Sudrish is a Celtic language spoken by the native Sudric people of the Island of Sodor in the Irish Sea.

It is spoken by an estimated 12 500 people, or around 20% of the Sudrian population, including some
3500 native speakers and around 10 000 people with varying levels of second language
conversational ability. The language was made official on the Island of Sodor in 2001 but is not
recognized in the wider United Kingdom.

Names

In Sudrish, the language is called “Gîlg” (/gje:ljəkj/), a word which shares etymology with the English
term “Gaelic”. Among Sudrish’s sister languages, a similar term is used; in Irish, Gaeilge (with dialect
variants Gaoluinn, Gaedhlag, and Gaelge); in Scottish, Gàidhlig; and in Manx Gaelg or or Gailck. As
with its sister languages, a form with the definite article is frequently used; thus “a Ghîlg” (/ə
ʝe:ljəkj/) (compare Irish “an Ghaeilge”, Scottish “a’ Ghàidhlig”, and Manx “y Ghaelg”). To distinguish
it from the three other forms of Gaelic, the phrase “Gîlg Hudraygh” (/gje:ljəkj hod̪ ɾaəʝ/, “Gaelic of
Sodor”) is also used.

The language is usually referred to in English as “Sudric”, although “Sudrish” might be considered
more correct, as the term “Sudric” is properly a shortening of the term “Sudric Gaelic”, which is
often used either when discussing the relationship between the four Goidelic languages (Irish,
Scottish Gaelic, Manx, and Sudrish), or to avoid confusion with Anglo-Sudrian, the form of English
spoken on the island. The word “Sudrish” is frequently spelt “Sudrisk” in historical sources,
originating from Old Norse “Sudreysk”.

History

Sudrish is a Goidelic (Q-Celtic) language, closely related to Manx, Irish, and Scottish Gaelic. It has a
high degree of mutual intelligibility with Manx, and a fair degree of mutual intelligibility with
southern dialects of Scottish Gaelic and northern dialects of Irish, with native speakers of any
Goidelic language finding it easy to gain passive and even spoken competence in the other three.

The earliest known language on the Island of Sodor was a form of Brythonic (the language which
developed into Welsh, Cornish, and Breton), and the Cumbrian language is known to have been
spoken on the island until the 12th century. Sudrish, however, like Scottish Gaelic, modern Irish, and
Manx, is descended from Primitive Irish, which is first attested in Ogham inscriptions from the 4th
century AD. These writings have been found throughout Ireland and the west coast of Great Britain.
Through the 5th century, Primitive Irish transitioned into Old Irish, which used the Latin script and is
attested primarily in marginalia to Latin manuscripts, of which there are several extant examples
from the Island of Sodor. By the 10th century, Old Irish had evolved into Middle Irish, which was
spoken throughout Ireland, in Scotland, and on the islands of Mann and Sodor. Like the coastal areas
of Scotland and Ireland, Mann and Sodor were colonized by the Norse, who left a legacy in certain
loanwords, personal names, place names, the Gaelic gasp, and preaspiration; but overall made very
little impact on the language compared to that of Cumbric.

During the later Middle Ages, the Island of Sodor fell increasingly under the influence of England,
and from then on the English language has been the chief external factor in the development of
Sudrish. As contact between Sudro-Manx-speakers and other Gaelic-speakers from Scotland and
Ireland declined, the language diverged further from its related neighbours. From the 17th century,
Manx and Sudrish began diverging from dialects into separate languages. This was also influenced by
the use of an English-based orthography for Manx beginning in the late 17th century.
In 1848, J. G. Cumming wrote of the islands of Mann and Sodor that “there are… few persons
(perhaps none of the young) who speak no English.” Thirty years later, an estimate was given that
about 40% of the population habitually spoke Sudrish; this had declined to 20% by 1901 and just
10% in 1921. Since the language was used by so few people, it had low prestige, and parents tended
not to teach it to their children, thinking that English would be more useful for them. However unlike
the neighbouring Manx language, Sudrish has maintained a number of native speakers through to
the present day, and continues to play an important role in the island’s culture and heritage.

Number of speakers by year

Year Total speakers Total % of Sudrian Manx- % Gaelic- %

population population speakers speakers
1800 28 000 35 000 80% 297 825 18.5%
1875 22 000 55 000 40% 16 200 30% 231 500 6%
1901 11 500 57 500 20% 4420 8% 230 800 5%
1911 8700 58 000 15% 2380 4.5% 192 400 4.2%
1921 5700 57 000 10% 915 1.5% 158 800 3.5%
1931 4600 57 500 8% 530 1% 136 150 3%
1951 2900 58 500 5% 355 0.64% 95 500 1.9%
1961 2360 59 000 4% 165 0.34% 81 000 1.5%
1971 2380 59 500 4% 284 0.52% 88 900 1.7%
1981 3000 58 500 5% 82 620 1.6%
1991 4800 59 000 8% 643 0.9% 66 000 1.4%
2001 7200 60 000 12% 1500 1.95% 58 650 1.2%
2011 9700 60 500 16% 1650 1.97% 57 600 1.1%
2016 12 500 61 000 20% 1800 2%

Classification and Dialects

Sudrish is one of the four descendants of Old Irish (via Middle Irish and early Modern Gaelic), and is
closely related to Irish and Scottish Gaelic, as well as to Manx. Manx and Sudrish are often classified
together as a single language, although there are some notable differences between them, as well as
a different spelling convention.

There are three dialects of Sudrish: northern (spoken in the hills and north coast), western (spoken
along the south-west coast, and eastern (spoken along the south-east coast; this dialect is largely
extinct).

