases and Words

Answer: My name is Malcolm

Interesting that Calum is actually Malcolm. Colin is Caellin.

14. How many fingers do you have? (Yes, including thumbs!)

From Quiz How's Your (Scottish) Gaelic?

Answer: a deich

15. Cambrian, Cambric and Cymric have been used in reference to which of the Celtic Languages?

From Quiz Celtic Languages

Answer: Welsh

Cambria is the Latin version of the Welsh name for Wales, which is Cymru. Cymric is the Welsh name for the Welsh Language and Cambrian and Cambric are Latinised versions for the Welsh language. As of 2004 there were 750,000 native speakers of Welsh, the vast majority of them residing in Wales.

16. There is new superhero in town. All I know is that they call him 'An Gruaig'. What would he be called in English?

From Quiz You Mad Thing You! What Are You Saying in Irish?

Answer: 'The Hair'

'An Gruaig' can be pronounced as, On Grew-ig. In college, a friend of mine grew dreadlocks that looked exactly like a tarantula. Eventually, he snipped them off and the mysterious 'An Gruaig' was born! Evil doers; beware the might of this fearless and dandruff-less hero!

17. When someone is "ag ól", what are they doing?

From Quiz How's Your Gaelic?

Answer: drinking

pronounced EGG OAL. Eating = ag ithe (EGG IH-HEH); walking = ag siúil (EGG SHOOL); talking = ag caint (EGG KONCH).

18. What does 'Tha mi gle mhath' mean?

From Quiz Gaelic Phrases and Words

Answer: I am well

A question requiring such answer would be: 'Ciamar a tha thu?' (how are you?) for instance.

19. What colour are clouds (Choose most appropriate answer)?

From Quiz How's Your (Scottish) Gaelic?

Answer: geal

Geal is white, donn is brown, gorm is blue, and uaine is green. Clouds could also be black or grey, but those answers weren't listed, were they? :)

20. What province in Argentina has Welsh-speaking natives?

From Quiz Celtic Languages

Answer: Chubut Province

Chubut province is located in southern Argentina, with only Santa Cruz province being more southerly. Rio Negro province is just north of Chubut and La Pampa just north of that. Gaiman, which is an area within Chubut province, is where the Welsh speaking Argentinians are concentrated in an area also know as "Y Wladfa". The Welsh immigrants first came to Argentina around 1865 when Argentina wanted to build up other areas of the country outside of Buenos Aires. In July of 1865 153 Welsh immigrants arrived aboard the ship "Mimosa" in Chubut province.

21. There is a new superheroine in town. She is known as 'An Tabac Piopa'. What on earth is that in English I ask?

From Quiz You Mad Thing You! What Are You Saying in Irish?

Answer: 'The Tobacco Pipe'

'An Tabac Piopa' is roughly pronounced as, On taback peeopa. What's that up in the sky? Is it a bird, is it a plane? No, it's 'The Tobacco Pipe', a superheroine that defeats enemies with her powerful smoking pipe! I have a feeling Marvel comics won't be calling me up to buy the rights! lol

22. If a person has a beautiful "teach", what do they have that is beautiful?

From Quiz How's Your Gaelic?

Answer: a house

pronounced CHOCK. Face = aghaidh (EYE-GHH); baby = leanbh (LANN-OV); car = gluaisteán (GLOOSH-THAWN).

23. What do you ask about when you say 'Ciamar a tha thu'?

From Quiz Gaelic Phrases and Words

Answer: How are you?

The answer would be: 'Tha mi gle mhath' (I am well) for example.

24. What does the name 'Ruairidh' (Roderick, Rory or Roddy in English) literally mean?

From Quiz Scottish Gaelic

Answer: Reddish-brown

Norseman: Fionnghal (Fingal). Unique choice: Aonghas (Angus). Bent nose (yes, *not* a typo, it really does mean this): Camran (Cameron?)

25. How might you RELEVANTLY respond to the question, "Ciamar a tha thu?"

From Quiz How's Your (Scottish) Gaelic?

Answer: Tha mi gu dòigheil.

The question is, "How are you?" and the correct response is, "I am fine, thank you." The others would not make sense: "It will be dry tomorrow." "I am learning it."

26. Which Celtic Language is spoken within the French region formally known as Armorica?

From Quiz Celtic Languages

Answer: Breton

The Armorica region includes what is now Brittany and therefore the home of the Bretons. These were Celtic Britons who migrated from Britain during the 5th to 7th centuries. The cartoon character Asterix the Gaul was from Armorica.

27. 'Bhí an coinín ag caint leis an ceapaire'. I may check my eyes as this doesn't happen everyday. What illogical sentence did I write?

From Quiz You Mad Thing You! What Are You Saying in Irish?

Answer: The rabbit was talking to the sandwich.

'Bhí an coinín ag caint leis an ceapaire' can be roughly pronounced as, Vee on Kunyeen egg coin-t lesh on kiapair. I wonder what a rabbit might say to a sandwich, or why? Perhaps the sandwich has updoc in it! I wonder if anyone fell for my silly, 'What's up doc?' prank!

28. "Áth Cliath" is an Irish city in Gaeilge (Gaelic). Which one?

From Quiz How's Your Gaelic?

Answer: Dublin

pronounced AW-KLEE-AH. Belfast = Béal Feiriste (BALE FERR-ISH-THEH); Galway = Gaillimh (GOLL-YUVV); Cork = Corcaigh (KURK-IGH).

29. What does the song title 'Oran' mean (hint: Gaelic rock song by Scots band Runrig, who are amazing :) )?

From Quiz Scottish Gaelic

Answer: Song

Yup the song called Song...There is a song called 'Ard' by Runrig which means high. 'Headlights' and 'Lifeline' are just English songs by Runrig :).

30. Which day of the week do you think these all translate to; dy' Sul, disul, Dé Domhnaigh, Jedoonee, Didòmhnaich, dydd Sul?

From Quiz Celtic Languages

Answer: Sunday

Several of them are similar to the Latin "Solis" for sun and the Gaelic ones are similar to the Italian "Domenica" or Church Latin "Dominicus".

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Last Updated Dec 21 2024 5:46 AM
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