Gaeilge

A SUPPLEMENT FOR LEARNERS OF THE DUOLINGO IRISH COURSE

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CONT ENTSHistory of Irish...............................................................3Pronouncing Irish........................................................4

Vowels...................................................................4Vowel combinations...........................................4Consonants..........................................................5Stress......................................................................5

Lenition (Séimhiú).......................................................6Word Order.................................................................7

Terminology..........................................................7Bí and Is.......................................................................7

The verb be, Bí/Tá................................................7The copula, Is.......................................................8

Phrases.........................................................................9Hello!......................................................................9Useful Phrases.......................................................9

Articles and Conjunctions.........................................9Verbs..........................................................................10Vocabulary - Fruit.....................................................10Vocabulary - Vegetables.......................................11Vocabulary - Food...................................................12Vocabulary - People...............................................13Likes and Dislikes.......................................................14Exercises....................................................................15Vocabulary - Verbs 1...............................................16Vocabulary - Language.........................................16Possession 1...............................................................17

Translating "have"..............................................17To speak or to have?........................................17

Prepositions 1............................................................18Lenition................................................................18Eclipsis..................................................................18

More on Lenition......................................................19Feminine Singular Nouns with the Definite Article..................................................................19Feminine nouns directly followed by an adjective.............................................................19Singular Possessive Determiners.......................19With the Numbers 1-6........................................19With certain prepositions..................................20DeNTaLS-DoTS....................................................20

Eclipsis (Urú)...............................................................21Plural possessive Determiners...........................21Preposition + Definite Article............................21Numbers 7-10.....................................................22Words starting with a vowel.............................22

Vocabulary - Animals..............................................23

Vocabulary - Clothing.............................................24Vocabulary - Colours...............................................25Possession 2...............................................................26

The possessive determiners..............................26Consonants........................................................26Vowels.................................................................26

Ownership.................................................................27Using le to express ownership...........................27

Exercises....................................................................28The Present Habitual................................................29

Type 1 verbs........................................................29Type 2 verbs........................................................29Irregular Verbs....................................................29

Vocabulary – Verbs 2..............................................30Vocabulary – Verbs 3..............................................31Vocabulary – Verbs 4..............................................32Vocabulary – Verbs 5..............................................33Vocabulary - Misc....................................................33Questions and Answers...........................................34

The Question Form.............................................34The Negative Form............................................34Answering Questions.........................................34Useful Phrases.....................................................34

Interrogative Pronouns............................................35Conjunctions.............................................................36Verbal Nouns............................................................37Expressing Obligation and Desire..........................38

Ó and Chuig/Chun...........................................38Expressing obligation with ar............................38Expressing desire using ó and teastaigh.........38

Ireland 1.....................................................................39Months and Seasons................................................40

Phrases................................................................40Days of the Week.....................................................41Time............................................................................41Family.........................................................................42

Phrases................................................................42Preposition – Do.................................................42

Jobs............................................................................43Present Progressive..................................................44

Examples.............................................................44With a direct object..........................................44examples............................................................44With Indirect objects.........................................44

Credits.......................................................................45

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HIST ORY OF IRISHIrish (Gaeilge) is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family originating in Ireland andhistorically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is spoken as a first language by a small minority of Irishpeople, and as a second language by a rather larger group of non-native speakers. Irish enjoysconstitutional status as the national and first official languageof the Republic of Ireland, and is an officially recognisedminority language in Northern Ireland. It is also among theofficial languages of the European Union. The public bodyForas na Gaeilge is responsible for the promotion of thelanguage throughout the island of Ireland.

Irish was the predominant language of the Irish people for mostof their recorded history, and they brought it with them toother regions, notably Scotland and the Isle of Man, whereMiddle Irish gave rise to Scottish Gaelic and Manx respectively.It has the oldest vernacular literature in Western Europe.

The fate of the language was influenced by the increasingpower of the English state in Ireland. Elizabethan officialsviewed the use of Irish unfavourably, as being a threat to allthings English in Ireland. Its decline began under English rule inthe 17th century. In the latter part of the 19th century, therewas a dramatic decrease in the number of speakers,beginning after the Great Famine of 1845–52 (when Ireland lost20–25% of its population either to emigration or death). Irish-speaking areas were hit especially hard. By the end of Britishrule, the language was spoken by less than 15% of the national population. Since then, Irish speakershave been in the minority. Efforts have been made by the state, individuals and organisations topreserve, promote and revive the language, but with mixed results.

Around the turn of the 21st century, estimates of traditional native speakers (living in rural areas knownas the Gaeltacht) ranged from 20,000 to 80,000 people. In the 2006 census for theRepublic, 85,000 people reported using Irish as a daily language outside of theeducation system, and 1.2 million reported using it at least occasionally in or outof school. In the 2011 Census, these numbers had increased to 94,000 and 1.3million, respectively. There are several thousand Irish speakers in Northern Ireland.It has been estimated that the active Irish-language scene probably comprises 5to 10 per cent of Ireland's population.

There has been a significant increase in the number of urban Irish speakers,particularly in Dublin. This community, described as disparate but large, well-educated and mostly middle class, enjoys a lively cultural life and has been linked

to the growth of non-mainstream schools which teach through the medium of Irish. In Gaeltachtareas, however, there has been a general decline of the use of Irish. Údarás na Gaeltachta predictedthat, by 2025, Irish will no longer be the primary language in any of the designated Gaeltacht areas.

Survey data suggest that most Irish people think highly of Irish as a symbolic marker of identity, but thatfew think of it as having a practical value. It has also been argued that newer urban groups of Irishspeakers are a disruptive force in this respect, since their aim is to make the language a practicalinstrument of communication.

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Percentage of Irish speakers 2011

Gaeltachtaí

PRONOUNCING IRISHVowelsVowels in Irish are either broad or slender. Broad vowels (gutaí leathana) : a, o, u Slender vowels(gutaí caola) : i, e

Spelling rule: Caol le caol agus leathan le leathan. The vowels on either side of a consonant, or groupof consonants, must both be slender or both be broad, although there are a few exceptions, e.g.anseo. Vowels can also take on an acute accent (fada) and are always pronounced. Vowels oneither side of a fada vowel are silent. They are present only to satisfy the caol le caol agus leathan leleathan rule.

a /a/ hata, cat between sud and sadá /ɑ:/ tá, práta tar, parte /ɛ/ uisce, le peck, leté /e:/ léi, éan pay, latei /ɪ/ ith, is in, isí /i:/ míle,sí knee, seeo /ɔ/ oráiste, corcra moreó /o:/ ólann, brón old, ownu /ʌ/ dubh, agus between luck and lookú /u:/ tú, úll too, mood

Vowel combinations

ae* /e/ Gaelach galeao /i/ or /e/

depending on dialect Aodh, caol see, say

aoi /i/ aoi, Naoise meea /ᴂ/ bean, fear appleei /ɛ/ eisean, ceimic meh-eadh /ɛ/ or /u/

depending on dialectdeireadh, cuireadh meh, moo

eo /o/ Eoin, ceol, beo no-faidh,-fidh

/i/ tiocfaidh, feicfidh key

ia /iə/ bia, fia dealua /uə/ fuath mooio, oi, ui /ɪ/ (usually) gliondar, gloine, duine fit

*ae is always treated as a broad vowel, and therefore Gaelach follows the rule. If the vowel after the L was slender,a slender vowel would be added, e.g. Gaeilge. Before the spelling reform it was written "aedhea". For instance,Gaedheal became Gael.

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ConsonantsConsonants (Consain): b c d f g h l m n p r s t. The rest of the English alphabet is only used for loanwords. Consonants are classified as broad and slender, too; they take on the flavour of the nearestvowel. The most notable examples are as follows:slender s /ʃ/ sí, mise, siad shoe, fish

slender t /tʃ/ te, leite, cait similar to: chin, rich

slender d /dʲ/ Dia, cuidiú, leid Joe, vigil, ledge

slender l /lʲ/ Liam, bileog, cáil million, will you

slender n /nʲ/ níl, sloinne news

StressIf there is just one syllable with a fada on it, that syllable usually gets the stress. Otherwise, the firstsyllable usually gets the stress. Unstressed vowels may be reduced to a schwa /ə/. A schwa may also beadded between consecutive consonants, e.g. gorm is pronounced like /gɔrəm/.

