Buntús na Gaeilge - People Fas Harvard - Harvard University

Buntús na Gaeilge 

Irish for Adult Learners 

Barbara Hillers with Bettina Kimpton 

Textbook for Celtic 132: Introduction to Modern Irish 

Harvard 2007 

[for class use and private circulation only]

SOME WORDS AND PHRASES FREQUENTLY USED IN CLASS 

Here are a few idioms you will encounter in class: 

maidin mhaith good morning 

Dia daoibh hello everybody 

le chéile all together 

anois now 

arís again 

cuir Gaeilge / Béarla air translate into Irish / English 

le do thoil please 

I don't quite follow... 

Gabh mo leithscéal Excuse me 

An dtuigeann tú? Do you (sg) understand? 

An dtuigeann sibh? Do you (pl) understand? 

Tuigim I understand 

Ní thuigim I don’t understand 

Ní thuigim focal I don’t understand a word 

Abair arís é, le do thoil Say that again, please 

Cad é sin i nGaeilge/as Gaeilge? What does that mean in Irish? 

Cad é sin i mBéarla/as Béarla? What does that mean in English? 

Cad é an Ghaeilge atá ar sin? How do you say that in Irish? 

Abair i mBéarla/as Béarla é Say it in English 

Well done! 

Your teacher will lavish praise on you. Here are some of the things you may hear, or see written 

underneath your homework: 

maith thú / sibh well done 

go maith good 

go hiontach wonderful 

an-mhaith (ar fad) very good (entirely) 

ar fheabhas excellent 

thar barr super

Buntús na Gaeilge 

Cuid a hAon 

I d'óige oscail do mheabhair 

is bailigh an fhoghlaim leat. 

Òpen your mind while you are young 

and gather learning as you go.' 

CLÁR / TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Réamhrá / Preface.................................................................................................................... vii 

Ceacht a hAon .......................................................................................................................... 1 

An Ceacht Gramadaí...................................................................................................... 4 

Personal Pronouns (4); The Demonstrative Pronouns seo and sin (4); The 

Copula (5); Masculine Noun and Adjective (6); Greetings and 

Introductions (6) 

Teanga is Cultúr .......................................................................................................... 10 

Loanwords (11) 

Ceacht a Dó ............................................................................................................................ 12 

An Ceacht Gramadaí.................................................................................................... 13 

The Article (13); Feminine Noun and Adjective (15); Prepositional 

Pronouns: the Preposition le (16); Copula Sentences With le (17); The 

Preposition gan (18) 

Teanga is Cultúr .......................................................................................................... 22

RÉAMHRÁ / PREFACE 

Ceacht a Trí ............................................................................................................................ 24 


Possessive Pronouns (25); The Copula: Identification Sentences (27); 

Prefixed Adjectives (28); Colours (29) 


Súil Siar (Revision): Ceacht 1 - Ceacht 3.................................................................................. 33 

Ceacht a Ceathair .................................................................................................................... 34 


The Substantive Verb and the Dependent Pronoun (35); The Preposition 

ar (37); The Intensifying Prefixes an-, fíor-, ró-, and iontach (38); The 

Particle go (39); Conversational Idioms (39) 


Ceacht a Cúig.......................................................................................................................... 44 


The Preposition ag (45); The Preposition i (47); The Weather (47); The 

Perfect Tense (48) 


Ceacht a Sé.............................................................................................................................. 53 


Past Tense of the Substantive Verb (54); The Dative or Prepositional Case 

(55); In the House (57); Idioms Using Two Prepositions (57) 


Ceacht a Seacht ....................................................................................................................... 63 


The Future Tense of the Substantive Verb (64); Stative Expressions II: 

Occupations (65); The Preposition i ìn' and the construction Múinteoir 

atá ionam (65); (Countries) (66); Cúpla à couple, a few' (66); The Week 

(67) 


The Week (70); Samhain (Halloween) and the Celtic Year (71) 

iv


Súil Siar (Revision): Ceacht 4 - Ceacht 7.................................................................................. 74 

Ceacht a hOcht........................................................................................................................ 76 


The Imperative (78); The Vocative Case (81); The Prepositions do and de 

(83); In and Out, Up and Down: Aspect and Direction (84) 


Traditional Irish First Names (88) 

Ceacht a Naoi.......................................................................................................................... 90 


The Past Tense (92); The Numbers 1-10 (93); Where are You Going To? 

(chuig; go; go dtí) (95) 


Ceacht a Deich ...................................................................................................................... 101 

An Ceacht Gramadaí.................................................................................................. 102 

The Present Tense (102); The Present Habitual (106); Time (106) 

Teanga is Cultúr ........................................................................................................ 109 

Ceacht a hAon Déag.............................................................................................................. 111 

An Ceacht Gramadaí.................................................................................................. 112 

The Future Tense (112); The Prepositions ó and roimh (115) 

Teanga is Cultúr ........................................................................................................ 117 

Christmas and New Year (117) 

Súil Siar (Revision): Ceacht 8 - Ceacht 11.............................................................................. 123 

Appendix 1: Cúrsaí Canúna................................................................................................... 124 

Appendix 2: Phonetic Exercises (Donegal Irish) .................................................................... 131 

Bibliography ......................................................................................................................... 137 

Foclóir Gaeilge-Béarla ........................................................................................................... 139 

v


Foclóir Béarla-Gaeilge ........................................................................................................... 154 

A Select Verb List ................................................................................................................. 179 

Index of Songs, Proverbs, and Rhymes.................................................................................. 185 

Subject Index......................................................................................................................... 187 

Grammar Index...................................................................................................................... 188 

vi



The Irish Language 

Irish is used as a community language in the west of Ireland by about 61,000 speakers, and as a 

minority language throughout Ireland. 1 It is the first official language of the Republic of Ireland, 2 

and is taught in the primary and secondary school system. In the 1996 census 1.43 million 

people in the Republic of Ireland (43.5% of the population) were returned as Irish speakers, 

though only about a quarter of that number use the language on a daily basis. In Northern Ireland, 

Irish has enjoyed increased demographic and political backing in recent years, and official 

recognition of the language is expected. In the 1991 census, 142,003 people in the North were 

returned as having some ability to speak the language. 3 Irish is the primary community language 

in the so-called Gaeltacht areas in the west of Ireland, located in counties Cork, Kerry, Galway, 

Mayo, and Donegal, where an average of 76.3% of residents are Irish speakers (Ó Murchú 1999). 

There are significant numbers of native speakers living in urban areas, either migrants from 

Gaeltacht areas or those brought up in Irish-speaking households. 

Irish is a Celtic language, part of the Indo-European family of languages. It is closely 

related to Scottish Gaelic, spoken today mainly on the Western Isles of Scotland, and to Manx, 

the language of the Isle of Man that only recently ceased to be a spoken language. Its relationship 

to the other two surviving branches of Celtic, Welsh and Breton, and to Cornish, which is spoken 

as a revived language, is more distant, though all Celtic languages share certain syntactic, 

phonological, and grammatical features, as well as a common inherited vocabulary. Like other 

Celtic languages, Irish is a VSO (Verb-Subject-Object) language, possesses conjugated 

prepositions and boasts a complex system of initial mutations. 

About this Book 

This textbook, developed specifically for the year-long Modern Irish course at Harvard 

University, is intended for beginners with no previous exposure to the language. Its title, Buntús 

na Gaeilge `the basics of Irish', is programmatic. It aims to give complete beginners a grasp of the 

operative principles of grammar and syntax and provide them with the essentials of lexis and 

idiom to achieve basic fluency within the year. 

This textbook was developed to fill a recognized gap in the teaching materials for 

complete beginners in third-level education. Most people in the Republic of Ireland, and many in 

the North of Ireland, are introduced to the language during primary or secondary education, and 

there is a wealth of textbooks, many of them modern and attractive, for school children. The 

market for adult learners – particularly complete beginners – has not been as well provided for. 

The need to improve teaching materials for adult learners is increasingly recognized, reflecting a 

revival of interest in the language on both sides of the border, and the realization that many of 

1 Helen and Máirtín Ó Murchú, Irish: Facing the Future / An Ghaeilge: a hAghaidh Roimpi (Dublin 1999). 

2 Article 8.1 of the Constitution of Ireland (1937) states that `the Irish language as the national language is the first 

official language'; 8.2 adds `the English language is recognized as a second official language'. The Irish language, as 

of January 2007, has been recognized as one of the working languages of the European Union. 

3 That many of these were small children in the burgeoning Irish-medium primary school system is evidenced by 

the much lower number (79,012) returned as being able to read and write, as well as speak, Irish (Ó Murchú 1999). 

vii


those exposed to Irish at school have not achieved fluency in the language. Replacing the virtual 

monopoly of the classic Buntús Cainte (1967), experienced educators have in recent years added 

substantially to the materials available. 4 Most adult learner textbooks are designed for what we 

may think of as the part-time learner, typically within the setting of an evening class, and for all 

their laudable emphasis on colloquial, conversational Irish, they are not suitable for students in 

full-time third-level education. 5 Buntús na Gaeilge addresses the needs of intensive language 

instruction in an academic environment. The target audience are university students, and the 

choice of milieu and subject matter, as well as the pace and style of instruction, is geared towards 

this audience. 

The Caighdeán and the Regional Dialects 

Modern Irish is closely based on the three living regional dialects - Munster, Connacht, and 

Ulster - which, at least in principle, enjoy equal status and support. It represents the victory, in 

the early years of the language revival, of the proponents of the modern vernacular (caint na 

ndaoine `the language of the people') over those who advocated a return to the highly 

standardized idiom of Classical literature practiced by the educated elite until the seventeenth 

century. Unchecked by any literary standard, regionalism flourished in the centuries before the 

establishment of an independent Irish state. With the shrinking of the Gaeltacht areas, the added 

problem of increasing geographical isolation of the dialects from each other arose. 

When Irish became a literary, high-register language once again after independence, the 

three main regional dialects, Munster, Connacht, and Ulster Irish, were, at least theoretically, put 

on an equal footing. 6 Munster Irish held a preeminent position during the formative years of the 

language revival, even though today it is the dialect with by far the fewest native speakers. 

Connacht Irish, too, had considerable cachet, since it was the native dialect of the father of 

modern Irish literature, Pádraic Ó Conaire, and the dialect adopted by such influential political 

and literary figures as Patrick Pearse. Ulster Irish, represented in the Republic of Ireland by 

speakers of a single county, Donegal, had for obvious reasons a lower profile in the Irish-language 

establishment. While the differences between the three regional dialects are relatively minor on 

the level of grammar and syntax, pronunciation differs markedly between them. The 

recommendations of An Caighdeán Oifigiúil (1945), which form the basis of Modern Standard 

Irish, aim to define operative principles of grammar, and to establish a standard orthography 

rather than pronunciation. 

4 See e.g. Éamonn Ó Dónaill, Now You're Talking / Irish on Your Own (Dublin, 1995) and Abair Leat! (Belfast 

1996); Risteard Mac Gabhann, Cúrsa Closamhairc Gaeilge (Belfast 1991) and Tús Maith (Belfast 2002), and 

Diarmuid Ó Sé and Joseph Sheils, Teach Yourself Irish (London and New York, 1993). 

5 A notable exception is Mícheál Ó Siadhail's Learning Irish, an excellent introduction to Connemara Irish. Its 

admirable allegiance to the regional dialect in terms of grammar, syntax, lexis and even orthography makes it 

difficult to use for teachers of any other variety of Irish. 

6 The courageous if problematic guideline of An Caighdeán Oifigiúil suggests às far as possible to avoid any form 

or rule for which there isn't sound support in the living language of the Gaeltacht' and `to choose those forms whose 

use is most widespread in the Gaeltacht' (chomh fada agus ab fhéidir sin gan glacadh le foirm ná riail nach bhfuil 

údarás maith di i mbeotheanga na Gaeltachta; rogha a dhéanamh de na leaganacha is forleithne atá in úsáid sa 

Ghaeltacht, quoted from Gramadach na Gaeilge agus Litriú na Gaeilge: An Caighdeán Oifigiúl, 1958, viii; my 

translation). 

viii


For the learner, an introduction to a consistent regional dialect was thought to be 

desirable. Ulster Irish has never presented a more viable didactic choice than today. Its 

prominence on both sides of the border is on the increase and is reflected in the media and 

educational apparatus. There is much literature written in the dialect, most notably by the Mac 

Grianna brothers from Rannafast, and a wealth of folklore publications collected in Donegal. 7 For 

the past two decade, Oideas Gael has run immersion language programs in a variety of locations 

in Donegal, offering learners the chance to build on their course work and increase their fluency. 

A number of strategies have been adopted to make the book as compatible as possible 

with other varieties of Irish: 

Wherever two words (or grammatical features) compete in Donegal Irish, the one with 

the greater regional spread was chosen (e.g. of the two words used to denote `girl' in Donegal, 

cailín and girseach, we chose cailín since it is also found in Munster and Connacht; similarly 

the negative particle ní, which is found throughout Ireland, is adopted rather than cha which 

is only found in Ulster (as well as Scottish Gaelic); the use of cha is however covered in the 

appendix that deals with issues of dialect, Cúrsaí Canúna.) 

All forms not in general currency outside Ulster are clearly marked as Ulster forms by a 

superscript U . 

The dialect appendix lists the Ulster dialect features for each chapter and provides their 

regional (Connacht or Munster) equivalents. 

Buntús na Gaeilge: Structure and Content 

This book aims to balance the needs for conversational and grammatical competence. The 

textbook emphasizes students' active participation in the learning process: the aim is to generate 

speakers of Irish, and the pace and structure of the textbook are designed to encourage active 

rather than passive knowledge of the language; it is one thing to understand a grammar rule, quite 

another thing to be able to generate it in natural speech. Many of the drills, games and exercises 

are designed to improve oral competence. A crucial element in transforming language learners into 

language speakers is to provide a relaxed and enjoyable environment where it is safe to make 

mistakes, and where the learning process itself becomes fun. An element of playfulness in the 

classroom is hugely beneficial, and may be fostered not only by various interactive games and 

exercises, but also by the introduction of traditional songs and rhymes. Every Irish learner 

remembers such items of traditional lore from their introduction to the language. Such items not 

only serve to introduce students to Gaelic tradition; they are also fun, and are a proven aid to 

learners by implanting memorable words, idioms, and syntactic patterns in the student's mind. I 

have attempted to harness this resource and integrate it as closely as possible by selecting items 

that reflect the grammar and vocabulary introduced in the corresponding chapter. The fact that 

children's lore, including counting rhymes, songs and riddles, is well represented in the textbook is 

not coincidental; it reflects the learner's gradually expanding vocabulary, and aims to infuse a 

sense of playfulness conducive to the learning process. 

Each lesson contains: 

an alphabetized vocabulary list (foclóir) 

a dialogue or situational sketch (comhrá) 

7 For a small sample of literature in, or about, Ulster Irish, see Appendix 1: Cúrsaí Canúna. 

ix


a discussion of grammar (an ceacht gramadaí), illustrated with model sentences 

exercises (ceachtanna le déanamh) to practice the new vocabulary, idioms, and grammar, 

including both oral exercises designed for classroom use, and exercises specifically designed as 

homework (obair bhaile) 

a sample of traditional songs and sayings from Gaelic literature and folk culture (teanga is 

cultúr). 

In addition, revision exercises encourage students to review the material periodically (Súil 

Siar: Revision). A dialect appendix (Appendix 1: Cúrsaí Canúna) lists Ulster forms and their 

southern equivalents, and discusses Ulster features of grammar and syntax. A second appendix 

(Appendix 2: Phonetic Exercises) introduces students to the phonology of Donegal Irish. The 

Irish-English and English-Irish glossaries (Foclóir Gaeilge-Bearla and Béarla-Gaeilge) contain all 

words used in the lessons. Finally, three separate indices, including a grammar index and a subject 

index, help students navigate the book. 

Foclóir (Vocabulary) 

The glossary lists alphabetically all new words to be learnt in each new chapter. Ulster dialect 

words or idioms are marked by a superscript U . 

Comhrá (Conversation) 

Our goal was to generate reasonably natural conversation incorporating the new material 

presented in each lesson. The imaginary characters featured in the dialogues tend to be modelled 

on our target audience of university students. The students' urban and academic environment is 

reflected in the vocabulary, hopefully enabling them to express their own concerns and activities. 

At the same time, we have attempted to represent the more traditional lifestyles of the Gaeltacht 

as well, resulting in an uneasy but realistic compromise in which the computer and the cell phone 

coexist with farmyard terminology. 

An Ceacht Gramadaí (Grammar) 

Our aim was to create a graded grammar of the language, paced fast enough to allow us to cover 

all the essential components of the language within the compass of the course, but slow enough 

to allow a gradual process of assimilation, enabling students to master one feature before being 

confronted with the next. 

The teaching of abstract grammar has become somewhat unfashionable in recent years. It 

is obviously not a prerequisite for successful language acquisition: the world's most successful 

group of language learners are infants who succeed splendidly without the crutch of abstract 

grammar, and indeed without any literacy skills. However, for our target audience of university 

students, any textbook that eschews an analysis of the underlying rules governing the language 

was found to be limiting and frustrating. No specialized knowledge of linguistic terminology is 

required, although an awareness of basic grammatical principles is assumed among the target 

audience, almost all of whom have studied another foreign language previously. 

Ceachtanna le Déanamh (Practice Exercises) 

These include both exercises for classroom use and for written homework assignments. 

x


Classroom exercises include drills, games, and partner work. Homework exercises always include 

a translation into Irish. Many of the classroom exercises are also suitable as homework 

assignments. 

Teanga is Cultúr (Language and Culture) 

The traditional rhymes, songs and proverbs featured in Teanga is Cultúr have been assembled 

from a wide range of sources. I am particularly indebted to two collections of children's lore, 

Nicholas Williams' comprehensive collection Cniogaide Cnagaide (cited as CC), and Roibeard Ó 

Cathasaigh's delightful collection Rabhlaí Rabhlaí (RR), which is accompanied by a CD. Another 

book quoted repeatedly is Leabhar Sheáin Uí Chonaill (LSIC, ed. S. Ó Duilearga), available in 

translation as Seán Ó Conaill's Book (SOCB). Traditional songs and proverbs are not generally 

attributed, although some attractive collections have been listed in the bibliography; most items 

are ubiquitously found in the oral and the printed record. I have taken certain didactic liberties 

with the traditional materials, simplifying and occasionally modifying dialect forms. Unless 

otherwise noted, all translations are provided by the author. 8 I have occasionally provided notes 

about Irish festivals and seasonal customs, Irish naming practices etc, to introduce American 

students to aspects of traditional Gaelic culture. 

Súil Siar (Revision) 

At appropriate intervals, students are invited to revise the material mastered in the previous 

lessons. Students will find revision exercises as well as a checklist of items they should be able to 

produce. 

Foclóir Béarla-Gaeilge agus Gaeilge-Béarla (English-Irish and Irish-English Glossary) 

The glossary lists all vocabulary items learned in individual lessons. The English-Irish glossary 

contains much additional material. A modern text book should carry the message that Irish is a 

living language, able to cope with technological advances and societal changes; and a conscious 

attempt has been made to supply words not readily found in standard dictionaries - words such 

as `CD,' ìnternet,' `condom' and `divorce.' 

Gearrliosta Briathra (Select List of Verbs) 

This lists the more important verbs with their principal parts (stem; 1 sg pres; verbal noun). 

Audio Backup 

The book is accompanied by an audiotape; for each lesson, the student can listen to a recording of 

the vocabulary, of the conversational sketch, and of selected songs and poems. A separate tape 

accompanies the phonetic exercises (Appendix 2), designed to introduce students to some of the 

prominent features of the pronunciation of Donegal Irish. 

8 Copyright permission for printed materials will be sought each time this textbook is made available to students. 

xi

BUÍOCHAS / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 

I am grateful to all my colleagues and friends with whom I have discussed the joys and 

tribulations of teaching Irish, in particular Tomás Ó Cathasaigh, Patrick Ford, Kate Chadbourne, 

Donna Wong and Brian Ó Conchubhair. I am indebted to my co-author, Bettina Kimpton, whose 

contribution to the conversational dialogues in particular helped to render them more colloquial. 

She also undertook the arduous task of assembling the glossaries, contributed exercises and drills 

and gave advice on dialect issues. I am deeply grateful to Matthieu Boyd for his meticulous 

proofreading, for numerous helpful suggestions, corrections, and additions. All remaining errors 

of fact or judgement are of course my sole responsibility. I am grateful to my students, who 

inspired this book, and whose criticism helped to improve it: Meaghan Casey, Will Craig, Nancy 

Dutton, Caitlín Frame, Aidan Grey, Efren Gutierrez, Natalie Kirschstein, Matthew Knight, 

Amanda Price, Nate Rogers, Maggie Rossman, Bridget Samuels, Matthieu Boyd, John Dillon, 

Aled Llion Jones, Molly Hester, Brian Kennedy, Edyta Lehmann-Shriver, Sean Robinson and 

Brendan Shields. To them, and to my first teacher of Irish, Professor Gearóid Stockman of 

Queen's University Belfast, this work is gratefully and affectionately dedicated. 

xii

1 

CEACHT A HAON 

FOCLÓIR 9 

ach but 

ádh mór! good luck, good bye U 

ag at, by 

agus (also is) and 

as from 

Baile Átha Cliath [blakl'ia] Dublin 

beag small 

bean (f) woman 

beannachtaí (pl of beannacht, f) greetings 

Béarla (m) English 

bocsa U bruscair waste paper basket 

buachaill (m), pl: buachaillí boy, lad 

cá / cá háit where? 

cad é U what? 

cailc (f) chalk 

cailín (m), pl: cailíní girl 

cathaoir (f) chair 

cé who? 

ceart go leor indeed, right enough 

cinnte certain, certainly 

clár dubh (m) blackboard 

cliste clever, smart 

deas nice 

Dia duit Hello (`God to you') 

Dia is Muire duit Hello (responsive; `God and Mary to you') 

doras (m) door 

é, emphatic eisean he/him 

Éireannach, pl Éireannaigh Irish (adj); Irish person 

fear (m) man 

fosta U also 

fuinneog (f) window 

Gaeilge (f) Irish language 

gasúr (m) small boy 

glantóir (m) duster 

í, emphatic ise she/her 

iad, emphatic iadsan they/them 

9 (f) feminine gender; (m) masculine gender; U Ulster Irish dialect form (see dialect appendix for standard Irish form). 

