Adapted from www.gaelicmatters.com. See also 350 Phrases and Irish Words.
Each Irish phrase is presented in bold, followed by rough pronunciation and roughly literal meaning in italics and the conversational meaning in normal roman type.
Quick prononciation tip: d with e or i (slender) is often pronounced like ‘j’; with a, o, or u (broad) generally like hard ‘th’. Slender t is often pronounced like ‘ch’; broad t generally like soft ‘th’.
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Día dhuit Dee-ah gwit God to you Hello Día’s Muire dhuit Dee-us Mwir-eh gwit God and Mary to you Hello in response to ‘Dia dhuit’ Cad is ainm duit? Cod iss anim dit? What is [the] name to you? What is your name? Seán is ainm dom Seán iss anim dum Seán is [the] name to me My name is Seán Conas atá tú? Kun-ass ’taw too? How are you? Cén chaoi a bhfuil tú? Kay’n khwee a will tu? What way are you? How are you? (Connacht dialect) Tá mé go maith Taw may guh mah I am well Go raibh maith agat Gurreh ma-ha-gut May there may be good at you Thanks Tá fáilte romhat Taw fall-te row-at There is a welcome before you You’re welcome (response to thanks and a greeting) Más é do thoil é Maws ay duh holl ay If it is your will Please Níl a fhios agam Neel iss a-gum The knowledge is not at me I don’t know Ní thuigim Nee hig-im I don’t understand Gabh mo leithscéal Guh muh leh-shkale Accept my excuse Excuse me / Pardon me Fan go fóill Fan guh foal Wait a bit An ndéir tú liom é? Un nyair tu lum eh? Do you say to me it? You don’t say Slán leat Slawn lat Health/safety with you Goodbye Oíche mhaith dhuit Ee-huh wah gwit Night good to you Good night Slán go fóill Slawn guh foal Health/safety for now See you later / Bye for now Dún an doras Doon un dur-ass Close the door Buíochas le Dia Bweekhus leh dee-uh Thank God Sláinte Slawntchuh Health Cheers (toast) Conas atá an craic? Kunnas a-taw un crack? How’s the craic/fun? What’s up? |
Cad as dhuit? Cud us gwit? Where are you from? Is as na Stáit Aontaithe mé Iss oss nah Stawt Ane-tih-hah may It is out of the States United me I am from the United States Is múinteoir/macléinn/dlídóir/Éireannach mé Iss moontore/mak-lane/dleedore/Airenokh may Is a teacher / student / lawyer / Irish person me I am a teacher / student / lawyer / Irish person Abair arís é / Abair é sin arís Ah-bur areesh ay / Ah-bur ay shin areesh Say again it / Say that again Say it again / Say that again Maith thú / Go maith Mah hoo / Guh mah Good to you / Well Well done / OK Tá/Níl áthas/fearg/ocras/tart/brón/eagla/tuirse/díoma/náire/imní/amhras/ionadh orm/ort/air/uirthi/orainn/oraibh/orthu Taw/Neel aw-hass/far-ig/uk-rass/tort/brone/og-la/teer-sha/dee’ma/nawra/imnee/owrus/oona orum/ort/err/err-hee/oreen/orev/orhoo There is/isn’t happiness/anger/hunger/thirst/sadness/anger/fatigue/disappointment/shame/anxiety/doubt/surprise on me/you/him/her/us/ye/them I(/etc.) am/not happy/angry/hungry/thirsty/sad/angry/tired/disappointed/ashamed/anxious/doubtful/suprised Tá/Níl sé fuar / te / gaofar / ag cur báistí / ag cur sneachta Taw/Neel shay foor / teh / gway-fer / egg kur baw-shtee / egg kur shnakh-tah It is/isn’t cold / hot / windy / putting rain / putting snow It is/isn’t cold/hot/windy/raining/snowing Is/Ní maith/fearr/féidir liom/leat/leis/léi/linn/libh/leo é Iss/Nee mah/fahr/fayder lum/lat/lesh/lay-ee/ling/liv/loh ay Good/preference/ability is/isn’t with me/you/him/her/us/ye/them I(/etc.)/don’t like/prefer/can it Ar mhaith leat tae? Err wah lat tay? Would tea be good with you? Would you like some tea? Ba/Níor mhaith liom tae Buh/Neer wah lum tay Tea would/wouldn’t be good with me I would/wouldn’t like some tea Cad ba mhaith leat? Kud ba wah lat? What would be good with you? What would you like? Cad a bfhearr leat? Kud a bar lat? What would be the preference with you? What would you like? An mbeidh tae agat? On mey tey agut? Will tea be with you? Will you have some tea? Is cuma liom Iss cummah lum It’s the same with meI don’t mind/care Ná bac leis Naw bak lesh Don’t bother with itNever mind Beidh/Ní bheidh tae agam. Beg / Nee veg tey agum. Tea will/won’t be with me. I will/won’t have some tea. Is/Ní doigh/dearbh liom Iss/Nee doy/darv lum It/Not expects / is certain with me I/not think so / am certain Tá súil agam Taw sool agum I have an eye I hope so An bhfuil Gaeilge agat? On will Gail-geh a-gut? Is there Gaelic at you? Do you speak Gaelic/Irish? Beagáinín byug-awn-een A small bit A little Tá cúpla focal agam Taw koop-la fuk-el a-gum There are a couple of words at me I speak a little Irish |