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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 45: Body "Language"
Our lesson this time around focuses on parts of the human anatomy. It's long overdue. We had to laugh when Aideen, our resident Irish speaker, told us that the dictionary she uses (compiled by de Bháldraithe and published by the Irish government) did not deem it "necessary" to include a translation for the phrase 'he swivelled his hips.'
Phrase: Body 'Language'
Irish: 'Teanga' Chorp
Pronunciation: tjih-ahn-gah khurp
Word: Physiology
Irish: Coirpeolais
Pronunciation: kurp-ohl-ish
Word: Body
Irish: corp
Pronunciation: kurp
Word: Head
Irish: ceann
Pronunciation: kih-ahnn
Word: Hair
Irish: gruaig
Pronunciation: groo-ig
Word: Blonde/Brunette/Grey/Brown/Red/Black
Irish: duine fionn/cailín donn/liath/donn/rua/dubh
Pronunciation: dhinn-eh fih-un/kahl-een dhunn/lee-eh/ehunn/roo-ah/dhuv
Note:While the word dearg is used for all other red-coloured matter, rua is always used for hair
Word: Eye
Irish: súil
Pronunciation: soo-il
Word: Eyebrow
Irish: mala
Pronunciation: mah-lah
Word: Nose
Irish: srón
Pronunciation: srohn
Word: Freckles
Irish: bricíní
Pronunciation: brik-ee-nee
Word: Ear
Irish: cluas
Pronunciation: cloos
Word: Lips
Irish: liopaí
Pronunciation: lih-up-ee
Word: Mouth
Irish: béal
Pronunciation: bayl
Word: Cheek
Irish: leiceann
Pronunciation: lek-ahnn
Word: Teeth
Irish: fiacla
Pronunciation: fee-uk-lah
Word: Face
Irish: aghaidh
Pronunciation: eye
Word: Shoulder
Irish: gualainn
Pronunciation: goo-lun
Word: Chest
Irish: ucht
Pronunciation: ukth
Word: Waist
Irish: com
Pronunciation: kum
Word: Arms
Irish: géaga
Pronunciation: gay-gah
Note: literally 'limbs' or 'branches'
Word: Elbow
Irish: uillinn
Pronunciation: ill-in
Word: Hand
Irish: lámh
Pronunciation: lawv
Word: Wrist
Irish: caoil láimhe
Pronunciation: kweel law-iv-eh
Note: literally 'narrowing of hand'
Word: Finger
Irish: méar
Pronunciation: mayr
Word: Thumb
Irish: ordóg
Pronunciation: ur-dhohg
Word: Fingernail
Irish: ionga
Pronunciation: un-gah
Word: Back
Irish: cúl
Irish: cool
Word: Hips
Irish: corróg
Pronunciation: kur-ohg
Word: Bottom
Irish: bun
Pronunciation: bun
Word: Thigh
Irish: léis
Pronunciation: laysh
Word: Leg/s
Irish: cos/cois
Pronunciation:kuss/kush
Word: Knee
Irish: glúin
Pronunciation: gloo-in
Word: Shin
Irish: lurga
Pronunciation: lur-gah
Word: Ankle
Irish: murnán
Pronunciation: murr-nawn
Word: Foot
Irish: troigh
Pronunciation: threh
Word: Heel
Irish: sáil
Pronunciation: saw-il
Word: Toe
Irish: méar coise
Pronunciation: mayr kush-eh
Phrase: He threw out his chest
Irish: chuir sé ucht ar féin
Pronunciation: kwirr shay ukth err fayn
Phrase: It seems his leg is broken
Irish: is cosúil go bhfuil a chos briste
Pronunciation: iss kuss-oo-il guh will ah khuss brish-the
Phrase: She has blue eyes
Irish: tá súile ghoirme aici
Pronunciation: thaw soo-il-eh ghurm-eh ek-ee
Phrase: I have brown hair
Irish: tá gruair donn orm
Pronunciation: that groo-ig dhunn urm
Phrase: She shook hands with me
Irish: chroith sí lámh liom
Pronunciation: khreh she lawv lih-um
Phrase: My back hurts
Irish: tá tinneas ar mo chúl
Pronunciation: that chin-ahs err muh khool
Phrase: She twisted her ankle
Irish: leon sí a murnán
Pronunciation: lih-un sh ah murr-nawn
Phrase: Get down on your (two) knees
Irish: Caith síos ar do (dhá) glúine
Pronunciation: kah shee-us err dhuh (ghaw) ghloo-in-eh
Phrase: He put his arm around her waist
Irish: chuir sé lámh faoine com
Pronunciation: kwirr shay lawv fwee-neh kum
Phrase: I have a blister on my heel
Irish: tá spuaic ar mo sháil
Pronunciation: that spoo-ik err muh haw-il
Phrase: From head to toe
Irish: ó cheann go méar coise
Pronunciation: roh khih-ahnn guh mayr kush-eh
 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
Image: Gaeilge Beo from All Posters and Prints.
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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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