Get to grips with some Gaelic Irish Words
If you want to learn to speak Gaelic or Gaeilge or Irish as it is also known, it is worth getting to grips with the basic list of Gaelic Irish words below. If you spend some time in Ireland, you will see Gaelic on lots of signs and placenames and hear it on Irish television and radio.
While English is certainly the dominant language in all but some Gaeltacht (Irish speaking) areas, a trip to Ireland will be so much richer if you have at least a smattering of Irish Gaelic.
It is important to know also that some Gaelic words vary from one dialect to another. In Ireland there are three key dialects in the North (Ulster), West (Connaught) and South (Munster). For example, the word for table in Connaught and Munster Irish is bord while in Ulster Gaelic it is tábla.
Because of TV and improved communications, most Gaelic speakers are also now more familiar with and influenced by each other's dialects, so learning one dialect does not cause the communication difficulties it might once have.
Anyway, most people in Ireland learn standard (caighdeán) Gaelic in school, basically a mix of all three dialects. I have taken the most common form of the Irish words below. I give a non-linguistic pronunciation guide to the words below, a fairly literal translation and the English translation.
And while it can be a little daunting for someone learning the language at the beginning, it is important to know that the form of a Gaelic word can and does change, not only in the singular and plural forms, but also depending on whether it is used in the nominative, vocative, accusative, and genitive cases.
"What the hell does that mean?", I hear some of you ask. While I won't go into all the details (for that you need a more intensive grammar lesson), the easiest way to explain is with an example of the kind of changes that Irish words can undergo.
Word
Pronounced
In English
an fear
on far
the man
na fir
nah fir
the men
Word
Pronounced
In English
hata an fhir
hot-ah on ir
the man's hat
hataí na bhfear
hot-ee nah var
the men's hats
Word
Pronounced
In English
don fhear
dun ar
to the man
do na fir
duh nah fir
to the men
In the pronunciation guide for all the Gaelic Irish words below I have left 'ch' as is. This is because 'ch' in Gaelic does not have an equivalent sound in English. That said, many people will be familiar with the throaty sound made in the Scottish and Irish word 'loch'. This is the correct sound. If you are not able to replicate this sound, pronounce 'ch' as a 'k'. It may not be correct but you will be understood. Just don't pronounce 'ch' as 'ch' in 'church' which no one will understand.
Gaelic Irish Words by category
I have also included what is a simple video of the categories on this page but should be enough to help you with getting the pronunciation right. I am not a native speaker but it should be reasonably accurate.
Food
Eating
Days of the Week
Months of the Year
Counting 1-10
People and Family
Colours/Colors
Modes of Transport
Around the House
Parts of the Body
Irish Gaelic Phrases and Expressions Page
Food
Word |
arán |
| Word Pronounced In English |
subh suv jam |
| Word Pronounced In English |
im im butter |
| Word Pronounced In English |
siúcra shoo-kra sugar |
| Word Pronounced In English |
salann |
| Word Pronounced In English |
piobar |
| Word Pronounced In English |
feoil fyole meat |
| Word Pronounced In English |
glasraí gloss-ree vegetables |
| Word Pronounced In English |
úll |
| Word Pronounced In English |
oráiste or-osh-te orange |
| Word Pronounced In English |
anraith an-rah soup |
| Word Pronounced In English |
tae |
| Word Pronounced In English |
tráta traw-ta tomato |
| Word Pronounced In English |
císte kee-shte cake |
| Word Pronounced In English |
tae tay tea |
| Word Pronounced In English |
bainne bon-yeh milk |
| Word Pronounced In English |
caife ka-fay coffee |
| Word Pronounced In English |
beoir byo-ir beer |
| Word Pronounced In English |
uisce ish-ka water |
| Word Pronounced In English |
uisce beatha ish-ka ba-ha whiskey (water of life) |
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Eating
Word |
cupán,
cupán tae, cupán caifé |
| Word Pronounced In English |
pláta plaw-ta plate |
| Word Pronounced In English |
gloine gli-nya glass |
| Word Pronounced In English |
fo-chupán fuh kup-on saucer |
| Word Pronounced In English |
scian |
| Word Pronounced In English |
forc |
| Word Pronounced In English |
spúnóg spoon-ogue spoon |
| Word Pronounced In English |
babhla bau-la bowl |
| Word Pronounced In English |
buidéal,
buidéal uisce |
| Word Pronounced In English |
ag ithe egg ih-ha eating |
| Word Pronounced In English |
bia bee-ah food |
| Word Pronounced In English |
bialann |
| Word Pronounced In English |
crúiscín |
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Days of the week in Gaelic
Word |
Dé Luain Day Lune Monday |
| Word Pronounced In English |
Dé Máirt Day Morch Tuesday |
| Word Pronounced In English |
Dé Chéadaoin Day Chay-jeen Wednesday |
| Word Pronounced In English |
Déardaoin Dare-jeen Thursday |
| Word Pronounced In English |
Dé hAoine |
| Word Pronounced In English |
Dé Sathairn |
| Word Pronounced In English |
Dé Domhnaigh Day Down-ig Sunday |
Months of the Year in Gaelic
Word |
Eanáir |
| Word Pronounced In English |
Feabhra Fee-yow-ra February |
| Word Pronounced In English |
Márta Mawr-ta March |
| Word Pronounced In English |
Aibreán Ab-rawn April |
| Word Pronounced In English |
Bealtaine |
| Word Pronounced In English |
Meitheamh |
| Word Pronounced In English |
Iúil You-ill July |
| Word Pronounced In English |
Lúnasa Loon-ass-ah August |
| Word Pronounced In English |
Meán Fómhair |
| Word Pronounced In English |
Deireadh Fómhair Der-eh Fo-eer October |
| Word Pronounced In English |
Samhain Sow-in (sow as in female pig) November |
| Word Pronounced In English |
Nollaig |
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Counting
The Gaelic Irish words used for counting change somewhat when used with an object. For example, if I am just counting 1-3 (cardinal numbers), it will be simply a haon, a dó, a trí. However, if I put an object (noun) with it to count boats it will become aon bhád amháin, dhá bhád, trí bhád. I include both below for numbers 1-10.
