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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 34 - Eating Out - words and phrases for food and drinks away from home.
With tourist season now well on its way, we thought it would be fun to explore how one might say typical expressions related to dining out in Irish. If you're planning a trip, don't worry about actually having to use the following. The chances are excellent that if you tried, you just might get a very strange look from your server! Given the number of young people who go to work in Ireland during the 'high season', that cute red-headed waitress with the freckles just might be from Brussels! As with many of our basic lessons, our purpose for including this one is so you can get a feeling for the cadence and rhythm of the language. One exception: learning the phrase, "I'll buy this round" could be very useful and make you very popular in a Gaeltacht pub!
Phrase: Food and Drinks - Out (away from home)
Irish: Bia agus Dí - as baile
Pronunciation: bee-ah ah-gus djee - oss bah-lieh
Word: Restaurant
Irish: proinnteach
Pronunciation: prinn-tshokh
Word: Cafe
Irish: caifé
Pronunciation: cah-fay
Word: Hotel
Irish: óstán
Pronunciation: ohs-thawn
Word: Menu
Irish: biachlár
Pronunciation: bee-ah-khlawr
Word: Table
Irish: bord
Pronunciation: burdh
Phrase: Reserve/book
Irish: cur in áirithe
Pronunciation: kurr inn aw-rih-heh
Word: Bar
Irish: tábhairne
Pronunciation: thawrn-yeh
Word: Restaurant-car
Irish: cárbad
Pronunciation: cawr-bahdh
Phrase: Bottle of wine
Irish: buidéal fíona
Pronunciation: bwih-djayl fee-nah
Phrase: Vegetarian food
Irish: bia feoilséantach
Pronunciation: bee-ah fee-oh-il-shayn-thukh
Word: Sandwich/sandwiches
Irish: ceapaire/ceapairí
Pronunciation: kyap-eh-reh/kyap-eh-ree
Word: Chips (French fries)
Irish: sceallóga
Pronunciation: skee-ahl-oh-gah
Phrase: Soft drinks
Irish: deocha glasa
Pronunciation: djeukh-ah glah-sah
Phrase: I'd like to reserve a table for four for 8 o'clock, please
Irish: ba mhaith liom bord do cheathrair a chur in áirithe le h-aghaidh a hocht a chlog, led' thoil
Pronunciation: bah whye lih-um burdh dhuh khah-rir ah khur inn aw-rih-heh leh heye a hukhth ah khlug, ledh hell
Phrase: We would like to see the menu and wine list
Irish: ba mhaith linn breathnú ar an mbiaclár agus liosta fhíona
Pronunciation: bah whye linn brah-noo err on mee-ah-khlawr agus lis-thah feen-ah ledh hell
Phrase: Do you have a children's menu?
Irish: bhfuil biachlár do pháistí agaibh?
Pronunciation: will bee-ah-khlawr dhuh faw-ish-thee ah-giv?
Phrase: Is there a restaurant-car on this train?
Irish: bhfuil cárbad ar an dtreain seo?
Pronunciation: will cawr-bahdh err on dtrayn sheuh?
Phrase: I'll buy this round of drinks
Irish: ceannóidh mé na deochanna seo don chuideachta
Pronunciation: kyann-oh-ee may nah djeukh-ah-nah sheuh dhun khwidj-okh-thah
Phrase: Is any food served in that bar?
Irish: bhfuil greim le n-ithe ar thairiscint san tábhairne sin?
Pronunciation: will grime leh nih-eh sahn thawrn-yeh shin?
Phrase: Do you take credit cards?
Irish: an nglacann sibh cártaí chreidimh?
Pronunciation: on nglahk-unn shiv cawr-thee krehdj-iv?
Phrase: Please give me the bill (check)
Irish: Tabhair dom an cuntas led' thoil
Pronunciation: thrum on cun-thahs ledh hell
 Lesson 35 - May & The Month of Mary.
