This is Acair's new website, it is currently under development and should not be used to buy anything. Continue shopping on the live site

acair
Basket
← Back to all books
FEUCH-FICSEAN - DEALAN-DÈ — cover

FEUCH-FICSEAN - DEALAN-DÈ

By Seonag Monk

£9.99

In stock

In 1940, in Barra in the Outer Hebrides, an 18-year-old woman, Flòraidh, is persuaded to leave her island home when she learns that her stepmother intends to marry her off to the local shopkeeper. She follows her enigmatic friend Lavinia to the city and changes her identity to Laura as they join the war effort. Lavinia opens Laura’s eyes to the world beyond Barra as they also work their way up through the ranks. Laura is amazed by all the new things she learns – from garlic to gin to the theatre to the Ritz; her whole world expands. However, with Flòraidh becoming a distant memory, will Laura's true identity be revealed? And who really is her dear friend Lavinia Cavendish?

Gheibhear leabhar-èisteachd an seo / An audiobook version is also available here.

Watch

Films about the book and how it came to be written.

Glossary

228 words and phrases from the book, chapter by chapter, each with a recording. Written for readers and learners working through the Gaelic.

Chapter 1 27 words
air a spleuchdadh
spread out
air a fiaradh air
over at him
pòcaid a pheitein
the pocket of his waistcoat
air an torradh
had piled up
nam leum
idiom: in a hurry
ròlaistean
nonsense, silly stories
leabhar nan cùpanan
coupon book
air a chuibhreannachadh
had been rationed
stùirc
scowl
marsantan
merchants
Labhraiche an Taigh nan Cumantan
Speaker of the House of Commons
lèabaran
piles (of papers)
cealgaireachd
cheating
tacaid
tack/pin
fear an taighe
master of ceremonies (MC)
mar udalan
like a swivel
corra-biod
tiptoes
maoth
delicate, soft
cuimir
shapely
polcan
blouse
ag atharrais
imitating
fuaim an t-subhachais
the sound of merriment
roghainneach
selected
fearas-mhòr agus moit
pomp and pride
gonadh oirre!
curse her!
gòralas
nonsense
a’ brìodal
flattering
Chapter 2 33 words
fo bhlàth
in bloom
fàirleus liath-ghorm
blue-grey haze
cnapan de sheòbhragan buidhe
mounds of yellow primroses
flùr an àigh
a lucky flower
plìonas
a smirk
le roid
with speed
ceilearadh
birdsong
mailean
eyebrows
oileag
a large pebble
àilleachd an t-seallaidh
the beauty of the scenery
aigne
mind
blàthan-buidhe nam bò
dandelion
logaidh
a fringe (on your head)
a’ gabhail fadachd
idiom: getting worried
tost
silence
guilbneach
curlew
a chàirean a’ teannachadh
idiom: his jaw tightening, clenching
campa inntearnachaidh
internment camp
a’ falbh leatha air achlais
idiom: arm in arm
a thogail shrùban
to collect cockles
leis an aighearr
with joy
òsan a bhriogais
hems of his trousers
na ghlag fèath
idiom: flat calm
a’ grunnachadh
wading
ge b’ oil leotha
in spite of themselves
muineal
throat
àghmhor
blissful
puicean
small bag, poke
caob mhath feòla
a good chunk of meat
dorranach
annoyed
gu bheil thusa miadhail air
that you like him
bobhstair
mattress
air a ghànrachadh le poll
covered in mud
Chapter 3 16 words
ann an clò
in print
searrag uisge-bheatha
a decanter of whisky
eirmseach
witty
ribear shoithichean
dish towel
ga chuipeadh
whipping it
sabhs buidheagain
hollandaise sauce
anns an dol seachad
in the passing
lapanach
physically unfit
ealamh
discreet
dìomain
fleeting
am beul a’ bhaile
idiom: the talk of the town
caor-solas geal mochthràth na maidne
the pink glowing light of dawn
driùchd
dew
miamhail
meowing
plotaran
plotters
air seachran
lost
Chapter 4 30 words
ruisg dhubha
black eyelashes
leòsan na h-uinneig
the window panes
a’ fàgail a cochall às a dèidh
leaving her cocoon behind
gu stràiceil
haughtily
a’ toirt feart air
idiom: obeying
similidh
sheepish
arranta
fit, confident
àite armailteach
military base
culaidh an airm
the army’s uniform
gaoisideach
hairy
air an fhùcadh le connlach
stuffed with straw
deargannan
fleas
fiolan
insect
siomaguad
subterfuge
a’ meàrrsadh
marching
a’ sgalartaich
yelling
na neòil
the skies
dìle bhàthte
heavy downpour
banachdaich
vaccination
a’ toirt gairiseachadh oirre
idiom: making her shudder
dleastanas
duty
spiorad miontraig
sense of adventure
sliochd
descendents
ainneamh
rarely
dìlleachdan
orphan
tè a bha thall ’s a chunnaic
idiom: a woman who has been there, done that
nàdar na pìoghaide
like a parrot
sreang pèarla
a string of pearls
ùinich is othail
hustle and bustle
tastan
shilling
Chapter 5 27 words
ula-thruis
commotion/hullabaloo
spiris
hen-roost/pedestal
eamsag
a dancing skip, step
balgam a’ chlisgidh
idiom: terrified
