How to say Happy St Andrew’s Day in Gaelic and what does Alba gu bràth mean?
SCOTS around the UK will be celebrating St Andrew's Day on November 30.
But how do you wish people a "happy St Andrew's Day" in Gaelic? Here's all the info you need on Scotland's national day.
How do I say ‘Happy St Andrew’s Day’ in Gaelic?
A national day of celebration is held every year on November 30, celebrating the patron saint of Scotland, St Andrew - a fisherman and one of Jesus Christ's disciples.
And if you want to impress anyone with a proper Scottish greeting there are a number of phrases that you can use.
To greet a Scottish person on St Andrew's Day, you should say "latha fèill Anndrais sona dhut", pronounced "lah fail Andras suna doit" which translates to "Happy St Andrew's Day to you".
You can also say "latha fèill Anndrais sona dhuibh", pronounced "lah fail andra suna yiv" if you are saying hello to more than one person.
If that's a little bit of a mouthful, you can also try "latha noamh Anndra sona dhut/dhuibh", which is pronounced "lah neyov Andra suna doit/yiv".
MORE HOLIDAYS AND RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS
What does Alba gu bràth mean?
You may hear the phrase "Alba gu bràth" passed around on St Andrew's day this year.
Alba gu bràth - pronounced Alba goo bra - literally translates to Scotland forever and is historically used to express an allegiance to Scotland.
It's a phrase that often denotes independence for Scotland and has become unofficially associated with the campaign for Scottish Independence.
It's also thought to refer to the first kingdom of the Picts, a group of Celtic northern men from the highlands in Scotland, dating as early as 3AD.
What other Gaelic words are used on St Andrew's Day??
St Andrews Day falls on Tuesday, November 30, this year, with Scots all over the UK recognising the national holiday.
You might be getting in the Scottish spirit by hosting a dinner party featuring classic Scottish cuisine such as Haggis or Cullen Skink, or you can head to one of Scotland's local celebration events.
But, if you want to really impress your Scottish friends on St Andrews Day, then there are a few Gaelic phrases you can learn.
Spice up your St Andrew's Day vocab with some of these gems:
- Fàilte! - Welcome! - pronounced "fal’-tchuh"
- Mìle fàilte! - A thousand welcomes! - pronounced "mee’-luh fal’-tchuh"
- Alba gu brath! - Scotland forever! - pronounced "alba-goo bra"
- Mòran taing! - Many thanks! - pronounced "maw’-run tah’-eeng"
- Meal a naidheachd! - Congratulations! - pronounced "m-yallan-eh-oechk"