Our lesson this time features words and phrases related to the festival of Bealtaine (which is the word for May in Irish) and the Month of Mary. Even though modern-day Ireland isn't as religious as it was in the old days, you will still see lovely grottos in honour of Our Lady throughout the country; also, many families still say the Rosary together every evening and May is traditionally the month when Roman Catholic children make their First Holy Communion.
Word: May
Irish: Bealtaine
Pronunciation: bial-theh-neh
Phrase: May 1st (May Day)
Irish: Lá na Bealtaine
Pronunciation: law nah bial-theh-neh
Word: Summer
Irish: Samhradh
Pronunciation: sow (as in cow)-rah
Phrase: Bealtaine Bonfire
Irish: tine chnámh Bealtaine
Pronunciation: chin-eh khnawv bial-theh-neh
Phrase: Nettle Soup
Irish: Anraith Neantóga
Pronunciation: on-rih nian-thohg-ah
Word: Good People/Fairies
Irish: Síoga
Pronunciation: shee-ohg-ah
Phrase: First Holy Communion
Irish: Céad Chomaoineach Naofa
Pronunciation: kaydh khum-een-ukh knee-fah
Phrase: Communion Breakfast
Irish: Bricfeasta an Chomaoineach
Pronunciation: brick-fahstah on khum-een-ukh
Phrase: Our Lady or The Virgin Mary
Irish: Muire or An Mhaighdean Muire
Pronunciation: wirr-eh or on wye-djen wirr-eh
Phrase: Queen of the May/May Queen
Irish: Banríon na Bealtaine
Pronunciation: bahn-reen nah bial-theh-neh
Phrase: May Altar
Irish: Áltóir na Bealtaine
Pronunciation: awl-thoh-ir nah bial-theh-neh
Word: Flowers
Irish: bláthanna
Pronunciation: blaw-nah
Phrase: May Blossom
Irish: Bláth na sceiche gile
Pronunciation: blaw nah shkeh-kheh gill-eh
Word: Grotto
Irish: uaimh mhaisithe
Pronunciation: oo-iv wash-ih-heh
Phrase: I am making (literally 'celebrating') my First Holy Communion this Sunday
Irish: Beidh an Chéad Chomaoineach Naofa á cheiliuradh agam Dé Domhnaigh seo chugainn
Pronunciation: bye on khaydh khum-een-ukh knee-fah aw khell-oo-ah ah-gum djay dhoh-nee shuh hug-inn
Phrase: Congratulations on your First Holy Communion
Irish: Comhgáirdeas ar do Chéad Chomaoineach Naofa
Pronunciation: koh-gawr-djahs err dhuh khaydh khum-een-ukh knee-fah
Phrase: I'm looking forward to the First Communion Breakfast
Irish: Táim a' súil len bhricfeasta Chéad Chomaoineach
Pronunciation: thaw-im eh soo-il len vrick-fahs-thah on khaydh khum-een-ukh
Phrase: We'll be visiting all of the relatives on Communion Sunday
Irish: Tabhairimid cuairt (or rachaimid thart) ar na ghaoil uilig Domhnach an Chomaoineach
Pronunciation: thuhr-ih-midj coo-irtch (or rokh-ih-midh hahrth) err nah gweel ill-ig dhoh-nock an khum-een-ukh
Phrase: May Bonfires were lit in Ireland hundreds of years ago
Irish: bhéadh Tinte Chnáimh Bealtaine á lasadh in Éirinn na céadta bhliain ó shoin
Pronunciation: vay-ukh chin-theh khnawv bial-theh-neh aw loss-ah inn ayr-inn nah kaydh-thah vleen oh hin
Phrase: Don't cast a clout 'till May is out
Irish: Ná cas na ceirte roimh dheireadh na Bealtaine
Pronunciation: naw cos nah kerr-tcheh rev yerr-ah nah bial-theh-neh
Phrase: We have gathered the most beautiful flowers for the May Altar
Irish: Tá bláthanna chomh-haoibhinn sinn balaithe agaainn d'Áltóir na Bealtaine
Pronunciation: thaw blaw-nah khoh heeve-inn shin bahl-ih-heh ah-ginn dhawl-thoh-ir nah bial-theh-neh
Prayer:
English: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee,
Irish: Sé do bheatha a Mhuire, atá lán de ghrásta, tá an Tiarna leat,
Pronunciation: Shay dhuh vah-hah ah wirr-eh, ah-thaw lawn dheh graw sthah, thaw on cheer-nah liath
English: Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Irish: Is beannaithe thú idir mná agus is beannaithe toradh do bhruinne lasa.
