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 59: Travel

It's that time of year when many people are packing their bags and leaving for a holiday in Ireland. Whether it's your first trip or you've been many times before, our collection of words and phrases might come in handy. At the very least, they'll be fun to practise on the tour bus or in the car!

Phrase: Travel and Touring
Irish: Taisteal agus Turas
Pronunciation: thahsh-thul ah-gus thurr-ahs

Word: Airport
Irish: aerphort
Pronunciation: air-furth

Word: Airplane
Irish: eitleán
Pronunciation: etch-lawn

Phrase: Train Station
Irish: stáisiún traeneach
Pronunciation: sthaw-shoon thrayn-ukh

Phrase: Bus Station
Irish: busáras
Pronunciation: bus-aw-rahs

Word: Passenger
Irish: paisinéir
Pronunciation: pahsh-in-ayr

Word: Ticket
Irish: ticéid
Pronunciation: tick-ayd

Word: Passport
Irish: pás
Pronunciation: paws

Phrase: Travel Agency (agent)
Irish: gníomhaireacht taistil
Pronunciation: gneev(hard 'g')-err-ukhth thahsh-thill

Word: Holiday (vacation)
Irish: saoire
Pronunciation: see-reh

Phrase: Reservation for...
Irish: á chur in áirithe...
Pronunciation: aw khurr in aw-rih-heh...

Phrase: Travel bags
Irish: Málaí taistil
Pronunciation: maw-lee thahsh-thill

Phrase: Travel expenses
Irish: costais taistil
Pronunciation: kuss-thish thahsh-thill

Phrase: Tour bus
Irish: bus turais
Pronunciation: bus thurr-ish

Phrase: Scenic route
Irish: bealach seó
Pronunciation: bah-lahkh show

Word: Accommodation
Irish: lóistín
Pronunciation: lohsh-theen

Phrase: Departure dates
Irish: dátaí imeachta
Pronunciation: dhaw-thee im-ukh-thah

Phrase: Car hire
Irish: ligint ghluaisteáin
Pronunciation: lig-intj ghlooish-thaw-in

Word: Petrol (gas)
Irish: peitreal
Pronunciation: peh-threl

Phrase: We are going on a trip/tour to/around...
Irish: Táimid ag dul ar turas go/thart ar...
Pronunciation: thaw-meedj egg dhull err thurr-ahs guh/hahrth err...

Phrase: He has travelled the world.
Irish: Thug sé cuairt na cruinne.
Pronunciation: hug shay coo-irtj nah krinn-yeh

Phrase: We travelled six hundred miles in one day.
Irish: Rinne muid sé chéad míle in aon lá.
Pronunciation: rinn-eh mwidj shay khaydh mee-leh in ayn law

Phrase: Going there is a traveller's joy.
Irish: Is gabhrán é dul ansin.
Pronunciation: iss gow(as in cow)-rawn ay dhull on-shin

Phrase: We like to get away from (home, location etc.) as often as possible.
Irish: Is breá linn bog as ionad chomh minic agus is féidir linn.
Pronunciation: iss brah lin bu oss un-adh khoh min-ick ah-gus iss fay-djir lin

Phrase: I missed the bus.
Irish: D'imigh an bus orm.
Pronunciation: djim-ee on bus orm

Phrase: Have you not got your bags packed yet?
Irish: Nach bhfuil do mhálaí pacáilte agat fós?
Pronunciation: nahkh will dhuh waw-lee pahk-oil-cheh ah-guth fohs?

Phrase: When do we have to be at the airport?
Irish: Cathain a mbeidh orainn bheith ag an aerphort?
Pronunciation: kah-hin ah mye urr-in veh egg on air-furth

Phrase: What time does the plane leave?
Irish: Cén uair a imíonn an t'eitleán?
Pronunciation: kayn oo-irr ah im-een on thetch-lawn

Phrase: There is always a long queue (line) at immigration.
Irish: Bíonn líne fada i gcónaí ag inimirce.
Pronunciation: bee-un leen-eh fah-dhah ih goh-nee ag in-im-err-keh

Phrase: We're taking travellers' cheques with us.
Irish: Táimid chun seiceanna taistil a thógaint linn.
Pronunciation: thaw-mwidj khun sheck-ah-nah ah hoh-gintj(hard 'g') lin

Phrase: We'll be sad to leave this place and go home.
Irish: Beidh brón orainn an áit seo a fhágáil agus fill abhaile.
Pronunciation: by brohn urr-in on awitj shuh ah aw-gaw-il ah-gus fill ah-wah-leyh

Phrase: This baggage is so heavy, we need a trolley.
Irish: Tá an bagáiste seo chomh trom, tá trucáil de dith orainn.
Pronunciation: thaw on bahg-aw-ish-theh shuh khoh thrum, thaw thruck-aw-il djeh yeeh urr-in

Phrase: I know the dining-room is now closed, but could we please have a plate of sandwiches and a pot of coffee, as we have been travelling since morning and are very hungry?
Irish: Tá fhios agam go bhfuil an seomra bia dúnta anois, ach an bhféadaimíd pláta ceapairí agus pota caifé a fháil led' thoil, mar bhíomar ag taisteal ó mhaidin agus tá gionach ocrais orainn?
Pronunciation: thaw iss ah-gum guh will on shohm-rah bee-ah dhoon-thah ah-nish, ockh on vaydh-ah-midj plaw-thah kiap-ah-ree ah-gus puth-ah cah-fay ah oil ledh hell, mahr vee-mahr egg thahsh-thul oh wahdj-in ah-gus thaw giun-ukh uck-rahs uru-in

Phrase: Where is the nearest (xxxx)?
Irish: Cá bhfuil an (xxxx) is cóngaraí?
Pronunciation: caw will on (xxxx) iss cohn-gahr-ee


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.