1

CEACHT A HAON / LESSON ONE 

is (verb) is (3 sg verb `to be') 

is (conj.) and 

leabhar (m) book 

cóipleabhar (m) notebook 

mac léinn (m), pl: mic léinn student 

maidin (f) morning 

maith good 

mála (m) bag 

mé, emphatic mise I/me 

múinteoir (m), pl: múinteoirí teacher 

Meiriceánach American (noun or adjective) 

Meiriceánaigh Americans 

mór big 

muid, emphatic muidinne U we/us 

ná than 

ná nor 

nua new 

oíche (f) night 

páipéar (m) paper 

páiste (m) child 

peann (m) pen 

peann luaidhe (m) pencil 

rang (m) class 

an rang Gaeilge (m) the Irish class 

scoil (f) school 

seo this 

seomra (m) room 

seomra scoile (m) schoolroom 

sibh, emphatic sibhse you (pl) 

sin that 

slán goodbye 

suimiúil interesting 

tábla U (m) table 

tú, emphatic tusa you (sg) 

I. Seán and Máire introduce themselves. 

Máire: Dia duit. 

Seán: Dia is Muire duit. 

Máire: Is mise Máire. Cé tusa? 

Seán: Is mise Seán. 

Máire: Cá as tú? 

COMHRÁ 

2

Seán: Is as Béal Feirste mé. Agus tú féin? 

Máire: Is as Baile Átha Cliath mé. 


II. Nóra is waiting with her baby carriage at the bus stop. A young man joins her. 

Niall: Dia duit. 

Nóra: Dia is Muire duit. 

Niall: An cailín é? 

Nóra: Ní hea. Is gasúr é. Seo Brian. 

Niall: Is gasúr breá é. 

Nóra: Is páiste maith é ceart go leor. 

III. Máire, the Irish teacher, comes to the classroom early, where she finds a young woman 

reading a book: 

Máire: Is leabhar maith é sin, nach ea? 

Aisling: Sea, cinnte. 

Máire: An mac léinn nua tú? 

Aisling: Sea. Is mise Aisling. Cé tusa? An mac léinn tusa? 

Máire: Ní hea. Is múinteoir mé. Is mise Máire. Cá as tú, a Aisling? 

Aisling: Is as Bostún mé. Agus tú féin? An Éireannach tú? 

Máire: Sea. Is as Baile Átha Cliath mé. 

An Seomra Scoile 

3


AN CEACHT GRAMADAÍ 

§1. Forainmneacha Pearsanta (Personal Pronouns) 

There are two sets of personal pronouns in Irish. One set is used only with the conjugated verb 

(`dependent pronouns': see Ceacht 4),; the other set is used if a pronoun, whether a subject or an 

object pronoun, is used independently. 

§1.2 The word féin `self' can also be used to emphasize a pronoun: 

mé féin muid féin 

tú féin sibh féin 

é féin iad féin 

í féin 

Independent Pronouns 

Regular Emphatic 

mé I (also: me) mise 

thú/tú you (sg.) tusa 

é he (also: him) eisean 

í she (also: her) ise 

muid we (also: us) muidinne U 

sibh you (pl.) sibhse 

iad they (also: them) iadsan 

§2. The Demonstrative Pronouns seo and sin 

The demonstrative pronouns seo `this' and sin `that' can be combined with a noun or pronoun to 

form a complete sentence: 10 

Seo peann. U This (is a) pen. 

Sin leabhar. U That (is a) book. 

Sin é! That's it, that's right. 

Cad é seo? Seo peann. U What is this? This is a pen. 

Seo can also mean `here', and sin `there' (as reflected in the words anseo `here', and ansin `there'): 

Seo í. Here she is. 

Seo Seán. Here comes Seán. 

10 In Connacht and Munster Irish, a pronoun is needed in this construction: seo é peann. 

4


§3. An Chopail (The Copula) 

There are two verbs of being in Irish, the copula is and the substantive verb tá. The copula is 

used to express inalienable qualities, not unlike Spanish ser. It is used to classify and identify 

things. The substantive verb, which we will encounter in Ceacht 4, is used, much like Spanish 

estar, to describe more temporary states and qualities. 

The copula has only a single form in the present tense, is. 11 As its name suggests (from 

Latin `link'), the copula serves to join the subject and predicate of a sentence together in a 

relationship of equivalence: 

Is peann é. It is a pen. 

The pronoun in the copula sentence generally agrees with the noun in number and gender: 

Cad é seo? Is leabhar é. What is this? It's a book. 

Cad é sin? Is fuinneog í. What's that? It's a window. 

The subject can be emphasized through the use of the demonstrative pronouns seo `this' and sin 

`that': 

Is leabhar é seo. This is a book. 

The copula is used to classify or identify people or objects. It also serves to emphasize a word or 

phrase by `fronting' it. Itself unstressed, the copula thus always introduces the stressed phrase: 

Is as Bostún mé. I am from Boston. 

Is maith an bhean í. She is a good woman. 

§3.1. `Yes' and `No' 

There is no word for yes or for no in Irish. Instead we respond with a form of the verb used in 

the question (the `responsive'). Since the copula is unstressed and cannot stand on its own, the 

answer to a copula question includes is / ní plus something else, in the case of the copula 

sentences so far either sea (


An múinteoir í? Sea. Is she a teacher? Yes. 

Nach Éireannach thú? Ní hea. Aren’t you Irish? No, I'm not. 

An peann é sin? Ní hea. Is peann luaidhe é. Is that a pen? No, it's a pencil. 

Instead of answering in a complete clause, one may use the conjunction ach `but:' 

An peann é sin? Ní hea ach peann luaidhe. Is that a pen? No, it's a pencil. 

Nach dochtúir thú? Ní hea ach mac léinn. Aren't you a doctor? No, I'm a student. 

§4. Ainmfhocal agus Aidiacht (Masculine Noun and Adjective) 

Most adjectives in Irish follow the nouns they modify. Thus à good book' is expressed as 

leabhar maith: 

Is leabhar é seo. This is a book. 

Is leabhar maith é seo. This is a good book. 

§5. Beannachtaí (Greetings and Introductions) 

§5.1. Saying hello 

Dia duit (daoibh if to more than one person) God to you 

Dia is Muire duit/daoibh God and Mary to you (in response) 

Maidin mhaith. Good morning. 

§5.2. Introducing yourself 

Is mise Máire. I am Mary. 

Cé tusa? Who are you? 

§5.3. Asking where someone's from 

Cá as tú? Where are you from? 

Is as Baile Átha Cliath mé. I am from Dublin. 

Béal Feirste Belfast 

Doire Derry 

Tír Chonaill County Donegal 

Gaillimh Galway 

Meiriceá America, USA 

Bostún Boston 

Nua Eabhrac New York 

§5.4. Saying goodbye 

Slán! (< go dté tú slán) Bye-bye (literally `may you go safely') 

Ádh mór! Good luck, good bye U 

Oíche mhaith! Good night 

6


CEACHTANNA LE DÉANAMH 

1. Look around the classroom. Ask each other the question cad é sin/seo? pointing at the objects 

you know, and make up an answer using sin/seo: 

Cad é sin? Sin peann. What is that? That's a pen. 

2. Read the following sentences, and identify their subjects and predicates: 

Is Éireannach mé. I am Irish. 

Is mac léinn tú. You are a student. 

Is múinteoir í. She is a teacher. 

Is leabhar é. It is a book. 

Is mic léinn muid. We are students. 

Is Meiriceánaigh sibh. You (pl) are Americans. 

Is Éireannaigh iad. They are Irish people. 

3. 

a) Translate: 

1. I am a student. 

2. She is a girl. 

3. He is a teacher. 

4. She is an Irish person. 

5. It is a bag. 

6. We are students. 

7. They are teachers. 

8. You (pl) are girls. 

9. I am an American. 

10. It is a book. 

b) Now, convert these sentences into: 

Negative statements, e.g. I am not a student. 

Questions, e.g. Am I a student? 

Negative questions, e.g. Am I not a student? 

The first sentence has been done for you: 

I am a student. Is mac léinn mé. 

Negative: Ní mac léinn mé. 

Question: An mac léinn mé? 

Negative Question: Nach mac léinn mé? 

4. Look around the classroom again. Pointing at objects and asking each other cad é sin/seo?, now 

use the construction is peann é etc. in the answer. Respond with another question (a very Irish 

strategy!) using nach, then answer first in the affirmative, then in the negative: 

A: Cad é sin? What is that? 

7


B: Is peann é. It is a pen. 

A: Nach peann luaidhe é? Is it not a pencil? 

B: Sea. Yes (i.e. it is a pencil rather than a pen). 

Ní hea ach peann. No, it's a pen. 

or: Ní hea. Is peann é. 

5. Cluiche Cainte (Òral Game'): Postanna (`Jobs') 

Each student is given a card with his or her `profession', and with the profession of a person they 

have to search for. Students ascertain their partner as quickly as possible by asking everyone in 

class whether theirs is the right profession: 

A: An múinteor tú? 

B: Ní hea. Is mac léinn mé. Agus tú féin? 

A: Is banaltra mise. 

A (trying again): An múinteoir tú? 

C (delighted): Sea. An banaltra tusa? 

A (delighted): Sea cinnte! 

Postanna (Professions) 

banaltra (f) nurse 

cócaire (m) cook 

léachtóir (m) lecturer 

ceoltóir (m) musician 

píobaire (m) piper 

feirmeoir (m) farmer 

dochtúir (m) doctor 

rúnaí (m) secretary (administrator) 

freastalaí (m) waiter/waitress 

file (m) poet 

6. Add adjectives to the following sentences: 

1. An peann é sin? 

2. An mac léinn í? 

3. Is fear é. 

4. Nach leabhar é seo? 

5. Ní múinteoir mé. 

7. Cuir Gaeilge air (`Translate into Irish'): 

1. He is a little boy. 

2. Are you a good student? 

8

3. Isn’t she a good teacher? 

4. This is not a big book. 

5. She is a tall girl. 


8. Have a short introductory conversation with one of your classmates. Introduce yourself, and 

ask who s/he is and where s/he is from. Then introduce your classmate to the rest of the class. 

Here is an example: 

a) Interview: 

C: Dia duit. Is mise Caitlín. Cé tusa? 

S: Is mise Seán. 

C: Cá as tú? 

S: Is as Nua Eabhrac mé. Agus tú féin? 

C: Is as California mé. An mac léinn tú? 

S: Sea. Agus tusa? 

C: Mise fosta. 

b) Presentation: 

C: Seo Seán. Is mac léinn é. Is as Nua Eabhrac é. 

S: Seo Caitlín. Is as California í. Is mac léinn í fosta. 

Obair Bhaile 

1. Write a conversation in which two students meet for the first time. 

2. Write ten sentences identifying objects in your picture of a classroom, using the construciton is 

cailc í or seo/sin cailc. 

3. Cuir Gaeilge air: 

1. It is an interesting book. 

2. She is a good teacher. 

3. We are from Galway. 

4. Is he a good student? 

5. He is a nice man, isn't he? 

6. She's a smart girl. 

7. This is a good class. 

8. Are you (pl) students? No. 

9. Aren’t they from Dublin? 

10. This is not a new book. 

9


TEANGA IS CULTÚR 

Ráiteachas (Saying) 

Mise agus tusa agus ruball na muice. I and you and the pig's tail. 

(all and sundry) 

Greetings 

The traditional greeting Dia duit `God to you' and its responsive Dia is Muire duit `God and 

Mary to you' (short for Go mbeannaí Dia ... duit `May God ... bless you'), has gone somewhat 

out of fashion in recent years, being rarely used by younger native speakers who increasingly use 

haileó `hallo'. It is however still widely used, especially by the older generation. Instead of a 

formal greeting it is also very common to ask the person you meet how s/he is (see Ceacht 4) or 

to exchange a comment about the weather (see Ceacht 5). 

Loanwords 

Throughout its long history, Irish has borrowed freely from other languages, and loanwords 

provide us with a revealing cross section of Irish cultural history. 

The earliest stratum of major borrowing is from Latin. Christianity was introduced to 

Ireland in the early fifth century, and apparently received enthusiastically, or at least without the 

prolonged hostility it received in other parts of pagan northern Europe. Along with the new 

religion came literacy and a new educational system reflected in the Irish educational vocabulary: 

scoil < schola `school' 

cathaoir < cathedra `chair' 

cailc < calx `chalk, pebble' 

peann < penna `feather, quill' 

leabhar < liber `book' 

léann < legendum `learning' (as in mac léinn `son of learning, student') 

léacht < lectio `lecture' (cf. also leachtóir `lecturer' [B&I] / `professor' [US]). 

Between the ninth and the eleventh century, the Vikings had a significant presence in 

Ireland (`they came to raid and stayed to trade'). Linguistic borrowings are mainly in the areas of 

ship building and trading, one of the trade imports being beoir `beer' (from Old Norse bjórr). Like 

English, Irish borrowed the word for window from the Vikings: 

fuinneog < vind auga `wind eye' 

The Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169 introduced not only Norman French, 

spoken by the nobility, but also English, spoken by many of the mercenaries and subordinates. 

Irish borrowed heavily from Norman French, including sophisticated architectural terms, and 

10


terms describing luxury goods: 

Seomra < Fr. chambre `room' 

tábla < Fr. table `table' 

lampa < Fr. lampe `lamp' 

páipéar < Middle Engl. `paper' 

The encroachment of English was not a gradual and inexorable process; in the centuries 

after the invasion, Irish recovered much of the ground it had lost during the invasion. No 

concerted effort to repress the Irish language was made before the fourteenth century, and the 

repressive measures introduced with greater or lesser success in the succeeding centuries had little 

impact on the spoken language of the common people, being primarily directed against the native 

aristocracy. It was not until the broad-based educational measures of the nineteenth century, such 

as the introduction of an English-medium national school system in 1831, that English made rapid 

inroads on the vernacular. The volume of borrowing from English is massive and the process is 

ongoing. One example will suffice: 

bocsa (as in bocsa bruscair) < box. 

11

2 

CEACHT A DÓ 

FOCLÓIR 

ainmhí (m), pl anmhaithe (3) animal 

amhrán (m) song 

anseo here 

arán (m) bread 

ard tall 

bainne (m) milk 

bán white 

bia (m) food 

bó (f) cow 

breá lovely 

is breá liom I like/love 

bunchéimeach undergraduate 

caife (m) coffee 

caora (f), pl caoraigh (3) sheep 

capall (m) horse 

cat (m) cat 

cé acu which one 

cearc (f) chicken 

ceart go leor right enough, allright 

ceol (m) music 

chomh maith as well 

císte (m) cake 

cliste intelligent 

cosúil le like 

cúrsa, pl cúrsaí (m) course 

dubh black 

éan (m) bird 

eile other 

fearr (comparative of maith) better 

feirm (f) farm 

feoil (f) meat 

fíon (m) wine 

fionn blond 

fuath (m) hate 

gach every 

gan without 

glasraí (m pl) vegetables 

hata hat 

12

iarchéimeach postgraduate 

Indiach Indian (noun or adjective) 

Iodáileach Italian (noun or adjective) 

is cuma liom I don't mind / I don't care 

is cuimhin liom I remember 

lá (m) day 

lag weak 

láidir strong 

le with 

léachtóir (m) lecturer (B&I); professor (US) 

madadh U (m) dog 

mar sin therefore, then 

marbh dead 

milseán (m), pl: milseáin candy (sweets) 

muc (f) pig 

ní miste liom I don't mind 

nó or 

obair (f) work 

óg young 

ollscoil (f) university 

prátaí rósta roast potatoes 

rince (m) dance 

rua red-haired 

rud (m) thing 

sa bhaile at home 

sráid (f) street 


tae (m) tea 

tanaí thin 

uachtar reoite (m) ice cream 

uisce (m) water 

COMHRÁ 

Liam and Síle are planning to have their friends Pádraigín and Donncha over for dinner: 

Liam: An maith leat bia Iodáileach? Nó an fearr leat feoil agus prátaí rósta? 

Síle: Is cuma liomsa, ach ní maith le Pádraigín bia Iodáileach. 

Liam: Is fuath léi pasta, ceart go leor. Feoil is prátaí mar sin, agus glasraí chomh maith. Cé acu is 

fearr leat, fíon bán nó fíon dearg? 

Síle: Fíon dearg. An maith le Donncha uachtar reoite? 

Liam: Ní cuimhin liom, ach is maith leis císte agus milseáin eile, cinnte. Agus is breá liomsa 

uachtar reoite. 

Síle: Is breá liomsa fosta é.... An maith leat an ollscoil, a Liam? 

13

CEACHT A DÓ / LESSON TWO 

Liam: Is maith. Is fearr liom an bia sa bhaile, ach is maith liom gach rud eile anseo. Is breá liom mo 

chúrsaí. 


§1. An tAlt (The Article) 

There is no indefinite article in Irish. To say à book', we simply say leabhar; à good book' is 

leabhar maith. 

The definite article, feminine and masculine, is an (na in the plural): 

leabhar a book 

an leabhar the book 

The definite article can affect the first letter of the noun it modifies. This phenomenon, called 

initial mutation, occurs in a wide variety of contexts, and is typical of all Celtic languages. The 

most common mutation is the séimhiú `lenition.' This mutation (sometimes also called 

àspiration') is realized in a majority of the consonants involved as fricatization: 

Séimhiú (Lenition) 

Lenition affects the voiced plosives `b' `d' `g', the unvoiced plosives 

`p' `t' `c', the labial `m', and the fricatives `f' and `s'. It is marked by 

inserting `h' after those letters: 

bhean pheann mhac léinn 

dhoras theach fhuinneog 

ghasúr cheann shráid 

Lenition also affects the pronunciation of the liquids `l' `n' `r', but 

this is not represented in writing. Lenition does not affect vowels or 

the consonants / consonant clusters h, sc, sp, st, sm. 

§1.1. The definite article causes lenition of feminine nouns: 

bean a woman 

an bhean the woman 

fuinneog a window 

an fhuinneog the window 

If a feminine noun begins with a vowel, there is no change, since vowels cannot be lenited: 

an obair the work 

If a feminine noun begins with an `s' (including `sr' `sn' or `sl' but NOT `sc' `sp' `st' `sm'), the 

14


article will prefix a `t': 

sráid a street 

an tsráid the street 

§1.2. The article causes no change to a masculine noun beginning with a consonant: 

an fear the man 

an cailín the girl 

but it will prefix a `t-' 12 to masculine nouns beginning with a vowel: 

an t-éan the bird 

an t-uisce the water 

§2. An tAinmfhocal agus an Aidiacht (Feminine Noun and Adjective) 

§2.1. Adjectives following a feminine noun receive séimhiú, whether or not the article is present: 

maidin mhaith Good morning! 

an mhaidin mhaith the good morning 

sráid mhór fhada a big long street 

an tsráid mhór fhada the big long street 

§2.2. Lenition is frequently prevented in a variety of grammatical and semantic contexts where a 

word ending in `n' (or, less commonly, in `d') precedes a word beginning in a `d,' `t' or `s' 

(`homorganic' or `dental rule'). For this reason, lenition of the feminine noun or adjective may be 

prevented: the definite article, e.g., does not lenite a feminine noun if it starts with `d' or `t'; if it 

starts with an `s', the feminine article prefixes a `t' instead. Similarly, if the feminine noun ends in 

`n', and the adjective begins with a `d' or `t' or `s', the adjective is not lenited. 

Dental Rule 

Lenition is usually prevented when homorganic consonants, i.e. 

consonants that are produced in the same area of the mouth, come 

together. Thus the dental plosives `d' and `t' and the fricative `s' are 

not lenited after the nasal `n' (Ó Siadhail 1989, 6.2.1(v)): 

an Dáil assembly; the Dáil (Irish legislature) 

bean deas a nice woman 

seanteach an old house 

gan dabht without a doubt 

12 Irish orthography uses the hyphen as sparingly as possible; the hyphen is only used if prefixing a letter might 

otherwise give rise to ambiguity. For instance, a prefixed `h' needs no hyphen, since `h' is not a normal letter in the 

Irish alphabet; similarly the combination `ts' is unambiguous, since it does not occur naturally. If `t' is prefixed to a 

vowel, on the other hand, it needs to be hyphenated to disambiguate (an t-each `the stallion' versus an teach `the 

15


Note that this is a descriptive rather than a prescriptive rule, and there is considerable variety of 

usage even within one dialect. Non-lenition is best regarded as a strong tendency; lenited and nonlenited 

forms co-exist in all dialects. Ó Siadhail points out that an attributive adjective is more 

likely to be lenited than a noun (1989, 6.2.1(v)2). 

§2.2. Adjectives following a masculine noun remain unchanged: 

an fear maith the good man 

§3. Forainmneacha Réamhfhoclacha: An Réamhfhocail le (Prepositional Pronouns: the 

Preposition le `with') 

One of the characteristic features of all Celtic languages is their use of so-called `prepositional 

pronouns.' Prepositional pronouns are, in effect, conjugated prepositions, incorporating in one 

word a pronoun and a preposition: English `with me' is expressed in a single word liom. 

§3.1. Here is the conjugated paradigm of the preposition le `with': 

LE `with' 

liom with me linn with us 

leat with you (sg) libh with you (pl) 

leis with him leo with them 

léi with her 

Like the personal pronoun, the prepositional pronoun also has 

emphatic forms, with similar endings: 

liomsa linne 

leatsa libhse 

leis-sean leosan 

léise 

§3.2. Liom Féin 

If the prepositional pronoun liom (etc) is followed by the word féin `self,' it has the meaning of 

`by myself,' àlone': 

Mise liom féin I alone, by myself. 

§3.3. Prefixing `h' 

Le does not cause mutation of a following consonant, but will prefix `h' to a word beginning with 

a vowel: 

house'), except when the noun is capitalized (an tÉireannach `the Irish person'). 

16


Is maith le hÁine fíon dearg. Áine likes red wine. 

Prefixing `h' 

Little words ending in a vowel that neither lenite nor eclipse (see 

Ceacht 3), prefix `h' to words beginning with a vowel: 

le hÁine with Áine 

a hathair her father 

go hálainn beautiful 

§4. Copula Sentences With le 

§4.1 Ownership 

Le can also be used with the copula to express ownership. The emphatic paradigm of the 

prepositional pronoun is typically used: 

Is liomsa é. It is mine. 

An leatsa é seo? Is this yours? 

Is cara liom í. She is a friend of mine. 

§4.2 Other Idioms with le 

Le is also used with adjectives in copula sentences to form a number of expressions, mostly to do 

with likes and dislikes: 

Is maith liom tae. I like tea. 

Is fearr liom caife. I prefer coffee. 

Is fuath le Seán é. Seán hates it. 

Is breá linn é. We love it. 

Is cuma liom. It is all the same to me, I don't care. 13 

An miste leat? Do you mind? 

Ní miste liom. I don't mind / I don't care. 14 

Is cuimhin liom é. I remember him. 

§4.2.1. These sentences can be converted into questions or negative statements by using the 

interrogative and negative forms of the copula: 

13 Normally used when one is equally agreeable to two options: Àn fearr leat tae nó caife?' Ìs cuma liom.' `Do 

you prefer tea or coffee?' Ì don't mind'. When followed by the preposition faoi àbout' it means Ì don't care for...': 

Is cuma liom faoi fhilíócht Ì don't care for poetry', and Is róchuma liom faoi Bhill Clinton Ì can't stand Bill 

Clinton.' 

14 More often than not used in the negative rather than the affirmative. 

17


An maith leat tae? Do you like tea? 