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LENIT ION (SÉIMHIÚ)Putting ‘h’ after a consonant is a device to show that the sound of the consonant is softened. It’scalled a séimhiú (séimh = soft) and used to be indicated by a dot above the letter: ch = ċ, gh = ġ etc.

broad / leathana, o, u

Séimhiú slender / caoli, e

/w/bhain, abhaile, dabht, gabh

wow, tower(/v/ in Munster dialect)

bh/v/

an bhean, mo bhríste, sibhvillage, eve

/x/chomh, nócha, nach

loch (Scottish)ch

/ç/oíche, deich

hue (pronounced strongly)

/ɣ/dhún

Arabic dh

/j/ar dheireadh, a Dhia

yell

silentan fhuaim, m’fhoireann

fh silentan fhéile, an fhiacail

/ɣ/ghasúr, ghlór

Arabic gh

/j/mo ghile, oighear

yell

/w/gan mhoill, amháin, domhan

wow, tower(/v/ in Munster dialect)

mh/v/

mo mhéar, séimhiú, nimhvillage, eve

/f/sa pholl, phós siad

followph

/f/an pheil

fell

/h/Nollaig shona, mo shaol

honeysh

/h/dhá shiocair, ar sheift

hello

/h/mo thóin, tharla

honeyth

/h/trí thine, an-the

helloThere is no lenition for h, l, n and r. Among the situations where lenition occurs are the following:

• an + feminine noun (bean [woman] an bhean [the woman]), BUT:◦ feminine nouns beginning with s+vowel, sl, sn, or sr gain a t at the beginning, instead of

leniting (seacláid [chocolate] an tseacláid [the chocolate])• adjectives following a feminine noun (maith [good] oíche mhaith [good night]);• possessive adjectives (cara [friend] mo chara [my friend]);• with the numbers 1-6. Note the singular is used (capall [horse] sé chapall [six horses]); • after the words ar on, de off, den off the, do to/for, don to the, faoi under/about, ó from,

roimh before, sa/san in the, trí through, um around/about (buachaill [boy] don bhuachaill[to the boy]).

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WORD ORDERTerminologySubject: Who or what is performing the actionVerb: The actionObject: Who or what is having the action done to itAdjective: Describing word

English is a SVO language: subject-verb-object. For example, in the sentence I drink water, I is thesubject, drink is the verb, and water is the object. In Irish, the word order is VSO. So I drink waterbecomes Ólann mé uisce (Drink I water).

Also, adjectives come after the noun. So pink hat becomes "hat pink" (hata bándearg).

BÍ AND ISOne distinctive aspect of Irish is the distinction between the copula (an chopail in Irish), is, and theverb bí (conjugated in the present as tá). Is describes an inherent/permanent identity or quality, whiletemporary aspects and states of being are described by tá:

• Tá sé ina chodladh – He is asleep• Tá mé breoite – I'm ill• Is fear é – He is a man

The verb be, Bí/Tá

Irish English Irish Negative English Negativetá mé/táim I am níl mé, nílim I am not

tá tú you (sing.) are níl tú you (sing.) are nottá sé he/it is níl sé he/it is nottá sí she/it is níl sí she/it is not

tá muid/táimid we are níl muid, nílmid we are nottá sibh you (pl.) are níl sibh you (pl.) are nottá siad they are níl siad they are not

Notes: tá + mé (I) = táim, tá + muid (we) = táimid. These contractions are called the synthetic form, and are not usedacross all dialects.

Examples:• Tá sé mór – It is big• Tá an leabhar ar an mbord – The book is on the table• Tá an madra mór – The dog is big

For the question form, replace tá with an bhfuil (pronounced an will):• Tá tú breoite – You are ill An bhfuil tú breoite? – Are you ill?• An bhfuil an leabhar ar an mbord? – Is the book is on the table?• An bhfuil an madra mór? – Is the dog big?

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The copula, IsThe copula (is)does not follow the pronunciation rules, and is always pronounced iss, not ish.

The negative form of is is ní. E.g. Is bean mé – I am a woman. Ní bean mé – I am not a woman.

Irish English Irish Negative English Negativeis ... mé I am ní ... mé I am notis ... tú you (sing.) are ní ... tú you (sing.) are notis ... é he/it is ní ... é he/it is notis ... í she/it is ní ... í she/it is not

is ... sinn/muid we are ní ... sinn/muid we are notis ... sibh you (pl.) are ní ... sibh you (pl.) are notis ... iad they are ní ... iad they are not

To form a question, replace is with an. Examples:• Is leabhar é – It's a book• An leabhar é? – Is it a book?• Is maith leat neachtairíní – You like nectarines• An maith leat neachtairíní? – Do you like nectarines?

One of the most common mistakes learners make is using tá in place of is, or vice versa. Here's oneway to remember the difference:

• The verb tá can be used to describe something.• To say what something is, you need the copula, is.

Another way to think of it:

• Tá is used to associate a noun with an adjective.• Is is used to associate a noun with a another noun.

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PHRASESHello!Dia dhuit is the traditional way to say hello. When addressing more than one person, use the pluralform, Dia dhaoibh. These literally mean God to you. To respond, you can use Dia is Muire dhuit, whichliterally means God and Mary to you, or Dia is Muire dhaoibh if you are addressing more than oneperson. However, the traditional forms are falling out of fashion, and a secular greeting Haigh/Hi;Maidin mhaith (Good morning); or a simple Conas atá tú/sibh? (How are you?) are often usedinstead, especially among the younger generations.

Useful PhrasesConas atá tú? / Conas atá sibh? – How are you (sing. then pl.)Cén chaoi a bhfuil tú? – How are you? (Connacht dialect)Tá mé go maith – I am well.Fáilte! – Welcome!Céad míle fáilte! – A hundred thousand welcomes (to you)! Cén t-ainm atá ort? - What's your name?Is mise … / ... is ainm dom – I am... / My name is...Le do thoil – PleaseGo raibh maith agat / Go raibh maith agaibh – Thank you (sing. then pl.)Tá fáilte romhat / Tá fáilte romhaibh – You're welcome (sing. then pl.)Gabh mo leithscéal – Excuse meTá brón orm – I'm sorryMaidin mhaith – Good morningTráthnóna maith duit / Tráthnóna maith daoibh – Good afternoon/evening (sing. then pl.)Oíche mhaith – Good nightSlán! – Goodbye!

ART ICLES AND CONJUNCT IONSIrish English

the (sing.) an

the (pl.) na

agus and

nó or

ach but

Examples:• Stobhach agus arán – Stew and bread• An buachaill agus an cailín – The boy and the girl• Na buachaillí agus na cailíní – The boys and the girls• Uisce nó sú? – Water or juice?• Bándearg nó gorm – Pink or blue• Ní maith liom caife ach is maith liom tae – I don't like coffee, but I like tea.

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VERBSith eat ól drink

itheann mé/ithim I eat ólann mé/ólaim I drink

itheann tú you (sing.) eat ólann tú you (sing.) drink

itheann sé/sí he/she eats ólann sé/sí he/she drinks

itheann muid/ithimid we eat ólann muid/ólaimid we drink

itheann sibh you (pl.) eat ólann sibh you (pl.) drink

itheann siad they eat ólann siad they drink

VOCABULARY - FRUITMeaning Gender Singular Definite Plural

apple m úll an t-úll úlla

apricot f aibreog an aibreog aibreoga

banana m banana an banana bananaí

cherry m silín an silín silíní

fruit m toradh an toradh torthaí

grape f fíonchaor an fhíonchaor fíonchaora

grapefruit f seadóg an tseadóg seadóga

lemon f líomóid an líomóid líomóidí

lime m líoma an líoma líomaí

melon m mealbhacán an mealbhacán mealbhacáin

nectarine m neachtairín an neachtairín neachtairíní

orange m oráiste an t-oráiste oráistí

peach f péitseog an phéitseog péitseoga

pear m piorra an piorra piorraí

pineapple m anann an t-anann anainn

raspberry f sú craobh an tsú craobh sútha craobh

strawberry f sú talún an tsú talún sútha talún

watermelon m mealbhacán uisce an mealbhacánuisce

mealbhacáin uisce

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VOCABULARY - VEGETABLESMeaning Gender Singular Definite Plural

