Irish Language

• The Irish Language
• Basic Irish Phrases
• Irish Accents, Slang, Sayings and Nouns
• Irish Language Resources

The Irish Language

The Irish language, known as ‘Irish’ when speaking in English or ‘Gaeilge’ if speaking in Irish, is originally a Celtic language. Many people mistakenly refer to it using the general term ‘Gaelic’, but Gaelic can refer to either the Scottish Gaelic language or the Irish Gaelic language, so you need to use the term ‘Irish language’. However, if an Irish person is speaking to someone from another country, they may refer to it as ‘Irish Gaelic’, but only to try and make it clear what they mean.

Irish used to be the predominant language amongst the Irish, but its decline began during the English rule in the seventeenth century. The Irish language was further devastated during the Great Famine of 1845-52, where Ireland lost up to 25% of its population to emigration and death.

By the end of the British rule, less that 15% of the Irish population spoke the language. Since then Irish speakers have been a minority, but much effort has been made to preserve and promote the language. For example, it is taught in schools and there is also Irish speaking Radio and TV. Driving around Ireland, you will also see that most signs are bilingual and written in both Irish and English.

Although people speak English in Ireland, there are a number of regional communities where Irish is the main language spoken. These communities are collectively known as Gaeltacht or in plural as Gaeltachtaí. The Gaeltacht covers extensive parts of counties Donegal, Mayo, Galway and Kerry, parts of counties Cork, Meath and Waterford and six populated offshore islands.

I highly recommend that you take the time to travel to these Gaeltacht regions, as they are in some of Ireland’s most beautiful areas. Try learning a few words in Irish so that you can connect with the locals.

Here’s an interesting video exploring the history of the Irish language.

Basic Irish Phrases

To get you started, here are some basic Irish phrases.

• Hello Dia dhuit (DEE-a GWIT) This translates as ‘God be with you’
• The response to this greeting is Dia is Muire dhuit (DEE-a iSS MWIRR-a Gwit) which translates as God and Mary be with you
• How are you? Conas atá tú? (CUNN-us a-TAW too?)
• I’m well Táim go maith (TAW’m guh MAH)
• What is your name? Cad is ainm duit? (COD iss ANNim ditch?)
• My name is ______  is ainm dom (_____ iss annim dum)
• Nice to meet you Deas ag bualadh leat (JAHSS egg BOO-loo lyaht)
• Please Le do thoil (singular)/Le bhur dtoil (plural) (LE do HULL/LE wur DULL)
• Thank you/you (pl.) Go raibh maith agat/agaibh (GUH ROH MAH ug-ut/ug-iv)
• You’re welcome (in response to ‘thank you’) Go ndéanaí mhaith duit/daoibh (singular/plural) (Goh nyae-nee why ditch/dee-iv)
• Yes ‘Sea (SHAA) No Ní hea (Nee haa) There is no exact translation for yes and no in Irish – these words mean ‘it is’. People usually use the question verb again in their replies, in the positive or negative, in the same tense, voice and person as the question was asked.
• Excuse me Gabh mo leithscéal (Goh mah lesh-kyale)
• I’m sorry Tá brón orm (TAW BROHN urr-im)
• Goodbye Slán (Slawn)
• I can’t speak Irish [well] Níl Gaeilge [mhaith] agam (neel GWAYL-geh [why] ug-um)
• Do you speak English? An bhfuil Béarla agat? (ahn will BAYR-la ug-ut?)
• Good morning Maidin maith (may-jin MY)
• Good evening Tráthnóna maith (Trah-no-nuh why)
• Good night Oíche mhaith (EE-hah why)
• I don’t understand Ní thuigim (NEE HIGG-im)
• Where is the toilet? Cá bhfuil an leithreas? (CAW will ahn LEH-HER-as?)

Irish Accents, Slang, Sayings and Nouns

Whilst travelling around Ireland, you will notice that the Irish accent varies a lot between regions, especially country versus city areas. This can be the butt of many jokes amongst the Irish people. (As I’m sure this also happens within your own country with varying dialects and accents).

To get a taste of the various Irish accents, here’s a fun video, the ‘Foreigners Guide to Irish Accents’

There are thousands of slang words and sayings used in Ireland, so much so that there are whole websites devoted to it. As well as Irish wide terms, there are also many regional colloquialism. For a full list of Irish slang, read For Focal Sake!: A 32 County Guide to Irish Slang.