Ní maith léi é seo. She doesn’t like this. 

Nach maith leat do dhinnéar? Don't you like your dinner? 

§4.2.2. The answer to a question will include the copula and the adjective/predicate: 

An maith leat Bostún? Do you like Boston? 

Is maith. / Ní maith. I do. / I don't. 

§4.2.3. Note the use of the conjunctions nó òr' and ná `nor:' 

An maith leat tae nó caife? Do you like tea or coffee? 

Ní maith liom tae ná caife. I like neither tea nor coffee. 

Note also the conjunction ná `than' used when comparing two things to each other: 

Is fearr liom tae ná caife. I like tea better than coffee /I prefer tea to coffee. 

§5. The Preposition gan `without' 

The preposition gan `without' causes séimhiú: 

gan bhróg without a shoe 

gan mhaith useless, without benefit 

However, if the noun it modifies begins with a d, t, s (or f) there is no séimhiú, since d/t/s resist 

lenition after `n' (see Ceacht 2 `Dental Rule'): 

gan dabht without a doubt. 

In addition, personal names are not lenited, nor is a noun lenited if it is modified: 

gan Mícheál without Michael 

gan cuidiú ar bith without any help. 


1. Write out the following nouns with the article: arán, bean, cailc, doras, fuinneog, leabhar, scoil, 

obair, cathaoir, páipéar, tábla, sráid, éan. 

2.1a) Incorporate adjectives into the following classification sentences: 

is capall é > is capall maith é 

is muc í 

is cat é 

is peann é 

is cailc í 

is bean í sin 

18


b) Now turn these into questions and provide answers: 

is capall maith é > an capall maith é? Sea / Ní hea 

3. Cluiche: Fiche Ceist 

Play the game of `20 Questions' with your partner. Use words such as beag, mór, maith, deas, 

cliste, ciúin, láidir, lag: 

A: An ainmhí é? B: Sea. 

A: An ainmhí mór é? B: Ní hea. 

A: An madadh é? B: Ní hea. 

A: An cat é? B: Sea! 


1. We don't like American food. 

2. Do you (pl) like music? Yes. 

3. She likes tea, but she prefers coffee. 

4. It is not yours, it is Bríd’s. 

5. I love strong tea. 

6. Does she like the university? 

7. They hate the food here, but they love the weather. 

8. Don’t you remember that song? 

9. Is that coffee yours? 

10. We remember that morning. 

5. Suirbhé Beag: An maith leat ...? 

Find out from your partner how they feel about some of the items listed below. Then represent 

their opinions to the class. 

1. caife dubh 

2. cócaireacht (`cooking') 

3. Bostún 

4. Starbucks 

5. Madonna 

6. Éire 

7. Daidí na Nollag (`Father Christmas') 

8. Peil Mheiriceánach (Àmerican Football') 

9. bia Indiach 

10. Leabharlann Widener (`Widener Library') 

11. an aimsir i Massachusetts (`the weather in Mass.') 

12. uisce fuar 

13. ceol tíre (`Country & Western music') 

14. oinniúin (ònions') 

6. Cé acu is fearr leat? 

Ask your partner which of the options below they prefer: 

19


peil / snámh (`football / swimming') 

cócaireacht / rince (`cooking / dancing') 

Éire / Meiriceá 

tae / caife 

caife bán / caife dubh 

madadh / capall 

fíon bán / fíon dearg 

an amharclann / an phictiúrlann (`the theatre / the cinema') 

Bostún / Nua Eabhrac (`Boston / New York') 

císte / uachtar reoite (`cake / ice cream') 

bia Iodáileach / bia Indiach (Ìtalian food / Indian food') 

an Ghaeilge / Béarla 

Sampla: `Cé acu is fearr leat, peil nó snámh?' - Ìs maith liom peil ach is fearr liom snámh. 

/ Is fearr liom peil ná snámh.' 

Obair Bhaile 

1. Label as many of the items in the farmyard picture below as you can in Irish. Make use of the 

definite article. 

20

2. a) Cuir Béarla air (translate into English): 


Seo Niall Ó Dónaill. Is mac léinn ag Ollscoil Harvard é. Is as Nua Eabhrac é. Is Meiriceánach é, 

ach is as Éirinn a athair (`his father'). Ní maith leis Bostún; is fearr leis Nua Eabhrac. Is maith leis 

cócaireacht agus rince. Ní maith leis staidéar ach is breá leis an Ghaeilge agus Béarla. Is maith leis 

an múinteoir Béarla, ach is fearr leis an múinteoir Gaeilge! 

Seo Leah Müller. Is as an Ghearmáin í. Is léachtóir í ag Ollscoil Bostún. Is maith léi Bostún, agus 

is maith léi an ollscoil - is breá léi leabhair. Is fuath léi an Ghearmáin; is fearr léi Meiriceá. Is maith 

léi rince agus caife láidir. 

b) Write blurbs about two of the following: 

Pierre Victoire (Frainceach / as an Fhrainc) 

Enrico de Gamba (Spáinneach / as an Spáinn) 

Count Dracula (Rúmáineach / as an Rúmáin) 

Giuseppe Verdi (Iodáileach / as an Iodáil) 

Máirín Ní Ghallchóir (as an Ghaeltacht / Éireannach / as Éirinn) 

3. Make up an identity card about yourself. NB Only reveal things which you don't mind sharing 

with the class! 

Example: 

Is mise Aisling. Is mac léinn bunchéimeach ag Ollscoil Harvard mé. Is Éireannach mé; is as 

Baile Átha Cliath mé. Is cailín ard tanaí mé, agus is duine ciúin mé. Is maith liom bia Iodáileach 

ach is fearr liom bia Indiach. Ní maith liom sport. Is breá liom Meiriceá ach is fuath liom George 

Bush. Is maith liom mo chúrsaí. Is breá liom an Ghaeilge. 

4. Cuir Gaeilge air seo: 

1. I like this new hat. 

2. She likes tea, but she prefers coffee. 

21


3. They hate American food. 

4. We love the weather here. 

5. That good horse is mine. 

6. Do you like this university? Yes. 

7. Máire doesn’t like the cake, but she loves the ice cream. 

8. Do you (pl) like the book? No. 

9. Is this pen yours? 

10. Does he remember the song? 


Seanfhocail (`Proverbs') 

Marbh le tae, agus marbh gan é. Damned if you do, and damned if you don't. 

Is fearr Gaeilge bhriste ná Béarla cliste. Broken Irish is better than clever English. 

Is maith liom bainne 

Is maith liom tae 

Is maith liom codladh 

Ag deireadh an lae. 

(CC #333) 

Is maith le Nóra prátaí rósta 

Is maith le Nóra im leo 

Is maith le Nóra pis agus pónaire 

Is bainne na bó san oíche. 

(CC #204a) 

Rann (`Rhyme') 

22 

I like milk 

I like tea 

I like sleep 

at the end of the day. 

Amhrán: Nóra Bheag (`Song: Little Nóra') 

Nóra likes roasted potatoes 

Nóra likes butter with them 

Nóra likes peas and beans 

And cow's milk at night. 

Seanfhocail Eile (`More Proverbs') 

The copula is often used to emphasize. If one wants to stress a certain quality in a person or 

object, one moves the adjective to the front, directly following the copula; is fear maith é 

becomes is maith an fear é. This construction is very common in traditional idioms and proverbs:


Is maith an t-anlann an t-ocras. Hunger is a good sauce. 

Is trom an t-ualach aineolas. Ignorance is a heavy burden. 

Is trom cearc i bhfad. Even a hen is heavy when carried far. 

Is mór an rud grá nó eagla. Love or fear will move mountains. 

Is buaine clú ná saol. Fame is more lasting than life. 

23

3 

CEACHT A TRÍ 

FOCLÓIR 

ainm (m) name 

athair (m) father 

béal (m) mouth 

bean chéile (f) wife 

bocht poor 

bolg (m) stomach 

bóthar (m) road 

bríste (m) trousers 

buí (m. noun and adj) yellow 

cailiúil famous 

cara (m) friend 

ceann (m) head 


clann (f) children 

cluas (f) ear 

cos (f) foot 

croí (m) heart 

dath (m), pl dathanna colour 

dearg (m. noun and adj) red 

deartháir (m) brother 

deirfiúr (f) sister 

dlíodóir (m) lawyer 


donn (m. noun and adj) brown 

dorcha dark 

droch- (prefix) bad 

duine (m) person 

fear céile (m) husband 


geansaí (m) jumper (B&I) / sweater (US) 

glas (m. noun and adj) green (as in vegetation); also grey/blue 

glúin (f) knee 

gorm (m. noun and adj) blue 

hata (m) hat 

iníon (f) daughter 

is trua é, is trua sin it's a pity, that's a pity 

lámh (f) hand 

leanbh (m) child 

24

CEACHT A TRÍ / LESSON THREE 

liath (m. noun and adj) grey, grey-haired 

mac (m) son 

máthair (f) mother 

post (m) job 

saibhir wealthy 

scéal story 

sean, comparative/superlative sine old 

srón (f) nose 

stábla (m) stable 

súil (f) eye 

teach (m) house 

tuismitheoir (m), pl: tuismitheoirí parent 

uaine (f. noun and adj) green (as in garments etc.) 

COMHRÁ 

Liam and Síle are looking at photographs from home: 

Síle: Seo mo thuismitheoirí. Is feirmeoirí iad, agus is é seo ár dteach. Sin m athair, agus sin mo 

mháthair, agus is é sin mo dheirfiúr. Bheul, sin a lámh agus a cos! 

Liam: An é sin do dheartháir? 

Síle: Is é. 

Liam: An mac léinn é fosta? 

Síle: Ní hea. Is ceoltóir é. 

Liam: Agus do dheirfiúr? 

Síle: Is dochtúir í. Seo í lena 15 fear céile. Is fear deas é. Agus seo a gclann: Séamus agus Caitlín 

agus Cormac. Is é Séamus an duine is sine, agus is é Cormac an leanbh. 

Liam: Agus cad é sin? 

Síle: Sin an stábla. Agus seo ár n-anmhaithe: bó, agus caoirigh, agus seo Tiarnán, ár madadh. 

Liam: Is madadh álainn é. Cé leis é? An leatsa é? 

Síle: Is liom. Is é mo mhadadh féin é. Is breá liom Tiarnán. 

§1. Possessive Pronouns 


The possessive pronoun causes three distinct types of mutation to the noun it modifies: 

15 lena < prep le `with' + 3sg f poss pron a `her'. 

mo my ár our 

do your (sg) bhur your (pl) 

a his a their 

a her 

25


§1.1 Séimhiú (Lenition) 

The first and second singular and the third singular masculine possessive pronouns cause séimhiú: 

mo theach my house 

do theach your house 

a theach his house 

§1.2 Prefixing `h' 

The third singular feminine possessive pronoun does not cause séimhiú, but will prefix h to a 

noun beginning with a vowel (see Ceacht 2): 

a teach her house 

a hiníon her daughter 

§1.3 Urú (Eclipsis) 

The plural possessive pronouns all cause a mutation called urú èclipsis'. 

Some examples; 

mother 

mo mháthair 

do mháthair 

a mháthair 

a máthair 

ár máthair 

bhur máthair 

a máthair 

father 

m'athair 

d'athair 

a athair 

a hathair 

ár n-athair 

bhur n-athair 

a n-athair 

Urú (Èclispsis') 

Eclipsis (urú) affects essentially the same set of letters as 

lenition (séimhiú), except that the letters `m' and `s' are not 

affected. The term eclipsis refers to the sound of a letter being 

èclipsed' by a prefixed letter. Phonologically, eclipsis covers 

two mechanisms: 

1) The voiced plosives `b' `d' `g', and all vowels, are nasalized 

to the point of being eclipsed by nasals: 

ár mbean [m] ár ngasúr [ng/n] 

ár ndochtúir [n] ár n-athair [n] 

2) The unvoiced plosives `p' `t' `c' and the fricative `f' are 

voiced: 

ár bpeann [b] ár gceann [g] 

ár dteach [d] ár bhfuinneog [w/v] 

26 

problem 

m'fhadhb 

d'fhadhb 

a fhabhb 

a fadhb 

ár bhfadhb 

bhur bhfadhb 

a bhfadhb


Note that the only distinction between the third person possessive pronouns `her' `his' `their' is 

in their effect upon the following word: 

a teach her house 

a theach his house 

a dteach their house 

§1.4. Possessive Pronoun + féin 

Féin after the possessive pronoun means òwn:' 

mo theach féin my own house 

§2. An Chopail (The Copula): Identification Sentences 

So far we have looked at copula sentences that classify nouns (`classification sentences'): 

Is mac léinn í She is a student (she belongs to the class of persons called students) 

In the classification sentence, the predicate directly follows the copula, and the pronoun is in 

final position. The predicate in this type of sentence is always indefinite. 

If we want to identify a thing or person, the structure is different: the copula is followed 

by the pronoun, and the noun is definite (i.e. it is preceded by the article, a possessive pronoun, 

or it is a personal name or place name). 

§2.1. The Emphatic Pronoun 

The emphatic pronoun rather than the simple pronoun is commonly used: 

Is eisean an múinteoir. He is the teacher. 

An ise an rúnaí? Ní hí ach an léachtóir. Is she the secretary? No, the lecturer. 

An tusa Seán? Are you Seán? 16 

§2.2. The Third Person Copula Sentence 

The treatment of the third person (he, she, they) identification sentence offers further 

complexity. 

§2.2.1. With the demonstrative pronoun sin /seo: 

Is í sin an múinteoir. An í sin an múinteoir? 

Is é seo an peann. An é seo an peann? 

Is é sin m’athair. An é sin m’athair? 

§2.2.2. Simple Structure: Seo an peann U 

In the affirmative only, the following simple structure can be used, which dispenses with the 

copula and pronoun: 

16 But note if the emphasis is on the predicate rather than the subject pronoun, the simple rather than the emphatic 

pronoun may be used: An tú Seán? Àre you Seán?' 

27


Sin an múinteoir. That is the teacher. 

Seo an peann. This is the pen. 

Sin m'athair. That's my father. 

§2.2.3. In the absence of an emphatic or demonstrative pronoun, an identification sentence in the 

third person has an additional èchoing' pronoun: 

Is é an múinteoir é. He is the teacher. 

Is í an léachtóir í. She is the lecturer. 

Is iad mo thuismitheoirí iad. They are my parents. 

§2.2.4. If the subject is a proper noun (e.g. a name), the syntax is different: instead of an èchoing' 

pronoun at the end of the sentence, we have a `proleptic' pronoun at the beginning, i.e. a pronoun 

that anticipates the proper noun: 

Is é Séamus an múinteoir. Séamus is the teacher. 

Is í Síle an léachtóir. Síle is the lecturer. 

Is iad Áine agus Aoife mo dheirfiúracha. Áine and Aoife are my sisters. 

§2.3. The responsive always echoes the pronoun used in the question. The simple, non-emphatic 

pronoun is used even if the emphatic is used in the question: 

An tusa an rúnaí? Is mé. / Ní mé. Are you the secretary? Yes. / No. 

An mise an léachtóir? Is tú. / Ní tú. Am I the lecturer? Yes. / No. 

An eisean an gadaí? Is é. / Ní hé. Is he the thief? Yes. / No. 

An í Síle an múinteoir? Is í. / Ní hí. Is Síle the teacher? Yes. / No. 

An sibhse a tuismitheoirí? Is muid. / Ní muid. Are you her parents? Yes. / No. 

An muidinne na ceoltóirí? Is sibh. / Ní sibh. Are we the musicians? Yes. / No. 

An iadsan na mic léinn? Is iad. / Ní hiad. Are they the students? Yes. / No. 

§3. The Prefixed Adjectives sean- and droch- 

Droch- `bad' and, when used attributively, sean òld' are prefixed to the noun they modify and 

lenite it: 

seanbhean an old woman 

drochmhúinteoir a bad teacher 

drochscéal bad news 

Since it ends in `n', sean does not lenite `d' `t' or `s' (see Ceacht 2, 2 `Dental Rule'): 

seantábla an old table. 

28


§4. Na Dathanna (Colours) 

Colours can be used as nouns or adjectives. With the exception of uaine, all colours are masculine. 

If used as nouns, they often take the definite article: 

Is maith liom An Dearg is an Dubh le Stendhal. I like Stendhal's Le rouge et le noir. 


1. Translate the following phrases, and then write out the full paradigm for each: 

1. my house (your house, his house, her house, our house, your house, their house) 

2. their sister 

3. our father 

4. his horse 

5. her foot 

6. his eye 

7. my ear 

8. their parents 

9. her name 

10. our dog 


1. My head; the head. 

2. My eye; the eye. 

3. My window; the window. 

4. My nose; the nose. 

5. My bread; the bread. 

Na Dathanna (Colours) 

bán white dubh black 

bándearg pink flannbhuí orange 

buí yellow glas green (natural) 

corcra purple gorm blue 

dearg red liath grey 

donn brown uaine green (fabrics et al.) 

3. 

a) Translate and simplify the following sentences, according to the model: 

Is é sin an múinteoir.`That is the teacher.' > Sin an múinteoir. 

1. Is í seo m’iníon. 

2. Is é seo ár dteach nua. 

29


3. Is í seo mo lámh. 

4. Is é sin a múinteoir. 

5. Is í seo a máthair. 

b) Now use the complex structure: Sin an dochtúir. > Is é sin an dochtúir. 

1. Seo m’fhear céile. 

2. Sin a hathair. 

3. Sin an madadh maith cliste. 

4. Seo an ceoltóir cailiúil. 

5. Sin a theach. 

4. Cluiche Cainte: Cé mise? 

Each student is given an animal identity and has to impersonate that animal by gesture or sound; 

the others have to guess. 

Mac léinn A (`Student A'): Cé mise? 

An rang (`the class'): An tusa an bhó? 

Mac léinn A: Is mé / Ní mé. 

5. Change the following classification sentences to identification sentences, according to the 

model: 

An leabhar é sin?-> An é sin an leabhar? 

1. An bó í seo? 

2. An múinteoir tú? 

3. An mac léinn nua tú? 

4. Is éan beag é sin. 

5. Is cara maith í. 

6. Is bean í. 

7. Is Meiriceánach é. 

8. Is leabhar mór suimiúil é. 

9. An ceoltóir tú? 

10. Nach máthair mhaith í sin? 

6. Cluiche Cainte: Seo mo theaghlach `This is my family' 

Pretend the other students are all members of your family whom you are introducing to someone. 

Identify them each by name and state your relationship. If you like, you can also show off their 

profession! 


A bad story; an old woman; an old man; an old house; a bad house; a bad mother; grandfather 

(literally òld father'); grandmother (literally òld mother'. 

8. Incorporate a prefixed adjective into the following sentences: 

is capall é > is seanchapall é 

1. is muc í 

30

2. is cat é 

3. is peann é 

4. is cailc í 

5. is bean í sin. 


9. Add colour terms of your choice to the following sentences, and translate: 

1. An peann é sin? 

2. Is maith liom cailc. 

3. Is geansaí é. 

4. Nach leabhar é seo? 

5. Is liomsa an capall. 

Obair Bhaile 

1. Write a paragraph on your colour preferences, and your preferred choice of colours in clothes. 

Example: Is maith liom an dearg is an buí, agus is breá liom corcra chomh maith. Ní miste liom 

an gorm ach is fuath liom an donn agus an dubh. Ní maith liom dathanna dorcha. Is maith liom 

bríste corcra agus geansaí bándearg, agus is breá liom hata dearg leis! 

2. Make up noun phrases (consisting of the definite article, noun, and adjective) for each of the 

pictures below: 

31



1. He is not my brother. 

2. I am your mother. 

3. Her father is the professor. 

4. Do you remember her name? I do. She is an old friend of mine (liom; see #2,3.1). 

5. He doesn’t like his new job. 

6. That man is their father. 

7. Do you own this old dog? Yes. He is a smart dog. 

8. Cáit is not my sister; she’s my mother! 

9. They love the new house; I prefer the old house. 

10. Their son is a doctor. 

Is é an trua ghéar nach mise, nach mise 

Is é an trua ghéar nach mise bean Pháidín. 

Is é an trua ghéar nach mise, nach mise, 

Is an bhean atá aige bheith caillte. 

Go mbristear do chosa, do chosa 

Go mbristear do chosa, a bhean Pháidín 

Go mbristear do chosa, do chosa 

Go mbristear do chosa is do chnámha. 

Is fearr rith maith ná drochsheasamh. 

Drochubh, drochéan. 

Na cait a bhí ag Fionn Mac Cumhaill: 

Seangchat, Seanchat 

Ramharchat, Marbhchat 

Síchat, Dúchat, 

Liathchat, Fiachat 

Piscín bliana agus meathlóir. 


Amhrán: Bean Pháidín 

Seanfhocail 

Rann 

32 

It's a great pity that I'm not, I'm not 

It's a great pity that I'm not Páidín's wife. 

It's a great pity I'm not, I'm not – 

and that his wife isn't dead! 

May you break your legs, your legs, 

May you break your legs, wife of Páidín. 

May you break your legs, your legs, 

May you break your legs and your bones. 

A good run is better than a bad stand. 

You'll get a bad bird from a bad egg. 

These are the cats of Fionn Mac Cumhail: 

Lean Cat, Old Cat 

Fat Cat, Dead Cat 

Fairy Cat, Evil Cat 

Grey Cat, Wild Cat 

Year-Old Kitten and Coward.