bean f pónaire an phónaire pónairí

broccoli m brocailí an brocailí –

Brussel sprout f bachlóg Bhruiséile an bhachlógBhruiséile

bachlóga Bruiséile

carrot m cairéad an cairéad cairéid

cauliflower f cóilis an chóilis cóiliseacha

chickpea m sicphiseánach an sicphiseánach sicphiseánaigh

chip f sceallóg an sceallóg sceallóga

cucumber m cúcamar an cúcamar cúcamair

garlic f gairleog an ghairleog gairleoga

kale m cál an cál cáil

leek f cainneann an chainneann cainneanna

lettuce f leitís an leitís leitísí

mushroom m muisiriún an muisiriúin muisiriúiní

onion m oinniún an t-oinniún oinniúin

parsley f peirsil an pheirsil peirsilí

pea f pis an phis piseanna

pepper m piobar an piobar piobair

potato m práta an práta prátaí

pumpkin m puimcín an puimcín puimcíní

spinach m spionáiste an spionáiste –

swede m svaeid an svaeid svaeideanna

sweet potato m práta milis an práta milis prátaí milse

sweetcorn m grán buí/grán milis

an grán buí/an grán milis

gráin buí/gráin milse

tomato m tráta an tráta trátaí

vegetable m glasra an glasra glasraí

vegetarian m veigeatóir/feoilséantóir

an veigeatóir/an feoilséantóir

veigeatóirí/feoilséantóirí

vegan m veigeán an veigeán veigeáin

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VOCABULARY - FOODMeaning Gender Singular Definite Plural

food m bia an bia bianna

breakfast m bricfeasta an bricfeasta bricfeastaí

lunch m lón an lón lón

dinner m dinnéar an dinnéar dinnéir

beef f mairteoil an mhairteoil –

biscuit m briosca an briosca brioscaí

bread m arán an t-arán aráin

butter m im an t-im imeanna

cake m cáca an cáca cácaí

cheese f cáis an cháis cáiseanna

chicken m sicín an sicín sicíní

chocolate f seacláid an tseacláid seacláidí

coffee m caife an caife caifí

crisp m criospa an criospa criospaí

egg f ubh an ubh uibheacha

fish m iasc an t-iasc éisc

fridge m cuisneoir an cuisneoir cuisneoirí

jam f subh an tsubh subha

juice m sú an sú sútha

meat f feoil an fheoil feolta

menu m biachlár an biachlár biachláir

milk m bainne an bainne bainní

oil f ola an ola olaí

pie f pióg an phióg pióga

plate m pláta an pláta plátaí

rice f rís an rís ríseanna

salt m salann an salann salainn

sandwich m ceapaire an ceapaire ceapairí

sauce m anlann an t-anlann anlainn

soup m anraith an t-anraith anraithí

stew m stobhach an stobhach stobhaigh

sugar m siúcra an siúcra siúcraí

sweet m milseán an milseán milseáin

tea m tae an tae teanna

toast m tósta an tósta –

water m uisce an t-uisce uiscí

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VOCABULARY - PEOPLEMeaning Gender Singular Definite Plural

woman f bean an bhean mná

man m fear an fear fir

girl m cailín an cailín cailíní

boy m buachaill an buachaill buachaillí

child m páiste an páiste páistí

family m teaghlach an teaghlach teaghlaigh

parent m tuismitheoir an tuismitheoir tuismitheoirí

mother f máithir an mháithir máithreacha

father m athair an t-athair aithreacha

brother m deartháir an deartháir deartháireacha

sister f deirfiúr an deirfiúr deirfiúracha

son m mac an mac mic

daughter f iníon an iníon iníonacha

grandparent m seantuismitheoir an seantuismitheoir seantuismitheoirí

grandmother f seanmháthair an tseanmháthair seanmháithreacha

grandfather m seanathair an seanathair seanaithreacha

cousin m col ceathrair an col ceathrair col ceathracha

aunt f aintín an aintín aintíní

uncle m uncail an t-uncail uncailí

person m duine an duine daoine

friend m cara an cara cairde

teacher m múinteoir an múinteoir múinteoirí

boss m bas an bas basanna

neighbour f comharsa an chomharsa comharsana

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LIKES AND DISLIKESThere is no verb for "like", "dislike", etc in Irish. To say [x] likes [y] in Irish, you use the construction [y] isgood with [x].

maith good fearr better

is maith liom I like is fearr liom I prefer

is maith leat you (sing.) like is fearr leat you (sing.) prefer

is maith leis/léi he/she likes is fearr leis/léi he/she prefers

is maith linn we like is fearr linn we prefer

is maith libh you (pl.) like is fearr libh you (pl.) prefer

is maith leo they like is fearr leo they prefer

breá fine, wonderful fuath hate(ful)

is breá liom I love is fuath liom I hate

is breá leat you (sing.) love is fuath leat you (sing.) hate

is breá leis/léi he/she loves is fuath leis/léi he/she hates

is breá linn we love is fuath linn we hate

is breá libh you (pl.) love is fuath libh you (pl.) hate

is breá leo they love is fuath leo they hate

These use the conjugated forms of le (with). To ask if someone likes something, use an maith le[person] [object]? As there is no direct translation for "yes" and "no" in Irish, you respond with either apositive or negative repetition of the question. Examples:

• An maith leat caife? – Do you like coffee? (Literally: Is coffee good with you?)◦ Is maith liom – I like (it)◦ Ní maith liom – I don't like it◦ Is fearr liom tae – I prefer tea

• An fuath le Caoimhe seacláid? – Does Caoimhe hate chocolate?◦ Ní fuath léi, ach is fearr léi milseáin – She doesn't hate (it), but she prefers sweets

You can use the construction [object] is fearr le [person] to say [object] is [person's] favourite.Examples:

• Cáca is fearr liom – Cake is my favourite• Banana is fearr le Kevin – Banana is Kevin's favourite

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EXERCISESTranslate the following into Irish:

1. How are you (sing.)?2. I eat tomatoes and you (sing.) eat

sweets.3. She drinks water.4. It's an apple.5. I am not a boy and you are not a man.6. He likes strawberries.7. You (pl.) love bread.8. The girl eats breakfast and the boy eats

sugar.9. I am and we are.10. They drink juice and we drink milk.11. We hate rice and you (pl.) hate stew.12. The brother eats and the sister drinks.13. I don't like tea. I'm sorry.14. We drink and we eat.15. She is a woman and he is a man.16. Water, please.17. Do they like oranges?18. I like chocolate and you like vegetables.19. They are vegetarians.20. You (sing.) hate meat.21. How is he and how am I?22. I prefer the orange.23. You (pl.) prefer the cake.24. They are boys.25. We are women.26. I hate broccoli and I hate carrots!27. I am a girl and you are a boy.28. Potato or tomato?29. The mother eats beef and the daughter

eats chicken.30. The woman eats a sandwich and the

man eats an apple.31. Goodbye!

Translate the following into English:1. Is cailíní iad agus is mná muid.2. Is fearr leat an práta.3. An biachlár, le do thoil.4. Ola agus uisce.5. Ní maith liom cáis agus ní maith leat

brioscaí.6. Ithim agus ólaim.7. Ní mná muid agus ní fir iad!8. Salann agus piobar.9. Is fuath leo uibheacha.10. Dia dhuit. Is mise Kevin.11. Ólann sí uisce agus ólaimid sú.12. Tá fáilte romhat!13. Tá mé go maith. Go raibh maith agat!14. Is veigeán mé. Tá brón orm.15. Is fuath liom iasc agus is fuath leat

torthaí.16. An maith leat tráta?17. Is breá léi an úll.18. Ólann sé caife agus ólann mé uisce.19. Itheann siad na piobair agus itheann

muid trátaí.20. Conas atá mé? Conas atá siad?21. Táim agus táimid.22. Is fearr libh an bhean.23. Lón agus dinnéar.24. Ólann an bhean sú.25. Itheann an mháithir ceapaire agus

itheann an t-athair pióg.26. Ní veigeatóir muid.27. Úlla, bananaí nó piorraí?28. Ithim arán agus ithimid im.29. Is fearr linn na sútha talún.30. Is plátaí iad.31. Itheann na cailíní criospaí agus itheann

na buachaillí péitseoga.

