Useful Irish phrases

A collection of useful phrases in Irish, a celtic language spoken in Ireland.

Key to abbreviations: sg = singular (said to one person), pl = plural (said to more than one person).

tú / agat / leat / ort / duit are used for one person
sibh / agaibh / libh / oraibh / daoibh are used more than one person

Jump to phrases

See these phrases in any combination of two languages in the Phrase Finder. If you can provide recordings, corrections or additional translations, please contact me.

English Gaeilge (Irish)
Welcome Fáilte
Tá fáilte romhat (sg)
Tá fáilte romhaibh (pl)
Fáilte romhat isteach!
Céad míle fáilte
(a hundred thousand welcomes)
Hello (General greeting) Dia dhuit (sg)
Dia dhaoibh (pl)
Dia is Muire dhuit (sg) - reply
Dia is Muire dhaoibh (pl) - reply
How are you? Conas atá tú (Mun)
Cén chaoi a bhfuil tú (Con)
Cad é mar atá tú (Ul)
Conas atá cúrsaí leat?
An bhfuil aon scéal agat?
An bhfuil tú go maith?
Reply to 'How are you?' 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 thú (sg)
Ní fhaca mé le fada sibh (pl)
What's your name? Cén t-ainm atá ort? (sg)
Cén t-ainm atá oraibh? (pl)
Cad is ainm duit? (sg)
Cad is ainm daoibh? (pl)
C'ainm atá ort? (sg)
C'ainm atá oraibh? (pl) - Ul
My name is ... Is mise ...
Mise ...
... is ainm dom
Where are you from? Cá as duit? (Mun)
Cárb as duit? (Ul)
Cé as thú? (Con)
I'm from ... Is as ... dom
Is as ... mé
Pleased to meet you Tá áthas orm buaileadh leat (sg)
Tá áthas orm buaileadh libh (pl)
Good morning
(Morning greeting)
Dia dhuit ar maidin (sg)
Dia dhaoibh ar maidin (pl)
Maidin mhaith
Good afternoon
(Afternoon greeting)
Tráthnóna maith duit (sg)
Tráthnóna maith daoibh (pl)
Good evening
(Evening greeting)
Tráthnóna maith duit (sg)
Tráthnóna maith daoibh (pl)
Good night Oíche mhaith
Oíche mhaith agus codladh sámh
(Good night and sleep well)
Goodbye
(Parting phrases)
Slán
Slán go fóill
Slán agat (to one peron who is staying)
Slán agaibh (to more than one person who is staying)
Slán leat (to one person who is leaving)
Slán libh (to more than one person who is leaving)
Feicfidh mé ar ball thú (sg - See you later)
Feicfidh mé ar ball sibh (pl - See you later)
Chífidh mé ar ball thú (sg - See you later) - Ulster
Chífidh mé ar ball sibh (pl - See you later) - Ulster
Good luck! Go n-éirí an t-ádh leat!
Ádh mór ort!
Go n-éirí an bóthar leat!
Cheers! Good Health!
(Toasts used when drinking)
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)
Croí folláin 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 /
Have a good journey
Go dté tú slán (May you go safely)
Slán abhaile (Safe home)
Go n-éirí an bothar leat
(May you(r journey/road) be successful)
I don't know Níl a fhios agam
Níl fhios agam
Do you understand? An dtuigeann tú? (sg)
An dtuigeann sibh? (pl)
I understand Tuigim
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 say that again Abair sin arís, 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 English? An bhfuil Béarla agat? (sg)
An bhfuil Béarla agaibh? (pl)
Do you speak Irish? An bhfuil Gaeilge agat? (sg)
An bhfuil Gaeilge agaibh? (pl)
Yes, a little
(reply to 'Do you speak ...?')
Tá, beagán
Tá, cúpla focal
I'm learning Irish Tá mé ag foghlaim Gaeilge
Do you speak a language
other than
Irish?
An bhfuil teanga ar bith eile agat seachas Gaeilge?
An bhfuil teanga ar bith eile agat diomaite den Ghaeilge?
Seachas Gaeilge, an bhfuil teanga eile agat?
Speak to me in Irish Labhair Gaeilge liom
How do you say ... in Irish? Cad í an Ghaeilge ar ...?
Excuse me Gabh mo leithscéal
I would like ... Ba mhaith liom ...
How much is this? Cá mhéad atá seo?
Cá mhéad?
Sorry Gabh mo leithscéal!
Tá brón orm!
Please Le do thoil (sg)
Le bhur dtoil (pl)
Más é do thoil é (sg)
Más é bhur dtoil é (pl)
Thank you Go raibh maith agat (sg)
Go raibh maith agaibh (pl)
Go raibh míle maith agat (sg)
Go raibh míle maith agaibh (pl)
Gura míle (inf)
Reply to thank you ’Sé do bheatha
Ná habair é
Tá fáilte romhat
Where's the toilet / bathroom? Cá bhfuil an leithreas?
This gentleman will pay for everything Íocfaidh an fear seo as gach rud
This lady will pay for everything Íocfaidh an bhean seo as gach rud
Would you like to dance with me? Ar mhaith leat damhsa liom?
Do you come here often? An dtagann tú anseo go minic?
I miss you Crónaím thú
Airím uaim thú
Is fada liom uaim thú
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)
Adhraím thú (I adore you)
Get well soon Go raibh biseach ort gan mhoill!
Go away! Lig dom
Leave me alone! Fág i m'éinear mé!
Help! Tarrtháil!
Fire! Tine!
Stop! Stad!
Call the police! Glaoigh ar na gardaí!
Cuir fios ar na gardaí!
Christmas greetings Nollaig shona duit (sg)
Nollaig shona daoibh (pl)
Beannachtaí na Nollag
Beannachtaí an tSéasúir (Season's Greetings)
New Year greetings Athbhliain faoi mhaise duit (Prosperous New Year)
Bliain úr faoi shéan is faoi mhaise duit (Happy New Year to you)
Easter greetings Cáisc Shona duit (sg)
Cáisc Shona daoibh (pl)
Beannachtaí na Cásca
Birthday greetings Breithlá sona duit
Lá breithe sona duit
Congratulations! Comhghairdeas!
Go maire tú do nuacht!
St Patrick's Day Greetings Lá fhéile Pádraig sona dhuit (sg)
Lá fhéile Pádraig sona dhaoibh (pl)
Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig dhuit (sg)
Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh (pl)
One language is never enough Ní leor teanga amháin
My hovercraft is full of eels Tá m'árthach foluaineach lán d'eascanna