It should be noted that, as with common Scottish nomenclature, the term dualchaynt (Scottish:
dualchainnt), often translated as “dialect” refers simply to the local way of speaking and may not
exactly reflect the linguistic term “dialect”; pronunciation and occasionally vocabulary may differ,
but there is little to no grammatical variation between Sudrish dialects.

Education

Following the decline in the use of Sudrish during the 19th century, An Cuman Gîlgach (The Sudrish
Language Society) was founded in 1898. By the middle of the 20th century, it was reported that there
were no speakers under the age of 18, but by then a scholarly revival had begun and a few
individuals had begun teaching it in schools, with the first primary Sudrish Language Unit taking
pupils from 1984. During the late 20th century, Sudrish became more visible on the island, with
increased signage particularly in the mountainous regions, and radio broadcasts.
The first bilingual Sudrish-English primary school was founded in 1988, and today all primary schools
on the island must offer Sudrish-medium education where it is requested by the parents. Three
secondary schools, one in Suddery, one in Peel Goddard, and one in Knapford, offer Sudrish-medium
units, while all other secondary schools offer at minimum Sudrish as a second language. Since the
beginning of the 21st century, Knapford Secondary’s Sudrish-medium unit has received a number of
Manx-speaking pupils commuting from the Isle of Man.

Sodor Polytechnic offers a year-long course in beginners’ Sudrish for adults, but there are currently
no tertiary courses offered through the medium of Sudrish. However, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig (on Skye)
offers a summer intensive in Scottish Gaelic for Sudrish- and Manx-speaking students wishing to
pursue study through the medium of Gaelic there or at Ionad Chaluim Chille (on Islay), while Bangor
University in Gwynedd offers a six-month Welsh Bridging course for Sudrish-speaking students.

Signage

Bilingual road, street, village, and town boundary

signs are increasingly common throughout the Island
of Sodor. In the central mountainous region, bilingual
signs are common, but elsewhere all other signs are
English-only. Business signage in Sudrish is gradually
being introduced, but is not mandated by law.

Learners’ Materials

There are an increasing number of resources available

for those wanting to learn Sudrish. The Sudrian
Language Development Officer for the Department of A bilingual station sign in Dryaw.
Culture and Heritage manages the learnsudric.com
website, which has a wide variety of resources, including mobile apps, a Sudrish-language podcast,
the 1000 Words in Sudric challenge, and a dictionary with sound files. The dultiidar.com website
contains many resources for the parents of children in Sudrish-medium education, including
homework helps. The most prominent resource for adult learners of Sudrish is the online Say
Something In Sudrish course, which was created in conjunction with the Say Something In Welsh and
Say Something In Manx courses.

Media

A daily programme in Sudrish is available on Radio Sodor, broadcasting at midday on Monday to

Saturday and containing both news and feature articles. The news in Sudrish is also available online
from Radio Sodor. A newspaper, Sudragh, is published monthly in Sudrish, while several other
newspapers on the island offer Sudrish-only or bilingual columns.

Several short films have been made in Sudrish since the 1980s. In 1987, BBC Sodor began
broadcasting one hour of Sudrish-language content each weekday and two hours on Saturdays. In
1995, this was increased to two hours on weekdays and three hours on Saturdays. In 2008, the
adoption of digital television on the island allowed BBC Sodor to create a dedicated Sudrish-only
channel, BBC Sudragh, to broadcast alongside BBC One Sodor and BBC Youth Sodor. This channel
broadcasts locally-made Sudrish-language content as well as bought Irish- and Gaelic-language
content from BBC Northern Ireland and BBC Alba.

Names
Traditional Sudrish given names are once again becoming common on the island.

Name IPA Origin Cognates English

Âlys f Middle English Àilis (Scotland) Alice
Aalish (Mann)
Brysy f Old Irish Brìghde (Scotland) Bridget
Bríde (Ireland)
Breeshy (Mann)
Dyŵan m Juan (Mann) Jack
Êan m Ean (Mann) Ian
Iain (Scotland)
Finwala f Old Irish Fionnuala (Ireland) Fenella
Fionnghuala (Scotland)
Fenella (Mann)
Frêa f Norse Freya (Mann) Freya
Ilyam m Norman French Uilleam (Scotland) William
Illiam (Mann)
Machan m Old Irish Macsen
Mora f Old Irish; ultimately Màiri (Scotland) Mary
Hebrew Muire (Ireland)
Moirrey (Mann)
Orrad m Norse Orry (Mann) Godred
Pêryc m Old Irish Pádraig (Ireland) Patrick
Pàruig (Scotland)
Pherick (Mann)
Yony m Joney (Mann) John

Phonology

Consonant Phonemes of Sudrish

Labial Dental- Post- Palato- Velar Glottal
Alveolar Alveolar Velar
h h
Aspirated p ~ph ht̪h~t̪h h jh j
t ~t h jh
k ~kjh h h
k ~kh
h jh jh
Stop p ~p

Unaspirated p~b t̪~d̪ dj~ð kj~gj k~g

Stop pj~bj
Fricative φβ s̪ ʃ çʝ xɣ h
Nasal m n̪ nj ŋj ŋ
Tap ɾ ɾj
Trill r
Approximant w j
Lateral l̪ lj

While Sudrish claims to have voiced and voiceless stops, many “voiced” stops are voiceless and the
primary distinction is in fact that “voiceless” stops are aspirated. This aspiration is only post-
aspiration for word-initial sounds; word-medial and word-final stops are preaspirated. This is a
feature Sudrish shares with Scottish Gaelic (but not with Manx or Irish) and which was borrowed
from Old Norse during the Gall-Gàidheal (Norse Gael) era.
Like the three closely-related other Goidelic languages, Sudrish contains what are traditionally
referred to as “broad” and “slender” consonants. Historically, Primitive Irish consonants preceding
the front vowels /e/ and /i/ developed a [j]-like coarticulation, while the consonants preceding non-
front vowels /a/, /o/, and /u/ developed a velar coarticulation. In modern Sudrish, “broad”
consonants may be either velarised or unmarked, while “slender” consonants may be either
palatalized or, in the case of s, changed to /ʃ/. In the western dialect, slender labials have been
fragmented at the palatalization is found in a glide before the vowel.

