Welcome in Scottish Gaelic
Fàilte
In Scottish Gaelic, the phrase to know first is "Fàilte!" (Welcome!). The others are below, each with a note on when to use it.
Welcome in Scottish Gaelic is Fàilte, a word you will see on signs across the Highlands and Islands. Below are the greeting and the warmer, traditional forms.
Greetings
Fàilte!
Welcome!
On its own, as a greeting.
Fàilte is fuaran ort!
Welcome, welcome!
A warm traditional greeting to one person.
Fàilte gu fearann!
Welcome ashore!
For someone arriving by sea.
Useful words
fàilte is furan
a warm welcome
Welcoming someone with open arms.
fàilte chridheil
a heartfelt welcome
Cridheil means hearty or cheerful.
About the words
LearnGaelic gives fàilte as welcome, salute and salutation, with the plural fàiltean. The traditional expression fàilte is furan means a warm welcome, welcoming with open arms. Fàilte chridheil, from cridhe, heart, is a heartfelt welcome.
Common questions
How do you say welcome in Gaelic?
Fàilte! For a warm welcome, fàilte is furan.
Welcome in the other Celtic languages
Further reading
Scottish Gaelic is on blas. now
Grammar, mutations, vocabulary, and reading with spaced repetition. The Scottish Gaelic course is in the blas. app now.
Start learning Scottish GaelicScottish Gaelic phrases for the year ahead
Scottish Gaelic phrases for everyday occasions
Sources
Every phrase and fact on this page was checked against the sources below. Last checked 2026-10-20.
- LearnGaelic dictionary: entry 11037
- LearnGaelic dictionary: entry 37952
- LearnGaelic dictionary: entry 83741
- Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org
- LearnGaelic dictionary: entry 11038
- LearnGaelic dictionary: entry 33373
Credit: Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0.