Pàrcair na Gàidhlig Resources and Downloads
For more on the the origins of Pàrcair na Gàidhlig, please visit www.parkouroutreach.com/gaelicparkour
To download the Pàrcair na Gàidhlig phrasebook, please click the following link: Pàrcair na Gàidhlig: The Phrasebook
To download the Pàrcair na Gàidhlig lesson plan, please click the following link: Pàrcair na Gàidhlig: The Lesson Plan
You can find sound files below, divided into playlists based on the sections of the phrasebook. Or you can head to our Soundcloud page to listen to all the sound files in one place: Pàrcair na Gàidhlig: Sound Files
The Pàrcair na Gàidhlig video playlist, featuring examples of movements and audio to help with pronunciation, is available on Youtube at the following link: Full Pàrcair na Gàidhlig Youtube Playlist
There are also links to Youtube playlists matching each section in the relevant part of the page below.
We’re very grateful for the support of Bòrd na Gàidhlig and the fluent Gaelic speakers and experts we’ve worked with, but the Pàrcair na Gàidhlig project is volunteer-led, like so many other parkour projects and Gaelic initiatives, and it’s not finished yet!
We know we won’t have got everything right, so we’d love to hear any feedback you have, and hope to see Pàrcair na Gàidhlig grow, evolve and flourish in the years to come.
TO START WITH // AN TOISEACH
Parkour (n) // Pàrcair
The discipline/sport/art form also known as freerunning and Art du Dèplacement. // Pàrcair fhèin, canar ris “freeruning” ’s “Art du Dèplacement”
Parkour practitioner (n) // Pàrcaire
Someone who does parkour. // Cuideigin a bhios ri pàrcair.
“Tha e na chuis-toileachais a bhith a’ tachairt air pàrcairean eile aig tachartasan eadar-nàiseanta”
Jam (n) // Cèilidh
An informal parkour meet-up. Jams can happen spontaneously or be organised with just a few or with many people. They are different from classes or workshops in that there is no formal instruction or coaching. // Daoine a’ tighinn cruinn comhla gus pàrcair a dhèanamh.
“A’ bheil sibh a’ dol chun na cèilidh an ath-sheachdain?”
Warm up (n) // Blàthachadh Warm up (v) // Blàthaich
Movements done at low intensity to raise the heart rate and mobilise the joints at the beginning of a class or training session. // Gluasadan-tòisichidh gus an cridhe ’s na h-uillt a dheasachadh
“Feumaidh sibh sibh fhèin blàthachadh mus tòisich sibh air pàrcair”
Movement (n) // Gluasad Move // Gluais
“Bidh gluasadan sònraichte aig gach duine.”
Quadrupedal movement, cat-crawling (n) // Snàgadh-cait
Quadrupedal movement (QM) uses all four limbs, with weight distributed through both the hands and feet to build strength, improve balance and proprioception. Standard “QM” involves moving the opposite hand in feet at, or close to, the same time, in imitation of e.g. cats, although there are many variations. // Coiseachd coltach ri cat le làmhan is casan gus piseach a thoirt air neart is co-chothrom. Tha e math airson co-chothrom’s laidireachd.
“Na cleachdaibh ur glùintean nuair a tha sibh a’ dèanamh snàgadh-cait”
Balance (n) // Co-chothrom
“Cumaibh ur co-chothrom nuair a tha sibh a’ coiseachd fad na rèile sin.”
JUMPING AND LANDING // LEUM iS LAIGHE
Take off (n) // Èirigh Take off (v) //Èirich
The point from which you leave the ground for a jump or vault, also the part of the movement that generates the power to leave the ground - i.e. bending and then extending the knees, swinging the arms forward and up, bring the knees up in front. // Far am fàgar an làr airson leum is an t-ainm a th’ air an leum fhéin
“Tha an èirigh seo dùbhlanach – ’s e tha cumhang!”
Landing (n) // Laighe Landing (v) //a’ laighe
A landing is any one of the family of techniques used when impacting with the ground, to help minimise impact and damage to the body. A landing can also be the place that you land.// ’S e laighe a bhith a’ tighinn a-nuas gu sgiobalta, sàbhailte. ’S e an “laighe” an t-àite air an ruigear.
“Bha mo laighe caran trom an uair sin!”
Stick (n) // Laighe-leanailteach, Smachdan (inf. “Little Control”) To stick (v) // A’ leanntainn ri
The concept of landing in a controlled manner, whereby the landing foot or feet hits and “sticks” to one spot without sliding, shuffling or changing position. A “stick” also requires balance. If the jumper tips their weight too far forward or back when landing, they’ll overbalance and tip over. // A’ laighe fo smachd le casan a’ leantainn ris an laighe.
“Abair gun do lean mi ris! Abair smachdan!”