In the western dialect, unaspirated stops are voiced, while in the northern dialect they are not, but
aspirated stops feature preaspiration. In the eastern dialect, both contrasts exists in allophonic
variation.

Intervocalic stops are often lenited in the western dialect; voiced stops and voiceless fricatives
become voiced fricatives, and voiceless stops become either voiced stops or voiced fricatives.

Pre-occlusion, the insertion of a very short stop consonant before a sonorant, occurs across all
dialects of Sudrish, but is most common in the eastern dialect and least common in the northern. In
the eastern dialect, long vowels are shortened before the pre-occluded sounds.

Vowel Phonemes of Sudrish

Front Central Back
Close i i: u u:
Mid e e: ə ø~ɤ o o:
Open ɛ~æ ɛ:~ɛæ: a a: ɔ ɔ:

Orthography

Spelling IPA Manx spelling Gaelic spelling

Bb p~b (broad) B, bb b
pj~bj (slender)
h h
Cc k ~kh (broad) K, cc, c, ck c
h jh
k ~kjh (slender)
CH ch x (broad) J, dj, t, tt, th, ch
ç (slender) ch, gh, ght
Dd t̪~d̪ (broad) D, dd, dh, t, tt, d
dj~ðj (slender) th
Ff φ (broad) f f, ph
fj (slender)
Gg k~g (broad) G, gg, c, cc, ck g
kj~gj (slender)
GH gh ɣ (broad) G, gg, c, cc, ck, gh, dh
ʝ (slender) gh
Hh h (broad) h sh, th
hj (slender)
Ll l ̪~ł (broad) L, ll, lh l
lj (slender)
Mm m (broad) m m
mj (slender)
Nn n̪ (broad) N, ng n
nj (slender)
NG, ng ŋ (broad) ng
 ŋj (slender)
h h
Pp p ~ph (broad) p, pp p
h jh
p ~pjh (slender)
Rr ɾ (broad) r, rr r
θ (slender)
RR rr r r, rr rr
Ss s̪ (broad) S, ss, st, sh s
ʃ (slender)
h h h
Tt t̪ ~t̪ (broad) T, tt, th t
h jh j
t ~t (slender)
Vv β (broad) p, pp, b, bb, v, mh, bh
vj (slender) w

Spelling IPA Manx spelling Gaelic spelling

Aa /a/, /ə/ ei, a, ia a
 â; /a:/ a, ai, ai-e, ia à
AA aa
Ii /e/ ai, ai-e, e, ei e
Î î; /e:/ a-e, ia-e, aa, é
II ii aa-e, ae, aiy,
ay, eai, eay,
ey, ei
Uu /o/ o, ui, iu, wa, o, o
oi
Û û; /o:/ o, oi, io-e, o-e ó
UU uu
Oo /ɔ/ io, oh, oy, o, o
oi
Ô ô; /ɔ:/ o, oi, o-e, oa ò
OO oo
Ww /u/ o, oi, ooi, ue u
Ŵ ŵ; /u:/ eau, ieau, eay, ù
WW ww ey, ieu, oo, io,
ooh, ooa,
iooa, ooy
Ee /ɛ/~/æ/ e e
Êê /ɛ:/~/æ:/ aa, aa-e, ea, è
EE ee eih
Yy /i/ ae, e, i, y i
Ŷŷ /i:/ ae, y, eay, ee, ì
YY yy eea, eei, eey,
ia, oie, uy
AO ao /ø/~/ɤ/ u, ui, iu, aa, ao
aa-e

Initial consonant mutations

Like all modern Celtic languages, Sudrish shows initial consonant mutations, which are processes by
which the initial consonant of a word is altered according to its morphological and/or syntactic
environment. Sudrish has two mutations, lenition (“the soft mutation”) and eclipsis (“the hard
mutation”), found on both nouns and verbs, while adjectives can only display lenition. Whereas in
neighbouring Manx the system of lenition has been breaking down since the 20th century, it remains
an integral part of the Sudrish language.

