Irish Useful Phrases and how to pronounce them
Here are some links to Irish Proverbs and sayings
Irish Proverbs with English Translations
http://www.islandireland.com/Pages/folk/sets/proverbs.html
Irish sayings – a collection of Irish proverbs and sayings with audio in the three main dialects:
http://www.irish-sayings.com
Dublin Slang Words, Sayings and Phrases on Slang.ie – The Irish Slang Dictionary.
http://www.slang.ie/index.php?county=Dublin
A collection of Irish useful phrases. Click on the Irish useful phrases to listen to an audio recording of the pronunciation
Key to abbreviations: sg = singular (said to one person), pl = plural (said to more than one person), Mun = Munster Irish, Con = Connacht Irish, Ul = Ulster Irish.
tú / agat / leat / ort / duit are used for one person
sibh / agaibh / libh / oraibh / dóibh are used more than one person
English
Gaeilge (Irish)
Welcome
How are you?
I’m fine thanks, and you
Long time no see
Pleased to meet you
What is your name?
My Name is….
Where are you from?
I’m from ….
Good Morning
Dia dhuit ar maidin (sg)
Dia dhóibh ar maidin (pl)
Maidin mhaith
Good Afternoon/Evening
Tráthnóna maith (duit/daibh)
Goodbye
Slán, Slán go fóill
Good Luck
Go n-éirí an t-ádh leat!
Ádh mór ort!
Cheers/Good Health
Sláinte! (health)
Sláinte mhaith! (good health)
Sláinte agus táinte! (Health and wealth)
Sláinte chuig na fir, agus go mairfidh na mná go deo!
(Health to the men and may the women live forever)
Croi follain agus gob fliuch!
(A healthy heart and a wet mouth)
Fad saol agat, gob fliuch, agus bás in Éirinn!
(Long life to you, a wet mouth, and death in Ireland)
Bon Voyage
Go dté tú slán (May you go safely)
Slán abhaile (Safe home)
I don’t understand
Ní thuigim / Cha dtuigim (Ul)
Please speak more slowly
An miste leat labhairt níos moille?
An bhféadfá labhairt níos moille, le do thoil?
Do you speak Irish?
An bhfuil Gaeilge agat/agaibh?
Yes, a little
Tá, beagan/cúpla focal
How do you say…. in Irish?
Cad é atá an focal Gaeilge ar …?
Excuse me? To Attract Attention
Excuse me? To ask someone to move
Gabh mo leiscéal!
How much is this?
Cá mhéad atá seo? Cá mhéad?
Sorry
Gabh mo leiscéal! Tá brón orm!
Thank you
Go raibh maith agat/agaibh
Go raibh míle maith agat/agaibh
Gura míle
You’re Welcome
’Sé do bheatha / Ná habair é / Tá fáilte romhat
Where’s the toilet?
Cá bfhuil an leithreas?
I Love you
Gráím thú (I love you)
Tugaim cion duit (I give you affection)
Tá cion agam ort (I have affection for you)
Tá mé ceanúil ort (I have affection for you)
Tá grá agam duit (I have love for you)
Táim i ngrá leat (I’m in love with you)
Tá mo chroí istigh ionat (My heart is within you)
Ádhraím thú (I adore you)
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Nollaig shona duit/dóibh (Happy Christmas to you)
Beannachtaí na Nollag (Christmas Greetings)
Beannachtaí an tSéasúir (Season’s Greetings)
Athbhliain faoi mhaise duit/dóibh (Prosperous New Year)
Bliain úr faoi shéan is faoi mhaise duit/dóibh (Happy New Year to you)
Happy Easter
Cáisc Shona Dhuit/Dhaoibh, Beannachtaí na Cásca
Happy Birthday
Lá breithe shona duit
Special Thanks to Simon Ager, www.omniglot.com
Recordings by John O’Brien and Siobhán Ní Chathasaigh
