Pronounce an “s” near “a”, “o”, or “u” like the American sound, with lips relaxed. This is the broad “s” sound. Do not tense the lips as in the English sound. Practice on:

sá, só, sú, saor (say*r), saoi (see), samhradh (SOU-ruh), saibhir (SEYE-vir), sac (sahk), sabháil (suh-VWAW*-il), slat (slaht), smál (smaw*l), smaoineamh (SMWEEN-uhv), smuta (SMUT-uh), snas (snahs), spórt (spohrt), Spáinn (SPAW*-in), spraoi (spree), stad (stahd), strapa (STRAH-puh), stró (stroh).

Pronounce an Irish “s” as (sh) when it is next to an “e” or an “i”, and also when “sc”, “sl”, “sn”, or “st” are next to the “e” or “i”. Examples: sé, sí, sean (shan), seift (sheft), sin, scéal (shkay*l), slí (shlee), sneachta (SHNAHK*-tuh), stíl (shteel), leisce (LESH-ke), uaisle (WISH-le), misniúil (mish-NYOO-il), éisteacht (AY*SH-tyahk*t).

If the combinations “sm”, “sp”, “sr”, or “str” are next to “e” or “i”, pronounce the “s” as (s), the broad sound described above. Memorize these examples: smig (smig), chin; spéir (spay*r), sky; srian (SREE-uhn), bridle; stríoc (streek), streak, stripe.

“is” is an exception, too. Pronounce it (is), never (ish) or (iz). Irish has no (z) sound.

In the future tense, the saorbhriathar (say*r-VREE-huhr) or free form expresses ideas such as “It will be put on the table” or “Someone will put it on the table”. In Irish, this is:

Cuirfear ar an mbord é (KIR-fuhr er un MOHRD ay*). Note that the “f” is pronounced (f) here. In other future forms, you pronounce it (h), as in “Cuirfidh mé (KIR-hee may*) ar an mbord é”; I will place it on the table.

The rest of the saorbhriathar forms in the future are:

Ní chuirfear (K*IR-fuhr) ar an mbord é.

An gcuirfear (un GIR-fuhr) ar an mbord é?

Nach gcuirfear (nach* GIR-fuhr) ar an mbord é?

“Ní” aspirates here, and “an” and “nach” eclipse.

For a two-syllabled second-conjunction verb, such as “ceannaigh” (KAN-ee), buy, the future forms are:

Ceannófar é (kan-OH-fuhr ay*), it will be bought.

Ní cheannófar é (nee hyan-OH-fuhr ay*), it will not be bought.

An gceannófar é? (un gyan-OH-fuhr ay*), will it be bought?

Nach gceannófar é? (nahk* gyan-OH-fuhr ay*), won’t someone buy it?

Others from this group:

Osclófar é (ohsk-LOH-fuhr ay*), someone will open it.

Cosnófar é (kuhs-NOH-fuhr ay*), it will be defended.

Freagrófar é (frag-ROH-fuhr ay*), someone will answer it.

Baileofar é (bahl-YOH-fuhr ay*), someone will collect it.

Inseofar dó é (in-SHOH-fuhr doh ay*), it will be told to him.

Notice that an extra “e” is inserted sometimes. This makes spelling consistent, so that you know whether a letter gets its broad or slender sound. For example, without the “e” to help, you would not know whether “insófar” was (in-SOH-fuhr) or (in-SHOH-fuhr).

With the examples:

An gcuirfear an mála sa charr? (un GIR-fuhr un MAW*-lah suh K*AHR), Will the bag be put into the car? Ní chuirfear an mála sa charr, The bag won’t be put into the car. Nach gcuirfear an mála sa charr? Cuirfear an mála sa charr.

Go through progressive drills with these word groups:

Bris (brish), break; an cupán ar an urlár, the cup on the floor.

Feic (fek), see; an cailín sin amárach (uh-MAW*-rahk*), that girl tomorrow.

Pós (pohs), marry; Seán le Síle (SHEE-luh).

Críochnaigh (KREE-uhk*-nee), finish; an obair seo, this work.

Mínigh (MEEN-ee), explain; an fhadhb (eyeb), the problem.

An mbrisfear an cupán ar an urlár? Ní bhrisfear ___. Nach mbrisfearr ___? Brisfear ___.

An bhfeicfear (VEK-fuhr) ___? Ní fheicfear (nee EK-fuhr) ___. Nach bhfeicfear ___? Feicfear ___.

An gcríochnófar (greek*-NOH-fuhr) ___? Ní chríochnófar ___. Nach gcríochnófar ___? Críochnófar ___.

An míneofar ___? Ní mhíneofar (veen-YOH-fuhr) ___. Nach míneofar ___? Míneofar ___.

(Success appears imminent, as the modified aerial is emplaced.)

Bláthnaid (BLAW*-nid): Cuirfear an poll tríd an doras go luath (KIR-fuhr un poul treed un DUH-ruhs goh LOO-uh). The hole will be put through the door soon.

Pól (pohl): Tá sé críochnaithe anois (KREE-uhk*-nuh-he uh-NISH). It’s finished now. Tabhair dom an tsreang mhiotail (TOO-ir duhm un trang VI-til), más é do thoil é (MAW* shay* duh HIL ay*). Give me the metal wire, please.

Bláthnaid: Seo dhuit, a Phóil (shuh git, uh FOH-il). Sáigh amach í trí pholl an dorais (SAW*-ee uh-MAHK* ee tree foul un DUH-rish). Here it is, Paul. Stick it out through the door-hole.

Pól: Anois, tá orainn an tsreang a chrochadh ar thaobh an fhoirgnimh seo (uh-NISH, taw* OH-rin un trang uh K*ROHK*-uh er HAY*V un IR-gi-niv shuh). Now, we have to hang the wire on the side of this building.

Bláthnaid: Buíochas le Dia. Craolfar (KRAY*L-fuhr) clár álainn anocht (klaw*r AW*-lin uh-NOHK*T). Thank heaven. A beautiful program will be broadcast tonight.