Radical IPA Lenited IPA Eclipsed IPA

Bb p~b (broad) Vv v~β (broad) Mm m (broad)
pj~bj (slender) vj (slender) mj (slender)
h h
Cc k ~kh (broad) CH ch x (broad) Gg k~g (broad)
h jh
k ~kjh (slender) ç (slender) kj~gj (slender)
Dd t̪~d̪ (broad) GH gh ɣ (broad) Nn n̪ (broad)
dj~ðj (slender) ʝ (slender) nj (slender)
Ff f (broad) Hh h (broad) Vv v~β (broad)
fj (slender) hj (slender) vj (slender)
Gg k~g (broad) GH gh ɣ (broad) NG, ng ŋ (broad)
kj~gj (slender) ʝ (slender) ŋj (slender)
vowels Hh h (broad) Nn n̪ (broad)
hj (slender) nj (slender)
Ll l ̪~ł (broad) Ll l ̪~ł (broad) Ll l ̪~ł (broad)
lj (slender) lj (slender) lj (slender)
Mm m (broad) Vv v~β (broad) Mm m (broad)
mj (slender) vj (slender) mj (slender)
Nn n̪ (broad) Nn n̪ (broad) Nn n̪ (broad)
nj (slender) nj (slender) nj (slender)
h h
Pp p ~ph (broad) Ff f (broad) Bb p~b (broad)
h jh
p ~pjh (slender) fj (slender) pj~bj (slender)
Rr ɾ (broad) Rr ɾ (broad) RR rr r
θ (slender) θ (slender)
Ss s̪ (broad) Hh h (broad) Ss s̪ (broad)
ʃ (slender) hj (slender) ʃ (slender)
h h h
Tt t̪ ~t̪ (broad) Hh h (broad) Dd t̪~d̪ (broad)
h jh j
t ~t (slender) hj (slender) dj~ðj (slender)
Vv v~β (broad) Hh h (broad) Vv v~β (broad)
vj (slender) hj (slender) vj (slender)

Nouns

Sudrish nouns fall into one of two genders, masculine or feminine. Nouns are inflected for singular,
dual, and plural. The dual is formed by lenition and, in the case of feminine nouns, slenderisation of
the final consonant. The plural is formed in a variety of ways, most commonly by addition of the
suffix -an /ən̪ /, but also in the case of some masculine nouns, by slenderisation of the final
consonant.

Unlike neighbouring Manx, Sudrish inflects for three cases, dative and genitive as well as the
vocative. In masculine nouns, the dative is indicated by lenition only, and the genitive by lenition and
final-slenderisation. In feminine nouns, the dative is indicated by lenition and slenderisation, and the
genitive by lenition, slenderisation, and the addition of the suffix -e /ə/. The vocative is indicated
with lenition and final-slenderisation in the masculine, and lenition only in the feminine. Some nouns
have radically irregular plurals; in many cases nouns with regular genitives have irregular historical
genitives which may be encountered in compounds.
Adjectives

Adjectives have both singular and plural forms, with the plural being formed by the addition of -e
/ə/. Adjectives also have a comparative/superlative form.

Comparatives are expressed by nys +form in the present (< na ys) and nab +form in the past (< na
ba). Superlatives are expressed by ays +form in the present (<a ys) and ab +form in the past (< a ba).

Positive English Form

âlyn beautiful âlny
aog young ôa
ârd high êrdy
beg small lŵa
brôdal proud brôdyly
bug soft, moist bwygy
foda far, long oydy
garŵ rough gyry
goram blue-green gwrmy
gyal white, bright gyly
gyryd short gyrry
lâdyr strong trosy
lyân wide lêa
maol slow mely
may good syârr
môar big, large môry
naof holy naoyvy
olc evil, bad misy
râwar fat, broad rwyry
saor free saoyry
syen old syny
tana thin teny
trôm heavy tremy
tye hot tyôa
tyrym dry tywrma

Pronouns

As with Irish, Scottish, and Manx, Sudrish has both regular personal pronouns and a set used for
emphasis. The emphatic pronouns may be used unemphatically in situations where to use the
regular pronouns would be phonetically ambiguous.

While Sudrish has a set of possessive pronouns, these are only used for inalienable possession, while
alienable possessions are indicated with the definite article followed by the inflected form of “ag” to
show the possessor.

Person Regular Emphatic Possessive Possessive notes

1st singular mê mys mo causes lenition
2nd singular hŵ ws do causes lenition
3rd singular ê esyn a causes lenition
masculine
 3rd singular sê ys a no changes
feminine caused
1st plural mwid (subject) synyn âr(n) causes eclipsis
sŷn (object)
2nd plural sŷv sywys vŵr(n) causes eclipsis
3rd plural yad adsan an (am) causes eclipsis

Conjugated prepositions / prepositional pronouns

Like the other Insular Celtic languages, Sudrish has “inflected prepositions”, the contraction of a
preposition with a pronominal direct object. Prepositions can also be inflective to the possessive
pronouns.

ag li ar do ân rû vu
(“to, (“with”) (“on”) (“for, (“in”) (“before”) (“from”)
at”) to”)
mê agham lyum oram dom anam ruam vuam
hŵ aghat lyat orat dwat anat ruat vuat
ê agha lyisa ara dâ ana ruysa vuysa
sê achy lŷsy orry dŷ any ruympy vuŷ
mwid aghyn lyên oryn dŵyn andyn rûyn vûyn
sŷv aghŵ lyv orŵ dyŵ andyŵ rŵyv vŵyv
yad aghas lyws orrws daos andws rŵas vŵpas

as hwg di fu trûy muga har

(“out (“to, (“of”) (“under, (“through”) (“around”) (“over”)
of, towards”) about”)
from”)
mê asam hwgham dîam fuam truam umam haram
hŵ asat hwghat dîat fuat truat umat harat
ê asa hwga dia fua trua uma hara
sê asy hwygy disy fuŷ truympy uympy harysy
mwid asdwyn hwghyn dŷn fuyn truyn umyn haryn
sŷv asdyŵ hwghŵ diŵ fuyv trŵyv umŵ harŵ
asyŵ
yad asdaws hwcas diws fws truas umpas harws
fwpas

edar mara rŷ lur

(“between”) (“next (“to, (“by,
to, against, beside”)
along towards,
with, with”)
beside”)
mê maram ryam luram
hŵ marat ryat lurat
ê mara rysa lura
sê marysy rŷsy lury
mwid edaryn maryn rwyn luryn
sŷv (northern) edarŵ maryv rŷv lurŵ
 yad edaras marws rŵas lurws

Ta lyuar agham. I have a book.

