Scottish Gaelic, also known as Scots Gaelic or simply Gaelic, is a Goidelic language native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a Goidelic language, Scottish Gaelic, as well as both Irish and Manx, developed out of Old Irish. It became a distinct spoken language sometime in the 13th century in the Middle Irish period, although a common literary language was shared by the Gaels of both Ireland and Scotland until well into the 17th century. Most of modern Scotland was once Gaelic-speaking, as evidenced especially by Gaelic-language place names.
1891 distribution of English (including Scots) and Gaelic in Scotland 75–80% Gaelic, and English ━ 25–75% Gaelic, and English; line indicates the 50% isogloss 5–25% Gaelic, and English 0–5% Gaelic, and English Purely English
Cumbernauld Gaelic Choir in 2021
Anne Lorne Gillies speaking publicly in the Scottish Gaelic language
Police Scotland vehicle logo (Bilingual)
The Goidelic or Gaelic languages form one of the two groups of Insular Celtic languages, the other being the Brittonic languages.
Water feature commemorating the first supply of water by gravitation to Portmahomack in 1887. It carries an inscription in poor Gaelic, "Uisce Tobar Na Baistiad" (which, if it read Uisge Tobar a' Bhaistidh would translate as "Water of the Well of Baptism")