1 to 10 in Gaelic
Word |
a
haon, aon bhád amháin |
| Word Pronounced In English |
a dó, dhá bhád ah doh, gaw vawd two, two boats |
| Word Pronounced In English |
a trí, trí
bhád ah tree, tree vawd three, three boats |
| Word Pronounced In English |
a ceathair,
ceithre bhád |
| Word Pronounced In English |
a cúig,
cúig bhád |
| Word Pronounced In English |
a sé, sé bhád ah shay, shay vawd six, six boats |
| Word Pronounced In English |
a seacht, seacht
mbád ah shawcht, shawcht mawd seven, seven boats |
| Word Pronounced In English |
a hocht,
ocht mbád |
| Word Pronounced In English |
a naoi, naoi
mbád ah nee, nee mawd nine, nine boats |
| Word Pronounced In English |
a deich,
deich mbád |
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People and Family
Word |
fear,
fir |
| Word Pronounced In English |
bean, mná bahn, min-aw woman, women |
| Word Pronounced In English |
cáilín, coll-een, coll-een-ee girl, girls |
| Word Pronounced In English |
buachaill,
buachaillí boo-chill, boo-chill-ee boy, boys |
| Word Pronounced In English |
athair |
| Word Pronounced In English |
máthair,
máithreacha |
| Word Pronounced In English |
deartháir,
deartháireacha dre-hawr, dre-haw-rich-ah brother, brothers |
| Word Pronounced In English |
deirfiúr,
deirfiúreacha dre-foor, dre-foor-ach-ah sister, sisters |
| Word Pronounced In English |
mac, mic |
| Word Pronounced In English |
iníon,
iníoní in-een, in-een-ee daughter, daughters |
| Word Pronounced In English |
uncail |
| Word Pronounced In English |
aintín |
| Word Pronounced In English |
páiste,
páistí pawsh-teh, pawsh-tee child, children |
| Word Pronounced In English |
duine, daoine |
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Colours
Word |
bán |
| Word Pronounced In English |
dearg jar-ig red |
| Word Pronounced In English |
buí bwee yellow |
| Word Pronounced In English |
gorm |
| Word Pronounced In English |
glas |
| Word Pronounced In English |
oráiste or-awsh-te orange |
| Word Pronounced In English |
donn down brown |
| Word Pronounced In English |
liath |
| Word Pronounced In English |
bán-dearg bawn-jar-ig pink |
| Word Pronounced In English |
corcra |
| Word Pronounced In English |
aintín |
| Word Pronounced In English |
páiste,
páistí pawsh-teh, pawsh-tee child, children |
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Means of Transport
Word |
gluaisteán,
carr |
| Word Pronounced In English |
bus bus bus |
| Word Pronounced In English |
leoraí loh-ree truck |
| Word Pronounced In English |
traein |
| Word Pronounced In English |
tarracóir |
| Word Pronounced In English |
rothar ruh-har bicycle |
| Word Pronounced In English |
eitleán et-il-awn airplane |
| Word Pronounced In English |
bád |
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House
Word |
teach |
| Word Pronounced In English |
gairdín gar-jeen garden |
| Word Pronounced In English |
pictiúr pic-tyoor picture |
| Word Pronounced In English |
guthán, |
| Word Pronounced In English |
clog |
| Word Pronounced In English |
fuinneog fwin-yogue window |
| Word Pronounced In English |
cathaoir cah-heer chair |
| Word Pronounced In English |
tolg |
| Word Pronounced In English |
lampa lawm-pa lamp |
| Word Pronounced In English |
solas |
| Word Pronounced In English |
bord |
| Word Pronounced In English |
leabhar lau-er book |
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Irish words for Parts of the Body
Word |
gruaig |
| Word Pronounced In English |
súil soo-il eye |
| Word Pronounced In English |
gualainn goo-lin shoulder |
| Word Pronounced In English |
lámh |
| Word Pronounced In English |
ceann |
| Word Pronounced In English |
uilinn ill-inn elbow |
| Word Pronounced In English |
bolg bull-ig belly, stomach |
| Word Pronounced In English |
cluas |
| Word Pronounced In English |
cos kuss leg, also foot |
| Word Pronounced In English |
srón |
| Word Pronounced In English |
béal |
| Word Pronounced In English |
gliún glue-in knee |
| Word Pronounced In English |
fiacla fe-ah-kla teeth |
I am open to correction or suggested improvements on anything above. I would also love to hear of other categories of Gaelic Irish words you think should have been included as basics. Get in touch with me through the contact GaelicMatters page. Or add a comment below
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Other Pages Related to Irish Words
Visit the Irish Gaelic Phrases and Gaelic Expressions Page
Our Learn Irish Gaelic Page
Gaelic Matters > Irish Words
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