SÚIL SIAR (REVISION): CEACHT 1 - CEACHT 3 

Can you say the following things? If you can't, or you're not quite sure, go back to the lesson and 

paragraph indicated after each item: 

say Ì / you / he / she / we / you / they' (1.1) 

say `this is a book' (1.2) 

say ìt is a book' (1.3) 

say ìt is a good book' (1.4) 

say that you are a student, that Liam is a teacher, and that Nóra is a good poet (1.3) 

say who you are, know how to greet someone and ask them how they are; wish them good-bye 

(1.5) 

say `the woman / the window / the chalk / the bread' (2.1) 

say `the good woman / the nice woman' (2.2) 

say `with me / you / him / her / us / you / them' (2.3) 

say Ì like / hate / love Irish' (2.3) 

say `without a pen / a doubt' (2.4) 

say `my / your / his / her / our / your / their house' (3.1) 

say `Máire is the teacher'; Ìt is the pen' (3.2) 

say àn old woman'; àn old house'; à bad man' (3.3) 

say ìt is a red / green / blue / yellow / pink / orange / brown sweater' (3.4) 

Revision Exercises 

You should by now be able to translate the following sentences: 

1. Is he a student? No, he is the teacher. 

2. Is that your sister? Yes. 

3. Is she a lecturer? Yes. She is a good lecturer. 

4. Is that her name? It is a beautiful name. 

5. That horse belongs to Máirín. It’s a very strong horse. 

6. Séamus is my Irish teacher. He is a famous (cailiúil) poet. 

7. These are our parents. They are from Gleann Fhinne. 

8. It’s a little old house, but it’s her own house, and she loves it. 

9. Is this my breakfast? I don’t like it. It is bad food. 

10. Are you the poet? No. I am a musician. 

33

4 

CEACHT A CEATHAIR 

FOCLÓIR 

a (before a person's name etc) vocative marker 

anseo here 

ansin there 

ar fad altogether, very 

ar chor ar bith at all 

áthas (m) happiness 

bhuel! well! 

briste broken 

brón (m) sorrow 

bronntanas (m) present 

an ceann seo (m) this one 

ciúin quiet 

críochnaithe finished 

cóta (m) coat 

dathúil handsome, beautiful 

deacair difficult 

doiligh difficult 

déanta done 

deifir (f) hurry 

díomá (f) disappointment 

druidte U closed 

eagla (f) fear 

fada long 

fearg (f) anger 

foscailte U open 

an Fhrainc (f) France 

fuar cold 

gléasta dressed 

gairid short 

go raibh maith agat thank you 

imní (f) anxiety, worry 

iontach wonderful; as intensifier: very U 

iontas (m) surprise, wonder 

náire (f) shame 

nimhneach sore 

ocras (m) hunger 

olc bad 

Páras Paris 

34

CEACHT A CEATHAIR / LESSON FOUR 

píosa (m) a piece 

ramhar fat 

sásta content 

sona happy 

spéirbhean dream woman 


tart (m) thirst 

te hot 

thall ansin over there 

tinn sick 

tinneas cinn (m) headache 

tinneas fiacaile (m) toothache 

trua (f) pity 

tuirse (f) fatigue, tiredness 

tuirseach tired 

COMHRÁ 

Aisling is having something to eat in the student cafeteria. Síle joins her. 

Síle: Cad é mar atá tú, a Aisling? 

Aisling: Tá mé go maith. Agus tú féin? 

Síle: Tá mé ceart go leor. 

Aisling: Níl cuma mhaith ort ar chor ar bith. Cad é atá cearr leat? 

Síle: Tá slaghdán orm, agus tá mé beagán tuirseach, ach níl mé go dona. – Tá tusa gléasta go deas 

inniu. Is maith liom an geansaí atá ort - tá sé go hálainn. 

Aisling: Go raibh maith agat. Is bronntanas ó mo dheirfiúr é. Is as Páras é – tá sí sa Fhrainc i mbliana. 

Síle: Oh là là, très chic. Tá sé an-deas ar fad. 

Aisling: An maith leat císte? Tá an ceann seo fíormhaith. Seo píosa beag duit. 

Síle: Sin píosa mór – go raibh maith agat. Tá ocras mór orm. Hmm. Tá sé iontach blasta ceart go leor. 

Aisling: Nach bhfuil? 

Síle: A Aisling, cé hé an buachaill thall ansin? An é sin an mac léinn nua? 

Aisling: Is é. 

Síle: C’ainm atá air? 

Aisling: Seán atá air. Is as Gaillimh é. 

Síle: Tá sé an-dathúil, nach bhfuil? 

Aisling: Níl sé go dona ar chor ar bith. Ach tá brón orm - níl an t-ádh ort. Seo í a spéirbhean thall 

ansin. Áine atá uirthi. 

Síle: Ah bhuel. Nach mór an trua sin. 


§1. The Substantive Verb and the Dependent Pronoun 

As we have seen, the copula is used to classify (ìt is a house') or to identify the subject (ìt is the 

35


house'). The substantive verb tá, on the other hand, is used to describe the subject: 

Tá an teach mór The house is big. 

§1.1. Tá and the Dependent Pronoun 

The set of pronouns used with tá and any conjugated verb (hence `dependent pronouns') differs 

slightly from the set we have learned so far, having sé, sí and siad in the third person singular and 

plural instead of é, í and iad. The second person singular tú is never lenited after a conjugated verb. 

Note that the form of the verb is the same for all persons: 17 

The relative form of tá, which is used in many questions, is atá: 

Cad é mar atá tú? How are you? 

Cad é atá cearr leat? What's wrong with you? 

§1.2. The Dependent Forms of the Substantive Verb 

The substantive verb has distinct forms used with the negative and interrogative forms of the verb. 

These we call the dependent forms. 

Negative: níl 

Interrogative: an bhfuil? 

Neg. interrogative: nach bhfuil? 

Where is: cá bhfuil? 

tá mé U I am tá muid U we are 

tá tú you are tá sibh you are 

tá sé he is tá siad they are 

tá sí she is 

Interrogative Negative 

an bhfuil mé? U am I? níl mé U I am not 

an bhfuil tú? are you? níl tú you are not 

an bhfuil sé? is he? níl sé he is not 

an bhfuil sí? is she? níl sí she is not 

an bhfuil muid? U are we? níl muid U we are not 

an bhfuil sibh? are you? níl sibh you are not 

an bhfuil siad? are they? níl siad they are not 

17 Ulster Irish uses very few synthetic verb forms, i.e. those combining pronoun and verb to form a single word. 

Synthetic verb forms are much more common in Connacht and particularly in Munster Irish. In these dialects, 

synthetic verb forms are used in the 1sg. and pl. of the present tense: táim Ì am'; táimid `we are'; an bhfuilim àm 

I'; an bhfuilimid àre we'; nílim Ì am not'; nílimid `we are not.' By contrast, in Ulster, the verbal system is 

36


Níl mé tuirseach. I am not tired. 

An bhfuil an obair críochnaithe? Is the work finished? 

Nach bhfuil an fhuinneog briste? Isn’t the window broken? 

Cá bhfuil mo leabhar? Where is my book? 

§1.3. The Predicative Adjective 

Note that there is no mutation of the adjective in this context, whether it describes a masculine or 

feminine noun. Here, the adjective is not part of the noun phrase, but functions as its predicate: 

Tá an fear mór. The man is tall. 

Tá an bhean mór. The woman is tall. 

Compare the attributive adjective, where the adjective changes according to the gender and number 

of the noun it describes (Ceacht 2): 

an fear mór the tall man 

an bhean mhór the tall woman. 

§2. The Preposition ar 

§2.1. The preposition ar lenites the following noun: ar Mháire, ‘on Mary’. 

The preposition ar is used in many idiomatic expressions. Clothing and some other aspects of 

someone's appearance, including physical and even intellectual features, are conceptualized as being 

òn' a person: 

Tá hata ar Mháire. Máire is wearing a hat. 

Tá cuma mhaith ar Shíle. Síle is looking well. 

Tá gruaig dhubh ar Shéamus. Séamus has black hair. 

Tá ceann maith ar Aisling. Aisling is clever. 

Tá an t-ádh ar Sheán. Seán is in luck. 

analytic, i.e. verb and pronoun are not combined. 

AR òn' 

regular emphatic 

orm on me ormsa 

ort on you ortsa 

air on him airsean 

uirthi on her uirthise 

orainn on us orainne 

oraibh on you oraibhse 

orthu on them orthusan 

37


The same construction is used to express a variety of feelings, states of being and physical 

conditions, particularly of the unpleasant sort, such as diseases: 

Tá ... orm: Idioms 

Tá fearg orm. I am angry. 

Tá brón orm. I am sorry/sad. 

Tá eagla orm. I am afraid. 

Tá imní orm. I am worried/anxious. 

Tá náire orm. I am ashamed. 

Tá deifir orm. I am in a hurry. 

Tá áthas orm. I am glad. 

Tá díomá orm. I am disappointed. 

Tá tart orm. I am thirsty. 

Tá ocras orm. I am hungry. 

Tá tuirse orm. I am tired. 

Tá tinneas cinn orm. I have a headache. 

Tá slaghdán orm. I have a cold. 

If you want to say that you are very angry etc., you add mór after the noun: 

Tá fearg mhór orm. I am very angry. 

Tá brón mór orm. I am very sorry. 

§3. The Intensifying Prefixes an-, fíor-, ró-, and iontach 

The intensifiers an `very', fíor `truly, really' and ró `too, excessively' are prefixed to adjectives (and 

occasionally to nouns), leniting the word they modify (an- is always followed by a hyphen; fíor and 

ró only if homorganic letters need to be separated, e.g. fíor-réasunta; ró-olc): 

an-mhaith very good 

fíormhaith truly good, really good 

rófhuar too cold 

Occasionally they are also prefixed to a noun, particularly in the case of an: 

Tá an-ocras orm. I am very hungry. 

Tá an-obair déanta ansin. Great work has been done there. 

In Ulster Irish, the adjective iontach `wonderful' is often used before adjectives to mean `very'. 

38


Structurally, however, it operates differently: although it precedes the adjective, it is not prefixed to 

it and hence does not lenite it. It is also never prefixed to a noun: 

Tá an léachtoir iontach maith. The lecturer is very good. 

§4. The Particle go: Tá mé go maith 

The following common adjectives are usually preceded by the particle go when used predicatively; 18 

note that the particle go prefixes h to words beginning with a vowel (see `Prefixing h', Ceacht 3): 

go hálainn (`beautiful') go maith (`good') 

go haoibhinn (`pleasant') go hiontach (`wonderful') 

go breá (`lovely') go deas (`nice') 

go dona (`bad') go holc (àwful') 

Tá mé go maith. I am well. 

Tá an aimsir go hálainn inniu. The weather is beautiful today. 

Go is never used if the adjective is qualified by another adjective, as e.g. after prefixed intensifiers: 

Tá sí fíormhaith. She is really good. 

§5. Conversational Idioms 

§5.1. Cad é mar atá tú? `How are you?' 

The question Cad é mar atá tú? meaning `How are you?' may function as an introductory greeting 

instead of Dia duit, Haileó etc. Some possible responses include: 

Tá mé go maith. / Go maith. I am well. 

Tá mé go hiontach. I am doing great. 

Tá mé go breá. I am fine. 

Níl mé go dona. I'm not doing badly. 

Tá mé ceart go leor. I'm all right. 

Tá mé go dona. I am not well. 

The following interchange might start any conversation: 

Cad é mar atá tú? How are you? 

Go maith. Agus tú féin? Well. And you? 

Tá mé go breá. I’m fine. 

18 The use of the particle go is optional in this context in Donegal Irish; elsewhere in Ireland it is obligatory. This 

use of go seems an (agrammatical) extension of the normal function of go, namely to turn an adjective into an 

adverb: Tá sé ag tiomáint go dona `he drives badly.' 

39


§5.2. Cad é atá cearr leat? `What's wrong with you?' 

If the response to Cad é mar atá tú? is less than cheerful, you can follow up by asking: 

Cad é atá cearr leat? What's wrong with you? 

Cad é atá ort? What's wrong with you? 

You might hear the following answer: 

Tá mé tinn. I am sick. 

Tá mé tuirseach. I am tired. 

Tá tuirse orm. I feel fatigued / tired. 

Tá slaghdán orm. I have a cold. 

Tá tinneas cinn orm. I have a headache. 

Tá tinneas fiacaile orm. I have a toothache. 

You can use the same construction for other illnesses, e.g. fiabhras (`fever'), ailse (`cancer'), an fliú 

(`the 'flu'), and tinneas goile (`stomach ache'). 

§5.3. C’ainm atá ort? `What's your name?' 

The normal way of asking someone to identify themselves is to ask what a person's name is 

(literally, what name is òn' them): C’ainm atá ort? or Cad é an t-ainm atá ort? It is less abrupt than 

asking Cé tusa? `Who are you?' In response, one can say, for example: 

Seán atá orm. My name is Seán. 

Or simply: 

Mise Seán. I am Seán. 

§5.4. Cad é an chuma atá air? `What does he look like?' 

If you want someone to describe a person to you, you ask 

Cad é an chuma atá air/uirthi? What does he/she look like? 

You use the same idiom if you want to say that someone is – or isn't – looking well: 

Tá cuma mhaith uirthi. She is looking well. 

Níl cuma rómhaith air. He isn't looking too well. 

Tá cuma bhrónach orthu. They look sad. 

40



1. Practice the difference between the attributive and predicative adjective by translating the 

following pairs of sentences: 

1. The window is big. The big window is open. 

2. The woman is quiet. The quiet woman is here. 

3. Is the pig smart? Is the smart pig sick? 

4. Is the work difficult? Is the difficult work finished? 

5. The night is long. The long night is quiet. 

2. Practice the forms of the prepositional pronoun ar by expressing the sentences in the idiom box 

in 2.2 in all persons. Then, practice the forms of the substantive verb by converting the sentences 

into questions, negative statements, and negative questions. 

3. Chaindrill 

Translate into Irish, making the necessary substitutions (the first phrases are done for you): 

I am happy - she - disappointed - very sorry - they - thirsty - hungry - he - very happy - tired - I - 

very angry - have a headache. (Tá áthas orm - tá áthas uirthi - tá díoma uirthi...) 

4. Intensify the following adjectives, according to the model: Maith > an-mhaith (nó iontach maith) 

> fíormhaith > rómhaith 

1. fuar 

2. te 

3. láidir 

4. ciúin 

5. blasta 

5. Obair Bheirte: Cad é mar atá tú? 

Pair up with another student. Pretend you're meeting in the street, and talk about how terribly ill 

you both feel. Then have another round, but this time you both feel fabulous. If you like, the 

weather may reflect your current mood. 

6. Cluiche Cainte: Cé hé / hí? 

Describe one of the students in your class; your classmates must guess who it is you are describing. 

Tusa: Tá sí ard tanaí agus tá sí an-chiúin. Tá geansaí gorm uirthi, agus bríste dubh. Tá gruaig rua 

uirthi. Tá sí an-chairdiúil. 

An rang: An í sin Máire? / Is í Máire í. 

Tusa: Is í / Ní hí. 

Obair Bhaile 


1. Séamus has a headache today; he has a cold and is very tired. 

41


2. She looks tired; is she all right? 

3. It’s very cold. Is the door open? 

4. Is the big window broken? 

5. Their father is very sick; he has cancer. 

6. He’s wearing a black coat and a red hat. 

7. Isn’t the brown bread very tasty? 

8. That interesting work is finished. 

9. Aren’t they ashamed? 

10. Are you (pl) in a hurry? No, but we’re very tired. 

2. Write a blurb about your spéirbhean / spéirfhear, the woman or man of your dreams. Strict 

adherence to the truth is not necessary in this exercise. 

1. Téir abhaile 'riú, téir abhaile 'riú 

Téir abhaile 'riú, a Mhary, 

Téir abhaile 'riú, is fan sa bhaile 

Mar tá do mhargadh déanta. 

Curfá: 

Níl mo mhargadh, tá do mhargadh 

Níl mo mhargadh déanta 

Tá do mhargadh, níl mo mhargadh, 

Tá do mhargadh déanta. 

2. Is cuma cé dhein é nó nach dhein 

Is cuma cé dhein é, a Mhary 

Is cuma cé dhein é nó nach dhein 

Mar tá do mhargadh déanta. 

3. Pós an píobaire, pós an píobaire 

Pós an píobaire, a Mhary 

Pós an píobaire i dtús na hóiche 

Agus beidh sé agat ar maidin. 


Amhrán: Téir Abhaile 'Riú 

42 

1. Go home, go home 

Go home, Mary, 

Go home and stay home 

Because your match is made. 

Refrain: 

My match is NOT made – Yes it is – 

My match is NOT made. 

Your match is made – No it isn't – 

Your match is made. 

2. It doesn't matter who made it or who didn't 

It doesn'n matter who made it, Mary 

It doesn't matter who made it or who didn't 

For your match is made. 

3. Marry the piper, marry the piper 

Marry the piper, Mary 

Marry the piper in the evening 

and he'll be with you in the morning.

Níl sé amuigh ort 

Níl sé istigh ort, 

Tá sé ort 

Is ní trom é. 

(CC #445) 

Dhá Rann (`Two Rhymes') 

Tá capall is cairt ag Seán Ó hAirt; 

Tá bó agus lao ag Seán Ó Sé; 

Tá peata uain ag Seán Ó Cluain; 

Is sin é an fáth nach bhfuil orthu buairt. 

(RR 17) 

Tá an Deisceart go hálainn 

Tá an Tuaisceart go breá 

Tá an t-Oirthear go séimh 

Is tá an tIarthar thar barr. 

(CC #285) 


Tomhas (`Riddle') 

43 

It's not on your outside 

It's not inside you 

It's on you 

And it's no weight to you. 

Seán Ó hAirt has a horse and cart; 

Seán Ó Sé has a cow and a calf; 

Seán Ó Cluain has a pet sheep; 

And that's why they're so happy. 

The South is beautiful 

The North is fine 

The East is pleasant 

And the West is the best.

5 

CEACHT A CÚIG 

FOCLÓIR 

ag amharc (ar) looking, watching 

ag amharc ar an teilifís watching TV 

ag caint (le) talking 

ag canadh singing 

ag cócaireacht cooking 

ag cur báistí raining 

ag cur sneachta snowing 

ag damhsa dancing 

ag déanamh doing 

ag dul going 

ag éisteacht (le) listening (to) 

ag éirí rising, getting up, becoming 

ag fanacht (le) waiting (for); staying 

ag foghlaim learning 

ag gáire laughing 

ag ithe eating 

ag labhairt (le) speaking 

ag léamh reading 

ag obair working 

ag ól drinking 

ag rince dancing 

ag rith running 

ag scríobh writing 

ag siúl walking 

ag snámh swimming 

ag soilsiú shining 

ag teacht coming 

anois now 

arís again 

báite drowned 


Breatnais (f) Welsh 

Briotáinis (f) Breton 

buíochas le Dia! thank God! 

codladh (m) sleep 

cónaí (m) dwelling, living place 

dúiseacht (f) waking state 

duit to you (sg) 

44

CEACHT A CÚIG / LESSON FIVE 

Eilvéis, an (f) Switzerland 

fios (m) knowledge 

fliuch wet 

Fraincis (f) French 

Gaeilge na hAlban (f) Scots Gaelic 

gealach (f) moon 

Gearmáinis (f) German 

go fóill yet 

grian (f) sun 

grianmhar sunny 

inniu today 

Iodáilis (f) Italian 

luí (m; also: ag luí) lying, reclining 

scamallach cloudy 

seasamh (m; also: ag seasamh) standing 

Sínis (f) Chinese 

Spáinnis (f) Spanish 

suí (m; also: ag suí) sitting 

tirim dry 

tost (m) silence 

COMHRÁ 

Síle has a piece of gossip for Aisling about their friend Pádraigín. 

Síle: A Aisling, tá scéal agam duit. Tá buachaill ag Pádraigín! 

Aisling: An bhfuil anois? An bhfuil sé deas? Cad é an chuma atá air? 

Síle: Tá sé an-dathúil. Tá sé ard tanaí. Tá súile gorma aige agus tá gruaig dhubh air. Tá sé anchliste 

fosta. 

Aisling: Cá as é? 

Síle: Is as an Eilvéis é, agus tá Fraincis agus Gearmáinis líofa aige. 

Aisling: An bhfuil Gaeilge aige go fóill? 

Síle: Níl mórán, ach tá sé ag foghlaim. 

Aisling: C’ainm atá air? 

Síle: Henri atá air. 

Aisling: An bhfuil a fhios agat cá bhfuil sé ag fanacht? 

Síle: Tá sé ina chónaí i mBaile Átha Cliath. Tá sé ag stáidéar ag an ollscoil. 


§1. The Preposition ag àt, by' 

The preposition ag àt, by' does not cause any mutation to the following noun: 

45


ag Máire at/by Máire. 

§1.1. The Present Progressive Tense 

The present progressive (Ì am working') is formed by combining the substantive verb tá with the 

preposition ag and the verbal noun (the verbal noun is a non-inflected form comparable to the 

English gerund): 

Tá Aisling ag caint. Aisling is talking. 

Cad é atá Tomás ag rá? What is Tomás saying? 

Níl an madadh ag ithe. The dog isn't eating. 

An bhfuil tú ag staidéar? Are you studying? 

Nach bhfuil tú ag ól? Aren't you drinking? 

§1.2. The Prepositional Pronoun 

AG àt, by' 

regular emphatic 

agam at me agamsa 

agat at you agatsa 

aige at him aigesean 

aici at her aicise 

againn at us againne 

agaibh at you agaibhse 

acu at them acusan 

§1.3. Possessions: How to Express Capitalist Notions 

There is no verb `to have' in Irish. Two constructions serve to express the notion of possession. 

One we know already: 

Is liomsa an peann. The pen is mine. 

The more usual (ùnmarked') way to express possession uses the preposition ag: 

Tá airgead agam. I have money. 

An bhfuil gluaisteán agat? Do you have a car? 

The Irish for `thank you' is really a blessing, `May there be good at you'; it is often used with a 

numeric hyperbole: 

Go raibh céad / míle maith agat! A hundred / thousand thanks! 

46


The negative níl, combined with ach `but', expresses the notion ònly': 

Níl ach leabhar amháin agam. I have only one book. 

§1.4. Possession of Knowledge / Abilities 

The same idiom tá ... agam is also used to express possession of knowledge – including 

knowledge of a language – and ability: 

Níl a fhios agam cá as é. I don’t know where he is from. 

An bhfuil Gaeilge agat? Do you speak Irish? 

Níl Fraincis ar bith ag Seán. Seán doesn’t speak any French. 

An bhfuil tiomáint aige? Can he drive? 

Tá ceol aici. She can sing. 

§2. The Preposition i and the Use of ann 

Like other prepositions, i ìn' has a full conjugated paradigm (see Ceacht 7), but for now we are 

only concerned with the third person singular ann. Although formally masculine, it is best 

thought of as a neuter, impersonal ìn it', which may in some contexts be translated as `there', in 

others not translated at all: 

An bhfuil mórán daoine ann? Are there many people? 

Níl duine ar bith ann. There's no one there. 

Tá lá deas ann. It's a nice day. 

Níl ann ach báisteach. It's only a shower. 

§3. Stative Expressions I 

With a limited set of expressions (seven in all), the preposition i is used in combination with the 

possessive pronoun to express states of being. Note that the possessive pronoun mutates the 

following verbal noun: 

Tá sí ina suí. She is sitting (`She is in her sitting'). 

Tá mé i mo chónaí anseo. I live here. 

Tá tú i do shuí. You are up (sitting). 

Tá sé ina thost. He is silent. 

Tá sí ina codladh. She is sleeping. 

Tá muid inár seasamh. We are standing. 

Tá sibh in bhur ndúiseacht. You are awake. 

Tá siad ina luí. They are in bed (lying down). 

§4. An Aimsir (The Weather) 

The weather is an inexhaustible source of conversation in Ireland; as the proverb has it, is maith 

47


an scéalaí an aimsir `the weather is a good conversationalist'. When meeting someone in the 

street, Irish speakers frequently pass a comment on the weather as well as, or indeed instead of, a 

formal greeting: 

`Tá lá breá ann inniu.' `Nice day today.' 

`Tá cinnte, buíochas le Dia.' Ìt is indeed, thank God.' 

