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Hoping to learn some Irish phrases before heading over to the Emerald Isle? The Irish language may seem tricky, but it can be quite an easy language once you get started. We've put together a list of simple phrases to learn, so you can have some basic interactions with the Irish-speaking locals.
Steps
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Dia Duit it literally means God be with you. Whoever says Dia Duit first, the other person answers "Dia's Muire Duit" (dee-yass murra gwitch), which means God and Mary be with you, or 'Dia is Muire is Seosamh duit' (dee-ya iss murra is showsive gwitch) God, Mary and Joseph be with you. It's from a more religious time really
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You must reply "Tá mé..." When you get asked "Conas atá tú." Then there are different words you could put in after Tá mé:
- Go maith (good) (Gu ma)
- Go deas (great) (Gu dass)
- Go brón (sad) (Gu brone)
- Tá sceitimíní orm (excited) (Tah skettimeeni uram)
- "Tá mé go maith" (fine) (Tah may go mahth)
- "Tá mé beo ar éigean" (not so good) (Ta may be-or reagan)
Community Q&A
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QuestionWhat are the days of the week?Community AnswerDé Domhnaigh-Sunday; Dé Luain- Monday; Dé Máirt- Tuesday; Dé Céadaoin- Wednesday; Déardaoin- Thursday; Dé hAoine- Friday; Dé Sathairn- Saturday.Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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QuestionHow do I say thank you in Irish Gaelic?Hannelore ClaesCommunity AnswerGo raibh maith agat.Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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QuestionHow do you say Ireland in Irish Gaelic?Community AnswerIreland is "Éire" in Irish Gaelic.Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Tips
- A fada (ie, á) over the letter makes the word sound different.
- Over an a, makes it have an aw... sound,
- over an e, it sound like, a (the letter a),
- over an i it sounds like ee,
- over an o, it just sounds like o
- and over a u it sounds like, oo (as in ooh and ahh)
Thanks
Warnings
- Many adults in Ireland do not speak irish past their schooling years and thus don't know a whole lot. If you want to visit a part of ireland that is predominantly irish speaking research The Ghaeltacht.Thanks
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Reader Success Stories
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Ella Griffee
Oct 19, 2016
"My friend is Irish so I thought it would be funny to talk to him in Irish because he doesn't know how to even though he is Irish (which, by the way, I thought was pretty funny). Now I'm teaching him his own language." ..." more
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About This Article
Ella Griffee
Oct 19, 2016
Frank Majury
Jun 23, 2019