A collection of useful phrases in Irish. Click on the English phrases to see them in many other languages.
Key to abbreviations: sg = singular (said to one person), pl = plural (said to more than one person), Mun = Munster Irish, Con = Connacht Irish, Ul = Ul Irish.
| English | Gaeilge (Irish) |
| Welcome | Fáilte, Tá fáilte romhat (sg) / romhaibh (pl)
Fáilte romhat isteach! (Welcome here!)
Cead míle fáilte (hundred thousand welcomes) |
| Hello | Dia duit (sg) dóibh (pl), Dia is Muire duit/dóibh (reply) |
How are you?
I'm fine, thanks. And you? | Conas atá tú/sibh? (Mun)
Cén chaoi a bhfuil tú/sibh? (Con)
Cad é mar atá tú/sibh? (Ul)
Conas atá cursaí (leat?
(An bhfuil) aon scéal (agat/agaibh)?
An bhfuil tú/sibh go maith? |
Tá mé go maith, go raibh maith agat, agus tú fein? (sg)
Tá mé go maith, go raibh maith agaibh, agus sibh fein? (pl) |
| Long time no see | Ní fhaca mé le fada thu/sibh |
What's your name?
My name is ... | Cén t-ainm atá ort/oraibh? (sg/pl)
Cad is ainm duit/daoibh? (sg/pl)
C'ainm atá ort/oraibh? (sg/pl) - Ul |
| Is mise ... / Mise ... / ... is ainm dom |
Where are you from?
I'm from ... | Cá as duit? (Mun) Cárb as duit? (Ul) Cé as thú? (Con) |
| Is as ... dom, Is as ... mé |
| Pleased to meet you | Tá athas orm buaileadh leat/libh (sg/pl) |
| Good morning | Dia dhuit/dhaibh ar maidin / Maidin mhaith |
| Good afternoon/evening | Tráthnóna maith (duit/daibh) |
| Good night | Oíche mhaith
Oíche mhaith agus codladh sámh
(Good night and sleep well) |
| 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 n-éirí an bóthar leat
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? |
| Please write it down | An féidir leat é sin a scríobh síos dom?
An scríobhfaidh tú é sin síos dom? |
Do you speak Irish?
Yes, a little | An bhfuil Gaeilge agat/agaibh? |
| Tá, beagan/cúpla focal |
| What's the Irish word for ...? | Cad é atá an focal Gaeilge ar ...? |
| Excuse me | Gabh mo leiscéal! |
| How much is this? | Cá mhéad atá seo? Cá mhéad? |
| Sorry | Gabh mo leiscéal! Tá brón orm! |
Thank you
Response | Go raibh maith agat/agaibh
Go raibh míle maith agat/agaibh
Gura míle |
| ’Sé do bheatha / Ná habair é / Tá fáilte romhat |
| Where's the toilet? | Cá bfhuil an leithreas? |
This gentleman/lady
will pay for everything | Iocfaidh an fear seo as gach rud
Iocfaidh an bhean seo as gach rud |
Would you like to
dance with me? | An bhfuil tú damhsa liom? |
| 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) |
| Get well soon | Go mbíodh biseach ort gan mhoill! |
| Leave me alone! | Lig dom! Fág dom i m'éinear! |
Help!
Stop! | Tarrtháil! Fóir orm!
Stad! |
| Call the police! | Glaoigh na gardaí/póilíní! Cuir fios ar na gardaí/póilíní! |
Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year | Nollaig shona duit (Happy Christmas to you)
Beannachtaí na Nollag (Christmas Greetings)
Beannachtaí an tSéasúir (Season's Greetings)
Athbhliain faoi mhaise duit (Prosperous New Year)
Bliain úr faoi shéan is faoi mhaise duit duit (Happy New Year to you) |
| Happy Easter | Cáisc Shona Dhuit/Dhaoibh, Beannachtaí na Cásca |
| Happy Birthday | Breithlá sona duit / Lá breithe shona duit |
| One language is never enough | Ní leor teanga amháin |
| My hovercraft is full of eels | Tá m'árthach foluaineach lán d'eascanna. |
