A Celtic language brought from Ireland to Scotland in the early medieval period — recognized but minority, with about 57,000 speakers concentrated in the Hebrides and Highlands.
Where it’s spoken
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) is spoken mainly in the Outer Hebrides (especially Lewis, Harris, the Uists), the Inner Hebrides (Skye), and parts of the western Scottish Highlands. It has recognized status under the 2005 Gaelic Language Act. About 57,000 people in Scotland speak it as a first language. The language has historical significance throughout Highland Scotland and Nova Scotia, Canada (Cape Breton), where a heritage Gaelic community persists.
What it sounds like
Scottish Gaelic shares the Celtic broad/slender (velarized/palatalized) consonant contrast with Irish. It has initial consonant mutations marking grammatical functions. Stress falls on the first syllable. The phonology is closely related to Irish but with characteristic Scottish vowel and consonant shifts.
How it’s written
Scottish Gaelic uses 18 letters of the Latin alphabet. Grave accents mark long vowels (à, è, ì, ò, ù) — distinct from Irish, which uses acutes. Spelling preserves etymological consonants. The Gaelic Orthographic Conventions (most recently updated 2009) standardize current usage.
History
Scottish Gaelic diverged from Irish around the 13th century; the two were essentially one Classical Gaelic literary language until then. The Highland Clearances (18th–19th centuries) and educational policies dramatically reduced speaker numbers.
Find more languages by letter
Scottish Gaelic starts with S and ends with C. Browse other languages along the same letter.
Languages that contain a letter from "Scottish Gaelic":