Essential weather expressions: 

Tá lá deas ann inniu It's a nice day today 

Tá drochlá ann It's a bad day 

Tá an aimsir ... The weather is ... 

go maith good 

go hálainn / go breá beautiful / fine 

go haoibhinn / go deas pleasant / nice 

go dona / go holc bad / ditto 

Tá sé te / fuar It is hot / cold 

Tá sé fliuch / tirim It is wet / dry 

Tá sé grianmhar / scamallach It is sunny / cloudy 

Tá sé ag cur báistí / Tá sé ag cur It is raining 

Tá mé fliuch báite I am drenched 

Tá sé ag cur sneachta It is snowing 

Tá an ghrian ag soilsiú. The sun is shining. 

§5. An Foirfe (The Perfect Tense) 

The perfect tense in Irish is a composite tense, made up of the substantive verb tá and a past 

participle of the verb. The past participle is often used simply as an adjective, both predicatively 

(tá an fhuinneog briste) and attributively (an fhuinneog bhriste). But the past participle always 

implies a past activity: the window is now broken because someone broke it in the past. The 

agent of the activity is indicated by the pronoun ag: 

Tá an obair déanta agam. I have finished the work. 

An bhfuil do dhinnéar ite agat? Have you eaten your dinner? 

Tá a hata caillte ag Seán. Seán has lost his hat. 

An bhfuil an litir léite agat? Níl go fóill. Have you read the letter? Not yet. 

The past participle is generally formed by adding -te / -the to a slender stem and -ta / -tha to a 

broad stem. There are rules governing which particular form of ending a verb will take, but it may 

be easiest just to learn the most common participles: 

báite drowned, drenched 

briste broken 

caillte lost 

48

caite spent, consumed, worn out 


curtha put 

déanta done, made 

dóite burned 


glanta cleaned 

ite eaten 

léite read 

millte spoilt 

nite washed 

ólta drunk 

scríofa written 

stróicthe torn 


1. Séamus is running. 

2. The teacher is laughing. 

3. Are you (pl) going home? 

4. He is not eating. 

5. We are not listening to you (sg). 




1. She has a book. 

2. We have a cat. 

3. Do you (pl) have money? 

4. They don’t have a house. 

5. Does he have a car? 

6. Can you (sg) sing? (literally: Do you have music?) 

7. I speak French. (literally: I have French.) 

8. I can’t drive. (literally: I don’t have driving.) 

9. Do you have time? 

10. I don’t know. 

3. Cluiche Cainte: Cé hé an gadaí? 

Àn bhfuil a fhios agat cé hé an gadaí?' Everyone has 5 minutes to describe one person in class to 

the bleachtaire, the detective. 

49


1. It's a good day. 

2. There are people there. 

3. It's only wine. 

4. There is a book there now. 

5. It's a bad day. 


1. The little child is asleep. 

2. We live in Dublin. 

3. They are not awake. 

4. Are you (pl) up (i.e. standing)? 

5. Their father is silent. 

6. She is sitting. 

7. He lives in Ireland now. 

8. Máirín is still in bed (i.e lying). 

9. Is she still asleep? 

10. We are lying down (i.e. in bed). 


6. Chain Drill 

Tá mé i mo sheasamh - sí - muid - codladh - tusa - sibhse - tost - Seán - suí - a bhean chéile - mé - 

sise. 

7. Cluiche: Tá mé i mo chodladh... 

Students adopt stative positions; the teacher asks questions about their own, or other students' 

position, which students must answer truthfully. 

8. Cuir Gaeilge air; 

1. Have you (sg) finished the homework? Yes. 

2. Has he broken the window again? 

3. I haven’t eaten my dinner yet. 

4. They have drunk the coffee. 

5. She has read the book. 

Obair Bhaile 


1. Do you speak Irish? Yes. 

2. She speaks good German. 

3. I have a sister. 

4. Do you (pl) have a car? No. 

5. Do they have time? No; they’re in a hurry. 

6. Are you (pl) working? 

50


7. The sun is shining. 

8. They are not coming with us. 

9. That red-haired woman is looking at (on) us. 

2. Cad é mar atá an aimsir inniu? Write a paragraph about the weather today. How does it 

compare to the kind of weather you like? 

51



Seanfhocail (`Proverbs') 

Is binn béal ina thost. A silent mouth is sweet. 

Is maith an scéalaí an aimsir. The weather is a good conversationalist. 

Casfhocal (`Tongue Twister') 

Tá sicín ina seasamh sa sneachta lá seaca. A chicken is sitting in the snow one frosty 

day. 

Tá mé i mo shuí ó d'éirigh an ghealach aréir 

Ag cur tine síos gan scíth, is á fadú go géar; 

Tá bunadh an tí ina luí is tá mise liom féin; 

Tá na coiligh ag glaoch is an saol ina gcodladh 

ach mé. 

Ní sé ina lá, níl, a ghrá 

Níl sé ina lá, is ní bheidh go maidin 

Níl sé ina lá, is ní bheidh go fóíll 

Solas ard atá sa ghealaigh. 

Amhrán: Tá Mé i Mo Shuí 

Amhrán: Níl Sé ina Lá (I) 

52 

I am up since the moon rose last night 

Lighting a fire and setting it ablaze 

The household is asleep and I am alone; 

The cocks are crowing and everyone's asleep 

but me. 

It's not day yet, love 

It's not day yet and won't be till morning 

It's not day yet, love 

The moon is shining brightly.

6 

CEACHT A SÉ 

FOCLÓIR 

'achan U (

CEACHT A SÉ / LESSON SIX 

leaba (f) bed 

léacht (f) lecture 

leabharlann (f) library 

leadránach boring 

meas (m) respect 

oifig (f) office 

ollmhargadh (m) supermarket 

pacáilte packed 

pictiúrlann (f) cinema 

plódaithe crowded 

samhradh (m) summer 

séasúr (m) season 

siopa (m) shop 


teach tábhairne pub 

COMHRÁ 

Liam and Aisling meet in front of the library. 

Aisling: Maidin mhaith, a Liam. Cad é mar atá cúrsaí? 

Liam: Níl siad go dona. Cad chuige nach raibh tú ag an chóisir aréir? 

Aisling: Bhí mé ag obair sa bhialann. An raibh cuid mhór daoine ann? 

Liam: Bhí. Bhí an áit pacáilte plódaithe. Bhí ceol maith ann, agus bhí 'achan duine ag damhsa. 

Aisling: An raibh Henri agus Pádraigín ann? 

Liam: Bhí! Bhí siad ag damhsa le chéile an oíche ar fad. 

Aisling: Nach breá an rud é an grá! Cad chuige nach raibh tú sa rang inniu? 

Liam: Bhí mé róthuirseach! Agus tá mé dubh dóite leis an chúrsa sin. An tseachtain seo caite bhí 

mé i mo chodladh sa léacht – bhí sé chomh leadránach sin. Cad é mar a bhí sé inniu? 

Aisling: Ní raibh sé chomh dona sin. Bhí sé ceart go leor. 


§1. The Past Tense of the Substantive Verb 

In the past tense, tá becomes bhí, níl becomes ní raibh: 

bhí mé I was ní raibh mé I wasn't 

bhí tú you were ní raibh tú you weren't 

bhí sé he was ní raibh sé he wasn't 

bhí sí she was ní raibh sí she wasn't 

bhí muid we were ní raibh muid we weren't 

bhí sibh you were ní raibh sibh you weren't 

bhí siad they were ní raibh siad they weren't 

54

The dependent form is raibh: 

Negative: ní raibh. 

Interrogative: an raibh? 

Neg. interrogative: nach raibh? 

Where was? cá raibh? 


§2. An Tuiseal Tabharthach (The Dative or Prepositional Case) 

§2.1. An tAinmfhocal (Nouns) 

In Modern Irish, the noun in the dative case generally has the same form as in the nominative. 

Only a handful of nouns have a separate dative form; these include the word Ireland, and the 

words for `hand' and `foot': 

Éire Ireland BUT in Éirinn in Ireland 

cos foot cos ar chois step by step 

lámh hand/arm lámh ar láimh hand in hand 

Distinct dative forms are common in literature, and also survive in certain idioms, such as sa ló 

`during the day' (from lá `day') and petrified expressions. 

Except in such expressions as um Nollag àt Christmas time' (from am `time'), cois 

farraige / cois tine `by the seaside / by the fireside' (from cos `foot'), and in Dé Luain, Dé Máirt 

etc òn Monday, on Tuesday', nouns in the dative case are preceded by a preposition, and it is 

therefore also referred to as the `Prepositional Case.' 

§2.2 An Réamhfhocal (Prepositions) 

Prepositions ending in a consonant generally cause no mutation to the following noun: 

ag `by, at' ag bean 

as òut, from' as teach 

The preposition ar, and most prepositions ending in a vowel, cause séimhiú: 

do `to, for' do bhean 

de `from, off, of' d'fhéar 

ar òn' ar theach 

faoi ùnder' faoi thábla 

ó `from' ó theach 

The prepositions i ìn' and le `with' are exceptional. I causes urú and becomes in before vowels. 

Le does not lenite indefinite nouns, but prefixes h to words beginning with a vowel: 

i ìn' i mBostún; in áit 

le `with' 

 

55


§2.3. Preposition and the Singular Definite Article 

The initial consonants of nouns after a preposition plus article takes a séimhiú: U 

Tá Gaeilge mhaith ag an chailín sin. That girl has good Irish. 

Tá tinneas cinn ar an mhúinteoir. The teacher has a headache. 

Some prepositions ending in a vowel combine with the article: 

ó + an > ón 

do + an > don 

de + an > den 

faoi + an > faoin 

The preposition i becomes sa (san before vowels and `fh'+ vowel) when joined to the article: 

i + an > sa 

Ta bia sa chuisneoir. There’s food in the refrigerator. 

The preposition le becomes leis before the article: 

le + an > leis an 

Is maith leis an bhuachaill ceol. The boy likes music. 

Nouns beginning with a `d' `t' or `s' are never lenited after the definite article (`Dental Rule', 

Ceacht 2): 

ag an doras at the door 

ón teach from the house 

§2.4. Prepositions and the Plural Definite Article 

If a preposition is followed by the plural definite na, there is no mutation of the following noun: 

do na buachaillí for the boys 

do + na > do na ag + na > ag na 

de + na > de na ar + na > ar na 

le + na > leis na i + na > sna 

§3. Sa Teach (In the House) 

teach (m), sa teach house 

arasán (m), san arasán flat (B&I) / apartment (US) 

seomra (m), sa seomra room 

urlár (m), ar an urlár floor 

leaba (f), sa leaba bed 

an chistin (f), sa chistin the kitchen 

an seomra suí /suite the sitting room 

an seomra codlata /leapa the bedroom 

56


an seomra folctha the bathroom 

an leithreas (m), sa leithreas the toilet 

an halla (m), sa halla the hall 

an staighre (m), ar an staighre the stairs 

an gairdín (m), sa ghairdín the garden 

§4. Idioms Using Two Prepositions 

Certain idiomatic constructions use more than one preposition: 

Tá grá aici ar an chailín sin. She is fond of that girl. 

Níl meas acu ar an mhúinteoir. They have no respect for the teacher. 


Three Kinds of Knowledge 

Irish distinguishes between three kinds of knowledge: knowledge of a fact (fios), of a 

person (aithne), and of a place (eolas). Note the use of the preposition ar with 

aithne and eolas but not with fios: 

Tá a fhios agam sin. I know that (fact). 

Tá aithne agam ar Chaitlín. I know Caitlín. 

Tá eolas agam ar an chathair. I know the city. 

1. Translate the following sentences; then put them into the past tense: 

1. Isn’t the weather beautiful? Yes. 

2. Are you hungry? No, but I’m thirsty. 

3. They have a big house. 

4. The little boy is sick, and his mother is worried (buartha). 

5. We are happy. Are you (pl) happy? 

6. That tall man is not listening to us. 

7. I know that woman. 

8. Is Séamus waiting for you (sg)? 

9. That book is very interesting. 

10. Are you (sg) asleep? No. 

2. Obair Bheirte: Cá raibh tú aréir? 

Pair up with another student and ask each other where you were yesterday (last night, last 

weekend), and what you were doing. Here are some possible responses: 

57


sa bhialann in the restaurant 

sa teach tábhairne in the pub 

sa leabharlann in the library 

sa chaife in the café 

sa phictiúrlann at the cinema 

san amharclann in the theatre 

sa leaba in bed 

ar scoil at school 

ar an trá on the beach 

faoin tuath in the countryside 


a) 

1. at a door 

2. on a chair 

3. from a teacher 

4. to a woman 

5. out of a house 

6. in a house 

7. out of a town 

8. in a tree 

9. with a man 

10. under a table. 

b) 

1. at the woman 

2. on the tree 

3. on the door 

4. with the teacher 

5. at the girl 

6. at the house 

7. at the window 

8. at the door 

9. on the chair 

10. on the table. 

c) 

1. on the teachers 

2. at the girls 

3. with the boys 

4. to the teachers 


58

5. from the students 


4. Cluiche: Cá bhfuil sé? 

One person is blindfolded; an object is `hidden' and the person has to ask questions to ascertain 

where it is. The others may help by saying Tá sin te / fuar `you're hot / cold'. 

5. Cluiche Cainte: An Dúnmharú (`The Murder') 

The detective (an bleachtaire) has to find out who committed the murder by interviewing all 

participants about their alibi. Students pick slips with their identity and alibi; one (the 

`murderer') has been given a false alibi: 

bleachtaire: Cé tusa? (`Who are you?') 

tusa: .... 

bleachtaire: Cá raibh tú nuair a tharla an dúnmharú? (`Where were you when the murder 

happened?') 

tusa: .... 

bleachtaire: Cad é a bhí tú ag déanamh? (`What were you doing?') 


1. She knows him. 

2. He knows her. 

3. I don't know Paris. 

4. Seán is fond of her. 

5. She has no respect for him. 

7. Read the poem `Fear an Phoist' in Teanga is Cultúr and answer the following questions: 

1. Cé atá sa bhaile? 

2. Cá bhfuil Mamaí? 

3. Cá bhfuil an teilifís? 

4. Cá bhfuil fear an phoist? 

5. Cá bhfuil Mamaí agus fear an phoist ag dul anois? 

6. Cá bhfuil a mbróga? 

7. Cá bhfuil Dadaí? 

8. Cá bhfuil Mamaí anois? Agus fear an phoist? 

Obair Bhaile 

1. Draw a floorplan of your apartment, labelling the rooms. Try to furnish the apartment. 


1. We were shopping in the city last week. 

2. They were in Italy in the summer. 

3. Were you at the party last night? Yes. 

4. Was the teacher angry? No. 

59


5. Why wasn't she swimming yesterday? Did she have a cold? 

6. Seán was studying in the library yesterday. 

7. What were you doing yesterday? 

8. We are from Germany, we lived in France last year, and we live in Dublin now. 

9. Do you know Seán? Yes. 

10. The student had respect for the lecturer. 

À Nóra bheag, cá raibh tú aréir?' 

Is é dúirt mo Mhamaí liomsa 

Ì gcúl an tí ag tobar an uisce 

Ag foghlaim coiscéim damhsa.' 

Curfá: 

Agus iomba Nóra Nóra Nóra 

Agus iomba is tú mo ghrá geal, 

Gus iomba Nóra is tú mo stóirín 

Tá mise dúnta i ngrá leat. 

Is maith le Nóra pis agus pónaire 

Is maith le Nóra brandy 

Is maith le Nóra prátaí rósta 

Is itheann Nóra an t-im leo. 

À Nóra bheag, cá raibh tú aréir?' 

`Bhí mé i gcúl an gharraí.' 

`Cé bhí agat féin ansin?' 

Àn píobaire beag is a mhálaí.' 

Bhí náire ar Mháire 

mar bhí sí ag gáire 

ag faire i nDoire. 

Bhí banjo ag Joe 

agus bhí banjo ag bean Joe. 

B'fhearr Joe ar an bhanjo 

Ná bean Joe ar an bhanjo go deo. 


Amhrán: Nóra Bheag (II) 

Casfhocail `Tongue Twisters' 

60 

`Little Nóra where were you last night?' 

My mother asked me. 

Àt the back of the house, by the well 

Learning a new dance step.' 

Refrain: 

And iomba Nóra Nóra Nóra 

And iomba you are my fair love 

And iomba Nóra you are my darling 

I'm locked in love with you. 

Nóra likes peas and beans 

Nóra likes brandy 

Nóra likes roast potatoes 

And she eats butter with them. 

`Little Nóra where were you last night?' 

Ì was at the back of the garden' 

`Who was there with you?' 

`The little piper and his pipes.' 

Máire was ashamed 

because she was laughing 

at a wake in Derry. 

Joe had a banjo 

and Joe's wife had a banjo too. 

Joe played far better on the banjo 

than Joe's wife ever did.

Tá Mamaí sa chistin, tá Mamaí sa chistin 

Tá Mamaí ag déanamh an dinnéir 

Níl Daidí sa bhaile 

Níl Daidí sa bhaile 

Tá Mamaí sa chistin léi fein. 

Tá Mamaí sa seomra suite, 

Tá Mamaí sa seomra suite 

Tá Mamaí ag féachaint ar an teilifís 

Tá duine éigin ag an doras 

Cnag cnag cnag a haon a dó a trí. 

Anois tá Mamaí sa halla, 

Anois tá Mamaí sa halla, 

Osclaíonn sí an doras go mall 

Tá fear an phoist ag an doras 

Fear an phoist ag an doras 

`Fáilte' arsa Mamaí `tar isteach.' 

Tá Mamaí sa seomra leapan 

Tá Mamaí sa seomra leapan 

Tá fear an phoist ann chomh maith 

Bróg bróg eile a haon a dó 

Bróg bróg eile a haon a dó 

Ag titim ar an urlár. 

Tá Daidí ar an staighre 

Tá fear an phoist sa chófra 

Tá Mamaí istigh faoin leaba 

Ag éisteacht 

Beidh báisteach ann amárach 

Báisteach ann amárach 

Arsa an fear ar an teilifís 

Sa seomra suite. 


Fear an Phoist 

Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin 19 

fear an phoist `the postman'; ag déanamh an dinnéir `making dinner' (dinnéir = genitive case of 

dinnéar); léi féin `by herself'; duine éigin `someone'; cnag `knock'; osclaíonn sí `she opens'; go 

mall `slowly'; fáilte `welcome'; arsa `says, said'; tar isteach `come in'; ag titim `falling'; cófra `hot 

press' (i.e. closet); beidh future tense of tá; báisteach `rain shower.' 

19 From Tadhg Mac Donnagáin's CD Imíonn an tAm (2004); for lyrics and translation see www.futafata.com. 

61

7 

CEACHT A SEACHT 

FOCLÓIR 

ag cur putting 

ag fágáil leaving something behind 

ag imeacht leaving i.e. going away 

ag súil hoping 

ag súil go mór le looking forward to 

ag taisteal travelling 

aintín (f) aunt 

aisteoir (m) actor 

amárach tomorrow 

an bhliain seo chugainn next year 

an mhí seo chugainn next month 

bainisteoir (m) manager 

an tseachtain seo chugainn next week 

anocht tonight 

ar ball soon 

ar dtús first 

arís again 


bandraoi (f) witch 

bláth (m) flower 

buartha worried 

carraig (f) rock 

céanna same 


crann (m) tree 


duine fásta (m), pl daoine fásta adult, grown-up 

féar (m) grass 

freastálaí (m) attendant, waiter 

gaineamh (m) sand 

gan mhoill soon 

geal bright 

gnóthach busy 

go dtí to (place) 

go luath early 


in aice le near 

ina dhiadh sin after that 

62

litir (f) letter 

níos déanaí / níos moille later 

oíche Shathairn Saturday night 

rúnaí (m) secretary 

saor free 

scríbhneoir (m) writer 

slí bheatha profession 

sliabh (m) mountain, hill 

spéir (f) sky 

tiománaí (m) driver 

toigh (old dative of teach, also spelt tigh) in the house of; . French chez 

trá (f) beach 

Oíche Shamhna 

Oíche Shamhna (f) Halloween 

bairín breac (m) barmbrack (fruit loaf) 

bandraoi (f) witch 

bréagéadaí fancy dress, costume 

cnó (m), pl cnónna nut, nuts 

cluiche (m) game 

cluiche na bhfochupán saucer game 

culaith (f) dress, outfit 

púicín (m) blindfold 

na síoga; na daoine maithe/beaga/uaisle the fairies 

taibhse (m), pl taibhsí ghost 

úll (m), pl úlla apple 

COMHRÁ 

Liam and Aisling discuss plans for Halloween and for next summer; Liam is studying a job offer 

in Holland. 

Liam: An mbeidh sibh ag dul amach oíche Shathairn? 

Aisling: Beidh cinnte. Beidh cóisir Oíche Shamhna toigh Henri. Tá mé ag súil go mór leis. Beidh 

'achan duine gléasta suas. 

Liam: An mbeidh tú ag cur bréagéadaí ort féin? 

Aisling: Beidh. Beidh mé i mo bhandraoi. Tá culaith dheas agam. An mbeidh sibhse ag dul áit ar 

bith? 

Liam: Beidh muid ag dul go dtí an teach tábhairne ar dtús. Níl mé cinnte cá mbeidh muid ag dul ina 

dhiaidh sin. Beidh mé ag dul a chodladh go luath; beidh mé ag obair sa bhialann arís Dé 

Domhnaigh. 

Aisling: Cad é an litir seo, a Liam? 

Liam: Seo litir as an Ísiltír. Beidh mé ag obair in Amsterdam i mbliana. 

Aisling: Cad é a bheidh tú ag déanamh? 

Liam: Beidh mé i mo mhúinteoir ar chúrsa do dhaoine atá ag foghlaim Béarla. 

63

CEACHT A SEACHT / LESSON SEVEN 

Aisling: An mbeidh tú ag taisteal? 

Liam: Beidh. Beidh mé féin agus cúpla cara ag taisteal san Eoraip ina dhiaidh sin. 

Aisling: Cá mbeidh sibh ag dul? 

Liam: Beidh muid ag fanacht sa Fhrainc cúpla seachtain, agus beidh seachtain san Iodáil againn, 

seachtain eile sa Spáinn, agus cúpla lá san Eilvéis ina dhiaidh sin. – 

Cad é a bheidh tusa ag déanamh sa samhradh? An mbeidh tú ag fanacht anseo? 

Aisling: Ní bheidh. Beidh mé ag dul go Tír Chonaill. Beidh mé ag fanacht ag teach m'aintín. Tá sí 

ina cónaí cois farraige. Beidh mé i mo luí ar an trá, ag léamh agus ag éisteacht leis an fharraige! 


§1. The Future Tense of the Substantive Verb 

Tá becomes beidh in the future tense: 

Beidh mé ann amárach. I'll be there tomorrow. 

The Substantive Verb: Future Tense 

beidh mé I will be beidh muid we will be 

beidh tú you will be beidh sibh you will be 

beidh sé he will be beidh siad they will be 

beidh sí she will be 

Negative: ní bheidh Interrogative: an mbeidh? 

