Bunús na Gaeilge - Basic Irish Language

There is no other way to revive Irish than for a crowd of people to spread it.
- Douglas Hyde

Note: The spellings and pronunciations used are based on Aideen's own natural use of Connemara Irish but they have been kept simple, so as to be understood where there are differences in the language.
For example, the word 'feicfidh' is used only in Connemara Irish; in Leinster, Ulster and Munster the word is 'cífidh'. There are two pronunciations; Leinster/Munster - kee-fee; Ulster - chee-fee.

The biggest problem for people whose native language is English is that the soft 't' and 'd' are in Irish, but not in English; it's difficult to 'reproduce' them in writing. Where I use 'th' and 'dh' here, they are best achieved by putting your tongue gently behind your front upper teeth."

Click here for our words & phrases Index.

Lesson #30 - Spring Cleaning

We now have a lesson with appropriate words for all those chores we love to hate. As always, we are indebted to Aideen, our native speaker, for translations and pronunciations; and also for correcting us when we make a faux pas as in the word 'immaculate'. In Ireland this is reserved for the Blessed Virgin. So, she insists that we settle for spotless!

Phrase: Spring Cleaning
Irish: Glanadh an earraigh
Pronunciation: glahn-ah on ahr-ee

Word: Clean
Irish: glan
Pronunciation: glahn

Word: Wash or launder
Irish: ní
Pronunciation: nee

Word: Polish or shine
Irish: snas
Pronunciation: snahs

Word: Sweep or broom
Irish: scuaib
Pronunciation: skoob

Word: Dust
Irish: deannach or smúit
Pronunciation: djahn-ukh or smoo-ith

Word: Dustcloth (dust rag)
Irish: ceirt deannaigh
Pronunciation: kertch djahn-ee

Word: Scrub
Irish: sciúr
Pronunciation shkeewr

Word: Mop
Irish: mapa
Pronunciation: mop-ah

Phrase: Vacuum-cleaner
Irish: folúsghlantóir
Pronunciation: ful-oos-glahn-thoh-ir

Word: Soap
Irish: galúnach
Pronunciation: gahl-oon-ukh

Word: Sponge
Irish: spúinse
Pronunciation: spoon-sheh

Word: Scour
Irish: sciúradh
Pronunciation: skew-rah

Word: Tidy
Irish: slachtmhar
Pronunciation: slahkth-wur

Word: Spotless
Irish: gan smál
Pronunciation: gon small

Word: Wax
Irish: céir
Pronunciation: kay-ir

Phrase: Paper Towels
Irish: tuallaí páipéir
Pronunciation: thoo-all-ee paw-payr

Phrase: Help me to turn the mattresses.
Irish: Tabhair cabhair dom na tochtaí a iompair.
Pronunciation: thohr cowr dhum nah thuk-thee ah um-purr

Phrase: Two of us will be needed to wash all the windows.
Irish: Beidh beirt againn ag teastáil na fuinneoga uilig a ní.
Pronunciation: bye berch ah-ginn egg thas-thaw-il nah fwinn-yoga ill-ig ah nee

Phrase: The oven is very dirty.
Irish: Tá salach uafásach ar an oigheann.
Pronunciation: thaw sah-lakh oo-faws-ukh err on eye-un

Phrase: Put wax on the downstairs floors.
Irish: Cuir céir ar na h-urláir thíos staighre.
Pronunciation: kwirr kay-ir err nah hur-law-ir hees sthye-reh

Phrase: Give all the furniture a good polishing.
Irish: Cuir snas mhaith ar an dtroscán go léir.
Pronunciation: kwirr snahs wye err on druhs-kawn guh lay-ir

Phrase: Put shampoo powder for the rugs on the shopping (marketing) list. Irish: Cuir púdar foltfholchadh ar an iosta siopadóireachta.
Pronunciation: kwirr poo-dhahr fulth-ull-khah err on liss-thah shup-ah-dhor-ukh-thah

Phrase: I've sent the bedroom curtains to the laundry.
Irish: Táim tar éis na cuirtíní óna seomraí leapa a chur ag an dteach níocháin.
Pronunciation: thaw-im thahr aysh nah kut-chee-nee oh-nah shohm-ree lah-pah ah khurr egg on dtjokh nee-uh-khaw-in

Phrase: We must clean out the closets in every room.
Irish: Ní mór dúinn na h-almóir in ngach seomra a ghlanadh.
Pronunciation: nee mohr dhoo-in nah hahl-moh-ir i ngahkh shohm-rah ah ghlahn-ah

Phrase: The time has come to put away the Winter clothes.*
Irish: Tá an t-am tagtha éadaí an Gheimhridh a chur ar leataobh.
Pronunciation: thaw on thahm thah-gah ay-dhee on yeev-ree ah khur err lah-theev

*A word of caution: According to Bridget’s mother “you should never cast a clout until May is out!”


Lesson #31 Saint Patrick's Day
Learn how to say happy St. Patrick’s Day in irish and many other words and phrases related to the happiest day in the irish calendar, ie: whatever we're given up for Lent we get a special dispensation to dispense with the austerities!

Phrase: St Patrick's Day
Irish: Lá Fhéile Pádraig or Lá 'le Pádraig
Pronunciation: law ay-leh paw-rig or law leh paw-rig
Note: The first is used in writing, the second in conversation, literally 'Patrick's Festival Day'.

Word: Saint
Irish: Naomh
Pronunciation: neeve

Word: Patrick
Irish: Pádraig
Pronunciation: paw dhrig

Word: March
Irish: Márta
Pronunciation: mawr-thah

Word: 17th
Irish: an seachtú lá déag
Pronunciation: on shokh-thoo law djayg

Word: Shamrock
Irish: Seamróg
Pronunciation: sham-rohg

Word: Parade
Irish: Paráid
Pronunciation: pah-raw-idh

Word: Float
Irish: Taispeántas
Pronunciation: thash-pawn-thus

Word: Band
Irish: Banna
Pronunciation: bah-nah

Phrase: Military Band
Irish: banna míleata
Pronunciation: bah-nah mee-leh-thah

Phrase: Brass Band
Irish: banna práis
Pronunciation: bah-nah praw-ish

Phrase: Pipe Band
Irish: banna píoba
Phrase: bah-nah pee-bah

Word: Celebration
Irish: ceiliúradh
Pronunciation: kell-oor-ah

Word: Crowds
Irish: slua
Pronunciation: sloo-ah

Phrase: Happy St. Patrick's Day (to you singular/plural)
Irish: Lá Fhéile Pádraig Shona dhuit/dhaoibh or Lá le Pádraig dhuit/dhaoibh
Pronunciation: law ay-leh paw-drig hun-ah gwitch/yeeve or law leh paw-dhrig hun-ah gwitch/yeeve

Phrase: Are you going to the parade?
Irish: A' mbeidh tú ag an bpáraid?
Pronunciation: ah my thoo egg on bah-raw-idh?

Phrase: I will be marching in the parade
Irish: Beidh mé ag máirseáil sa pharáid
Pronunciation: bye may egg mawr-shaw-il sa fah-raw-idh

Phrase: I hope the weather will be fair (for us)
Irish: Ta súil agam go mbeidh aimsear soinneann againn
Pronunciation: thaw soo-il ah-gum guh my am-shir sun-inn ah-ginn


For More Irish words & phrases please click here: Irish Index

Image: Gaeilge Beo from All Posters and Prints.