Ai
The sound of ai is either made up of the sounds of both the vowels, or like that of the former.
1. Made up of (1) a and (1) i: the a long, the i short; as, fàidh a prophet; the a short, the i short; as, claidheamh a sword.
2. Made up of (2) a and (1) i: the a long, the i short; as, saighde arrows.
Before a Lingual or a Palatal, not quiescent, the i often loses its sound, and only serves to qualify the sound of the following consonant9; hence,
3. Like (1) a alone: long, as, fàisg squeeze, fàilte salutation; short, as, glaic a hollow, tais soft.
4. Like (2) a alone: short, as, airm arms, gairm a call.