Essential beginner phrases in Irish Gaelic (Gaeilge), organized into categories. Each includes the Irish phrase, a simple phonetic pronunciation guide (approximate), and the English translation.
| Irish Gaelic | Pronunciation (approx.) | English |
|---|---|---|
| Dia dhuit | DEE-a ghwit | Hello (singular) |
| Dia dhaoibh | DEE-a jeev | Hello (plural) |
| Conas tá tú? | KUN-us TAW too? | How are you? (singular) |
| Conas tá sibh? | KUN-us TAW shiv? | How are you? (plural) |
| Tá mé go maith | Taw may guh mah | I'm good |
| Slán | Slawn | Goodbye (to someone staying) |
| Slán leat | Slawn lat | Goodbye (to someone leaving) |
| Céad míle fáilte | KAYD MEE-leh FAWL-teh | A hundred thousand welcomes |
| Cad is ainm duit? | Kad is AN-im dit? | What is your name? |
| Is mise [name] | Iss MISH-uh [name] | My name is [name] |
| Go raibh maith agat | Guh rev mah ah-GUT | Thank you |
| Tá fáilte romhat | Taw FAWL-chuh ROH-ut | You're welcome |
| Leithscéal | LEH-shkayl | Excuse me / Sorry |
| Gabh mo leithscéal | Gow muh LEH-shkayl | I'm sorry (more formal) |
| Sláinte! | SLAWN-chuh | Cheers! / Health! (toast) |
| Is maith liom... | Iss mah lyum... | I like... |
| Ní maith liom... | Nee mah lyum... | I don't like... |
| Tá ocras orm | Taw OH-krus or-um | I'm hungry |
| Tá tart orm | Taw tart or-um | I'm thirsty |
| Cá bhfuil...? | Kaw will...? | Where is...? |
| Tuigim | TIG-im | I understand |
| Ní thuigim | Nee HIG-im | I don't understand |
| Maith go leor | Mah guh lor | Good enough / Okay |
| a haon | uh HAYN | 1 |
| a dó | uh DOH | 2 |
| a trí | uh TREE | 3 |
| a ceathair | uh KA-her | 4 |
| a cúig | uh KOO-ig | 5 |
| a sé | uh SHAY | 6 |
| a seacht | uh SHAKT | 7 |
| a hocht | uh HUKHT | 8 |
| a naoi | uh NEE | 9 |
| a deich | uh DEH | 10 |
These phrases are a great starting point for beginners. Pronunciation can vary by dialect (Ulster, Connacht, Munster), but the guides above are general and widely understood.
"Ag deireadh thiar thall" nó "i ndeireadh thiar thall" ... meaning: "At the end of the day" or "at long last"
"Ag bogadh ar aghaidh" ... meaning: "Going forward"
"Idir an dá linn, ..." ... meaning: "In the meantime, ..."
A nice way in Irish to end your emails: "Le dea mhéin" = "With kind regards"
"Ná bíodh lagmhisneach ort ..." ... meaning: "Don't be discouraged ..."
Caithfidh mé a admháil gur tháinig sé aniar aduaidh orm. = I must admit I was surprised.
Comhthreormhaireacht = alignment, in agreement with
Here is a nice example of alliteration in Gaelic (Gaeilge), which I picked it up in an article in the Irish Times (January 2009). This type of alliteration is very common in Irish (Gaeilge):
"…. Focail áirithe nach féidir leat iad a rá; smaointe fírinneacha ar muca magadh meige iad; siúicre á leathadh ar an bhfírinne shearbh …."
This is my translation of it in English:
"… Certain words you cannot say; they are truthful thoughts on mocking bleating pigs; sugar that is spread on the cutting truth …"
Faigheann foighid fortacht = "patience is rewarded"
.