Idioms, sayings & proverbs

• Òbanach / Obanite/An Oban Person
• San Òban, dèan mar na h-Òbanaich! / In Rome, do as the Romans do! (lit. In Oban, do as the Obanites do!)
• Air aghaidh! / Forwards/Progress/Onwards (the town motto)
• Thig crìoch air an t-saoghal ach mairidh gaol is ceòl / Though the world may end, love and music will endure
• Mairidh gaol is ceòl / Love and music will endure
• Deoch an dorais / One for the road (lit. a door dram)
• Ar cànan ‘s ar ceòl / Our language and our music
• Slàinte mhath! / Cheers! (lit. good health)
• Uisge-beatha / Whisky (lit. water of life)
• Tè bheag / A small dram
• Tè mhòr / A large dram
• Tìr nam beann, nan gleann is nan gaisgeach / Land of hills, glens and heroes
• Am fear nach gabh stiùir air a’ choire bhrochain, cha dèan e stiùir air a’ Choire Bhreacain / He that cannot even control a bowl of porridge would not have a chance in the Corryvreckan

Pleasantries

• Fàilte / Welcome
• Madainn mhath / Good morning
• Feasgar math / Good afternoon/evening
• Oidhche mhath / Good night
• Ciamar a tha thu? How are you?
• Tha gu math /Well (an an answer to how are you?)
• Ciamar a tha thu fhèin? / How are you yourself?
• Taing / Thanks
• Tapadh leat/Tapadh leibh / Thank you/Thank you (polite/plural)
• Tìoraidh an-dràsta / Bye for now
• Tìors! Cheers (as in goodbye)
• An gabh thu deoch?/An gabh sibh deoch? / Will you take a drink?/Will you (polite/plural) take a drink?
• Gabhaidh/Cha ghabh / I will/I won’t