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VOCABULARY - VERBS 1labhair speak éist listen

labhraíonn mé/labhraím I speak éisteann mé/éistim I listen

labhraíonn tú you (sing.) speak éisteann tú you (sing.) listen

labhraíonn sé/sí he/she speaks éisteann sé/sí he/she listens

labhraíonn muid/labhraímid

we speak éisteann muid/éistimid

we listen

labhraíonn sibh you (pl.) speak éisteann sibh you (pl.) listen

labhraíonn siad they speak éisteann siad they listen

scríobh write léigh read

scríobhann mé/scríobhaim I write léann mé/léim I read

scríobhann tú you (sing.) write léann tú you (sing.) read

scríobhann sé/sí he/she writes léann sé/sí he/she reads

scríobhann muid/scríobhaimid

we write léann muid/léimid

we read

scríobhann sibh you (pl.) write léann sibh you (pl.) read

scríobhann siad they write léann siad they read

VOCABULARY - LANGUAGEMeaning Gender Singular Definite Plural

book m leabhar an leabhar leabhair

magazine f iris an iris irisí

newspaper m nuachtán an nuachtán nuachtáin

paper m páipéar an páipéar páipéir

pen m peann an peann pinn

language f teanga an teanga teangacha

Irish f Gaeilge an Ghaeilge –

English m Béarla an Béarla –

French f Fraincis an Fhraincis –

German f Gearmáinis an Ghearmáinis –

Italian f Iodáilis an Iodáilis –

Spanish f Spáinnis an Spáinnis –

Japanese f Seapáinis an tSeapáinis –

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POSSESSION 1Translating "have"Irish has no direct translation for "have". To say someone has something, you say that something is "at"someone. In Irish, use the verb bí (be) together with the preposition ag (at). Note that ag has anirregular pronunciation and is pronounced more like the English word "egg".

When ag is followed by a pronoun, they join to make a "prepositional pronoun". For example, ag andmé combine to form agam (at me). Here are the conjugations:

ag at

agam at me

agat at you (sing.)

aige at him

aici at her

againn at us

agaibh at you (pl.)

acu at them

Examples:• Tá éan agam – I have a bird• An bhfuil an tsú talún agat? – Do you have the strawberry?• Tá madra ag Caoimhe – Caoimhe has a dog

Note: using ag with the definite article causes eclipsis, which will be covered later on.• Tá hata ag an mbuachaill – The boy has a hat

To speak or to have?Irish makes a distinction between knowing a language, and the act of speaking it.

• To refer to the actual practice of speaking a language use labhraíonn, e.g. Labhraíonn méGaeilge – I speak Irish.

• To say you know a language, in Irish you say you "have" a language, so you would use tá[language] ag [person], e.g. Tá Béarla agam – I know (how to speak) English. An bhfuilGaeilge agat? – Do you know (how to speak) Irish? Tá Seapáinis aici – She speaks Japanese.

This construction works for any skill, but for verbs, use the verbal noun form (see page 37).Examples:

• An bhfuil snámh agat? – Can you (do you know how to) swim? • Níl léimh aici – She can't (doesn't know how to) read

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PREPOSIT IONS 1Here are the conjugated forms of two prepositions we have used so far:

roimh before, ahead of ar* on

romham before me orm on me

romhat before you(sing.) ort on you (sing.)

roimhe before him air on him

roimpi before her uirthi on her

romhainn before us orainn on us

romhaibh before you (pl.) oraibh on you (pl.)

rompu before them orthu on them

Note: ar does not follow pronunciation rules and is pronounced similar to the English word "air" with a rhotic r.

Examples:• Tá brón orm – I am sorry (literally: sorrow is on me)• Tá hata air – He has a hat on• Tá gruaig rua uirthi – She has red hair• Léann sé ar oíche – He reads at night• Itheann mé rompu – I eat before them• Léann sí an leabhar romham – She reads the book before me• Tá madra romhat – A dog is ahead of you

LenitionRoimh will trigger lenition if the following noun does not have an article:

• roimh mhaidin – before morning• roimh chailín – ahead of a girl

Ar will trigger lenition only if the noun is not an abstract/general state:• ar chíos mór – for a high rent (non-abstract/general, lenition)• ar maidin – in the morning (general state, no lenition)

EclipsisIf using any of these prepositions before an+noun, then the noun will undergo eclipsis, UNLESS it beginswith a d or t:

• Tá brón ar an gcailín – The girl is sorry• Léann sí an leabhar roimh an mbuachaill – She reads the book before the boy• Ag an doras – at the door (no eclipsis)

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MORE ON LENIT IONHere is a more detailed look at how lenition (séimhiú) is used. There are other situations where lenitionis used that are not covered here. Remember that words beginning with h, l, n, r and vowels cannotlenite.

Feminine Singular Nouns with the Definite ArticleAs seen in the vocabulary lists, an+feminine noun will cause the noun to lenite:

• bean (woman) an bhean (the woman)• máithir (mother) an mháithir (the mother)

However, if the word begins with s+vowel, sl, sn, or sr, the word will gain a t at the beginning instead ofleniting:

• sú talún (strawberry) an tsú talún (the strawberry)

But words starting with sc, sm, sp, or st don't change, nor do words beginning with d or t:• sceallóg (chip) an sceallóg (the chip)• deirfiúr (sister) an deirfiúr (the sister)• teanga (language) an teanga (the language)

Feminine nouns directly followed by an adjectiveAdjectives agree with a preceding feminine noun by leniting:

• maith (good) oíche mhaith (good night)• dearg (red) subh dhearg (red jam)

Singular Possessive DeterminersThe determiners mo (my), do (your) and a (his) will lenite the following noun. Note that when a is usedto mean "her" (or feminine "its"), it does NOT cause lenition:

• ceapaire (sandwich) mo cheapaire (my sandwich)• péitseoga (peaches) mo phéitseoga (my peaches)• cara (friend) do chara (your friend)• sionnach (fox) do shionnach (your fox)• bia (food) a bhia (his food)• moncaí (monkey) a mhoncaí (his monkey)

But: • a bia – her food• a moncaí – her monkey

With the Numbers 1-6• práta (potato) aon phráta (one potato)• madra (dog) dhá mhadra (two dogs)• moncaí (monkey) trí mhoncaí (three pigs)• cearca (hen) ceithre chearca (four hens)• colúr (pigeon) cúig cholúr (five sheep)• capall (horse) sé chapall (six horses)

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With certain prepositionsIrish English Irish English

ar on ó from

de off roimh before

den off the sa/san* in the

do to/for trí through

don to the um around/about

faoi under/about * san is used before a vowel

Examples:• Tá an úll ar phláta – The apple is on a plate• de chailín – off a girl• den bhuachaill – off the boy• do fhear – for a man• don bhean – to the woman• Léann me riomh dhinnéar – I read before dinner• Tá uisce sa chuisneoir – Water is in the fridge• san úll – in the apple• ó mhaidin – from morning

DeNTaLS-DoTSIf a word begins with d, t or s and it would normally be lenited according to the above rules, but ispreceeded by a word that ends with d, n, t, l or s, then the word is not lenited.Example:

• den sagart – off the priest

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ECLIPSIS (URÚ)Urú inserts a letter at the beginning of a word. The new letter suppresses the first letter of the word; youonly pronounce the new letter (the exception is ng, where both letters would be pronounced /ŋ/ as in"sing"). Different dialects of Irish have different rules about when eclipsis should be used, but we willlearn the system traditionally used in Standard Irish.

Initial letter Example Eclipsis Exampleb buachaill m m buachaillc cailín g g cailínd dinnéar n n dinnéarf fear bh bh fearg Gaeilge n nGaeilgep portán b b portánt tae d d tae

h, l, m, n, s and r do not undergo eclipsis.

Plural possessive DeterminersEclipsis occurs where a word comes after ár (our), bhur (your [pl.]), and a (their):

• ár gcailín – our girl • bhur bportán – your crab• a mbuachaill – their boy

Preposition + Definite ArticleEclipsis occurs after certain prepositions where they are joined by the singular definite article an. Hereare the prepositions we've learnt so far that undergo eclipsis:

Preposition + singular definite article English translationag an at thear an on the

roimh an before theleis an* with the

*leis is a form of le (with) when used before an/na.