Ta sŵylan goram aghat. You have blue eyes.
Ta Gîlg agha. He speaks Sudrish.
Ta grâ achy oram. She loves me.
Ta pwnd aghyv ara. He owes you a pound.
Ta agal oram ruympy. I’m scared of her.
Ta acras orat. You’re hungry.
Ŷnsŷ m(ê) sgêal dwat. I’ll tell you a story.
Nolag hôna dyŵ. Merry Christmas to you all.
Cadê hachayr dwat? What happened to you?
(Ys ê) trêna mai a ta anat, a Hâvys. You’re a good train, Thomas.
Syo a chorra, cwr an tê any. Here’s the kettle, put the tea in it.
Ys ê scryvar a ta anam. I’m a writer.
Ta mwid ar an aon ŷntyn lyws. We agree with them.
Ys ân lyat-sa a t’ ê. It belongs to you.
Lig lyên ê. Let him come with us.
Chan haodŷ m(ê) dênw lŷsy. I can’t stand her.
Ta ŷasg vuam. I need a fish.
Cha do haoyd mê syn a yênw. I couldn’t do that.
Bŷ djeragh dên-ta agham ruat. I’ll be finished before you.
Ta mwid brôdal asat. We’re proud of you.
Lig ê sgrîch asa. He let out a shriek.
V’ ê curyt asy. It was annoying her.
Cha fowr ê mone asam. He won’t get change/money out of me.
Hânyg mê hwgham hên. I recovered.
Cwrŷ m(ê) lŷtar hwygy. I’ll send her a letter.
Cwr dîat do chôta. Take your coat off.
Ys fuŷ a ta ê. It’s up to her.
Chay am bât fua. The boat sank.
Chay a chumpany fua. The company failed.
Chay an talŵ fuyn. The ground gave way under us.
Hwg ê clŵa trua. He ran a sword through him.
Cwr umat do chôta. Put your coat on.
Chwyr sê uympy. She got dressed.
Cha chwrŷ m(ê) harws ê. I wouldn’t put it past them.
Hwyt ê haryn. It fell over us.
Hânyg sê edaryn. She came between us.
An wil dotar edarŵ? Is there a doctor among you?
Ta mê agh lûart ryŵ. I’m talking to youse.
Chan yil ê rŷw ar lûart ryam. He’s never spoken to me.
T' ê (a)gh obragh lur gâl. It works by steam/coal.
V’ ê na lighy lur garabad. He was knocked down by a car.

Verbs

Most Sudrish verbs are inflected through periphrases, with the auxiliary verb “to be”. Only the
future, conditional, preterite, and imperative are formed directly through inflection; unlike Manx,
“to do” is not used as an auxiliary for an alternate form of these. With the exception of the
imperative and the conditional, verbs inflect for positivity and interrogativity (using particles), but
not for person. There are approximately ten irregular verbs.

Tense Form Literal translation Gloss

Imperative tylyg! (singular) Throw! Throw!
tylgyv! (plural)
Present ta mê agh tylgy I am at throwing. I’m throwing.
I throw.
Imperfect va mê agh tylgy I was at throwing. I was throwing.
Perfect ta mê ar hylgy I am after throwing. I have thrown.
Pluperfect va mê ar hylgy I was after throwing. I had thrown.
Future tylgŷ m(ê) I throw. I will throw.
Preterite hylyg mê I threw I threw.
Conditional hylgyn I would throw. I would throw.
hylgaw You would throw.
hylgad ê/sê/ syŵ yad He/she/they would throw.
hylgamyd They would throw
Participle/ tylyg-ta Thrown. Thrown.
Adjective
Subjunctive gu tylgar mê --- That I might throw.

Particle Use Effect

na negative, only with imperative -
cha(n) negative causes lenition
an interrogative causes eclipsis
nach negative interrogative causes lenition
gum conjunctive causes eclipsis

The Verb “To Be”

Bârla (English) Gîlg (Sudrish) IPA
I am ta mê /t̪ha mɛ:/
You are ta hŵ /t̪ha hu:/
He is t' ê /t̪hə ɛ:/
She is ta sê /t̪ha ʃɛ:/
We are ta mwid /t̪ha mweð/
You are ta sŷv /t̪ha ʃi:v/
They are t' yad /t̪hə jat̪/
I am not chan yil mê /xan jelj mɛ:/
Aren’t I? nach yil mê? /n̪ ax jelj mɛ:/
Am I? an wil mê? /an̪ welj mɛ:/

Ta mê agh dênw an wybar. I’m doing the work.

Chan yil mê agh twygsyn. I don’t understand.
Nach yil an dyoch ar a bhôrd. Isn’t the drink on the table?
An wil an trêna agh tŷtan? Is the train coming?

Adverbs
Sudrish adverbs can be formed by “dy +adjective”, thus “may” “good” > “dy may” “well”. The “dy”
may be omitted when preceded by rô (“too”) or fŷr (“very”), both of which trigger lenition.

Sudrish has a number of adverbs corresponding to “up”, “down”, “in”, and “out” in English, which
entail things such as motion or lack thereof, and starting point in relation to the speaker.