Neg. interrogative: nach mbeidh? Where: cá mbeidh? 

§2. Stative Expressions II: Occupations 

The stative construction (tá mé i mo ...) also functions as a way of expressing one's current 

occupation: 

Tá sé ina mhúinteoir. He is a teacher. 

In contradistinction to the copula, this stative construction is primarily used for achievable 

states, rather than, e.g., inalienable characteristics: 

Tá sé ina mhúinteoir anois. He is a teacher now. 

Is ceoltóir maith é. He is a good musician. 

§3. The Preposition i ìn' and the construction Múinteoir atá ionam 

We have already encountered the 3rd sg prepositional pronoun of i, ann ìn it'. Here is the 

complete paradigm: 

64


i ìn' 

ionam in me ionainn in us 

ionat in you ionaibh in you 

ann in him iontu in them 

inti in her 

This prepositional paradigm is used in the context of one particular construction, which in 

Donegal tends to be used instead of the regular copula classification sentence: 

Peann atá ann It's a pen. 

This is also really a copula structure, combined with a paraphrastic construction using the 

relative of the substantive verb atá (literally, ìt is a pen which is in it'). The copula does not 

appear in the affirmative (`zero copula'), but it emerges in the negative and interrogative, where 

the (negative/interrogative) copula resurfaces: 

Ní peann atá ann. It's not a pen. 

An peann atá ann? Sea. Is it a pen? Yes. 

This construction is used in Donegal wherever one might use the regular classification sentence; it 

may be used e.g. to express occupations or characteristics: 

Múinteoir atá ionam. I am a teacher. 

Nach banaltra áta inti? Ní hea. Isn't she a nurse? No. 

Ceoltóir maith atá ann. He's a good musician. 

§4. Tíortha (Countries) 

Most names of countries are used with the article (compare French la France). However, the 

countries traditionally of greatest importance to Irish speakers, namely Ireland, England, Scotland 

and America, are not used with the article: 

Is maith liom an Fhrainc. I like France. 

Is fearr liomsa Éire. I prefer Ireland. 

65


Tíortha (Countries) 

Éire in Éirinn Ireland 

Albain in Albain Scotland 

Sasana i Sasana England 

Meiriceá i Meiriceá America, USA 

an Fhrainc sa Fhrainc France 

an Iodáil san Iodáil Italy 

an Ghearmáin sa Ghearmáin Germany 

an Spáinn sa Spáinn Spain 

an Ísiltír san Ísiltír Holland 

an Eoraip san Eoraip Europe 

an Áise san Áise Asia 

an Astráil san Astráil Australia 

§5. Cúpla à couple, a few' 

The word cúpla à couple, a few' is followed by the nominative singular of the noun; there is 

no mutation: 

cúpla focal a few words 

cúpla rud a few things 

cúpla peann a few pens. 

§6. An tSeachtain (The Week) 

There are two sets of forms for the days of the week, depending on whether the day functions as 

a subject or an adverb. As the subject of the sentence it is in the nominative case; if used 

adverbally, it is preceded by the element Dé `day' (or Oíche `night') and is in the genitive case 

(òn the day of Monday'). The adverbial set is used in answer to the question `when', and 

whenever one could use the preposition òn' in English: 

Inniu an Luan. Today is Monday. 

Ní bheidh mé anseo Dé Luain. I won't be there on Monday. 

Bhí an Mháirt fliuch. Tuesday was wet. 

Bhí sé iontach fliuch Dé Máirt. It was very wet on Tuesday. 

66


An tSeachtain 

an Luan Monday Dé Luain Oíche Luain 

an Mháirt Tuesday Dé Máirt Oíche Mháirt 

an Chéadaoin Wednesday Dé Céadaoin Oíche Chéadaoin 

an Déardaoin Thursday Déardaoin Oíche Dhéardaoin 

an Aoine Friday Dé hAoine Oíche Aoine 

an Satharn Saturday Dé Sathairn Oíche Shathairn 

an Domhnach Sunday Dé Domhnaigh Oíche Dhomhnaigh 

Cén lá atá ann inniu? What day is today? 

Cá huair a bheidh tú ann? When will you be there? 

Cén lá a bheidh tú ann? What day will you be there? 

ag an deireadh seachtaine on the weekend 

maidin inniú this morning 

maidin amárach tomorrow morning 

maidin inné yesterday morning 

maidin Dé Máirt Tuesday morning 

tráthnóna Dé hAoine Friday afternoon 


1. Put the translation sentences from Ceacht 6, Ceachtanna #1, into the future tense: 

1. Nach mbeidh an aimsir go hálainn? Beidh. 

2. Obair Bheirte 

Cad é a bheidh tú ag déanamh nuair a bheidh tú críochnaithe leis an ollscoil? Interview your 

partner, then report to the class. 

Here are some possible responses: 

Beidh mé i mo mhúinteoir. 

Beidh mé i mo mhac léinn iarchéimeach 

Beidh mé i mo léachtóir 

Beidh mé i mo cheoltóir 

Beidh mé i mo dhochtúir etc. 

3. Chain Drill 

Beidh Síle ina dochtúir - Seán - mise - banaltra - ní bheidh - Siobhán - an mbeidh - mac léinn - 

muid - múinteoirí - dlíodóirí - aisteoirí. 

67



a) Use stative expressions. 

1. She is a doctor. 

2. He is not a musician. 

3. Are you a teacher? Yes. 

4. I am an actor. 

5. His mother is a lecturer. 

b) Use the paraphrastic construction with ionam etc popular in Donegal. 

5. Obair Bheirte: Cá mbeidh tú Dé Luain? 

Cad é a bheidh tú a dhéanamh an tseachtain seo chugainn? Ask your partner about his/her week 

and say what you'll be doing each day: Dé Luain, beidh mé.... 

6. Count Dracula & Co 

Remember our friends from Ceacht 2? Make up a blurb about one of the following individuals, 

stating where they're from, where they live now, what languages they speak. Say something 

about their likes and dislikes, too: 

Count Dracula (Rúmáineach / as an Rúmáin / Rúmáinis): Seo Count Dracula. Is as an Rúmáin é. 

Tá sé ina chónaí i seanchaisleán sa Rúmáin, in aice le Bucarest. Tá Rúmáinis líofa aige. Is duine 

deas cairdiúil é, ach ní maith leis uisce ná bainne. Is fearr leis fuil. 

Niall Ó Dónaill (Meiriceánach / i Meiriceá / Béarla) 

Leah Müller (Gearmáineach / as an Ghearmáin / Gearmáinis agus Béarla) 

Pierre Victoire (Frainceach / as an Fhrainc / Fraincis) 

Giuseppe Verdi (Iodáileach / as an Iodáil / Iodáilis) 

Máirín Ní Ghallchóir (as an Ghaeltacht / Éireannach / as Éirinn / Gaeilge agus Béarla) 

Obair Bhaile 


1. Will you be there tomorrow? Yes. 

2. I’m sorry, but I won’t be free on Tuesday. I will have time next week. 

3. We were working last night, and we’ll be working again tonight. 

4. Why don’t you have a hat on? You’ll have a cold tomorrow. 

5. They aren’t hungry now, but they’ll be very hungry later. 

6. They’ll know next week. 

7. Will Séamus be there on Monday? No; he’ll be studying. 

8. They won’t be working; they’ll be eating and drinking. 

9. Won’t he be disappointed? 

10. Will she be worried? 

68



1. Sunday will be wet, but I don’t care. I will be in Aruba! 

2. Will you (sg) be here on Sunday? 

3. The shop will be too crowded on Saturday. 

4. Today is Saturday, and I’m not working. I love Saturday. 

5. We will have a meeting on Wednesday. Will they be there? No. 

6. I’ll be studying on Friday. 

7. She’s leaving on Monday. 

8. There will be a movie on Thursday. 

9. They won’t be here on Tuesday. 

10. Friday will be bright and sunny. 


An tSeachtain (The Week) 

The seven-day week was introduced to Ireland by the Christian missionaries. The words for the 

days of the week reflect this origin; some are borrowed from the Imperial Roman calendar (with 

correspondences in all Romance languages), some reflect Christian practice. 

The calendar of Republican Rome did not recognize a seven-day week. However, like 

elsewhere in the ancient world, the phases of the moon were observed in Roman tradition, and 

each day was believed to be under the control of one of the planets. When Emperor Constantine 

in the year 321 introduced the Judeo-Christian week as a calendar unit as part of his effort to 

make Christianity the state religion, the Latin names of the week days reflected this astrological 

identification: 

Latin French Irish 

dies solis or 

dominicus sun dimanche an Domhnach Sunday 

dies lunae moon lundi an Luan Monday 

dies Martis Mars mardi an Mháirt Tuesday 

dies Mercurii Mercury mercredi an Chéadaoin Wednesday 

dies Jovis Jupiter jeudi an Déardaoin Thursday 

dies Veneris Venus vendredi an Aoine Friday 

dies Saturni Saturday samedi an Satharn Saturday 

Christians preferred using the term `the Lord's day' (dominicus) for Sunday, and Irish Domhnach 

is derived from dominicus just as French dimanche, Spanish domingo and Italian domenica. 

Wednesday through Friday, finally, reflect Christian practice of having a pattern of 

weekly fasting in commemoration of the events of Holy Week. Friday, the day of Christ's death, 

69

is the main fast, Wednesday is a semi-fast: 


an Chéadaoin `the first fast' 

an Déardaoin `day between the fasts' (< dia idir aoine) 

an Aoine `the fast'. 

Rann 

Dónall ar meisce Dónall on the drink 

a bhean ag ól uisce his wife drinks water 

is na páistí ag caoineadh and the children crying 

ó Luan go Luan. day in day out. 

Inniu an Domhnach 

Beidh muid ag foghlaim. 

Inniu an Luan 

Beidh muid ciúin. 

Inniu an Mháirt 

beidh muid i bpáirt. 

Inniu an Chéadaoin 

Beidh muid ag ól dí. 

Inniu an Déardaoin 

Beidh muid dímhaoin. 

Inniu an Aoine 

Beidh muid ag caoineadh. 

Inniu an Satharn 

beidh muid ag achrann: 

Cad é a bheidh eadrainn? 

Cat agus madadh. 

(CC #232) 

Rann: An tSeachtain 

70 

Today is Sunday 

We'll be studying. 

Today is Monday 

We'll be quiet. 

Today is Tuesday 

We'll be friends. 

Today is Wednesday 

We'll be having a drink. 

Today is Thursday 

We'll be poor. 

Today is Friday 

We'll be weeping. 

Today is Saturday 

We'll be fighting: 

What will come between us? 

A cat and a dog. 

Samhain (Halloween) and the Celtic Year 

Samhain, on the first of November, is one of four native Gaelic festivals. Spaced at three-month 

intervals, the four festivals divide the year into even quarters corresponding to the Irish seasons.


Gaelic society being fundamentally pastoralist, the year was divided into a summer half, when 

out-door grazing was possible, and a winter half, when cattle needed supplementary feeding. 

Bealtaine, on the first of May, marks the beginning of summer, Samhain marks its end (it appears 

to be derived from the word for summer, sam in Old Irish, cf. Modern Irish samhradh). This 

primary division of the year is intersected by two agricultural festivals: St Brigid's Day (February 

first) marks the beginning of the agricultural year, and Lúnasa (August first), a harvest festival, 

marks its ending. It is worth noting that of the four festivals, only St Brigid's Day has been given 

an overt Christian name and significance; in medieval literature it is also referred to as Imbolc. All 

four festivals are marked by a wealth of traditional ritual practice. Kevin Danaher has pointed out 

that all four share certain features not present in other festivals, such as more or less unruly 

processions in disguise by the younger folk, and a wealth of propitiatary ritual intended to 

protect the community from the encroachment of the otherworld (Danaher 1977). 

Another division of the year into quarters under the auspices of Christianity is marked by 

four festivals important in the Christian calendar, St John's Eve, Michaelmas, Christmas, and St 

Patrick's Day. Two rhymes from the repertoire of the co. Kerry storyteller Seán Ó Conaill from 

County Kerry speaks of the native divisions as `true' (fírinneach), the Christian divisions as 

`crooked' (cam), presumably referring to the fact that the native festivals were spaced at exact 

intervals, while the Christian ones are approximate: 

Ráithí Fírinneacha na Bliana (The True Quarters of the Year) 

Ráithe ó Lúnasa go Samhain 

Ráithe ó Shamhain go Lá 'le [=Fhéile] Bríde 

Ráithe ó Lá 'le Bríde go Bealtaine 

Ráithe ó Bhealtaine go Lúnasa. 

71 

A quarter from Lúnasa to Samhain 

A quarter from Samhain to St Brigid's Day 

A quarter from St Brigid's Day to Bealtaine 

A quarter from Bealtaine to Lúnasa. 

Ráithí Cama na Bliana (The Crooked Quarters of the Year) 

Ráithe ó Lá 'le Shan Seáin go Lá 'le Míchíl 

Ráithe ó Lá 'le Míchíl go Nollaig 

Ráithe ó Nollaig go Lá 'le Pádraig 

Ráithe ó Lá 'le Pádraig go Lá 'le Shan Seáin 

[SOCB, 353] 

A quarter from St John's to Michaelmas 

A quarter from Michaelmas to Christmas 

A quarter from Christmas to St Patrick's 

A quarter from St Patrick's to St John's. 

Oíche Shamhna 

All fruit and produce had to be stored by Samhain; fruit left after that, even if it was still edible, 

was considered to be `touched' and unfit for human consumption. As we might expect with an 

end-of-summer festival, the special fruits associated with the festival are apples and nuts; other 

fruit have made an appearance in recent times, but all the traditional games involve the native 

fruits (Danaher 1977, 123): Children, hands tied on their backs, dunk for apples swimming in a 

basin of water, or try to grab the apples from the two ends of a spinning cross-piece of wood, 

which had burning candles attached to the other bar. 

Like all Irish calendar festivals, the festival begins on the eve, Oíche Shamhna `the night


of Samhain'. On Oíche Shamhna the walls between this world and the other world are permeable. 

The inhabitants of the otherworld, referred to euphemistically as `the good people', `the little 

people', or even `the gentry' (na daoine maithe; na daoine beaga; na daoine uaisle) were thought 

to roam about. The dead were thought to visit the homes they used to inhabit, and chairs were set 

for them by the fire (Ó Grianna 1976, 33). Since Samhain is the quintessential liminal festival, 

marking the beginning of the new, darker half of the year, and allowing access to things normally 

hidden, many practices of divining the future are associated with it. Young unmarried women and 

to some extent men would attempt to ascertain the name of their future partner. A head of 

cabbage was hung up over the door: the first person to enter was the one you were destined to 

marry (Ó Grianna, 33). If you had a sweetheart already, you would place two nuts near the fire 

and name them after your lover and yourself: if they jumped in the same direaction, all was well, 

if they did not, the match was not to be. Other divination games included cluiche na bhfochupán 

(`the game of saucers'): a blindfolded person, usually a girl, had to choose one of a number of 

saucers: if she chose the one containing water, it meant emigration; the ring meant marriage in the 

coming year; the coin meant wealth, and the earth meant early death. A ring and similar tokens of 

the future were also baked into the bairín breac, anglicised as `Barmbrack', a sweet loaf eaten 

during the festival. 

Given the ubiquitous presence of the unseen on Halloween, the practice of going from 

house to house would appear audacious, and most family traditions took place indoors. 

However, to unruly members of the community, especially adolescent boys and young men, this 

might have been a welcome opportunity to make mischief, and there is some evidence that in 

some areas young men did go around in disguise, playing pranks and extorting sweets or money, 

reciting rhymes such as this one: 

Ahem! Ahem! 

Anocht Oíche Shamhna! 

Cuir muc in ár measc! 

Foiligh do phónaire, a bhean an tí 

Is na foiligh mo chuidse aráin ná dí 

Finíní, fáiníní! Íochtarán, uachtarán! 

Itheadh na caoirigh na copóga 

Agus ithimis an gráinseachán. 

Hurrah! Seo, a mháistreás, 

Cuardaigh do phóca 

Agus tabhair rud éigin do na buachaillí 

Agus scaoil chun siúil iad 

Nó buail mé féin idir an dá shúil 

Le píosa leathchorónach. 

(CC #257) 

Rann: Anocht Oíche Shamhna 

72 

Ahem! Ahem! 

Tonight is Halloween! 

Put a pig before us! 

Hide your beans, Woman of the House, 

But not my share of bread or drink; 

Fíníní [Fenians], fáiníní! Servant, master! 

Let the sheep eat dock leaves 

And let us eat frumenty. 

Hurrah! Now, Mistress, 

Search your pockets 

Give something to the lads 

And let them go 

Or hit me between my eyes 

With a half crown coin!


SÚIL SIAR (REVISION): CEACHT 4 - CEACHT 7 



say Ì am (not) / I was (not) / I will (not) be' (4.1; 6.1; 7.1) 

say òn me, on you, on him, on her, on us, on you, on them' (4.2) 

say that you are very angry (4.2) 

say that the house is very big (two options in Donegal); really big; too big (4.3) 

say that Áine is beautiful (4.4) 

say `How are you; what is your name; what does he look like?' (4.5) 

say Ì am (not) working' (5.1) 

say àt me, at you, at him, at her, at us, at you, at them' (5.1) 

say Ì have no money; I speak Irish; I can swim' (5.1) 

say Ì am asleep; he is standing; she is asleep; they are sitting down' (5.2) 

say that the weather is beautiful / bad; say that it's a nice day (5.3) 

say that you have broken the window and have not yet written the letter (5.4) 

say that the book is on a chair / on the chair/ on a table / under the table / in the library / in the 

house (6.2) 

say where you were last night (6.3) 

say what kind of rooms there are in your house (6.4) 

say that you will be a teacher / postgraduate student / actor (7.2&3) 

say ìn me, in you, in him, in her, in us, in you, in them' (7.3) 

say where you went on holidays last summer (7.4) 

say `today is Monday /Tuesday / Wednesday' etc; say that you will be in school on Monday, 

Tuesday etc (7.5) 

Revision Exercises 


1. The man does not have a house. 

2. The woman is wearing a hat. 

3. The girl has a headache. 

4. The student had a car. 

5. The book is on the table. 

6. Do they speak Spanish? No, but they speak Italian and Greek. 

7. We don’t have money, but we don’t care. 

8. She has long blonde hair and brown eyes. 

9. Síle was dancing, and Nuala was reading. 

10. I am not tired, I am hungry! 

2. Transpose the following sentences into the past and future tense. The first sentence is done for 

you: 

73


An bhfuil tú ceart go leor? Tá. Àre you all right? Yes.' / An raibh tú ceart go leor? Bhí. / An 

mbeidh tú ceart go leor? Beidh. 

1. An bhfuil tú ceart go leor? Tá. 

2. Níl fearg ar a mháthair. 

3. Tá an páiste ina chodladh. 

4. An mbeidh tú sa bhaile? Beidh. 

5. Ní bheidh mé tuirseach. 

6. Beidh muid ag léamh. 

7. Bhí sé ag cócaireacht. 

8. Ní raibh bia ar bith sa chuisneoir. 

9. An raibh an múinteoir sásta leis an obair? Bhí. 

10. Tá áthas ar an chailín. 

74

8 

CEACHT A HOCHT 

FOCLÓIR 

abair 20 say 

ábalta U able 

amach out 

bain take 

bain de take off (clothes) 

bí be 

bris break 

caithfidh must 

cantalach grumpy 

ceannaigh buy 

cuir put 

cuir ar put on (clothes) 

cuisneoir (m) fridge 

cúpla a couple, a few 

cúpla uair a few times 

de (díom, díot, de, di, dínn, díbh, díobh) from (from me, from you ...) 

déan do 

déan deifir hurry up 

do (dom, duit, dó, di, dúinn, daoibh, dóibh) to, for 

druid U close 

éist listen 

faigh get 

fáilte romhat/romhaibh! welcome; you (sg/pl) are welcome 

fan wait 

foghlaim learn 

foscail, U oscail open 

glac take 

glan clean 

goitse U come here 

go raibh maith agat/agaibh thank you (sg/pl) 

i gceann tamaill in a little while 

is féidir le X X is able, X can 

isteach in 

ith eat 

le do thoil / le bhur dtoil please (sg/pl) 

labhair speak 

20 All verbs are listed in the 2 sg imperative, the so-called `dictionary form.' 

75

léigh read 

lig do scíth relax 

mar a deir siad as they say 

ná do not 

ná bí buartha don't worry 

ná déan dearmad ar X don't forget X 

ná habair é don't mention it; you're welcome 

obair, f. gen. na hoibre work 

ól drink 

rith run 

rud thing 

saoiste (m) boss 

scríobh write 

síos down 

siúl walk 

stad stop 

suas up 

suigh sit 

tabhair give 

tar come 

téigh go 

uair hour, time 

COMHRÁ 

Síle comes home exhausted from her first day of work temping as a secretary; Pádraigín pampers 

her. 

Síle: Dia duit, a Phádraigín. 

Pádraigín: Dia is Muire duit! Goitse, a Shíle. Tá mise sa chistin. – An bhfuil sé ag cur? Bain díot 

do chóta - tá sé fliuch báite. Cad é mar atá tú, a chroí? Tá cuma thuirseach ort. 

Síle: Tá mé rud beag tuirseach ceart go leor. 

Pádraigín: Suigh síos anseo agus lig do scíth. Seo duit cupán tae. 

Síle: Go raibh céad maith agat. 

Pádraigín: Ná habair é. An bhfuil ocras ort? Ta bia sa chuisneoir. Glac rud éigin le hithe! 

Síle: Tá mé ceart go leor, go raibh maith agat. Beidh mé ag ithe i gceann tamaill. 

Pádraigín: Bhuel, a chailín, cad é mar atá do phost nua ag dul? 

Síle: Tá sé ceart go leor. Tá cuid mhaith oibre le déanamh agam. Tá mo shaoiste rud beag 

cantalach. “Déan é seo! Déan é siúd! Foscail an fhuinneog! Faigh cupán caife dom! Féach ar an 

urlár: tá sé an-salach. Glan anois é! Agus ná bí ag caint ar an teileafón!” Ach ní bheidh mé ann ach 

cúpla uair sa tseachtain, agus tá sé maith go leor. 

Pádraigín: An bhfuil an t-airgead go maith? 

Síle: Tá. Tá sé an-réasúnta. 

Pádraigín: Ah bhuel. Ìs é an bia capall na hoibre,' mar a deir siad. 

76

CEACHT A HOCHT / LESSON EIGHT 


§1. An Modh Ordaitheach (The Imperative) 

The imperative is used with close friends and family members, and when giving directions (more 

polite commands or requests are expressed by the conditional). 

The second person singular imperative has the same form as the verbal stem. This is the so-called 

`dictionary form', i.e. the form under which any given verb will be listed in a dictionary, because 

it is identical with the stem of the verb: 

Glan an t-urlár! Clean the floor! 