Recordings and/or corrections by John O'Brien and Siobhán Ní Chathasaigh and Ruairí Ó hEithir

Download all the recordings (Zip, 2MB)

Note

There are no exact equivalents of yes or no in Irish. The way you answer questions depends on the verbs used. For example, if you are asked "Ar mhaith leat damhsa liom?" (Would you like to dance with me?) you could reply with "Ba mhaith" (I would) or "Níor mhaith" (I wouldn't). This is a feature of Irish English as well. You could also use "aye" (yes), "nah" (no) or "cinnte" (sure) if you're not sure which reply is appropriate.

If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.

Irish language | Gaelic script | Ogham alphabet | Phrases | Numbers: Modern Irish, Middle Irish, Old Irish | Colours | Family words | Terms of endearment | Time | Dates | Weather | Proverbs | Comparison of Celtic languages | Celtic cognates | Celtiadur | Tower of Babel | Tongue twisters | Songs | Learning materials | Books about Ogham | My podcast about Irish | Links

Links

Other collections of Irish phrases (some with audio)
http://www.irish-sayings.com/
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~irelandlist/phrases.html
http://www.learn-irish-language-software.com/phrases/FSIrish.htm

Irish learning software
http://www.linguashop.com/irish-language

Phrases in Celtic languages

Breton, Cornish, Cumbric, Irish, Manx, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh, Welsh (Gwentian)

Phrases in other languages

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