Up and down
Above the speaker Below the speaker
Stationary hŵas hŷas
Towards the speaker from nŵas nŷas
Away from the speaker to sŵas sŷas

In Out
Stationary astay amay
Movement astyach amach

Phrases

Bârla (English) Gîlg (Sudrish) IPA

Good morning Mudra may /’mod̪ ɾə mai/
Good afternoon/evening Fyascar may /’fjjas̪khər mai/
Good night Oyche vay /’ɔiçə βai/
How are you? (informal/singular) Cunas ta hŵ? /khon̪ əs̪ t̪ha hu:/
How are you? (formal/plural) Cunas ta sŷv? /khon̪ əs̪ t̪ha ʃi:v/
I’m very well. Ta mê fŷr vay. /t̪ha mɛ: fji:θ βai/
Thank-you. (informal/singular) Gura may aghat. /goɾə mai aɣəht̪h/
Thank-you. (formal/plural) Gura may aghŵ. /goɾə mai aɣu:/
And yourself? (informal/singular) As hŵ hên? /əs hu: hɛ:nj/
And yourself? (formal/plural) As sŷv hên? /əs ʃi:v hɛ:nj/
Good-bye. (informal/singular) Slân lyat. /s̪l ̪a:n̪ ljjaht̪h/
Good-bye. (formal/plural) Slân lyv. /s̪l ̪a:n̪ ljiv/

Numbers

One aon /øn/

Two dâ /d̪ a:/ ~ /t̪a:/
Three trŷ /t̪hɾi:/
Four cyaar /’kjhjaʔəɾ/
Five cwig /khwek/
Six sî /ʃe:/
Seven syach /ʃjax/
Eight huch /hox/
Nine nŷ /nyi:/
Ten dî /dje:/ ~ /ðje:/
Eleven naon-dig /nøn djek/
Twelve dâ-yig /d̪ a: jek/
Thirteen trŷ-dig /t̪hɾi: djek/
Twenty fychid /‘fjiçeð/
Hundred cŷad /‘kjhi:ət̪/
Syntax

Like the other Insular Celtic languages, Sudrish uses a verb-subject-object word order: the inflected
verb of the sentence precedes the subject, which itself precedes the direct object. In periphrastic
verb structures, only the auxiliary verb precedes the subject, while the verbal noun comes after it.

Vocabulary and Loanwords

Sudrish vocabulary is predominantly of Goidelic origin, derived from Old Irish and therefore closely
related to words in Irish, Scottish Gaelic, and Manx. However, Sudrish and its predecessor also
borrowed words from other languages. Foreign loanwords are primarily Norse and English (both
Middle and Modern) in origin, with a smaller number from (Anglo-Norman) French. Some examples
of Norse loanwords are garra (“garden”, from garðr “enclosure”), and skêra (“sea rock”, from
skjaer).

There are also numerous Latin and Brythonic borrowings which have been present in the language
for so long as to be not considered loan-words. Many religious terms from ultimately from Latin,
Greek, and Hebrew, through Old Irish; casyrach (“holy”) from Latin “consecratus", mŵyntyar
(“people”) from Latin “monasterium” (originally meaning “monastery”), aglys (“church”) from Greek
“ekklésia” (originally meaning “gathering”), and âba (“monk”) from Hebrew “abba” (“father”). More
recently, ŵlpan (“intensive language school”) has been borrowed directly from modern Hebrew.

In the last two generations there has been a reaction against English loanwords, which had
previously been becoming increasingly common; technical vocabulary is now coined, as well as
calques, and native words are preferred where they exist alongside more recent borrowings.

Days of the Week

Monday dilŵan /dje’l ̪u:ən/

Tuesday dimârt /dje’ma:ɾ ht̪h/
Wednesday dicyadaon /dje’kjhjadøn/
Thursday didaone /dje’dønjə/
Friday dihaone /dje’hønjə/
Saturday disaturne /dje’s̪aht̪hoɾnjə/
Sunday didôwnych /dje’d̪ ɔ:wnjiç/

Sudrian Placenames

The following is a list of several Sudrian placenames, many of which are Sudrish in origin, alongside
the Sudrish names, meaning, and pronunciation.

Place name Given meaning Sudrish name pronunciation Meaning and other notes
Traugh Sandy Beach An Trâgh /ən t̪hɾa:ɣ/ Trâgh meaning “sandy
beach”; the Sudrish uses
the generic word in the
definite for this specific
beach
Croshbyr Cross Farm Bâch a Chroys /ba:x ə xɾɔəʃ/ Bâch meaning “byre” or
“cowshed”
Chroys the definite genitive
of Cros
 Cros-y-Cuirn Cross in the Cros a /khɾɔs̪ ə xu:əɾnj/ Cros meaning “cross”
Mountain Chŵyrn Chŵyrn the definite
genitive of Cârn meaning
“artificial hill” or “stone
heap”
Keeill-y- Church of the Cŷl a Yighyn /kjhi:lj ə ‘jeʝinj/ Cŷl meaning “church”
Deighan Devil Yighyn the definite genitive
of Dighan meaning “devil”
Kirk Machan Machan’s Cŷl Vachyn /kjhi:lj ‘βaxənj/ Cŷl meaning “church”
Church Vachyn the genitive of the
given name Machan
Dreeym-y- Devil’s Back Drŷm a /ðɾi:mj ə ‘jeʝinj/ Drŷm meaning “back”
Deighan Yighyn Yighyn the definite genitive
of Dighan meaning “devil”
Gob-y- Devil’s Mouth Gub a Yighyn /gop ə ‘jeʝinj/ Gub meaning “wry mouth”
Deighan Yighyn the definite genitive
of Dighan meaning “devil”
Dryaw n/a Bale Tyrym /’baljə ‘tjhiθimj/ Bale meaning “town” or
“farmstead”
Tyrym meaning “dry”
The town was founded by a
company reclaiming tidal
land from the sea; the
English name may derive
from the English adjective
“Dry”

The Lord’s Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer has been translated into all the Goidelic languages. Although the words are not
completely cognate, they demonstrate the similarities of the languages, and the different
orthographies.