For the second person plural, the ending -(a)igí is normally (see below for minor modifications) 

added to the stem: 

Cuirigí na leabhair ar an tábla! Put the books on the table! 

Déanaigí an obair bhaile! Do the homework! 

The second person singular and plural are the forms most commonly used, but third singular (`let him/her do') and 

first person plural (`let us do') are also occasionally used. Here is the full paradigm: 

glan `clean' 

glanaim `let me clean' 

glan `let you (sg) clean' 

glanadh sé/si `let him/her 

clean'glanaimis `let us clean' 

glanaigí `let you (pl) clean' 

glanaidís `let them clean' 

77 

ceannaigh `buy' 

ceannaím `let me buy' 

ceannaigh `let you (sg) buy' 

ceannaíodh sé/sí `let him/her buy' 

ceannaímis `let us buy' 

ceannaígí `let you (pl) buy' 

ceannaídís `let them buy' 

The negative particle is ná, which causes no mutation, but prefixes `h' to a vowel: 

Ná brisigí an fhuinneog! Don’t break the window (pl)! 

Ná habair é! Don’t mention it (sg)! 

§1.1 First Conjugation Verbs 

There are two two conjugations of verbs in Irish; the first conjugation is comprised mostly of 

monosyllabic stems (i.e. the so-called dictionary form has one syllable only), but also has some 

verbs with a polysyllabic stem (more than one syllable). The second conjugation contains only 

polysyllabic verbs. The difference between the two conjugations is not very marked in the case 

of the imperative, but for future reference it is as well to discuss and learn the verbs according to 

the conjugation they belong to. 

§1.1A. Monosyllabic Verb Stems 

To form the second person plural imperative, first-conjugation verbs add -igí to stems which end


in a slender vowel (e.g. cuir), and -aigí to stems which end in a broad vowel (e.g. fan). Verbs 

ending in a slender consonant. The verbs in the list below should be treated as vocabulary items 

and mastered: 

bain bainigí ag baint take 

cuir cuirigí ag cur put 

siúil siúiligí ag siúl walk 

rith rithigí ag rith run 

bris brisigí ag briseadh break 

éist éistigí ag éisteacht listen 

druid U druidigí U ag druidim U close 21 

tit titigí ag titim fall 

tuig tuigigí ag tuigbheáil U understand 

Verbs ending in a broad consonant: 

seas seasaigí ag seasamh stand 

fan fanaigí ag fanacht wait, stay 

ól ólaigí ag ól drink 

stad stadaigí ag stad stop 

tóg tógaigí ag tógáil lift, take 

féach féachaigí ag féachaint look 

scríobh scríobhaigí ag scríobh write 

glan glanaigí ag glanadh clean 

scuab scuabaigí ag scuabadh brush 

gabh gabhaigí ag gabháil go 

goitse U goitsigí [ - ] come here 22 

póg pógaigí ag pógadh kiss 

pós pósaigí ag pósadh marry 

iarr (ar) iarraigí (ar) ag iarraidh want; ask for 

gearr gearraigí ag gearradh cut 

Monosyllabic Stems in -igh 

Monosyllabic verb stems ending in -igh used to add -igí just like the verbs above, but the spelling 

reform of the mid-twentieth century simplified the spelling -ighigí [pronounced i:gi] to -ígí: 

suigh suígí ag suí sit 

luigh luígí ag luí lie (down) 

nigh nígí ag ní wash 

As usual with spelling reforms there were some hitches. In some cases the -ighi- became reduced 

to simple i rather than í, in order to prevent a proliferation of sínte fada: 

léigh léigí ag léamh read 

21 In the south, the verb dún (dúnaigí; ag dúnadh) is used instead of druid. 

22 This is not really a verb at all, but a contraction of gabh anseo. The plural form goitsigí is thus historically 

spurious, but demonstrates the creative process at work in a living language. 

78


§1.1B. Polysyllabic Verb Stems 

Most slender polysyllabic first-conjugation verbs are de-palatalized (made broad) to add the 

plural ending: 

Sábháil sábhálaigí ag sábháil save 

vótáil vótálaigí ag vótáil vote 

taispeáin taispeánaigí ag taispeáint show 

Some slender stems, however, are not de-palatalized: 

tiomáin tiomáinigí ag tiomáint drive 

There are also a few verbal stems which are broad: 

teagasc teagascaigí ag teagasc teach. 

§1.2. Second Conjugation Verbs 

§1.2A. Polysyllabic Stems in -igh 

By far the largest group of verbs in the second conjugation end in -(a)igh. Before the spelling 

reform, these used to add -igí to the stem to form the imperative plural, but, as with the firstdeclension 

verbs in -igh, the spelling -ighigí was reduced to -ígí: 

deisigh formerly deisighigí > now deisígí 

Verbs ending in igh: 

éirigh éirígí ag éirí get up 

deisigh deisígí ag deisiú mend 

imigh imígí ag imeacht leave 

bailigh bailígí ag bailiú gather, collect 

dúisigh dúisígí ag dúiseacht wake up 

Verbs ending in aigh: 

ceannaigh ceannaígí ag ceannach buy 

críochnaigh críochnaígí ag críochnú finish 

1.2B. Syncopated Stems 

Disyllabic verbs ending in a consonant (rather than -igh) add the plural imperative ending to the 

stem, resulting in a multisyllabic verbform. There is a tendency in Irish to `syncopate' such 

polysyllabic forms by dropping an internal vowel or vowels: 

foscail U fosclaígí U ag foscladh U open 23 

imir imrígí ag imirt play 

labhair labhraígí ag labhairt speak 

1.2C. Stems That Resist Syncopation 

23 Outside Donegal, the form oscail (oscaígí, ag oscailt) is used. 

79


Not all second-declension verbs are amenable to syncopation; syncope is not an option when the 

vowel in question is long, or in cases where the loss of a vowel would lead to unpronouncable 

consonant clustering. In such cases the plural imperative ending is simply added to the stem: 

foghlaim foghlaimígí ag foghlaim learn 

tarraing tarraingígí ag tarraingt pull 

1.3. Irregular Verbs 

There is a small group of verbs that do not conform to either of the two conjugations in all of 

their forms. These eleven verbs are called ìrregular.' The formation of the imperative is not 

irregular in all irregular verbs, but with a few of the irregular verbs, different parts of the verb, 

such as the singular and the plural imperative (as well as, in some cases, the verbal noun) are 

derived from different (`suppletive') roots. 

bí bígí [bheith] 24 be 

feic feicigí ag feiceáil U see 

cluin 25 cluinígí ag cluinstin hear 

déan déanaigí ag déanamh do 

téigh téigí ag dul go 

faigh faighigí ag fáil get 

abair abraigí ag rá say 

tabhair tugaigí ag tabhairt give 

tar tagaigí / taraigí ag teacht come 

beir (ar) beirigí (ar) ag breith catch 

ith ithigí ag ithe eat 

§2. An Tuiseal Gairmeach (The Vocative Case) 

The vocative case is used when addressing a person, and is preceded by the vocative particle a, 

which causes séimhiú: 

Síle Sheila a Shíle 

cara friend a chara 

Donncha Donncha a Dhonncha 

Men's names and other masculine nouns ending in a broad consonant (i.e. belonging to the first 

declension) have this consonant palatalized in the vocative: 

Seán John a Sheáin 

Séamus James a Shéamuis 

amadán fool a amadáin 

24 NB The verbal noun of the substantive verb, bheith, is not, for obvious reasons, used in a compound tense with tá, 

and is never preceded by ag. 

25 Éist/éistígí tends to be used instead of cluin/cluinígí. 

80

mac son a mhic 


NB A couple of men's names ending in a broad consonant are NOT inflected: a Liam, a 

Phroinsias. 

§2.1. Terms of Endearment 

Terms of endearment are used in a wide range of contexts in Irish. Aside from their use in 

romantic situations, they are commonly used by adults talking to children; women of any age 

group use them frequently when addressing each other. Men tend to use them rather less among 

themselves; a mhic (`sonny, dude') is used affectionately between men. With the exception of a 

mhic, terms of endearment are not usually palatalized, even if, like stór, rún or leanbh, they 

belong to the first declension: 

a stór treasure 

a rún darling (literally `desire') 

a leanbh child 

a chroí heart 

a ghrá love 

a chuid treasure (literally `share') 

a thaisce treasure 

a chuisle darling (literally `vein') 

a mhuirnín darling 

Note that terms of endearment are not palatalized in the vocative, even if they end in a broad 

consonant (stór; rún; leanbh). 

In romantic contexts the endearments may become more elaborate: 

a ghrá ghil mo chroí bright love of my heart 

a mhíle grá my thousand love 

a stór mo chroí treasure of my heart 

Imperatives are frequently accompanied by terms of endearment in the vocative case: 

Foscail an doras, a stór! Open the door, darling! 

Ith do dhinnéar, a thaisce! Eat your dinner, pet! 

§2.2. An Aidiacht (Adjectives) 

An adjective following a noun or personal name in the vocative singular is also lenited; an 

adjective following a masculine first-declension noun or personal name is both lenited and 

palatalized: 

cara dil a chara dhil 

Síle Bheag a Shíle Bheag 

81

Seán Mór a Shéain Mhóir 


§2.3. Writing a Letter 

How to Open a Letter: 

a dhuine uasail dear Sir (a bhean uasal, a dhaoine uaisle, a mhná uaisle) 

a chara / a chairde friend / friends (dear Sir / To Whom it May Concern) 

a chara liom dear friend 

a sheanchara dhil dear old friend 

a Dhaid, a Dhaidí Dad, Daddy 

a Mham, a Mhamaí Mum, Mummy 

a Sheáin dhil dear Seán 

a Sheáin, a chara dear Seán 

a Mháire dhil dear Máire 

a Róisín, a stór darling Róisín 

How to Close a Letter: 

tabhair aire duit féin take care 

slán agus beannacht best wishes (`good-bye and a blessing') 

beir bua (agus beannacht) be well / best wishes (`gain victory') 

is mise le meas I remain respectfully 

le grá ó Bhríd with love from Bríd 

grá mór much love 

póg is barróg a kiss and a hug 

§3. Na Réamhfhocail `do' agus `de' agus a bhForainmneacha Réamhfhoclacha 

(The Prepositions do and de) 

DO `to, for' DE `from, of' 

dom, domh to me díom from me 

duit to you díot from you 

dó to him de from him 

di to her di from her 

dúinn to us dínn from us 

daoibh to you díbh from you 

dóibh to them díobh from them 

Note that in many areas of Donegal, the prepositional pronouns dom, duit, dó etc are always 

used instead of díom, díot, de etc (Ó Baoill 1996, 95; Hughes 1994, 658). In writing, however, the 

82


distinction between the two sets of prepositions is always maintained. The form dom is lenited 

in most dialects of Donegal (it is often written domh), and pronounced [du:]. 

§4. In and Out, Up and Down: Aspect and Direction 

§4.1. In and Out 

Irish distinguishes between going in/out (direction) and being in/out (position): 

gabh isteach agus fan istigh! Go in and stay inside! 

gabh amach agus fan amuigh! Go out and stay outside! 

isteach amach 

istigh amuigh 

4.1.1. Going home and being home 

Note also the distinction between `going home' and `being home:' 

abhaile `homewards' sa bhaile àt home' 

4.2. Up and Down 

thuas 

 

suas anuas síos aníos 

 

thíos 

éirigh suas! get up 

dúisigh anuas! wake up 

an braon anuas t he rain (`the drop from above') 

seas suas! sit up 

suigh síos! sit down 

suas an staighre up the stairs 

síos an bóthar down the road 

suas an tsráid up the street 

83


1. dear John 

2. dear Dad 

3. o friend 

4. o friends 

5. o big fool 

6. dear Mum 

7. ladies and gentlemen 

8. o son / hey dude 

9. o noble teacher 

10. dear friend 



2. You are addressing the following people (by the Irish forms of their names): 

John, Bridget, James, Kevin, Brian, George, Christopher, Kate, Paul, Patrick. 

3. Litir do do spéirbhean / spéirfhear 

You like someone a LOT. Write him/her a letter, making good use of your terms of endearments! 

4. Translate the following sentences, using first the 2sg then the 2pl imperative: 

1. Listen to him! 

2. Call me (put a call on me) tomorrow. I’ll be at home in the evening. 

3. Don’t leave now. It’s too early. 

4. Don’t eat that! 

5. Don’t worry (don’t be worried). 

6. Watch them! 

7. Give me the cup, please. 

8. Do the homework. 

9. Come with me. 

10. Don’t say that. 


1. Get up, Seán, and come down. 

2. Go out, Síle, and don't come back in! 

3. Come in and sit down. 

4. Don't go outside today. 

5. The water was coming down on us. 

6. I went up the stairs. 

7. Is Aisling in? No, she's not home. She's outside. 

8. Are you coming home? 

9. Go home and stay home! 

10. Are you upstairs? Come down! 

84

Buail ar an doras 

Is féach isteach 

Ardaigh an laiste 

Agus siúil isteach 

Suigh ar an stól 

Agus bí ag ól 

Cad é mar atá tú ar maidin? 

(CC #1) 

Inis scéal, 

Cum bréag 

Nó bí amuigh! 

(CC #338) 

Dhá éinín bheaga thuas ar an chrann, 

Sin é Peadar, sin é Pól. 

Imigh uaim a Pheadair 

Imigh uaim a Phóil. 

Tar ar ais a Pheadair 

Tar ar ais a Phóil! 

(CC #6b) 

Aon, dó, trí, 

Fathach mór buí. 

Rith isteach, rith amach, 

Rith anonn is rith anall 

Nó rith isteach i bpoll - 

Tá an fathach ar do thí: 

Amach leat, amach leat! 

(RR 27; cluiche folach bíog) 



Rainn do Pháistí 

85 

Knock on the door 

And look inside 

Lift the latch 

And walk inside 

Sit on the stool 

And have a drink: 

How are you doing this morning? 

Tell a story, 

Make up a lie, 

Or you're out! 

Two little birds up on the tree 

That is Peadar, that is Pól. 

Go away, Peadar 

Go away, Pól 

Come again Peadar 

Come again Pól. 

One, two, three 

A big ugly giant. 

Run inside, run outside 

Run over there and back again 

Or run into a hole - 

The giant's going to get you: 

Out with you! Out with you! 

(game of hide and seek)

Caithimid suas is suas é 

Caithimid suas an páiste 

Caithimid suas is suas é 

Is tiocfaidh sé anuas amárach. 


Amhrán do Leanbh 

Rann 

I d'óige, oscail do mheabhair, In your youth open your mind 

Is bailigh an fhoghlaim leat. and gather learning as you go. 

Seanfhocail 

86 

Let's throw him up and up 

Let's throw the child up 

Let's throw him up and up 

And he'll come down tomorrow. 

Ceart dom, ceart duit! What's right for the gander is right for the goose. 

Ná déan nós is ná bris nós! Don't make a law and don't break a law. 

Is é an bia capall na hoibre. Food is a good workhorse. 

Níl uasal ná híseal There is no such thing as high and low, 

ach suas seal is síos seal. only up for a while, and down for a while. 

Éirigh suas, a stóirín, 

mura bhfuil tú i do shuí 

Fosgail an doras, 

agus lig mise chun tí. 

Tá buidéal i m'aice 

a bhéarfas deoch do mhnaoi an tí 

Is tá súil agam 

nach ndiúltíonn tú mé fá d'iníon. 

Amhrán: Éirigh Suas a Stóirín 

Get up my darling 

if you're not still up. 

Open the door 

and let me into the house. 

I have a bottle for the housewife 

to pour her a drink: 

And I hope you won't refuse me 

your daughter in marriage.


Traditional Irish First Names 

Some Irish names have become very popular in the entire English-speaking world: Brendan 

(Breandán), Kevin (Caoimhín), Bridget (Bríd), Kathleen (Caitlín), Moira (Máire), Maureen 

(Máirín), Nóra, and, more recently, Liam and Seán. In the case of names such as Brian, Neal 

(US)/Neil (B&I), Kevin, and Sheila, most people may not even be aware that the name is 

originally Irish. 

Many traditional names are attested already in the earliest written records (from the 

seventh century onwards) and appear to be native. These include, for women: Áine, Ailbhe, Bríd, 

Eithne, Gráinne, Síle, Sorcha, Úna; and for men: Conn, Fearghal, Fearghus, Oscar, Art, Cormac, 

Éamonn, Eoghan, Tadhg, Dónall, Rónán, Oisín, Ruairí and Caoimhín. 

Irish naming practices did not change significantly during the first centuries of 

Christianization, though Latinate names and Irish names reflecting religious practice make an 

appearance in the written sources, especially for churchmen: Colmcille `the dove of the church'; 

Máel Muire `devotee (tonsured one) of St Mary.' The name of the Virgin Mary, Muire, was 

borrowed early, but there is no indication that it was used as a girl's name. 

As elsewhere in Europe, naming practices changed drastically with the church reforms of 

the twelfth century. The custom of naming children after popular Christian saints brought about 

the spread of a more or less uniform set of names throughout Europe. Many of the most common 

Irish names were introduced to Ireland at this juncture. Some of the most common saints' names 

for women are: 

Cáit Kate (a Cháit) 

Cáitlín Kathleen (a Chaitlín) 

Éilís Elizabeth (a Éilís) 

Bairbre Barbara (a Bhairbre) 

Máire Mary (a Mháire) 

Nóra Honora (a Nóra) 

Some common Christian names for men are: 

Peadar Peter (a Pheadair) 

Pól Paul (a Phóil) 

Mícheál Michael (a Mhícheáil) 26 

Labhrás Laurence (a Labhrais) 

Liam William (a Liam) 

Proinsias Francis (a Phroinsias) 

Críostóir Christopher (a Chríostóir) 

Pádraig Patrick (a Phádraig) 

Seoirse George (a Sheoirse) 

Muiris Maurice (a Mhuiris) 

Since the Celtic Revival around the turn of the nineteenth century, the names of Irish heroes and 

heroines from the medieval sagas started to become fashionable among English speakers. Names 

such as Maeve (Méabh), Connor (Conchobhor), Emer, Niamh and Fergus from the Ulster cycle 

26 In Munster, the vocative of Mícheál is a Mhíchíl. 

87


of tales, Fionn, Oisín, Dermot (Diarmuid) and Gráinne from the Fenian cycle, and Cormac from 

the historical cycle, which had become rare after the medieval period, became popular again. The 

name Emer is a case in point: It is usually pronounced [i:mer] today, whereas in Old Irish it was 

pronounced [εver]. Another modernism is the name Aisling; the word, meaning `dream,' only 

became popular as a name for a woman in the twentieth century. 27 

Girls' names based on Irish place names, such as Erin (Ireland), Shannon (the river), and 

Tara (the seat of the Irish high kings in Irish myth), may first have gained currency among Irish 

Americans as a symbol of identification with their ethnic homeland; of these, only Tara is 

occasionally used in Ireland. 

27 In the earliest literature an aisling refers to a dream vision of a beautiful woman; in seventeenth-century political 

aisling poetry, the woman in the vision was typically a personification of Ireland. These personifications (Dark 

Rosaleen, Kathleen Ni Hoolihan etc) had a great appeal to the cultural nationalist imagination. 

88

9 

CEACHT A NAOI 

FOCLÓIR 

ag bualadh le X meeting X 

ag moladh praising 

ag réiteach le chéile getting on with each other 

ag troid fighting 

aintín (f) aunt 

an Lá Altaithe (m) Thanksgiving Day 

anuas; le cúpla bliain anuas upwards, for; for a couple of years 

aon, amháin one 

arasán (m) apartment 

ar dtús at first, in the beginning 

ar dóigh U great, excellent 

athair mór, seanathair (m) grandfather 

bean chéile (f) wife 

beirt (f) two people 

an bheirt acu the two of them 

bus (m) bus 

bain sult as! enjoy! 

barraíocht U (f) too much 

blasta tasty 

cá háit a ndeachaigh tú? where did you go? 

cad é a tharla? what happened? 

ceathair, ceithre four 

chuig to 

clann (f) children, offspring 

cúig five 

carr (m) car 

col ceathrair (m) cousin 

colscartha divorced 

colscaradh (m) divorce 

cuir glao ar X call X (on the phone) 

dall blind 

déan dearmad forget 

dea-scéal (m) good news 28 

drochscéal (m) bad news 

droch-chuideachta (f) bad company 

28 The forms dea-scéala and drochscéala are also used; scéala functions as a collective noun with the meaning 

`news, tidings, message.' 

89

deich ten 

dó, dhá two 

eitleán (m) plane 

fear céile husband 

galánta nice, fine 

glasraí vegetables 

go bhfóire Dia ar X may God have mercy on X 

iarsmalann, (f); pl iarsmalanna museum 

i m’aonar (i d'aonar, ina aonar etc) by myself (by yourself, by himself etc) 

is dóigh liom (go) I think (that) 

is dócha (go) it is probable (that) 

mar sin so, thus 

mar de ghnáth as usual 

máthair mhór, seanmháthair grandmother 

milseog (f) dessert 

muintir family 

neacht (f) niece 

nia (m) nephew 

naoi nine 

nuair a when 

ocht eight 

óstán (m) hotel 

pióg puimcín pumpkin pie 

pósta married 

róbhruite overcooked 

sé six 

seacht seven 

scartha separated 

singil single 

sona sásta very happy 

teaghlach household, family 

toirtín úll apple tart 

traein (f) train 

trí three 

turcaí (m) turkey 

uimhir (f) number 

uilig U all 

uncail (m) uncle 

COMHRÁ 

Sara and Seán, who are studying Irish in Boston, are discussing their respective Thanksgiving 

experiences. 

Sara: Dia duit a Sheáin. Cad é mar atá tú? 

90

CEACHT A NAOI / LESSON NINE 

Seán: Tá mé go breá, go raibh maith agat. Cá raibh tú ag an deireadh seachtaine? Chuir mé glao ort 

cúpla uair. 

Sara: Chuaigh mé abhaile go Nua Eabhrac don Lá Altaithe. 

Seán: Cad é mar a bhí sé? 

Sara: Bhí sé go hiontach. Bhí sé an-deas gach aon duine a fheiceáil. 

Seán: Cé a bhí ann? 

Sara: Bhí mo mhuintir uilig ann: m'athair agus mo mháthair, mo dheartháir agus a bhean chéile, 

agus a gclann: tá beirt nia agam agus neacht. 

Seán: An raibh do dheirfiúr Máire ann chomh maith? 

Sara: Bhí. Bhí Máire ann lena fear céile. 

Seán: An bhfuil sí pósta? Ní raibh a fhios agam sin. 

Sara: Tá, le cúpla bliain anuas, go bhfóire Dia uirthi! 

Seán: Cad chuige? Cad é atá cearr? 

Sara: Níl siad ag réiteach rómhaith le chéile. Bhí siad ag troid an oíche ar fad, agus mise i mo shuí 

ag an tábla idir an bheirt. Bhí sé uafásach. - Agus tú féin? An ndeachaigh tú abhaile? 

