Welcome to the Manx Course

Welcome to the Manx Course!

Manx (or: Gaelg) is a Gaelic language, part of the Celtic language family. That means it sounds and works very differently from languages you probably already know, like English, French, or Spanish. And that’s exactly what makes it exciting: you’re stepping into a whole new linguistic world.

Manx is the native language of the Isle of Man (Ellan Vannin), located in the Irish Sea between Ireland and England. For centuries it was the everyday language of the island’s people, but during the 19th and 20th centuries it gradually gave way to English. By the mid-20th century, the language seemed on the verge of extinction.

But the story of Manx is not one of loss—it’s a story of revival. Thanks to the dedication of linguists, volunteers, schools, and especially the islanders themselves, Manx began making a comeback in the 1970s. Today, children learn it in schools, you’ll see bilingual street signs, and there’s a small but steadily growing community of speakers.

Why learn Manx?

• Because you’ll be part of a living language preservation project: your effort helps keep a nearly lost culture alive.
• Because it offers a unique window into the Celtic languages, which work in ways quite different from what you may be used to.
• And simply: because it’s fun and surprising to explore new sounds, expressions, and ways of thinking.

In this course, we’ll guide you step by step. You’ll learn how to greet people, say where you live, express likes and dislikes, and gradually discover the logic that underlies this remarkable language. Furthermore, we're going on a small cultural journey, in which we get more familiar with the rich culture and history that's deeply tied to the Manx language.

Remember: learning a new language is challenging, especially at the start. The first lessons may feel tough, but once your brain gets used to it, things will gradually become easier.