Precision Jump (n) // Leum pongail
A jump from one point to another, with a focus on precise and controlled landing. Precision jumps usually take-off from and land with both feet together. A’ leum bho aon àite gu àite eile, ag amas air landadh gu sgiobalta.
“Tha an leum pongail seo na dheagh dhùbhlan dhomh.”
Running jump (n) // Leum-ruithe
A jump taking off one foot from one point to another, from a running start, and usually landing with both feet. Running jumps are used to jump over larger gaps, as the momentum generated by the run up can be used to jump further. // Leum a ghabhas dèanamh le aon chas bho àite gu àite a’ landadh le dà chas. Tha an leum gu feum airson na faideadan nas motha.
“Chanainn gun rachadh agam air seo a dhèanamh bho bhith nam sheasamh seach mar leum-ruithe.
Stride (n) // Ceum mòr, sìnteag (inf. “little stretch”) Stride (v) // a’ dèanamh ceum mhòir
A jump taking off one foot and landing on the other, often repeated in succession as a continuous movement. // Leum a tha na ghluasad mòr bho aon chas gu cas eile.
“Tha na sìnteagan seo gu math dòigheil.”
Ball of the foot (n) // Ubhal bonn na coise, an t-ubhal (inf.“The Apple”)
The section of the foot under the largest knuckle of the toes, usually the widest part of the foot. The ball of the foot is where we aim to land, and run. // Am pàirt as leathainn den chas fo uillt nan òrdagan. Bidh sinn a’ cleachdadh an t-ubhal air laigh is ruithe.
“Cuimhnichibh gun land sibh air ubhal na coise, seach air an t-sàil”
Light-footed (adj) // Eangarra
An important concept ion parkour – landings and movements that are considered to be “light” are quiet and in most situations maximise the ability of the muscles to absorb shock and impact rather than the joints, thereby reducing the risk of injury and increasing the strength of those muscles. // ’S còir do laighean aotrom a bhith socrach gus an giùlain na feithean seach na h-uillt iad.
“Bu mhath leam a bhith na bu shocraiche air seo.”
Tic-tac (n) // Breaban
When you push off a wall or other roughly vertical surface with one foot in order to generate height or distance away from that object. // Mar a gheibhear astar bho bhalla le bhith a’ leum thuige ’s a’ breabadh air falbh.
“Tha am balla seo math air son breaban.”
VAULTS // LEUMAICHEAN-LÀIMHEan
Vault (n) // Leum-làimhe
A vault is one of the many movements we use to get over or across obstacles, using the hand(s) and feet or other body parts. // ’S e leum-làimhe fear de na gluasadan a chleachdas sinn airson faighinn seachad air rudan.
“Dè an leum as còir dhuinn cleachdadh an seo?”
Step vault/step-through vault (n) // Leum a’ cheuma
Facing an obstacle, place one hand and the opposite foot on top of the obstacle, push through the leg and arm on top to raise the hips high, and step the remaining leg through the hand and foot on top of the obstacle to land safely on the ground on the other side. This can be done from standing, or with a run up. As confidence improves, the vault can become more dynamic, jumping to reach the hand and foot on a higher obstacle than can be reached statically from the ground.// A’ leum thairis air cnap-starra le bhith a’ cleachadh aon làmh is an cas-caochlaidh.
“Bhiodh leum a’ cheuma na bu shàbhailte an seo”
Lazy vault (n) // Leum leisg, Leisgean (inf. “Little Lazy”) Lazy vault (v) // A’ leisgeadh
A way to get over an obstacle by throwing one leg and then the other over the obstacle while maintaining balance gripping the obstacle with one hand (then the other). Maintains a diagonal approach. // A’ faighinn thairis air cnap-starra le bhith a’ tilgeil cas thairis air an toiseach, a’ cumail greim air le aon làmh ‘s an uairsin an làmh eile.
“Cuir leisgean ris a’ chrìoch!”
Kong vault, cat pass (n) // Leum a’ Bhealaich
A face-on vault, where both hands reach the top of the obstacle first, the hips are raised high and the legs are tucked into the chest to bring them over the obstacle as the hands push up. // Leum mu choinneimh a’ chnap-starra nuair a thèid do chasan eadar do dhà ghàirdean a ràinig an cnap-starra an toiseach.
“Tha seo gu math freagarrach airson leum a’ bhealaich”
Reverse vault (n) // Ais-leum-làimhe, Aiseag (inf. “Little Back[wards]”)
A vault beginning with one’s back turned to the obstacles, and then a 180 degree rotation in the air to finish facing “forward” with the obstacle behind you. Some momentum is required to generate the rotation and air time to turn. One hand is used to push on top of the obstacle to assist the rotation and the distance covered. // Leum-làimhe na leth-char air a thòiseachadh le do chùl ris a’ chnap-starra.
