Learning the languages of Ireland
Reader, it’s time to let you in on a little secret – you already speak a little Irish (Gaeilge). It’s true. You see, before we even make our first visit to the Gaeltacht you have a head start: You’ll have heard of the word Sláinte (usage was probably followed by chinking glasses and a long gulp of Guinness), which means health. You may even have already used a little Ulster-Scots (but more about that later…)
Now, while Sláinte is indeed a wonderful and very useful word, we’re going to go on a little journey around the island with some more rather useful phrases for you to pull out of the bag whenever the need arises. First, we’re heading to the West Coast and County Donegal to say hello.
Not sure how the sheep can ignore this view of the Slieve League Cliffs in County Donegal
Donegal: Dia dhuit! Cad é mar atá tú?
Phonetically: Deeya-gwitch! Kajay mara-thaw too
Translation: Hello! How are you?
Right, before we dive into our first phrase you should know something – accents in Ireland can change in the distance between the local grocery shop and the pub. Or in the case of County Donegal fromto the beach at Malinbeg. Not sure if that goes for sheep, too. Now we’ll teach you the Mayo answer to Donegal’s kind greetings.
Mayo: Go maith. Bhí mé ag snámh inniu agus bhí an uisce go h-álainn!
Phonetically: Guh-maiy. Vee may egg snawv innew awgus vee on ish-ke guh-haulin
Translation: I’m well. I was swimming today and the water was gorgeous!
We’ll assume that if you make it along the West Coast to Achill Island in County Mayo that you’ll be heading for a dip, or at least a paddle, at the sandy wonder that is Keem beach, which manages to defy weather and keep at temperatures that won’t give you goosebumps!
So after our little dip and chat, we land in the green-tinted dream that is Connemara in County Galway.
Galway: Ar maith leat teacht ag siuil liom?
Phonetically: Air wai-lat chakt egg shool lum?
Translation: Would you like to come for a walk with me?
This question can be used in either a friendly or romantic setting and is best used when suggesting a stroll along the Connemara Way.
We won’t leave you unprepared should you find yourself in Kerry though:
The tide creeps towards the sand on Keem beach in County Mayo's Achill Island
Kerry: An mbeidh seisiún sa Daingean anocht?
Phonetically: On meg sayshoon sa dang in anukt?
Translation: Will there be a music session in Dingle tonight?
One foot in the county of Kerry (Dingle to be precise) and we’re making for the pub. You’re in the right place to look for a bit of traditional music. You can speak Irish, but can you dance Irish? There’s only one way to find out.
Ok, after all that work and travelling you’ve arrived in County Cork and you’re understandably a little peckish.
Cork: Ta ocras orm. An bhfuil bialann timpeall?
Phonetically: Thaw ukras urom. On will beeyalin teempall?
Translation: I’m hungry. Is there a restaurant nearby?
You now know how to ask where the nearest restaurant is and happily, you’re not too far from a full stomach at the Mills Inn in Ballyvourney.
You’re nearing the end of your linguistic trip and the evening sky at Dungarvan in County Waterford has made you all poetic. If only you could find the words…
Waterford: Is mar aisling an speir sin!
Phonetically: Iss mar ashling on spair shin!
Translation: That sky is like a dream!
Our Gaelic road trip has come to an end in County Meath.
A dreamy sky hangs over the beach at Dungarvan in County Waterford
Meath: Tá tuirse orm, ach táim breá sásta.
Phonetically: Thaw tear-sha urim, ach thaw-im bra sawsta.
Translation: I’m tired, but I’m happy.
As you bed down in Trim Castle Hotel, you can go to sleep with the happy realisation that you really do learn something new every day.
Coladh samh (sleep well)!
Wakey, wakey – we’re keeping you on your toes here. You’re in County Down and you’re right, this isn’t a Gaeltacht area and the locals aren’t speaking Gaeilge. This time you can wow the locals at your cosy guesthouse on Strangford Lough with an Ulster-Scots (Ullans) greeting.
Down: Fair Faa Yae tae Airlan. Whur dae yae come frae?
Translation: Welcome to Ireland! Where are you from, yourself?
Ullans is a lovely lyrical tongue based around the Ulster-Scots culture, and is even taught these days in universities! You’ve probably already used some Ulster-Scots words in the past – seriously! Perhaps the poetic words of Scotsman Robert Burns may ring a bell? He penned the lyrics of Auld Langsyne (heard EVERYWHERE on New Year’s Eve), which translates as The Good Old Days. See, there’s not many people out there who haven’t sung this out loud at some point in their life.