Other prepositions that cause eclipsis are: as an – out of the; faoin (faoi + an) – under/about the; ón (ó+ an) – from the; thar an – over the; tríd an – through the; um an – about/around the:

• ar an mbord – on the table • leis an gceapaire – with the sandwich• roimh an gcailín – before the girl• ag an mbuachaill – at the boy• as an mbaile – out of the city

An exception to this rule is that the word should not be eclipsed if it begins with d or t:• ag an doras – at the door • roimh an teach – before the house

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Feminine nouns beginning with s+vowel, sl, sn, or sr gain a t at the beginning:• leis an tseanbhean – with the old woman• riomh an tseacláid – in front of the chocolate

Eclipsis is also added after the words i in; dá if; mura if/unless:• i mbosca – in a box• i dTamhlacht – in Tallaght• i mBaile Átha Cliath – in Dublin

Numbers 7-10Eclipsis occurs after the numbers seven to ten.

• capall (horse) seacht gcapall (seven horses)• cara (friend) ocht gcara (eight friends)• teach (house) naoi dteach (nine houses)• peann (pen) deich bpeann (ten pens)

Words starting with a vowelWords that start with a vowel do not technically undergo eclipsis, but they do get the letter n- addedto them wherever other words would be eclipsed — unless they come after a word that finishes withthe letter n.

• úll – apple• ár n-úll – our apple• seacht n-úll – seven apples• ar an úll – on the apple

A dash is placed between the letter n and the vowel — unless that vowel is a capital letter.• Uachtarán (President) ár nUachtarán (our President)

Some words that start with a vowel are normally preceded by t- when they follow the word an (the).For these words, after preposition + definite article combinations the t- is left out.

• an t-ollmhargadh (the supermarket) ag an ollmhargadh (at the supermarket)

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VOCABULARY - ANIMALSMeaning Gender Singular Definite Plural

animal m ainmhí an ainmhí ainmhithe

bear m béar an béar béir

bird m éan an t-éan éin

budgie m budragár an budragár budragáir

butterfly m féileacán an féileacán féileacáin

cat m cat an cat cait

crab m portán an portán portáin

deer m fia an fia fianna

dog m madra an madra madraí

duck f lacha an lacha lachain

elephant f eilifint an eilifint eilifintí

fox m sionnach an sionnach sionnaigh

horse m capall an capall capaill

lion m leon an leon leoin

monkey m moncaí an moncaí moncaithe

mouse f luch an luch lucha

owl m ulchabhán an ulchabhán ulchabháin

parrot f pearóid an phearóid pearóidí

pet m peata an peata peataí

pigeon m colúr an colúr colúir

rabbit m coinín coinín coiníní

seal m rón an rón rónta

sparrow m gealbhan an gealbhan gealbhain

spider m damhán alla an damhán alla damháin alla

tiger m tíogar an tíogar tíogair

turtle m turtar an turtar turtair

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VOCABULARY - CLOT HINGcaith wear

caitheann mé/caithim I wear

caitheann tú You (sing.) wear

caitheann sé/sí He/she wears

caitheann muid/caithimid We wear

caitheann sibh You (pl.) wear

caitheann siad They wear

Meaning Gender Singular Definite Plural

clothing/garment m éadach an t-éadach éadaí

coat m cóta an cóta cótaí

dress m gúna an gúna gúnaí

glove f lámhainn an lámhainn lámhainní

hat m hata an hata hataí

jacket m seaicéad an seaicéad seaicéid

jeans m jíons an jíons –

jumper m geansaí an geansaí geansaithe

pyjamas m – – pitseámaí

scarf f scaif an scaif scaifeanna

shirt f léine an léine léinte

shoe f bróg an bhróg bróga

shorts (pair of) m bríste gairid an bríste gairid brístí gairid

skirt m sciorta an sciorta sciortaí

sock m stoca an stoca stocaí

suit f culaith an chulaith cultacha

top m barr an barr barra

trousers (pair of) m bríste an bríste brístí

vest f veist an veist veisteanna

To say you have a garment on, use tá + garment + ar. Examples:• Tá hata orm – I have a hat on• Tá cóta uirthi – She has a coat on

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VOCABULARY - COLOURSMeaning Gender Singular Plural

colour m dath datha

Meaning Masculine Feminine

red dearg dhearg

orange oráiste oráiste

yellow buí bhuí

green glas ghlas

blue gorm ghorm

purple corcra chorcra

pink bándearg bhándearg

white bán bhán

black dubh dhubh

grey liath liath

brown donn dhonn

dark dorch dhorca

bright geal gheal

Colours are adjectives and therefore go after the noun they modify. Remember that feminine nounswill lenite the adjective. Examples:

• hata dorch – a dark hat• an gúna bándearg – the pink dress• léine bhuí – a yellow shirt• an sionnach dearg – the red fox• Ithim úll glas – I eat a green apple• Ní maith linn cáis ghorm – We don't like blue cheese

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POSSESSION 2The possessive determiners

mo – mydo – your (sing.)a – his/her/its

ár – ourbhur – your (pl.)a – their

ConsonantsPossessive determiners can cause changes to the following noun. Some nouns may undergo lenition,but not eclipsis. In this case, eclipse when possible. In the examples given below, nouns starting with cundergo both lenition and eclipsis. However, words beginning with m undergo only lenition. Nounsleniting to fh will contract mo and do (e.g. fón, m'fhón, d'fhón)

English Irish Change Example Examplemy mo lenition mo c hara mo mhairteoil

your (sing.) do lenition do c hara do mhairteoilhis/its a lenition a c hara a mhairteoilher/its a no change a cara a mairteoil

our ár eclipsis ár g cara ár mairteoilyour (pl.) bhur eclipsis bhur g cara bhur mairteoil

their a eclipsis a g cara a mairteoil

VowelsNouns starting with a vowel undergo different changes. The plural forms add n- to the beginning of theword, and h is added to the beginning of a word after "her". In addition, mo and do contract to m'and d' respectively.

English Irish Change Examplemy m' no change m'oráiste

your (sing.) d' no change d'oráistehis/its a no change a oráisteher/its a h a horáiste

our ár n- ár n-oráisteyour (pl.) bhur n- bhur n-oráiste

their a n- a n-oráiste

Examples:• An mo chara tú? – Are you my friend?• M'ubh – My egg• Tá do phortán agam – I have your (sing.) crab• Tá bhur bportán agam – I have your (pl.) crab• Is maith liom d'arán – I like your bread• A hathair – Her father• Tá a úll agat – You have his apple• Tá a n-úll agat – You have their apple• Is fuath liom bhur ndeartháir! – I hate your (pl.) brother!

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OWNERSHIPUsing le to express ownershipTo indicate ownership, use is le+[subject] [object]. You can use the conjugated forms of le + theemphatic ending:

irish english

liomsa mine

leatsa yours (sing.)

leisan his

léise hers

linne ours

libhse yours (pl.)

leosan theirs

• Is liomsa an leabhar – The book is mine• Is leatsa é – It's yours (sing.)• An linne í? – Is it ours?• Is léise an éan – The bird is hers• Is leosan na hataí – The hats are theirs• An libhse an phéitseog? – Is the peach yours (pl.)?

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EXERCISESTranslate the following into Irish:

1. I read a book and you (sing.) read anewspaper.

2. She speaks Japanese and they speakSpanish.

3. We have a bird and they have dogs.4. I have the coat.5. Black, white or grey?6. I prefer the purple jumper.7. The monkeys read the newspapers.8. The boy has a black jacket.9. The tiger eats a butterfly and the ducks

eat a sandwich.10. They don't like animals.11. I eat before the dog.12. I know how to speak Irish.13. It is a dark coat.14. The dog is ours and the cat is yours (pl.).15. You (sing.) wear a black skirt and I wear

a grey skirt.16. I eat the chocolate.17. The mouse eats the cheese.18. I drink coffee or tea.19. She has a hat on.20. The pigeon is with the man.21. I'm sorry. I do not know Spanish.22. I like animals, but I don't have a pet.23. There is water on the bread.24. The mouse is with the girl.25. I like your (pl.) pink coat.26. Is the shirt hers?27. Our sandwiches are on the table.28. I like jam on the bread.