“’S e aiseag a tha dhìth orm an seo.”
Turn vault (n) // Leum carach
A vault used to get over an obstacle while remaining close, starting facing the obstacle straight one one side, and finishing facing back towards the obstacle on the other side. The hands begin in a switched grip position (one hand under, one hand over), with the hand gripping over letting go as the body comes over the obstacle to regrip on the other side of the first hand facing the same direction. // Leum-làimhe mu choinneimh a’ chnap-starra air a chur air dòigh le bhith a’ dèanamh leth-char fhad ’s a bhios tu a’ leum ’s a’ cumail greim air a’ chnap-starra
“Tha deagh choltas air leum carach mun leth-slighe”
Dash vault (n) // Deann-leum
A feet-first vault, where the feet clear an obstacle straight and the hands come down behind to push off the obstacle and gain some extra distance. // As dèidh ruith, seo leum air a dhèanamh le do dhà chas an toiseach thairis air cnap-starra le taic bho do làmhan na dhèidh
“An dèanadh tu deann-leum an seo?”
Pop vault (n) // Leum-balla
A dynamic move, beginning with one foot kicking a wall to gain upwards momentum, with both hands pulling on the top of the wall and ending with both feet landing directly on top of, or over a wall. // Leum a thèid thairis air balla le bhith a’ breabadh far am balla le aon chas le dà làmh air a’ mhullach.
“’S toigh leam cho glan ’s a tha an leum-balla sin.”
Speed vault (n) // Leum tarsainneach, tarsan (inf. “little horizontal”)
A progression of the step vault - a running start leads to a jump up. One hand reaches on top of the obstacle as the legs swing out to the opposite side to bring the body more horizontal. The hand on the wall pushes off to bring the body over and the legs clear the wall without touching it. // Leum nuair a bhios aon làmh air a’ chnap-starra is na casan a’ dol thairis ma coinneimh.
“Nì mi tarsan an seo seach leisgean.”
CLIMBING // SREAP
Cat hang (n) // Crochadh-cait, Crochan (inf. “Little Hang”)
A static crouched position, with legs tucked and feet resting on the side of a wall as hands grip the top of the wall. The end position of a cat-leap/arm jump. Crùban le dà chas air balla agus làmhan a’ cumail greim air a’ mhullach.
“Faodaidh sibh tòiseachadh bho chrochan.”
Arm jump/cat leap (n) // Leum a’ Chait
A running or standing jump where the feet aim to hit the side of a wall rather than the top, and instead the arms grip the top of the wall to land. // A’ leum as dèidh ruith air neo bho sheasamh gu crochan.
“Tha leum a’ chait sin annamhor!”
Climb up (n) // Bàrradh Climb-up (v) // A’ bàrradh
A technique to climb up on a wall (or other high obstacle) using the legs to push and arms to pull. // A’ faighinn gu mullach cnap-starra àrd le bhith a’ putadh le casan is a’ tarraing le gàirdean.
“Nach math am bàrradh aca!”
Wall run (n) // Ruith-balla
A technique to get up onto a wall (or other high) obstacle using momentum generated from a run-up. // Dòigh gus siubhal gu uachdar balla no cnap-starra eile.
“Tha ruithean-balla furasta an seo.”
BARS AND SWINGING // SLATAN iS SIÙDAN
Hang (n) // Crochadh Hang (v) // A’ crochadh
Most often from a (e.g. scaffolding) bar or tree - hanging usually means holding onto something only with your hands, with your body below. // A’ cumail greim air rudaigin le do làmhan a-mhàin le do chorp gu h-ìosal.
“Faodaidh sibh sibh fhèin a leigeil a-nuas le bhith a’ crochadh bho rudeigin.”
Swing (n) // Siùdan Swing (v) // A’ siùdanadh
From a hanging position, generating momentum by bringing your feet up and in front of you and then behind you in quick succession. // A’ gluasad le bhith a’ breabadh do chasan air ais ’s air adhart.
“Cleachdaibh ur casan gus tuilleadh lùths a chur nad shiùdan.”
Lache (n) // Tilgeil Lache (v) /// A’ tilgeil
The technique of “jumping” or swinging from a bar to land elsewhere (including catching another bar). // Mar a nìthear siùdan bho chrann tarsainneach le bhith a’ leigeil seachad do ghreim air.
“An do rinn sibh tilgeil an sin?”
Underbar (n) // Leum a’ bheòil, Beàrnadh (inf. “Gapping”) Underbar (v) // A’ beàrnadh
A group of techniques used to get the body through often tight spaces. Underbars can either lead with the feet, like a dash vault. In this instance the hands grab a bar or equivalent above at the end of the movement to push from, rather than pushing off the hands placed flat or on top of an obstacle behind. The other type of under bar involves a switch grip and leading with the head through the small gap in a twisting motion. // Dòigh gus falbh eadar dà rud a tha faisg air a chèile, fear os cionn fear.
