Useful Irish phrases

A collection of useful phrases in Irish. Click on the English phrases to see them in many other languages.

English Gaeilge (Irish)
Welcome Fáilte, Tá fáilte romhat (sg) / romhaibh (pl)
Fáilte romhat isteach! (Welcome here!)
Cead míle fáilte (hundred thousand welcomes - seen mainly on signs)
Hello Dia duit, Dia is Muire duit (reply)
How are you?



I'm fine, thanks. And you?
Conas atá tú? (Munster)
Cén chaoi a bhfuil tú? (Connacht)
Cad é mar atá tú? (Ulster)
Conas atá cursaí? (An bhfuil) aon scéal (agat)? An bhfuil tú go maith?
Tá mé go maith, go raibh maith agat, agus tú fein?
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) - Ulster
Is mise ... / Mise ... / ... is ainm dom
Where are you from?
I'm from ...
Cá as duit? (Munster) Cárb as duit? (Ulster) Cé as thú? (Connacht)
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 (May the road rise with you)
Slán abhaile! (Safe home)
I don't understand Ní thuigim Cha dtuigim (Ulster)
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?
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 (You're welcome)
Go raibh maith agat / Go raibh míle maith agat / 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 fhear/bhean seo don 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'eascainn

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Information about written and spoken Irish

books   Language learning materials for Irish

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

Phrases in related languages

Breton, Cornish, Irish, Manx, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh

Phrases in other languages

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