Translate the following into English:1. Labhraíonn sí Béarla agus labhraímid

Gaeilge.2. Léann na fir an nuachtán agus léann na

mná na leabhair.3. An leatsa an tseacláid? Is liomsa í.4. An bhfuil Gaeilge agaibh?5. Caitheann an cat hata.6. Caitheann sí an gúna bándearg.7. Ní maith liom an leabhar buí.8. Tá cóta ag an madra.9. Tá sciorta gorm ag an mbean.10. Is fearr linn an coinín donn agus is fearr

leo an coinín bán.11. Itheann sibh ainmhithe.12. Ólann an buachaill riomh an gcailín.13. Tá an phióg sa chuisneoir.14. Is mo chara í.15. Is fearr le Caoimhe an hata buí agus is

fearr le Kevin an hata liath.16. Is maith le mo chara cáca agus brioscaí.17. Is ár bpáistí iad.18. An maith leat sionnaigh? Ní maith liom,

ach is breá liom fianna agus sicíní.19. Tá colúr ar an mbord.20. Tá fáilte roimpi.21. Is linne an cóta agus is leosan na bróga.22. Níl Béarla againn. Tá brón orainn.23. Tá iasc ar phláta.24. Tá buachaill leis an mbean.25. An maith leat mo bhríste gairid?26. An maith leo siúcra ar an gcáca?27. Tá an capall bán agus donn i mBaile

Átha Cliath.

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T HE PRESENT HABIT UALAs in English, Irish has two forms of the present tense: the present continuous (e.g. I am eating) and thepresent habitual (I eat). So far, we have only been using the present habitual.

Irish has two types of verbs, plus irregulars.

Type 1 verbs• Usually have one syllable;• Have a stem that is the same as the dictionary form;• Can be conjugated into the present habitual by adding -ann to the stem;• Add -im for first person singular, and -imid for first person plural synthetic forms;• May need an additional vowel to satisfy the caol le caol agus leathan le leathan rule:

◦ To match slender, use e. To match broad, use a.

Meaning Stem/Dictionary Form Synthetic sing. Analytic Synthetic pl.

write scríobh scríobhaim scríobhann scríobhaimid

listen éist éistim éisteann éistimid

drink ól ólaim ólann ólaimid

swim snámh snámhaim snámhann snámhaim

see feic feicim feiceann feicimid

Type 2 verbs• Usually have more than one syllable;• Often end in -aigh and -igh in the dictionary form:

◦ For the stem, remove the -aigh or -igh ending from the dictionary form.• May end in -ail/-il, -ain/-in, -ais/-is or -air/-ir in the dictionary form:

◦ For the stem, remove the last syllable, then add back on the last letter in the dictionaryform.

• If the last vowel is broad, add aíonn for the analytic form and aím/aímid for the syntheticforms.

• If the last vowel is slender, add íonn for the analytic form, and ím/ímid for the synthetic forms.

Meaning Dictionary Form Stem Synthetic sing. Analytic Synthetic pl.

tell inis ins insím insíonn insímid

speak labhair labhr labhraím labhraíonn labhraímid

open oscail oscl osclaím osclaíonn osclaímid

collect bailigh bail bailím bailíonn bailímid

work oibrigh oibr oibrím oibríonn oibrímid

Irregular VerbsThere are only 11 verbs which are irregular in at least one tense.

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VOCABULARY – VERBS 2snámh swim feic see

snámhann mé/snámhaim I swim feiceann mé/feicim I see

snámhann tú you (sing.) swim feiceann tú you (sing.) see

snámhann sé/sí he/she/it swims feiceann sé/sí he/she/it sees

snámhann muid/snámhaimid

we swim feiceann muid/feicimid

we see

snámhann sibh you (pl.) swim feiceann sibh you (pl.) see

snámhann siad they swim feiceann siad they see

siúil walk rith run

siúlann mé/siúlaim I walk ritheann mé/rithimid I run

siúlann tú you (sing.) walk ritheann tú you (sing.) run

siúlann sé/sí he/she/it walks ritheann sé/sí he/she/it runs

siúlann muid/siúlaimid

we walk ritheann muid/rithimid

we run

siúlann sibh you (pl.) walk ritheann sibh you (pl.) run

siúlann siad they walk siadritheann they run

freagair answer íoc* pay

freagraíonn mé/freagraím I answer íocann mé/íocaim I pay

freagraíonn tú you (sing.)answer

íocann tú you (sing.) pay

freagraíonn sé/sí he/she/itanswers

íocann sé/sí he/she/it pays

freagraíonn muid/freagraímid

we answer íocann muid/íocaimid

we pay

freagraíonn sibh you (pl.) answer íocann sibh you (pl.) pay

freagraíonn siad they answer íocann siad they pay

* To say someone pays on behalf of someone else, use íocann [subject] do/don [eclipsed indirectobject]:

• Íocann Caoimhe don bhfear – Caoimhe pays for the man

To say you paid to buy an item, use íocann + [subject] + as/as an + [eclipsed indirect object]:• Íocann Caoimhe as an mbéile– Caoimhe pays for the meal

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VOCABULARY – VERBS 3téigh go taitin* shine

téann mé/téim I go taitníonn mé/taitním I shine

téann tú you (sing.) go taitníonn tú you (sing.) shine

téann sé/sí he/she/it goes taitníonn sé/sí he/she/it shines

téann muid/téimid

we go taitníonn muid/taitnímid

we shine

téann sibh you (pl.) go taitníonn sibh you (pl.) shine

téann siad they go taitníonn siad they shine

bris break úsáid use

briseann mé/brisim I break úsáideann mé/úsáidim I use

briseann tú you (sing.) break úsáideann tú you (sing.) use

briseann sé/sí he/she/it breaks úsáideann sé/sí he/she/it uses

briseann muid/brisimid

we break úsáideann muid/úsáidimid

we use

briseann sibh you (pl.) break úsáideann sibh you (pl.) use

briseann siad they break úsáideann siad they use

oscail open imir play

osclaíonn mé/osclaím I open imríonn mé/imrín I play

osclaíonn tú you (sing.) open imríonn tú you (sing.) play

osclaíonn sé/sí he/she/it opens imríonn sé/sí he/she/it plays

osclaíonn muid/osclaímid

we open imríonn muid/imrímid

we play

osclaíonn sibh you (pl.) open imríonn sibh you (pl.) play

osclaíonn siad they open imríonn siad they play

* Taitin can be used to say [x] enjoys [y] with the construction taitin [y] le [x]:• Taitníonn sé leat – You enjoy it• Taitníonn Gaeilge liom – I enjoy Irish

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VOCABULARY – VERBS 4bailigh collect, gather clois hear

bailíonn mé/bailím I collect cloiseann mé/cloisim I hear

bailíonn tú you (sing.) collect cloiseann tú you (sing.) hear

bailíonn sé/sí he/she/it collects cloiseann sé/sí he/she/it hears

bailíonn muid/bailímid

we collect cloiseann muid/cloisimid

we hear

bailíonn sibh you (pl.) collect cloiseann sibh you (pl.) hear

bailíonn siad they collect cloiseann siad they hear

abair say inis tell

deir mé/deirim I say insíonn mé/insím I tell

deir tú you (sing.) say insíonn tú you (sing.) tell

deir sé/sí he/she/it says insíonn sé/sí he/she/it tells

deir muid/deirimid

we say insíonn muid/insímid

we tell

deir sibh you (pl.) say insíonn sibh you (pl.) tell

deir siad they say insíonn siad they tell

faigh get déan do, make

faigheann mé/faighim I get déanann mé/déanaim I do

faigheann tú you (sing.) get déanann tú you (sing.) do

faigheann sé/sí he/she/it gets déanann sé/sí he/she/it does

faigheann muid/faighimid

we get déanann muid/déanaimid

we do

faigheann sibh you (pl.) get déanann sibh you (pl.) do

faigheann siad they get déanann siad they do

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VOCABULARY – VERBS 5oibrigh work tabhair give

oibríonn mé/oibrím I work tugann mé/tugaim I give

oibríonn tú you (sing.) work tugann tú you (sing.) give

oibríonn sé/sí he/she/it works tugann sé/sí he/she/it gives

oibríonn muid/oibrímid

we work tugann muid/tugaimid

we give

oibríonn sibh you (pl.) work tugann sibh you (pl.) give

oibríonn siad they work tugann siad they give

tar come tóg lift, pick up, take

tagann mé/tagaim I come tógann mé/tógaim I take

tagann tú you (sing.) come tógann tú you (sing.) take

tagann sé/sí he/she/it comes tógann sé/sí he/she/it takes

tagann muid/tagaimid

we come tógann muid/tógaimid

we take

tagann sibh you (pl.) come tógann sibh you (pl.) take

tagann siad they come tógann siad they take

VOCABULARY - MISCMeaning Gender Singular Definite Plural

everything m gach rud – –

story m scéal an scéal scéalta

question f ceist an cheist ceisteanna

answer m freagra an freagra freagraí

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QUEST IONS AND ANSWERSThe Question FormTo form a question in the present habitual, add an to the beginning of the sentence, and eclipse theverb if possible:

• Cloiseann tú é – You hear it An gcloiseann tú é? – Do you hear it?• Feiceann siad an banana – They see the banana An bhfeiceann siad an banana? – Do

they see the banana?

