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An toigh leibh luchan? Is toigh leam fhìn iad. Bha tè gheal aig mo nighinn mar pheata. Tha seanfhaclan gu leòr againn ann an Gàidhlig co-cheangailte ri luchan. Mar eisimpleir, is bean-taighe an luchag na taigh fhèin – the little mouse is mistress in her own house. Is bean-taighe an luchag na taigh fhèin.

Tha claisneachd mhath aig luchan. Uill, tha cluasan mòra aca, nach eil? Canaidh daoine – an rud a bhios sàmhach, cha chluinn na luchan e. What is silent the mice won’t hear. An rud a bhios sàmhach, cha chluinn na luchan e.

Bidh luchan a’ nochdadh ann an samhlaidhean, no similes, cuideachd. Mar eisimpleir, cho umhal ri luch fo spòg a’ chait. As humble as a mouse beneath the cat’s paw. Cho umhal ri luch fo spòg a’ chait.

Seo agaibh a-nise rann do chloinn anns a bheil luch – agus cat. Bidh an cat a’ sealg:

Thuirt an luch bheag, ’s i san toll,

Dè am fonn a th’ air a’ chat ghlas?

Fonn math is deagh shaod

Gum faodadh tusa tighinn a-mach.

Is mòr m’ eagal ron dubhan chrom

A th’ agad ann am bonn do chas,

Mharbh thu mo phiuthar an-dè

’S fhuair mi fhìn air èiginn às

Canaidh mi an rann a-rithist. Tuigidh sibh gu bheil an luch bheag agus an cat glas a’ bruidhinn ri chèile. Mharbh an cat piuthar na lucha an-dè. Cha mhòr nach do mharbh e an luch fhèin cuideachd.

Thuirt an luch bheag, ’s i san toll,

Dè am fonn a th’ air a’ chat ghlas?

Fonn math is deagh shaod

Gum faodadh tusa tighinn a-mach.

Is mòr m’ eagal ron dubhan chrom

A th’ agad ann am bonn do chas,

Mharbh thu mo phiuthar an-dè

’S fhuair mi fhìn air èiginn às

Uill, bha freagairt aig a’ chat. Seo na thuirt an cat:

Cha mhis’ a bha sin ach cat Iain Ruaidh

A b’ àbhaist a bhith a’ ruagadh chearc,

Ghoid i an càis’ a bha sa chliabh

’S dh’ith i ’n t-iasg a bha sa phreas.

Seo e a-rithist.

Cha mhis’ a bha sin ach cat Iain Ruaidh

A b’ àbhaist a bhith a’ ruagadh chearc,

Ghoid i an càis’ a bha sa chliabh

’S dh’ith i ’n t-iasg a bha sa phreas.

Mar sin leibh an-dràsta.

Faclan is abairtean: an toigh leibh luchan?: do you like mice?; bha tè gheal aig mo nighinn mar pheata: my daughter had a white one as a pet; is bean-taighe an luchag na taigh fhèin: the little mouse is mistress in her own house; claisneachd mhath: a good sense of hearing; an rud a bhios sàmhach, cha chluinn na luchan e: what is silent, the mice won’t hear; cho umhal ri luch fo spòg a’ chait: as humble as a mouse beneath the cat’s paw; rann do chloinn: a rhyme for children; sealg: hunting; ’s i san toll: when she was in the [mouse]hole; dè am fonn a th’ air a’ chat ghlas?: what form is the grey cat in?; fonn math is deagh shaod: good form and good condition; gum faodadh tusa tighinn a-mach: that you might come out; is mòr m’ eagal ron dubhan chrom [the mouse is now speaking]: great is my fear of the bent hook [claw]; ann am bonn do chas: at the bottom of your feet; mharbh thu mo phiuthar an-dè: you killed my sister yesterday; fhuair mi fhìn air èiginn às: I only just escaped myself; tuigidh sibh gu bheil an luch bheag agus an cat glas a’ bruidhinn ri chèile: you will understand that the little mouse and the grey cat are speaking to each other; mharbh an cat piuthar na lucha: the cat killed the mouse’s sister; cha mhis’ a bha sin ach cat Iain Ruaidh: that wasn’t me but red-haired John’s cat; a b’ àbhaist a bhith a’ ruagadh chearc: that used to be chasing hens; ghoid i an càis’ a bha sa chliabh: she stole the cheese that was in the creel; dh’ith i ’n t-iasg a bha sa phreas: she ate the fish that was in the cupboard.