“An tèid agad air sin direach a bheàrnadh?” (lit. Can you “gap” that?)
ROLLS, TURNS AND TWISTS // CARAICHEAN
Forward roll (n) // Car-a-mhuiltein chlaon, Claonag (inf. “Little squint”) Forward roll (v) // A’ cur car
Not a gymnastics roll. A parkour roll begins with the hands reaching out, slightly off-centre, to the ground. The head tucks in and the next contact point should be the back of the opposite shoulder to the side the hands have landed. The line of contact on the ground should be diagonal from this shoulder to the opposite hit, minimising the amount of time any part of the spine is in contact with the ground. Legs should stay tucked so that the roll can finish by standing, stepping or running in a continuous motion. // Nì sinn an car againn fhèin le bhith a’ cur na làmhan nas fhaide a-mach gu aon taobh is na gualainn-chaochlaidh a’ bualadh ris an làr.
“Chan eil caraichean Pàrcair cho trom air a’ chorp!”
Backward roll (n) // Ais-char-a-mhuiltein chlaon, Ais-chlaonag (inf. “Little reverse squint”) Backward roll (v) // Ais-Char Claon
As above, but in reverse. // Mar a tha an car gu h-àrd, ach air ais.
“Thèid claonagan a chur an sàs ann an cuairt gu dòigheil.”
Dive roll (n) // Car na Drochaid, Drochaid (inf. “Bridge”)
An elongated version of the forward parkour roll, used to cover a further distance or overcome an obstacle. Rather than crouching straight to the ground, a dive roll begins with a push from the legs and a much further reach with the arms to the desired contact point. // Car-a-mhuiltein air fhàgail nas fhaide airson faighinn seachad air cnap-starra.
“Saoil an tèid agam air drochaid a dhèanamh thairis air seo seach leum-làimhe a chleachdadh?”
Negative/s (n) // Ais-ghluasad
The opposite of another movement - used often in conditioning to build strength through part of a movement where there is weakness. // Caochladh gluasad sam bith gus na tha lag a neartachadh.
“Nì mi ais-ghluasadan airson mo chuid neart-sreip a leasachadh.”
180 (n) // Leth-char
Any half-turn in parkour, for example “180 precisions”. Leth-thionndadh sam bith.
“Am faca sibh an leth-char a bha sin?”
Twist (n) // Car Twist (v) // Cuir car
Turning the body (or any part of the body) to execute a particular movement. // A’ tionndadh a’ chuirp gus gluasad sam bith a dhèanamh.
“Feumaidh sibh car a dhèanamh airson faighinn tron bheàrn tha sin.”
TO FINISH WITH // MU DHÈIREADH
Bail (fall) (n) // Brochan
Any movement where control is lost and the movement is not completed successfully. // Gluasad sam bith nuair a chailleas tu smachd air gun a bhith a’ cur crìoch air.
“Cha do rinn mi brochan ro dhona an sin.”
Cool-down (n) // Fuarachadh
A period of (usually static) stretches and mindful reviewing of the training session. // Greis air a cur seachad a’ sìneadh ’s a’ meòrachadh air a’ phàircear
“Tha mi car dearmadach a thaobh fuarachadh agus an uairsin tha na fèithean agam air an goirteachadh”
Stretch (n) // Sìneadh Stretch (v) // Sìn
Elongating the muscles. In the case of a cool-down, this is designed to minimise risk of soreness by countering the muscle contraction required to generate the power needed for many parkour movements. // A’ tarraing air na feithean gus am fàgail fuasgailte.
“Nì sìneadh feum mhòr às dèidh cuairt fhada.”
Le taic bho Bhòrd na Gàidhlig // With support from Bòrd na Gàidhlig
Our thanks go to:
Bòrd na Gàidhlig for providing funding for the project;
Our Gaelic experts Àdhamh Ó Broin and Dòmhnall Caimbeul for translation services and video/audio content;
Access Parkour for providing the lesson plan and parkour images;
Melbourne in Motion for providing parkour images and videos;
Kel Glaister who put Eden in touch with us;
And of course Eden herself for having this brilliant idea in the first place!
Ar taing do:
Bhòrd na Gàidhlig airson an iomairt seo a mhaoineachadh;
Ar cuid eòlaichean Àdhamh Ó Broin is Domhnall Caimbeul airson eadar-theangachadh is clàran-deilbh/fuaime;
Access Parkour airson an tionnsgail-leasain is dealbhan de phàrcair;
Melbourne in Motion airson dealbhan is bhidiothan de phàrcair;
Kel Glaister a chuir Eden thugainn;
Eden fhèin aig an robh am beachd sònraichte bha seo!