Essential Irish Gaelic Phrases

Sometimes you don't have time to learn long lists of words and phrases. All you want to know are the bare essentials for communicating to get what you need, or where you need to go.

Here are the bare minimum of Irish Gaelic words and phrases you need to know to survive.

Learn the Top 10 Phrases if you only have time for the barest minimum. If you need or want more, then take a look at the Top 20 Phrases, Top 30 Phrases and the Extra Phrases.

Here are ten easy phrases to get you started ...

The Top 10 ...

Dia dhuit.

Hello.
Slán agat. (by the person leaving)
Slán leat. (by the person staying)
Goodbye.
An bhfuil Béarla agat?
Do you speak English?
Ní thuigim.
I don't understand.
Beagán.
A little.
Sea. Ní hea.
Yes. No.
Cé mhéad atá ar ...?

How much is it?
Ródhaor. Ceart go leor.
Too expensive. OK.
Le do thoil.
Please.
Go raibh (míle) maith agat.
Thank you (very much).

Here are ten more phrases that will help you make new friends and ask for directions ... The Top 20 ...
	Cad is ainm duit? What is your name? Is mise ... My name is ... Conas atá tú? How are you? Tá mé go breá. Agus tusa? Fine. And you? Cá bhfuil ...? Where is ...? Cá bhfuil an leithreas? Fir/Mná Where is the toilet? Men/Women Tá brón orm. Gabh mo leithscéul. Sorry. Excuse me. Fadhb ar bith. No problem. Ba mhaith liom ... I want ... Níor mhaith liom ... I don't want ...

Here are another ten phrases to help you make a little more conversation and to get around ...

The Top 30 ...

Cad as duit?
Where are you from?
Is as an Astráil dom.*
I am from Australia.
An bille, le do thoil.
The bill, please.
Tá mé ar strae.
I am lost.
Stad! Fan!
Stop! Wait!
Anseo, ansin, ansiúd.
Here, there, over there.
Tacsaí. Óstán. Aerfort. Stáisiún.
Taxi. Hotel. Airport. Station.
Is maith liom ...
I like ...
Ní maith liom ...
I don't like ...

a haon**, a dó, a trí, a ceathair, a cúig.
one, two, three, four, five.
a sé, a seacht, a hocht, a naoi, a deich.
six, seven, eight, nine, ten.

** Use the forms aon, dhá, trí, ceithre,
cúig, sé, seacht, ocht, naoi, deich
before nouns. One is also expressed as
aon + noun + amháin.

*Or choose your country:
Meiriceá - America
Ceanada - Canada
Sasana - England
Éire - Ireland
An Nua-Shéalainn - New Zealand

Here are some extra words and phrases you might find useful, especially if you have dietary needs or allergies ...

Useful Extras ...

Sláinte!
Cheers!

maith / olc
good / bad
mór / beag
big / small
in aice / fada
near / far
níos lú / tuilleadh
less / more
ceann eile / go leor
another / enough

Is feoilshéantóir mé.
I am vegetarian.
Ní ithim feoil.
I don't eat meat.
... sicín.
... chicken.
... iasc.
... fish.

Tá ailléirge orm le cnónna.
I am allergic to nuts.
... píseanna talún.
... peanuts.
... héisc.
... fish.
... bia mara.
... seafood.
... huibheacha.
... eggs.