Scottish Gaelic · Gàidhlig
Directory 18 checked resources . A short orientation and a solid starting list.
About Scottish Gaelic
- Language family
- Indo-European, Celtic, Goidelic
- Where it's spoken
- Scotland (especially Highlands and Islands)
- Speakers
- tens of thousands of speakers
Scottish Gaelic is a Goidelic Celtic language closely related to Irish, spoken mainly in the Highlands and Islands and by learners across Scotland. Spelling preserves older consonants that modern speech often softens, so listening from day one helps. SpeakGaelic and LearnGaelic cover structured lessons; BBC Alba and Radio nan Gàidheal supply immersion once basics stick.
How to start
- Pick one free course (or free-with-upgrades) below and finish a short beginner unit before hopping apps.
- Bookmark one dictionary or grammar reference and look up every unknown word for a week.
- Add 10–15 minutes of native listening or learner video most days — news, radio, or a teaching channel.
- When ready, use a tutor marketplace listing below for short speaking sessions.
| Resource | Type | Levels | Cost | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
SpeakGaelic
Major free Scottish Gaelic course.
|
course free | A1-B1 | free | 2026-07-23 |
| BBC Alba | listening | A2-C2 | free | 2026-07-23 |
| BBC Naidheachdan | reading | B1-C2 | free | 2026-07-23 |
| Duolingo Scottish Gaelic | course free | A1-A2 | freemium | 2026-07-23 |
| LearnGaelic | course free | A1-B2 | free | 2026-07-23 |
| Am Faclair Beag | reference | A1-C2 | free | 2026-07-23 |
| Omniglot Scottish Gaelic | reference | A1-A2 | free | 2026-07-23 |
| Forvo Scottish Gaelic | listening | A1-C2 | freemium | 2026-07-23 |
| italki Scottish Gaelic tutors | tutoring | A1-C2 | paid | 2026-07-23 |
| Anki Shared Gaelic decks | course free | A1-B1 | free | 2026-07-23 |
| Memrise Scottish Gaelic | course paid | A1-B1 | freemium | 2026-07-23 |
| Radio nan Gàidheal | listening | B1-C2 | free | 2026-07-23 |
| Stòrlann | course free | A1-B2 | free | 2026-07-23 |
| YouTube Gaelic lessons | youtube channel | A1-B1 | free | 2026-07-23 |
| Gaelic for Parents / community resources | course free | A1-A2 | free | 2026-07-23 |
| Wikipedia (Scottish Gaelic) | reading | B1-C2 | free | 2026-07-23 |
| YouTube lessons — Scottish Gaelic | youtube channel | A1-B1 | free | 2026-07-23 |
| Glosbe Scottish Gaelic | reference | A1-C2 | free | 2026-07-23 |
Know a better classroom-friendly resource for Scottish Gaelic? Suggest it with attribution.