English Old Irish Modern Irish Scottish Gaelic Manx Sudrish

version
Our Father A athair fil hi Ár n-Athair, Ar n-Athair a Ayr ain, t’ayns Ârn âer a ta
in heaven nimib atá ar neamh tha air nèamh Niau ar Nyêv
Hallowed by Noemthar Go naofar Gu Casherick dy Gu naovachar
Your name. thainm d’ainm. naomhaichear row dt’ennym d’ enym.
d’ ainm.
Your Tost do Go dtaga do Thigeadh do Dy jid dty Gu tygyd do
Kingdom flaithius. ríocht rìoghachd. Reeriaght Rŷoch.
come.
Your will be Did do toil I Go ndéantar Dèanar do thoil Dt’aigney dy Gu dênar do
done on talmain do thoil ar an air an talamh row jeant er y hul ar an
earth dtalamh Thalloo Dalŵ
As it is in amail ata in Mar mar a nithear Myr ta ayns mar a ta ar
Heaven. nim. dhéantar ar air nèamh Niau. Nyêv.
neamh.
 Give us Tabair dun Ár n-arán Tabhair dhuinn Cur dooin nyn Tûar dŵyn an
today our indiu ar sasad laethúil an-diugh ar n- arran jiu as dyŵ ârn aran
daily bread. lathi. tabhar dúinn àran làitheil. gagh laa lâhyl.
inniu.
And forgive Ocus log dun Agus maith Agus maith As leij dooin As lig mai
us our sins ar fiachu dúinn ar dhuinn ar nyn loghtyn dŵyn âr
bhfiacha pheacannan fŷachan
As we Mar a Mar a Myr ta shin mar a ta
forgive mhaithimíd mhaitheas sinne leih dauesyn mwid agh
those who dóibh a dhuibhsan a tha ta jannoo lighy daos-
sin against chiontaíonn a ciontachadh ‘n loghtyn nyn ói san a ta agh
us inár n- ar naghaidh. shin. dênw fŷachan
aghaidh. an ârn aoghy.
As we Amail Mar a Mar a
forgive our logmaitne diar mhaithimid mhaitheas sinne
debtors fhechemnaib. dár d’ ar luchd-
bhféichiúna fiach.
féin
And lead us Ocus nis lecea Agus na lig Agus na leig ann As ny leeid As na lig sŷn
not into sind I n-amus sinn I gcathú am buaireadh shin ayns âns a
temptation n-dofulachtai sinn miolagh mûaragh
But deliver Acht ron soer Ach saor sinn Ach saor sinn Agh livrey ach saor sŷn
us from evil. o cech ulc. ón olc bho olc shin veih olk vu olc.
For yours is Óir is leatsa Oir is leatsa an Son lhiats y Ûyr ys lyat-sa
the an Ríocht rìoghachd, agus Reereeaght as an Rŷoch as a
kingdom, agus an a’ chumhachd, y Phooar as y Chŵoch as a
and the Chumhacht agus a’ ghlòir ghloyr Ghlôr
power, and agus an
the glory Ghlóir
Now and Trí shaol na An nis agus gu Son dy bragh Trŵy haoghyl
forever. saol sìorraidh. as dy bragh nan saoghyl.
Amen. Amen ropfir. Amen. Amen. Amen. Âmin.

The Nicene

The Lord’s Prayer has been translated into most of the Goidelic languages. Although the words are
not completely cognate, they demonstrate the similarities of the languages, and the different
orthographies.