The Negative FormTo form the negative in the present habitual, add ní, and lenite the verb if possible:

• Ní chloiseann tú é – You don't hear it• Ní fheaiceann siad an banana – They don't see the banana

Answering QuestionsAs Irish doesn't have a straight translation for "yes" and "no", to answer a question, you repeat the verbin either the positive or the negative. The subject pronoun and object can be left out:

• An gcloiseann tú é? Cloiseann (mé). – Do you hear it? I hear.• An bhfeiceann siad an banana? Ní fheaiceann. – Do they see the banana? They don't see.

Useful Phrases• An ea? – Is it?• Is ea – It is• Ní hea – It isn't• Is ea is sometimes used in southern dialects in the following way:

◦ Is feirmeoir é = Feirmeoir is ea é -- He is a farmer• Cá bhfuil sé ina chónai?* – Where does he live?• Cá bhfuil tú i do chónaí? – Where do you live?• Tá mé in mo chónaí i mBaile Átha Cliath – I live in Dublin

*Literally: where is he in his residence? The preposition i (in) becomes in before a vowel. ina is acontraction of in + a (his) and therefore lenites the following noun (see Possession, page 26). If thesubject was female, the phrase would be cá bhfuil sí ina cónaí? (no lenition) and for third person pluralwould be cá bhfuil siad ina gcónaí? (eclipsis).

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INT ERROGAT IVE PRONOUNSEnglish Irish

who cé

what cad / céard (Connacht)

which cén

where cá

when cathain

what time cén uair / cá huair / cén t-am

whose cé leis

what place cá háit / cén áit

why cén fáth

how conas / cad é mar

how many / how much cé mhéad / cá mhéad

Examples:• Cá bhfuil sé? Cá bhfuil a chapall? – Where is he? Where is his horse?• Cathain a oibrínn tú? – When do you work?• Cé thusa? – Who are you?• Cén t-am é? – What time is it?• Cé a itheann iasc? – Who eats fish?• Cad a fheiceann tú? – What do you see?• Cé mhéad atá agat? – How many have you?• Cén áit agus cén fath? – Where and why?• Cé leis é an leabhar? – Whose book is it?• Cé mhéad teanga atá agat? – How many languages do you speak?• Céard é seo? – What is this?• Céard é sin? – What is that?

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CONJUNCT IONSirish english

nuair a when

mar because

má if

an [noun] sin that [noun]

é sin/í sin that

Examples:• Itheann mé nuair a léann mé – I eat when I read• Éisteann siad nuair a labhraíonn tú – They listen when you speak• Ritheann na cait nuair a ritheann an madra – The cats run when the dog runs• Ritheann sí mar ritheann muid – She runs because we run• Má is maith leat í sin, is maith liom í sin – If you like that, I like that• Má imríonn an t-éan, tá athas orm – If the bird plays, I'm glad• Ach is fuath liom an madra sin – You hate that dog• Is fearr leis na cailíní é sin – The girls prefer that

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VERBAL NOUNSIrish doesn't have an infinitive form for verbs, and often uses verbal nouns in its place. Sometimes thereis a pattern to work out the noun form of a verb, for instance -adh or –eadh endings are added tosome of the type 1 verb stems, e.g. bris briseadh, but not always, e.g. éist éisteacht, sounfortunately, they just have to be learned alongside the dictionary form. The following table lists theverbal nouns of all the verbs we have learnt so far:

english verb irish verb verbal noun english verb irish verb verbal noun

be bí (tá) bheith shine taitin taitneamh

eat ith ithe break bris briseadh

drink ól ól use úsáid úsáid

speak labhair labhairt open oscail oscailt

listen éist éisteacht play imir imirt

write scríobh scríobh collect, gather bailigh bailiú

read léigh léamh hear clois cloisteáil

wear caith caitheamh say abair rá

swim snámh snámh tell inis insint

see feic feiceáil/feiscint get faigh fáil

walk siúil siúl do, make déan déanamh

run rith rith work oibrigh oibriú

answer freagair freagairt give tabhair tabhairt

pay íoc íoc come tar teacht

go téigh dul lift, take tóg tógáil

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EXPRESSING OBLIGAT ION AND DESIREÓ and Chuig/Chun

ó from chuig/chun towards, to

uaim from me chugam to me

uait from you (sing.) chugat to you (sing.)

uaidh from him chuige to him

uaithi from her chuici to her

uainn from us chugainn to us

uaibh from you (pl.) chugaibh to you (pl.)

uathu from them chuchu to them

Examples:• Siúlann an paiste chuig a mháithir – The child walks to his mother• Tá bróga orm – I have shoes on

Expressing obligation with arRefer to page 18 for the conjugated forms of ar. Using the construction tá + ar + [x] + [verbal noun],you can express the meaning of [x] must [verb]. Remember, ar causes lenition when followed by anoun, and eclipsis when followed by an.

Examples: • Tá orm scríobh – I must write (Lit. It is on me to write)• Tá ar Chaoimhe ithe – Caoimhe must eat (lenition)• Tá ar an mbuachaill éisteacht – The boy must listen (eclipsis)• Tá orainn rith! – We must run!

Expressing desire using ó and teastaighÓ by itself means "from", e.g. ó mhaidin – from morning. When used with the construction tá + [x] + ó +[y], it means [y] wants/needs [x]. For verbs, use tá + ó + [verbal noun]. Remember that ó causeslenition when followed by a noun (see page 20), and eclipsis when followed by the definite article inthe form ón (see page 21).

Examples:• Tá coinín uaim – I want a rabbit• An bhfuil lón uaibh? – Do you (pl.) want lunch?• An bhfuil bia ón bportán? – Does the crab want food?• Tá uaithi ithe – She wants to eat

Alternatively, use the present habitual form of teastaigh (be wanted/needed), followed by ó. This canexpress need as well as want.

• Teastaíonn seacláid uaim – I want/need chocolate (Chocolate is needed from me)• An dteastaíonn bainne? -- Is milk needed?• Teastaíonn uisce ón gcoinín – The rabbit needs water• Ní theastaíonn uainn snámh – We don't want/need to swim (It is not needed from us to swim)

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IRELAND 1Meaning Gender Singular Definite Plural

Ireland f Éire – –

Republic of Ireland – Poblacht na hÉireann -- –

Northern Ireland – Tuaisceart Éireann – –

President m uachtarán an t-Uachtarán uachtaráin

Irish Prime Minister m taoiseach an taoiseach taoisigh

country f tír an tír tíortha

Europe m (an) Eoraip -- –

European Union m an tAontas Eorpach – –

Dublin m Baile Átha Cliath -- –

Sligo city f Sligeach – –

Cork f Corcaigh -- –

Belfast m Béal Feirste – –

county m contae an contae contaetha

bog m portach an portach portaigh

castle m caisleán an caisleán caisleáin

Blarney stone m Cloch na Blarnan – –

Irish-speaker m Gaeilgeoir an Gaeilgeoir Gaeilgeoirí

Irish-speaking region m Gaeltacht an Gaeltacht Gaeltachtaí

hurling f iománaíocht – –

Gaelic AthleticAssociation

– Cumann LúthchleasGael

– –

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MONT HS AND SEASONSMeaning Gender Singular Month of Definite Plural