Some of my favourite ones that I have come across while living in Ireland are:

• Acting the Maggot Fooling and messing around/ behaving like a fool. You can refer to someone or something as acting the maggot.
• Craic Pronounced ‘crack’, it means what’s happening/what’s up/what’s the gossip? e.g. “What’s/how’s the craic?”
• Eejit A fool e.g. “He’s an eejit”
• Feck Although it sounds like the swear word ‘fuck’, it is a more socially acceptable version and is openly used in it’s place e.g. “Feck it/Feck off”
• Grand Used in place of good/fine/great. e.g. “It’ll be/that’ll be grand”
• Plastered Very drunk e.g. “I am/was plastered”
• Puss Sulky face. “Take that puss of ya”
• Shite Bad quality. e.g. “It’s a pile of shite”
• Wrecked Tired – usually after a big night out e.g. “I’m wrecked”

What they don’t say…

• Top of the morning to you – Despite popular belief by the outside world, the Irish do not use this saying. In fact they are quite tired of hearing this from tourists, so I recommend avoid mentioning it altogether!

Common Irish Nouns

Knowing some of the regularly used nouns will prevent you from looking so confused during a conversation:

• Bulmers Irish cider, re-branded as ‘Magners’ abroad.
• Croker Croke Park in Dublin (the main Irish sports stadium)
• Football Soccer
• GAA Gaelic Athletics Association is the organisation responsible for Irish sport. Sometimes referred to as ‘Gah’ instead of the G.A.A.
• Gaelic Football A type of Irish sport
• Handball A type of Irish sport
• Hot press The cupboard that the hot water heater the ‘immersion’ is kept in
• Hurling A type of Irish sport
• Immersion A type of water heating system commonly used in Ireland
• Jacks Toilet
• Minerals Soft drinks
• Petrol and Diesel Vehicle fuel (Americans gas). If hiring a car make sure you check whether it is petrol or diesel before filling it up.
• Rounders A type of Irish sport
• Tayto Common Irish brand of crisps (chips).
• The press Cupboard (don’t get it confused with the ‘hot press’).

Irish Language Resources

• Foras na Gaeilge is responsible for the promotion of the Irish language in Ireland. There is an English language option on the top right of their site.
• Want to know how to pronounce an Irish word or phrase? Then use abair.ie, a handy Irish language text to speech synthesis system which was developed by Trinity College.
• Spoken World: A Complete Course for Beginners is available in both book and audio. It’s a simple and effective introduction to Irish Gaelic that teaches everything one needs to speak, understand, read, and write in Irish Gaelic. This program assumes no background in the language, and it explains each new concept clearly with plenty of examples, making it ideal for beginners.
• Easy Learning Irish Dictionary Designed for learners of Irish, whether you are learning at school or in an evening class. It also covers everyday Irish.
• Irish Language and Culture This lighthearted book teaches Irish ‘versions’ of English words and phrases but also features a special section on Irish Gaelic. Become conversant with the Irish way of speaking English with this humorous read.
• A History of the Irish Language: From the Norman Invasion to Independence by Aidan Doyle Aidan Doyle traces the history of the Irish language from the time of the Norman invasion at the end of the 12th century to independence in 1922, combining political, cultural, and linguistic history. If you’re interested in learning more about the history of the Irish language, then this book is a great resource.

Free Online Introductory Irish Language Courses

• Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ) is the National Public Broadcaster for Ireland. On the RTÉ website they provide a FREE online Irish language course.
• There are a number of Irish language lesson series on Youtube.
• The Irish newspaper, the Irish Independent has published a collection of FREE MP3 and PDF Irish language resources.

Irish Language Forums

• Daltaí na Gaeilge promotes and teaches the Irish language. They also host an Irish language forum, and provide resources and information about Irish language classes around the world.

Irish Language TV shows

• RTÉ the Irish National broadcaster has a TV channel TG4 that broadcasts TV shows in the Irish language, from news and current affairs to sports and drama.

Irish Language Radio Stations

There are a number of Irish language radio stations broadcast around Ireland. You can listen to them via your radio, TV, phone or computer. They also have podcasts.

• Raidió na Gaeltachta (RnaG) RTÉ the Irish National broadcaster has an Irish language radio station.
• Anocht FM is a youth radio station that broadcasts between 9pm and 1am weekdays on the same frequency as RnaG.
• Raidió Rí-Rá is growing in popularity and plays chart music for young people.
• Raidió na Life is a Dublin based Irish language radio station. There is an English language option on the top right of their website.