English Irish Gaelic Sudrish

I believe in one God, Creidim in aon Dia Tha mi a’ creidsinn Ta mê agh crêdyn an
amháin, ann an aon Dia, aon Dŷa,
the Father almighty, an tAthair an t-Athair, uile- an Âer wlad-
uilechumhachtach chumhachdach, chŵoghach,
Maker of heaven and a rinne neamh agus Cruathaichear nàimh a chrŵaych Nyêv as
earth, talamh agus talmhainn Dalŵ
And of all things seen agus an uile ní so Nan uile a tha as na hwlad a ta fêc-ta
and unseen. fheichthe agus faicsinneach agus neo- as do-hêc-ta.
dófheichte. fhaicsinneach.
And I believe in one Agus an aon Tiarna Tha mi a’ creidsinn Ta mê agh crêdyn an
Lord, Jesus Christ, amháin, Íosa Críost, ann an aon Tighearna aon Tŷarna, Ŷsa
Ìosa Crìosda, Crŷasda,
Onlybegotten Son of Aon Mhac Dé, aon-ghìn Mhac Dhé, aon-ghŷn-ta mac Dyê,
God,
Eternally begotten of an té a rugadh ón gu siorraidh ginte de a ta gŷn-ta lurn Âer vu
the father. Athair sula raibh aon ‘n Athar sŷarŷ
saol ann.
God from God, Light Dia ó Dhia, solas ó Dia de Dhia, Solas de Dŷa di Ghŷa, Solas di
from Light, true God sholas, Fíor-Dhia o Sholas, fior Dhia de Holas, fŷr Ghŷa di hŷr
from true God, Fhior-Dhia fhior Dhia, Ghŷa,
Begotted, not made, an té a gineadh agus ginte, chan ann a ta gŷn-ta, as nach
nach ndearnadh dèanta, yên-ta
of one being with the agus atá d’aon air dha bhi de ‘n aon as a ta di aon nâdar
Father substaint leis an Athair nàdur ris an Athair. rŷn âer
and through whom all is trid a rinneadh an Leis an d’ rinneadh a as ys trua a rŷn wlad
things were made. uile ní. h-uile nithe. nŷ.
For my sake and for Ar ár son-na, an cine Air mo shon-se agus Ar mo hon-sa as ar
my salvation, daonna, agus ar son ár air son mo son mo hlânay
slánaithe, shàbhalaidh,
he came down from thuirling sé ó neamh thàinig e a’ nuas bho hânyg ê nŵas vu Nyêv
heaven nèamh,
and was incarnate of lonchollaíodh le agus gabh feòil air fèin as
the Holy Spirit and the cumhacht an Spiorad leis an Spiorad naomh
Virgin Mary Naoimh é i broinn na de ‘n Oigh Muire,
Maighdine Muire
and became man. Agus ghlac sé nádúr agus rinneadh ‘n a
daonna. dhuine e.
For my sake he was Céasadh ar an grois é Air mo shon-se, Ar mo hon-sa chêsayd
crucified under freisin ar ár son; cheusadh e fo ê fu Phontyws Pŷlad,
Pontius Pilate Phointius Pilat,
suffered death and d'fhulaing sé báis faoi dh'fhulaing e bàs agus d' hwlayng ê bâys as
was buried Phontius Pioláit agus dh’adhlaiceadh e, d’ aolacayd ê
adhlacadh é
And rose again on the d'aiséirigh an treas lá agus air an treasamh as arn treasw lâ d’ ês-
third day in de réir na Scroptúr latha dh’éirich e a’ êry ê ag rêr nan
accordance with the rithist a’ rèir nan Scrŷvadran,
Scriptures, Sgrìobtairean,
and we went up to chuaigh suas ar agus chaidh e suas gu as chay ê sŵas hwg
heaven, neamh nèamh, Nyêv,
and is seated at the tá ina shui ar dheis an agus tha e ‘n a as ta ê (a)n a hwy ag
right hand of the Athar. shuidhe aig deas làimh yês lâw an Âer,
Father, an Athair,
and he will come Tiocfaidh sé an athuair agus thig e a’ rithist as tŷgŷ (ê) an â ŵar fu
again in glory to judge faoi ghlóir le ann an glòir a thoirt ghlôr le brêas a tûart
the living and the breithiúnas a breith araon air na ar na byôy as ar na
dead thabhairt ar bheo agus beothaibh agus air na marwy
ar mhairbh mairbh
and his kingdom will agus ní bheidh agus air a rìoghachd as cha vŷ crŷach ar a
have no end. deireadh lena ríocht. cha bhi crìoch. rŷoch.
 I believe in the Holy Creidim sa Spiorad Tha mi a’ creidsinn Ta mê agh crêdyn an
Spirit, Naomh, anns an Spiorad Spyryd Naoyf,
Naomh,
the Lord and the giver Tiarna agus bronntóir an Tighearna agus an Tŷarna as tûartar
of life, na beatha, tabhairtear beatha, bêa
who proceeds from an té a ghluaiseann ón a tha a’ tighinn bho ‘n a ta agh glŵasan vun
the Father (and from Athair agus ón Mac. Athair. Âer as vun Mhac.
the Son).
With the Father and Tugtar dó adhradh Leis an Athair agus leis Twgar lin Âer as lin
the Son he is agus glóir maraon leis a’ Mhac tha e air Mhac aora as glôr dâ,
worshipped and an Athair agus leis an aoradh agus a
glorified, Mac; ghlòrachadh,
and spoke through the is é labhair trí na a labhairt troimh na a lûayr trûy na Fâyan.
Prophets. fáithe. Fàidhean.
I believe in one holy Creidim san aon Tha mi a’ creidsinn Ta mê agh crêdyn an
catholic and apostolic Eaglais naofa, ann an aon Eaglais aon aglys naoyf
church. chaitliceach, aspalda. Naomh Chaitilgeach chadylgych as
agus Abstolach. asbaldych.
I acknowledge one Adhmhaim an t-aon Tha mi ag aideachadh Ta mê agh aodacham
baptism for the bhaisteadh amháin aon Bhaistidh a chum aon vêsdyd chwm
forgiveness of sins. chun maithiúnas na maitheanas maynas na fŷachan.
bpeacai. pheacannan.
I look for the Agus táim ag súil le Tha dùil agam ri Ta mê (a)n sŵyl rŷ ês-
resurrection of the haiséiri na marbh Aiséirigh nam marbh, êry na marwy
dead
and the live of the agus le beatha an agus ri beatha an t- as rŷ bêa an haoghyl a
world to come. tsaoil atá le teacht. saoghail a tha ri ta rŷ tŷtan.
teachd.
Amen. Amen. Amen. Âmin.

More Comparative Vocbulary Examples

English Sudrish Manx Scottish Irish Welsh

Gaelic
good morning mudra may moghrey mie madainn maidin bore da
mhath mhaith
good fyascar may fastyr mie feasgar math tráthnóna prynhawn da
afternoon/evening maith
good bye slân lyat slane lhiat slàn leat slán leat hwyl fawr
slân lyŵ/lyv slane lhiu slàn leibh slán libh
boat bât baatey bàta bád cwch
flower blâ blaa blàth bláth blodyn
cow bô booa bò bó buwch
rock crêg creg creag carraig carreg
fish ŷasg eeast iasg iasc pysgodyn
island elan ellan eilean oileán ynys
cat cât cayt càt cat cath
dog moda moddey madadh madra
cŵ cù ci
house tay thie taigh teach tŷ
bird êan eean eun éan aderyn
water wysge ushtey uisge ushtey dŵr