How’s that for a lovely linguistic tour of Ireland?
All that’s left to say now is: slán leat, fare ye weel and hope you come over to practise on us soon!
Oh, and if you fancy twisting your tongue around some of these phrases for real around the wonderful West of Ireland then there are some great deals to get you over here!
go raibh mile macht agat.
Go raibh maith agat. rugadh agutogamo athair i dTír Chonaill .
thats agus togadh mo. gabh mo leithsceal.
Bail ó Dhia ar an obair!
This is fine addition to the things to think about on St Patrick’s Day. Even this American knows of the centrality of the language to Irish identity. Suggestion: a link of some kind to a site where we can here the spoken word. Also, why does not the Irish government make available affordable tapes/ cds/ dvds of Irish language lessons. The commercial ones are expensive.
Sin go
Go raibh maith agat! Ta siúl agam go raibh gach rud ceart!
In Munster Irish we say “conas ta tu?” for “how are you?”
It’s all ” Greek ” to me but I’d like to learn! Patty O’Keating.
Good effort. It’s very difficult to represent the accurate sound of the Irish language phonetically to an English speaker. Apart from the regional variations in pronunciation, some Irish sounds are not in the English language at all.
For example the ‘gh’ sound in ‘Dia ghuit’ is not accurately represented by ‘gw’ but there is no real equivalent in English.
i want to know the irish for we can do it
It seems to be difficult, but I will learn it, because when I want to live there, it is a need to learn the Irish language and to speak with all people there in their own way
I went to Irish Gaelic classes about 15 years ago, taught by a gentleman from Donegal. That year, while I spoke it to a man from County Clare, he laughed at me!
“ceid mile failte” is one sentence I have
learnt already!
My Irish name is apparently Roisin and I love the sound of the Irish Gaelic.
How do you know which dialect to learn? If you speak in a Mayo accent to someone in Derry will they understand it?
Eileen,
I’ve been trying to learn Gaelic my self, I know there are three dialects. I started with Pimsleur on Disc; play them in my car, plus what I could learn on the internet.(Irish-Sayings.com) Bought Roseta Stone last year, but having a problem with…RS is done by visual, but I need English Translation … looking in the the neighborhood (north west Jersey) for a teacher.
Freddy O’Reithe
Enjoyed the photography and the tour was grand, Mr. Fllallon. I look back through my years that started in “29″. raosed by one of my Irish Grandmothers who said her rosary in Gaelic, which I still remember to this dayk (even a prayer for a recent wedding request….”MaMa” as I called her, would welcome all who ineterd with: ((I cant spell the gaelic, but it went like this@)..Cay he wilthew – - and the response was to be: Thaw mega maugh, Cay he wilthew hayne!….Was a wonderful childhood…So I have taken your pronunciations but as a remark before me, would be great to verbally (hear) those words on an inexpensive tape…Perhaps yourself, another down to earth Irishman/woman coulld produce one! Just loved your tour – - had been to Ireland twice in the twilight of my years! Thank you, Mr. Boyo Fallon…
Hey there Peg,
Well, it sounds like your Granny was from somewhere in the west of Ireland and most likely Connemara if she was saying things like ‘Cén chaoi a bhfuil tú?’ (Cane kwee will too – phoenetically) which means literally ‘What way are you?’ (always tempted to reply ‘Ah sure I’m sideways today, going for that horizontal look).
I’d be happy to lend my baratone to a recording of Irish sayings – you provide the recording studio and I’ll be there!
And you’re absolutely correct – I am a boyo!
Best,
David
I’m not sure. I found it quite difficult to learn Japanese because of the Kanji. Most people say that learning it with any of the currently available learning techniques takes years.
I’m not from Ireland, not even close…at all.
But I’d really love to learn this beautiful language, all dialects.
Know that it’s really hard to do, without a help, teacher..or at least a native speaker friend
.
Here(the place where I leave now) I’ve tried to find dictionaries, grammar books…but still no result.
Few years ago made an attempt to learn Korean, now I’m a graduate of Korean university.
Irish language seems to be much more harder for me. but giving up is not for me.
And now, I’m trying to find a language course, a good teacher and some books. Wouldn’t mind to get some help.
From far far Samarkand ,
all the best
KH