Pronunciation: Iss ban-ih-heh who idjr nah mnaw ah-gus iss ban-ih-heh thur-ah dhuh vrinn-eh lah-sah.
English: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Irish: A Naomh Mhuire, a Mháthair Dé, guí orainn na peacaithe, anois is ar uair ár mbáis. Amen.
Pronunciation: Ah neeve wirr-eh, ah waw-hir djay. gwee ur-inn nah pahk-ih-heh ah-nish ah-gus err oo-ir awr maw-ish. Amen.
 Note: This caught our eye. Yes, we know it isn't gaeilge, but it is fascinating. If nothing else, it is certainly language (and Irish language as well.)
Slanguage
by Bernard Share
...for all 'decent skins', 'crawthumpers', horse-protestants', 'hard chaws' and 'strong farmers'...a dictionary of Irish slang that's as amusing as it is informative.
Click here for Slanguage
For More Basic Irish please click here: Irish Index
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Sun, Mar 4, 2018
Bitesize Irish Gaelic
Start learning on line with a free trial!
Why Learn Irish with Bitesize Irish Gaelic?
Eoin is a native Irish speaker who you can listen to in the online lessons.
Sasa has helped develop the lessons from the perspective of a complete beginner.
Audrey has created conversation lessons to get you speaking Irish.
And last but certainly not least, they are proud of the Irish language and want more people to speak it.
Affordable, fun and effective - To learn more, Click Bitesize Irish
Irish Grammar
by Noel Mogonagle
This book is excellent for beginners who are wanting a book that gives basic grammar without all the extra information that confuses beginners. The book is well laid out, with information very easy to find. Amazon Reviewer
Here is a good follow-on to our words and phrases.
Click for Irish Grammar.
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Irish - English
English - Irish
Dictionaries
Note: We have yet to see a dictionary with phonetic pronunciations for each word. We suspect this is partly due to the variations. Providing for all four 'green fields' (Connacht, Leinster, Ulster and Munster), would be cumbersome at best. Still, someone may do it some day. Until then, these are all very good and recommended. Serious students will have more than one; they are inexpensive.
These two (either or both) are the handy-references needed to go with a good grammar or 'teach yourself' course.
We would need both (and some other help) if found wandering in a Gaeltacht late at night.
Amazon has an offer of either one combined with a grammar for a reduced price.
Click for Collins Gem
Click for Oxford Pocket.
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While I wouldn't recommend you use many of these phrases, this is a terribly funny book. I picked it up after leafing through it at the store and finding phrases about sheep and inns and the hazards of driving in Ireland without insurance. Each little section starts out innocuously enough, then quickly degenerates into truly funny comments. If you like Monty Python or BlackAdder, this will really make you laugh. If you liked the Father Ted tv show, this little book will make you keel over giggling. Ah, go on, ya eejit, buy it already! Amazon Reviewer
(We want this, you may see a few on these pages - watch out).
Click for Wicked Irish
An easy-to-use program for learning on your own, or can be used as supplemental material for your classes. These new editions have been thoroughly revised and updated to include the engaging dialogues and helpful exercises you have come to expect from the Teach Yourself series.
Click for Teach Yourself
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The Best Irish Course Available! Three years ago I decided to learn Irish, and in the next two years I bought three different courses. The first two were simply useless, (that's the obvious reason for my buying new courses) you could learn some phrases, but not construct sentences yourself. Learning Irish, on the other hand, is an excellent book, which gives you a thorough vocabulary and grammatical knowledge. It consists of 36 lessons, all containing vocabularies, grammar instructions, texts and excercises. Amazon Reviewer.
Click for Learning irish
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