January m Eanáir mí Eanáir an tEanáir Eanáirí

February f Feabhra mí Feabhra an Fheabhra Feabhraí

March m Marta mí an Mharta an Marta Mártaí

April m Aibreán mí Aibreán an tAibreán Aibreáin

May f Bealtaine mí na Bealtaine an Bhealtaine Bealtainí

June m Meitheamh mí an Mheithimh an Meitheamh Meithimh

July m Iuíl mí Iúil an tIúil Iúileanna

August m Lúnasa mí Lúnasa an Lúnasa Lúnasaí

September m Meán Fómhair mí Mheán Fómhair an Meán Fómhair

October m Deireadh Fómhair mí Dheireadh Fómhair an Deireadh Fómhair

November f Samhain mí na Samhna an tSamhain Samhnacha

December f Nollaig mí na Nollag an Nollaig Nollaigí

Meaning Gender Singular Definite Plural

season m séasúr an séasúr séasúir

spring m earrach an t-earrach earraigh

summer m samhradh an samhradh samhraí

autumn m fómhar an fómhar fómhair

winter m geimhreadh an geimhreadh geimhrí

age f aois an aois aoiseanna

birthday m breithlá an breithlá breithlaethanta

anniversary m cuimhneachán an cuimhneachán cuimhneacháin

Phrases• How old are you? – Cén aois thú?• Happy birthday! – Lá breithe shona duit!• every day – gach lá

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DAYS OF T HE WEEKMeaning Gender Singular Definite

Monday m Luan Dé Luain an Luan

Tuesday f Máirt Dé Máirt An Mháirt

Wednesday f Céadaoin Dé Céadaoin an Chéadaoin

Thursday m Déardaoin Dé Déardaoin an Déardaoin

Friday f Aoine Dé hAoine an Aoine

Saturday m Satharn Dé Sathairn an Satharn

Sunday m Domhnach Dé Domhnaigh an Domhnach

T IMEMeaning Gender Singular Definite Plural

day m lá an lá laethanta

week f seachtain an tseachtain seachtainí

month f mí an mhí míonna

year f bliain an bhliain blianta

second m soicind an soicind soicindí

minute m nóiméad an nóiméad nóiméid

hour f uair an uair uaireanta

morning f maidin an mhaidin maidineacha

afternoonm tráthnóna an tráthnóna tráthnónta

evening

night f oíche an oíche oícheanta

weekend m deireadh seachtaine an seachtaine

clock m clog an clog cloig

alarm m aláram an t-aláram aláraim

watch m uaireadóir an t-uaireadóir uaireadóirí

calendar m féilire an féilire féilirí

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FAMILYSee page 13 for more vocabulary for family members.

Meaning Gender Singular Definite Plural

family (household) m teaghlach an teaghlach teaghlaigh

family (extended), kin f muintir an mhuintir muintireacha

family (offspring) f clann an chlann clanna

relative m gaol an gaol gaoil

mum f mamaí an mhamaí

dad m dadaí an dadaí daidithe

husband m fear céile an fear céile fir céile

wife f bean chéile an bhean chéile mná céile

nephew m nia an nia nianna

niece f neacht an neacht neachtanna

siblings m siblín an siblín siblíní

wedding m pósadh an pósadh póstaí

name m ainm an t-ainm ainmneacha

Phrases• What's your name? – Cad is ainm duit? / Cén t-ainm atá ort?• My name is Caoimhe – Caoimhe is ainm dom / Caoimhe an t-ainm atá orm.• His name is Kevin – Kevin is ainm dó / Kevin an t-ainm atá air.

Preposition – Do

do to, for

dom to me, for me

duit to you (sing.), for you

dó to him, for him

dí to her, for her

dúinn to us, for us

daoibh to you (pl.), for you

dóibh to them, for them

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JOBSMeaning Gender Singular Definite Plural

actor m aisteoir an t-aisteoir aisteoirí

artist m ealaíontóir an t-ealaíontóir ealaíontóirí

author m údar an t-údar údair

boss m ceannasaí an ceannasaí ceannasaithe

builder m tógálaí an tógálaí tógálaithe

captain m captaen an captaen captaein

cleaner m glantóir an glantóir glantóirí

cook m cócaire an cócaire cócairí

doctor m dochtúir an dochtúir dochtúirí

engineer m innealtóir an t-innealtóir innealtóirí

farmer m feirmeoir an feirmeoir feirmeoirí

job m post an post poist

journalist m iriseoir an t-iriseoir iriseoirí

judge m breitheamh an breitheamh breithiúna

lawyer m dlíodóir an dlíodóir dlíodóirí

nurse m altra an t-altra altraí

police officer m póilín an póilín póilíní

profession m proifisiún an proifisiún proifisiúin

sales assistant m cúntóir díolacháin an cúntóir díolacháin cúntóirí díolacháin

secretary m rúnaí an rúnaí rúnaithe

student m dalta an dalta daltaí

teacher m múinteoir an múinteoir múinteoirí

team f foireann an fhoireann foirne

vet m tréidlia an tréidlia tréidlianna

waiter m freastalaí an freastalaí freastalaithe

worker m oibrí an t-oibrí oibrithe

writer m scríbhneoir an scríbhneoir scríbhneoirí

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PRESENT PROGRESSIVEThe present progressive is the "is doing" form and is constructed as follows:

• Tá [pronoun] + ag + verbal noun

(See page 37 for verbal noun forms)

ExamplesTa mé ag ithe – I am eatingTá siad ag léamh – They are reading

With a direct object

If a direct object is taken, use the genitive form of the noun:• Tá [pronoun] + ag + [verbal noun] + [genitive case of noun]

Remember to use the same rules of eclipsis and lenition. To find the genitive form of a verb, you canlook it up on a website like focloir.ie:

examples• Tá sé ag ithe úill – He is eating an apple (genitive of úll is úill)• Tá siad ag ithe an oráiste – They are eating the orange (no t- with the genitive)• Tá sí ag scríobh a hainm – She is writing her name (genitive is the same, ainm, but the h is still

added because of the possessive determiner a)

With Indirect objectsIf an indirect object is taken (i.e. there is a preposition before the noun), use the nominative case ofthe noun (i.e. the regular/dictionary form):

• Tá muid ag éisteacht leis an scéal – We are listening to the story (NOT the genitive scéil)• Tá mé ag snámh sa loch – I am swimming in the lake (NOT genitive locha)

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http://www.focloir.ie/

CREDITS• History of Irish page, pronunciation rules and conjugated prepositions from Wikipedia• Pronunciation/reading guide heavily ripped off from Karen Reshkin's guide• Lessons on bí vs tá and verb types and conjugations from Wikibooks• Structure and examples based on or ripped off from Duolingo's lessons• Vocabulary lists made using focloir.ie and Wikibooks

This notebook was put together by Silver Arrows ("Ichigotchi" on Duolingo) and is designed to beprinted out on A5 paper. It is not associated or affiliated in any way with Duolingo. This document isincomplete and I'll reupload as I update it, so check back! I consider myself to have dropped out thecourse, and learning Irish in general, so I have no plans to update this guide any further. I am stillhappy for this to be shared, and if anyone would like to continue this guide, they are welcome to doso.

While I've tried to make most of the content original, I did originally create this just as a personalrevision tool for myself, so it is still heavily based on the Duolingo course, and does contain somestraight C+P from Duo and other sources in places. This is intended to supplement, not replace, theDuo course, so please support the original programme! My aim in sharing this is to encourage learnersto keep on the course, as the dropout rate is so high (start a club on the app and you'll see just howquickly your members will become inactive!). Part of this, in my opinion, is lack of notes for the appversion, many aspects of the language just not being explained satisfactorily, lack of an easy way torevise everything you've learnt, plus the course just going too slowly at times. Not all of us like to learnby trial and error! I hope this addresses these issues for you, too, and helps you to stay on the Irish Duocourse.

If I have used your copyrighted material in here and you are unhappy with that, please contact mehere http://wp.me/p5tcJ-Xb and leave a message detailing which parts are yours and I will be happyto delete/replace your content.

You may distribute this freely, but please bear in mind that some content in this pdf is used withoutpermission. Consider this a fanwork. I also make no guarantees about the accuracy of anything inhere. I'm a beginner myself, so there may be plenty of mistakes. Please leave a message on my bloghere http://wp.me/p5tcJ-Xb if you notice any errors.

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_languagehttps://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Irishhttp://focloir.ie/https://www.duolingo.com/https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Irishhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIokUII7LX0