Le Finn Brady
The Irish language is undergoing a moment of cultural revolution. Alongside this comes a greater appreciation for our language and culture, as well as a new desire among many to put their cúpla focail to use.
Many people are terrified by Irish, especially the prospect of using it independently, on your own, in the wild. The reality is, however, that if we as a nation don’t take to using Irish, it’s highly unlikely anyone else is going to pick up the mantle of speaking our native tongue.
The beauty of this is that it puts the majority of us in the same boat, or bád, simply rowing together back towards a reconnection with our lost ancestral connections.
Today, we will run through some short phrases, from the basic vocabulary of the everyday, to what they forgot to teach you in school and the wonderfully descriptive swear words of the Irish language.
Greetings, Goodbyes & the Banality of Small Talk
The typical start to a conversation in Irish would be to say Hello, or Dia Dhuit, when speaking to one person.
This literally means “God to you”, a historical marker of the grip the church had on Irish society that remains prevalent in our language.
If you are greeting more than one person, you would say Dia Dhaoibh.
he natural next step, of course, is to ask how someone is. There are several ways to ask this, but your preference typically comes down to dialectal preferences.
Munster may prefer Conas atá tú to ask how someone is in Irish, or even the more dialectical Conas tánn thú?
Connemara prefers Cén chaoi a bhfuil tú, which literally means “In what way are you?”.
Ulster is similar to Connemara’s meaning with “What is it that you are?” being the literal meaning for their term of greeting, “Cad é mar atá tú?”.
Now try continuing the conversation with some simple introductions!
- Is ainm dom X – My name is X.
- Is mise X – I am X.
- Tá mé X – I am X.
- E.g. Tá mé go maith – I am good.
Now, let’s continue:
- Cá bhfuil tú i do chónaí? – Where do you live?
- Tá mé i mo chónaí i X – I live in X.
- Is múinteoir mé – I am a teacher.
- Other professions: Dochtúir (Doctor), Altra (Nurse), Innealtóir (Engineer), Bainisteoir (Manager).
And don’t be afraid to bring the situation to a close when you start to struggle with your Irish:
- Go raibh maith agat – Thank you (to one person).
- Go raibh maith agaibh – Thank you/ye (to more than one person).
- Tá fáilte romhat – You’re welcome (to one person).
- Tá fáilte romhaibh – Ye/You’re welcome (to more than one person).
- Gabh mo leithscéal – Excuse me.
- Tá brón orm – I am sorry (Can also mean ‘I am sad’, depending on context).
- Slán – Goodbye.
- Slán go fóill – Goodbye for now.
A quick finish to any good conversation and now you have the basics for small talk in Irish!
Now that you have had your first full conversation in Irish, let’s look at some small words and phrases that you could sprinkle into your everyday conversations.
Common Everyday Questions & Useful Phrases
- Cá bhfuil an leithreas? – Where is the bathroom?
- Cad é sin? – What is that?
- Cé mhéad? – How much?
- Tuigim – I understand.
- Ní thuigim – I don’t understand.
- Cad is brí le X? – what does X mean?
- Cabhraigh liom – Help me.
- Brostaigh suas / déan deifir – Hurry up/make haste.
- Comhghairdeas – Congratulations.
- Fáilte – Welcome.
(often heard as “céad míle fáilte” – a hundred thousand welcomes). - Sláinte – Health (used when toasting drinks, like “cheers”).
- Is maith liom é – I like it.
- Mo chara – My friend.
- Póigíní gréine – freckles (literally: little sun kisses). A very cute word in Irish!
The Time:
The easiest way to use a little Irish – simply ask the time!
- Cén t-am é? – What time is it?
- Tá sé a ceathair a chlog – It’s four o’clock.
- Tá sé ceathrú tar éis a ceathair. – It’s quarter past four.
- Tá sé leathuair tar éis a ceathair – It’s half past four.
- Tá sé ceathrú chun a ceathair – It’s quarter to four.
- Nóiméad / bomaite – Minute.
Note: Both words mean the same thing, but bomaite is the preferred word used in Ulster Irish.
Ordering Food & Drink
The opportunity to use Irish can be hard to find, especially for those nervous of holding a long-form conversation in Irish.
That’s why the simple act of ordering a coffee or meal can be an ideal chance to practise the cúpla focail. Small, short sentences with a clear goal – ideal for a learner.
Ordering Phrases
- Ba mhaith liom X – I would like X
- An féidir liom X a fháil – Can I get X
- An bhfuil mé in ann X a fháil – Would I be able to get X
- An bhféadfainn X a fháil – Could I get X
- Beidh (an) X agam – I will have (the) X
- Le / gan – with / without.
- Le do thoil / más é do thoil é – Please (to one person)
- Le bhur dtoil. / Más é bhur dtoil é – Please (to more than one person).
Food & Drink Vocabulary
- Ceapaire – Sandwich
- Bricfeasta – Breakfast
- Lón – Lunch
- Mór – Large
- Beag – Small
- Caife – Coffee
- Tae – Tea
- Caife dubh – Black coffee
- Caife le bainne – Coffee with milk
- Císte / Cáca – Cake
- Bainne – Milk
- Siúcra – Sugar
Paying
- Cé mhéad atá sé? – How much is it?
- Is é X euro – It is X euro.
Sample sentence:
An féidir liom caife dubh mór a fháil, le do thoil?
– Could I get a large, black coffee, please?
Whether you’re a native speaker, a learner, or new to Ireland, these words, phrases, and quirks of Irish are your tools to connect with the people, the culture, and the language itself.
Galway is perhaps the best place to be for the Irish language. Pop into Club Áras na nGael, one of Galway’s longest-established Irish language social clubs, where you can order a pint in Irish or visit their many social events.
Their weekly ciorcal comhrá – or conversation circle – allows speakers of all kinds to come together and practise their Irish in an informal, fun manner.
For more information on events and opportunities through Irish in Galway, please check out Gallimhe le Gaeilge at www.gleg.ie.
So, pick a phrase, give it a go, and embrace the craic!