air an cutadh
gutted (fish)
làn di-beathte
idiom: more than welcome to
cho fad ’s a thogradh iad
as long as they wanted to
le sgut
in a hurry
gam lathadh
idiom: numb (with the cold)
bha i air pàipear a stadhadh nan guib
she had stuffed paper into the points (of the shoes)
rudainnte
particular
a’ teannadh ri deataich
almost dissipating
a’ gluasad nan sparran
moving the beams
leithid a’ ghliogada-ghlaodhram
such as the deafening noise
dias
idiom: a dashing young blade
seang
slender
falt camalagach dubh
black curly hair
braoisg
grin
a’ turraman
swaying
colann
body
bhon fhuirm
from the stool
fabhradh gaoithe
a swirl, gust of wind
fruis
whoosh
am measg an sprùillich
amongst the debris
na chròic dhearg
matted and red
thug e pliodag dhi mun bhus
slapped her on the face
traoidhtearach
deceitful
Chapter 6 26 words
air an dinneadh gu bàrr
full to the brim
diasan eòrna
ears of corn
flodach
lukewarm
lagan
a hollow
cha thogainn le bior às an t-sitig duin’ agaibh
idiom: I wouldn’t help any of you
liut
a talent
cò-dhiù a bha e beò no marbh
whether he was alive or dead
seaghail
prudent
rùm-criathraidh
decoding room
ruaig a chuir air nàmhaid
to chase away the enemy
Achd nan Rùintean Dìomhair
The Official Secrets Act
pillsear
pilchard
plumais shearbh
sour plums
a’ farchluais
eavesdropping
Feachd an Airm
The Armed Forces
a’ gabhail am fine air a chèile
calling each other by their surnames
siostam ceum-inbhe
ranking system
tuaireamach
random
sùgh biatais
beetroot juice
a-mach à gleus
out of tune
ann an caogadh na sùla
idiom: in the blink of an eye
tha an t-acras gam tholladh
idiom: I’m famished
farranach
exasperated
maide-làraich
floorboards
seòrsa de char a’ mhuiltein
some kind of somersault
a beatha ràsanach
her boring life
Chapter 7 10 words
biùgan
torch
teicneòlas bann-rèidio
radio wave technology
taigh-cràbhaidh
convent
am freastal
relying/dependent upon
a’ grunnachadh tro chuithe shneachda
wading through a snowdrift
beagan sòraidh a-nist nan ceum
their walking became hesistant
grèis-bhrat
tapestry
ròic
banquet
a’ coimhead an annlainn
looking at the food
titheach air fìon
keen on wine
Chapter 8 11 words
a dh’aona-ghnothach
especially
braidseal teine
blazing fire
ìocshlaint
a cure
oirfeid
music/entertainment
ireapais na h-oidhche
the night’s excitement
pràmh
grief
a’ teòthadh air
warming to him
liotach
lisping
an aois chuibheasach
the average age
cromag
hook
feachd ghiseagach
a superstitious army
Chapter 9 8 words
turadh
dry spell
soganach
joyous
ceacharra
dishonourable
grod le airgead
idiom: rotten/loaded with money
ònrachdail
desolate
ciabhagan
locks of hair on side of face
a’ slaodadh rithe
idiom: hanging down ( from her)
acaid throm na cridhe
a stabbing pain in her heart
Chapter 10 1 word
bha e mòr leatha
she was reluctant to
Chapter 11 11 words
curraicean mun cinn
hats on their heads
a dhùirn a’ teannachadh
his fists tightening
rùdain
knuckles
a’ chamhanaich
twilight
air an daorach
on the drink
teipeachan
about to
chuir i uime na cabhaig
she clothed herself in a hurry
cha bhiodh i air stem a dhèanamh dheth
she wouldn’t have managed it
gun chaomhnadh
without restriction
nach robh… cho mòr sin aig a chèile
idiom: didn’t like each other that much
a’ seasamh na gaoth
standing close to her
Chapter 12 11 words
cuilbheart
a plot
mar thraoidhtear
as a traitor
dùr-aire
concentration
a dh’fhoghain dhi
determined for her
gun tug Laura teacsa air
that Laura referenced
tòireachadh nan Iùdhach
the persecution of Jews
aig an robh bleid gu leòr
who were impertinent enough
a’ cumail cluais ri claisneachd
idiom: keeping an ear to the ground
beò air a tabhaill
surviving on her wits
mar thurchartas
by coincidence
meall-sgrìobhadh
forgery
Chapter 13 7 words
brathadh foill
espionage
chun a’ chaidreachais
to the allies
faoinsgeul
fictional stories
an t-sluagh-ghairm
the slogan
sgairteil
energetic
flin
sleet
turtar
a thud
Chapter 14 10 words
sròl
satin
a’ tràghadh na glainne
draining the glass
a’ toirt a’ bhàrr-urraim oirre
trumped her
athach blosgaidh
a large blast
similear-gaothrachaidh
vent
neart onfhadh a’ ghailleinn
the roaring strength of the blast
a’ froiseadh
scattering
pristeal
shards
a’ spoltadh agus a’ sàbhadh
slashing and hacking
treast
pew

Details

Format
Paperback
Language
Gaelic
ISBN
978-1-78907-214-3
Product code
2143

You might also like

Acair

An Tosgan, 54 Seaforth Road, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis HS1 2SD

01851 703020

Catalogue of 454 titles

© 2026 Acair. A registered Scottish charity.

Bòrd na Gàidhlig Bòrd na Gàidhlig