Seán: Chuaigh. Tháinig mé ar ais díreach inniu. 

Sara: Ar bhain tú sult as? 

Seán: Bhain; bhí sé ar dóigh. Bhí gach aon duine toigh mo sheanmháthar mar de ghnáth. Ach níl 

mé cinnte go mbeidh muid ag dul ann arís. 

Sara: Cad chuige? 

Seán: Tá mo sheanmháthair ag éirí sean, agus tá sí rud beag dall. Is cócaire réasúnta í, ach ní raibh 

an bia ródheas an t-am seo. An bhean bhocht! Bhí an turcaí dóite go dona, bhí na glasraí róbhruite, 

agus ní raibh na prátaí rósta go leor. Bhí gach aon duine ag rá go raibh an bia go galánta ar ndóigh! 

Bhí milseog dheas againn, buíochas le Dia; rinne mo mháthair toirtín úll a bhí iontach blasta, agus 

cheannaigh mo dheartháir uachtar reoite. 

Sara: Fuair tusa an drochbhia agus mise an droch-chuideachta mar sin. 

Seán: Fuair. Níl mé cinnte cé acu is fearr. 


§1. An Aimsir Chaite (The Past Tense) 

§1.1. Regular Verbs 

The past tense of regular verbs, both first- and second-conjugation, is formed by leniting the 

initial consonant of the stem: 

Bhris sé a chuid spéaclaí. He broke his glasses. 

Chríochnaigh mé an obair. I finished the work. 

Stems beginning with a vowel (or a lenited `f') are prefixed by d’: 

D'ith mé mo bhricfeasta ar a naoi a chlog. I ate breakfast at nine o’clock. 

D'fhan mé leis. I waited for him. 

D'fhreagair sé mé. He answered me. 

91


Negative: níor Níor ith mé go fóill. I did not eat yet. 

Interrog.: ar Ar dhruid tú an doras? Did you close the door? 

Neg. int.: nár Nár bhain tú sult as an lá? Didn’t you enjoy the day? 

1.2. Irregular Verbs 

Affirmative Negative Interrogative 

bhí ní raibh an raibh was 

chonaic ní fhaca an bhfaca saw 

rinne ní dhearna an ndearna did 

chuaigh ní dheachaigh an ndeachaigh went 

fuair ní bhfuair an bhfuair got 

dúirt ní dúirt an dúirt said 

chuala níor chuala ar chuala heard 

thug níor thug ar thug gave 

tháinig níor tháinig ar tháinig came 

rug (ar) nior rug (ar) ar rug (ar) caught 

d’ith níor ith ar ith ate 

Comhrá Breise 

Pádraigín: Cá raibh tú, a Aisling? 

Aisling: Bhí mé ar laethanta saoire. 

Padraigín: Cá háit a ndeachaigh tú? 

Aisling: Chuaigh mé go dtí an Fhrainc. Bhí mé i bPáras ar feadh cúpla seachtain. Bhí sé go 

hiontach. 

Pádraigín: An ndeachaigh tú i d’aonar? 

Aisling: Ní dheachaigh. Tháinig mo chara Áine liom. 

Pádraigín: Cad é a rinne sibh i bPáras? 

Aisling: Ní dhearna muid mórán. Chuaigh muid go dtí an Louvre agus iarsmalanna eile ar ndóigh, 

agus d’ith muid bia galanta. 

Pádraigín: An bhfaca sibh an Túr Eiffel? 

Aisling: Chonaic cinnte. 

Pádraigín: An bhfuair sibh óstán réasúnta? Nach raibh sé daor? 

Aisling: Ní raibh. Ní bhfuair muid óstán ar bith. D'fhan muid in arasán mo dheirféar atá ag staidéar 

i bPáras. Bhí an-am againn. 

§2. Na hUimhreacha 1-10 (The Numbers 1-10) 

§2.1. Numbers Standing Alone 

a haon one 

a dó two 

a trí three 

92

a ceathair four 

a cúig five 

a sé six 

a seacht seven 

a hocht eight 

a naoi nine 

a deich ten 

neamhní / náid zero 

These numbers are used for: 

§2.1.1 Basic arithmetic: 

a cúig póinte a trí (5.3) 

a haon is a haon sin a dó (1 + 1 = 2) 

a ceathair lúide a dó sin a dó (4 - 2 = 2) 


§2.1.2. Giving your telephone number: 

a ceathair a naoi a cúig a haon a dó neamhní a hocht (495-1208) 

§2.1.3. Playing cards: 

an dó spéireata the two of spades 

an t-aon hart the one of hearts 

an ceathair triuf the four of clubs 

an seacht muileata the seven of diamonds 

§2.1.4. Telling time (vide next chapter): 

tá sé a haon a chlog it's one o'clock 

§2.1.5. And all other contexts where numbers stand on their own: 

a haon a dó a trí a-one, a-two, a-three 

bus a dó bus number two 

seomra a cúig room number five 

Éilís a Dó Elizabeth II 

§2.2. Numbers Followed by Nouns (Counting Objects) 

Generally, the singular rather than plural form of the noun is used with numerals (but note the 

important exceptions below). When counting objects, a different form of the numerals òne,' `two' 

and `four' is used. Amháin, òne' follows the noun: 

madadh amháin one dog 29 

All other numbers precede the noun. The numbers 2-6 cause séimhiú: 

29 Amháin means ònly'; it was initially presumably added for emphasis. The form aon is found in the construction 

aon mhadadh amháin òne dog only' but madadh amháin has become the unmarked form. 

93

dhá mhadadh two dogs 

trí chat three cats 

ceithre bhláth four flowers 

cúig bhláth five flowers 

sé bhuidéal six bottles 

The numbers 7-10 cause urú: 


seacht mbuidéal seven bottles 

ocht n-éan eight birds 

naoi gcapall nine horses 

deich bpeann ten pens 

Counting Objects 

capall amháin 1 úll amháin 

dhá chapall 2 dhá úll 

trí chapall 3 trí úll 

ceithre chapall 4 ceithre úll 

cúig chapall 5 cúig úll 

sé chapall 6 sé úll 

seacht gcapall 7 seacht n-úll 

ocht gcapall 8 ocht n-úll 

naoi gcapall 9 naoi n-úll 

deich gcapall 10 deich n-úll 

capall ar bith 0 úll ar bith 

§3. Cá háit a ndeachaigh tú? `Where did you go?' (chuig; go; go dtí) 

§3.1. chuig 

Used when you're talking about going to an event or to see a person. Chuig causes no mutation; 

when followed by the article an it causes seimhiú: 

Chuaigh Nóra chuig dráma. Nóra went to a play. 

Chuaigh Laim chuig an cheolchoirm. Liam went to the concert. 

Chuaigh sí chuig an dochtúir. She went to the doctor. 

Chuaigh sí chuig a deirfiúr. She went to her sister. 

94


§3.2. go 

Used before placenames which are NOT preceded by the definite article (cities; certain countries, 

incl. Ireland; US states). Go prefixes `h' to words beginning with a vowel: 

Chuaigh mé go Baile Átha Cliath. I went to Dublin. 

Chuaigh muid go hArd Mhacha. We went to Armagh. 

Tá Seán ag dul go hÉirinn. Seán is going to Ireland. 

Tá mé ag dul go Michigan. I am goint to Michigan. 

§3.3. go dtí 

Used before placenames and any other nouns that are preceded by the article; does not affect 

them in any way: 30 

Chuaigh sé go dtí an Fhrainc. He went to France. 

Tháinig sé go dtí an siopa. He came to the shop. 


1. Form affirmative statements in the past tense from the following verbal stems, and then 

convert these statements into questions and negative responses. Translate the verb stem. 

Example: fan: `stay;' d’fhan; ar fhan? níor fhan. 

1. fág 

2. éist 

3. scríobh 

4. ceannaigh 

5. cuir 

6. éirigh 

7. suigh 

30 Go dtí is not a preposition though it acts like one; it is originally a verbal phrase in the subjunctive ùntil you 

come (to).' 

CHUIG `to' 

chugam to me chugainn to us 

chugat to you chugaibh to you 

chuige to him chucu to them 

chuici to her 

95

8. críochnaigh 

9. freagair 

10. foghlaim 


2. Translate the following sentences. Turn them into questions and answer them: 

D'ól sí an bainne. `She drank the milk.' - Ar ól sí an bainne? D'ól. 

1. Ghlan sé an t-urlár. 

2. Bhris an páiste an fhuinneog. 

3. D’fhan sí liom. 

4. D’fhoscail muid an doras. 

5. Cheannaigh mé buidéal uisce. 

6. Chuaigh sé abhaile. 

7. Tháinig Máire linn. 

8. Thug mé leabhar dó. 

9. Chuala sí ceol. 

10. Rinne mé an obair. 

3. Convert the following affirmative sentences into questions and negative responses, according 

to the model: 

Chonaic mé. > An bhfaca mé? Ní fhaca. 

1. Chonaic sí é. 

2. Chuala sé í. 

3. Rinne siad é. 

4. Chuaigh muid ann. 

5. Thug sé leis é. 

6. Dúirt tú sin. 

7. Tháinig sibh anseo. 

8. Fuair tú é. 

9. D’ith sibh. 

10. Rug mé air. 

4. Translate the following questions into English and answer them, first in the affirmative, then in 

the negative: 

1. Ar thug tú bia don chat? 

2. An raibh do dheirfiúr sa bhaile? 

3. An ndeachaigh tú go dtí an scannán? 

4. Ar chuala tú an scéal sin? 

5. Ar ith tú do dhinnéar? 

6. An bhfaca tú mo mhadadh? 

7. An ndéarna tú d'obair bhaile? 

8. An dúirt sé an fhírinne? 

9. An bhfuair tú bronntanas? 

10. Ar rug an cat ar an luch? 

96

11. Ar tháinig Liam abhaile go fóill? 



1. Did you see that movie? Yes. It was great! 

2. Did you hear the good news? No. 

3. Did they go home last week? Yes. 

4. Did he give you the book? No. 

5. Did he do the homework already? Yes. 

6. Did she get the job? No. 

7. Did the dog catch the cat? No. 

8. Did your sister come home on Thanksgiving Day? Yes. 


1. five books 

2. eight apples 

3. two bottles 

4. nine nights 

5. six cats 

6. seven oranges 

7. three glasses 

8. four cars 

9. ten windows 

10. one class 

7. Cluiche: Tá Mála Mór Agam 

You are going off to Hawai (or any place of your choice), and you need to pack a few things into 

your travel bag. Start with the formula Tá mé ag dul go Hawai amárach. Tá mála mór agam 

agus trí bhuidéal fíon ann. The person next to you repeats that formula, but has to add an item of 

his/her own: ... trí bhuidéal fíon agus seacht leabhar Gaeilge ann. NB The suitcase can 

accommodate practically anything! 

8. Cluiche: Sé Ghé 

Each student says a number from one to ten plus a noun (whoever repeats a noun must pay a 

forfeit). However, sé (6) is always followed by gé `goose'. 

9. Obair Ranga: Rang Mataimaitic as Gaeilge 

Each student writes out a couple of simple equations on a piece of paper (in numbers not 

words!). Students then take turns at the blackboard, writing out the equations dictated to them 

by their peers. One student is nominated teacher and has to verify that both arithmetic and 

orthography is correct! 

10. Scríobh amach na huimhreacha seo a leanas (`Write out the following numbers') as Gaeilge: 

1. 617-495-1000 

97

2. 724-694-5353 

3. 4+5=9 

4. 6+4=10 

5. 5.63 

6. 7-5=2 


11. Obair Bheirte: Laethanta Saoire: Cá raibh tú anuraidh? 

Pair up with another student and ask each other where you were on holidays last year. Ask each 

other whether you ever were in a certain country, which countries you like etc. 

12. Write about either 

a) your trip home for Thanksgiving OR 

b) the Thanksgiving from hell. 

Describe the people who were there, say what you did and talked about, and what you ate and 

drank. 

98

A haon, a dó 

caora is bó. 

A trí is a ceathair, 

bróga leathair. 

A cúig is a sé 

cupán tae. 

A seacht is a hocht 

seanbhean bhocht 

A naoi is a deich 

gabh i leith 

Suigh síos 

is lig do scíth. 

(CC #220) 

Chuaigh an mhuicín seo ar an aonach; 

D'fhan an mhuicín seo ag baile; 

Fuair an mhuicín seo arán is im; 

Ní bhfuair an mhuicín seo dada; 

`Bhíoc, bhíoc, bhíoc,' arsa an bainbhín, 

`Tá ocras ormsa.' 

(RR 8) 

Nuair a bhí mé óg agus mé gan chéill, 

Cheannaigh mé fidil ar scilling is réal. 

Seo é an port a bhí ar casadh: 

Òs cionn an chnoic is i bhfad ó bhaile' 

(CC #300) 



Rann Comhairimh `Counting Rhyme' 

Rann do Pháistí 

99 

One, two, 

a sheep and a cow 

three and four 

leather shoes 

Five and six 

a cup of tea. 

seven and eight 

a poor old woman 

Nine and ten 

come here 

sit down 

and take it easy. 

Rann: Nuair a Bhí Mé Óg 

This little pig went to market; 

This little pig stayed home; 

This little pig got bread and butter; 

This little pig got nothing; 

Òink, oink, oink,' said the piglet, 

Ì'm hungry.' 

When I was young and foolish 

I bought myself a fiddle for a shilling and a sixpense 

The tune it was playing was 

Òver the hills and far from home.'

Ó d'éirigh mé ar maidin dhá uair roimh an lá 

Agus fuair mise litir ó mo mhíle grá; 

Chuala mé an smólach is an lon dubh a rá 

Gur éalaigh mo ghrá thar sáile. 

1. 

Chuaigh mé isteach i dteach aréir 

Is d'iarr mé cárt ar bhean an leanna; 

Is é dúirt sí liom: Ní bhfaighidh tú deor, 

Buail an bóthar is gabh 'na bhaile. 

Curfá: 

Níl sé ina lá, nil a ghrá 

Níl sé ina lá, is ni bheidh go maidin 

Níl sé ina lá, is ní bheidh go fóill 

Solas ard atá sa ghealaigh. 

2. 

Chuir mé féin mo lámh i mo phóca 

Is d'iarr mé briseadh coróin uirthi, 

Is é dúirt sí liom: `Buail an bord 

Is bí ag ól anseo go maidin.' 

3. 

Éirigh i do shuí, a fhir an tí 

Cuir ort do bhríste is do hata 

Go gcoinní tú ceol leis an duine cóir 

A bheas ag ól anseo go maidin. 

4. 

Nach mise féin an fear gan chéill 

A d'fhág mo chíos i mo scornaigh 

D'fhág mé léan orm féin 

Is d'fhág mé séan ar dhaoine eile. 


Amhrán: Tá mo Chleamhnas Déanta 

Amhrán: Níl Sé ina Lá (II) 

100 

Since I got up this morning two hours before daybreak 

And I got a letter from my own love 

I have heard the lark and the blackbird sing 

That my love has gone across the ocean. 

1. 

I went into a (ale)house last night 

and asked the bar woman for credit 

This is what she said: `You won't get a drop 

Hit the road and go home.' 

Refrain 

It's not day yet, it isn't, love, 

It's not day yet, and it won't be till morning 

It's not day yet, and it won't be for a while 

The moon is very bright. 

2. 

I put my hand in my pocket 

and asked for change for a crown 

This is what she said: `Sit at the table 

and drink here until morning.' 

3. 

`Get up, Man of the House 

Put on your trousers and your hat 

Keep this good man company 

Who will be drinking here until morning.' 

4. 

Am I not a fool 

I left my rent in my throat 

I left sorrow for myself 

and I left prosperity to others.

10 

CEACHT A DEICH 

FOCLÓIR 

an t-am ar fad all the time 

bomaite U (m) minute 

braithim uaim thú/sibh I miss you 

bricfeasta (m) breakfast 

ceathrú (f), ceathrú uair a'chloig quarter, quarter of an hour 

ceirtlis (f) cider (alcoholic) 

ceol clasaiceach classical music 

ceol traidisiúnta traditional music 

ceolchoirm (f) concert 

a chlog o’clock 


de ghnáth usually 

deireadh seachtaine weekend 

dinnéar (m) dinner 

dráma (m) drama 

dul ag iascaireacht go fishing 

foireann (f) team, crew 

gach lá every day 

go dtí to, upto, until 

go hannamh seldom 

go minic often 

i gcónaí always 

i ndiaidh after 

idir between 

imirt play (a sport) 


leadóg (f) tennis 

leann (f) beer, ale 

leann dubh stout, porter 

leath half 

leathuair half hour 

lón (m) lunch 

luath, go luath early 

ó am go ham from time to time 

peil (f) soccer 

péinteáil painting 

píopa (m) pipe 

popcheol (m) pop music 

101

CEACHT A DEICH / LESSON TEN 

rac-cheol (m) rockmusic 

scannán (m) movie 

snagcheol (m) jazz 

téim a chodladh / a leaba I go to sleep / to bed 

tobac (m) tobacco 

toitín (m), pl toitíní cigarette 

uair (f), pl uaireanta hour, time 

uair sa tseachtain once a week 

uaireanta sometimes 

uisce beatha (m) whiskey 

LITIR ABHAILE 

A Mhamaí, 

Go raibh maith agat as do litir. D'iarr tú orm insint duit faoi chúrsaí an lae anseo. Seo anois 

iad. Téim chuig ranganna gach maidin ar a naoi nó ar a deich, agus críochnaím ar a cúig. Déanaim 

staidéar idir a hocht agus meán oíche. Uair sa tseachtain imrím leadóg leis an fhoireann; oibrím sa 

leabharlann ar an deireadh seachtaine. Anois is arís, téim amach le mo chairde san oíche, ach de 

ghnáth, bím róthuirseach agus fanaim sa bhaile. Téim a chodladh ag meán oíche. 

An bhfuil gach duine go maith sa bhaile? Cad é mar atá Daidí? An bhfuil a chos nimhneach 

go fóill? Ní bhfuair mé litir ó Mháire le tamall. An mbíonn sí ag troid le Seán mar is gnáth? Cad é 

mar atá Tiarnán? Chonaic mé madadh a bhí beagán cosúil leis inné, agus bhí mé cráite. 

Braithim uaim sibh go léir, agus tá mé ag súil go mór leis na laethanta saoire. 

Le grá, 

Síle 


§1. An Aimsir Láithreach (The Present Tense) 

In Irish, as in English, the present continuous (tá mé ag dul / I am going) has expanded at the 

expense of the present tense (téim / I go), with the result that the use of the present tense has 

become relatively restricted. It is used mainly in the following three contexts: 

a) With verbs of sensation and perception, and verbs of opinion: 

feicim I see 

cluinim I hear 

braithim I perceive, feel 

mothaím I feel, sense 

tuigim I understand 

sílim I think 

ceapaim I think 

102

aontaím I agree 

deirim I say 


b) For habitual activities: 

éirím go luath gach lá. I get up early every day. 

téim abhaile ar a cúig. I go home at five. 

c) For gnomic statements: 

Déanann sparán trom croí éadrom. A heavy purse makes for a light heart. 

Molann an obair an fear. The work praises its maker. 

There are two conjugations of regular verbs in Irish. 

§1.1. An Chéad Réimniú / First Conjugation 

We can divide the first conjugation into verbs with monosyllabic stems (1A) and those with 

polysyllabic stems (1B/1C). 

1A bris `break' / glan `clean' 

1B sábháil `save' 

1C tiomáin `drive.' 

§1.1A. Monosyllabic Stems 

bris `break' glan `clean' 

brisim glanaim 

briseann tú glanann tú 

briseann sé/sí glanann sé/sí 

briseann muid U / brisimid glanann muid U / glanaimid 

briseann sibh glanann sibh 

briseann siad glanann siad 

Monosyllabic verbs ending in -igh have basically the same endings but show some fluctuation in 

spelling and are best learned individually: 

stem 1sg 3sg 1pl vn 

dóigh dóim dónn sé dóimid ag dó burn (tr) 

báigh báim bánn sé báimid ag bá drown (tr) 

brúigh brúim brúnn sé brúimid ag brú press 

léigh léim léann sé léimid ag léamh read 

luigh luím luíonn sé luímid ag luí lie 

suigh suím suíonn sé suímid ag suí sit 

nigh ním níonn sé nímid ag ní wash (tr) 

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§1.1B. Polysyllabic Stems 

Most polysyllabic verbs take the second conjugation, as we shall see, but some disyllabic verbs 

take the first conjugation, including all verbs ending in -áil (bácáil `bake'; cniotáil `knit'; liostáil 

`list'; marcáil `mark'; priontáil `print'; sábháil `save'; spáráil `save up, spare'; robáil `rob'; vótáil, 

`vote'). First conjugation polysyllables are never syncopated; thus a disyllabic stem will have 

a trisyllabic inflected form. Some of these polysyllabic stems are depalatalized and treated like a 

broad stem. 

Stems in -áil: 

sábháil sábhálaim sábhálann sé ag sábháil save 

Other depalatalized stems: 

taispeáin taispeánaim taispeánann sé ag taispeáint show 

gearáin gearánaim gearánann sé ag gearán complain 

céiliúir céiliúraim céiliúrann sé ag céiliúradh celebrate 

Stems that preserve the stem's palatal inflection: 

tiomáin tiomáinim tiomáineann sé ag tiomáint drive 

Broad stems: 

teagasc teagascaim teagascann sé ag teagasc teach 

§1.2. An Dara Réimniú / The Second Conjugation 

§1.2A. Stems in -(a)igh 

The second conjugation contains polysyllabic verbs 31 only. The first and by far the largest group 

of verbs end in -(a)igh (2A). In the inflected forms, the final consonant is lost so that the 

inflected verb has the same number of syllables as the stem. 

éirigh `get up' ceannaigh `buy' 

éirím ceannaím 

éiríonn tú ceannaíonn tú 

éiríonn sé/sí ceannaíonn sé/sí 

éiríonn muid U / éirímid ceannaíonn muid U / ceannaímid 

éiríonn sibh ceannaíonn sibh 

éiríonn siad ceannaíonn siad 

31 Usually disyllabic, but there are a handful of trisyllabic verbal stems, e.g. comhairligh `counsel' and dúnmharaigh 

`murder.' 

104


§1.2B. Syncopated Stems 

Verbal stems ending in -in, -il, -ir and -is are in some (but not all) contexts syncopated, so that 

the inflected form has the same number of syllables as the stem: 

aithin aithním aithníonn sé ag aithint recognize 

codail codlaím codlaíonn sé ag codladh sleep 

foscail fosclaím fosclaíonn sé ag foscladh open U 

freagair freagraím freagraíonn sé ag foscladh opening 

imir imrím imríonn sé ag imirt play 

inis insím insíonn sé ag insint / inse U tell 

labhair labhraím labhraíonn sé ag labhairt speak 

múscail músclaím músclaíonn sé ag múscáil wake 

§1.2C. Stems That Resist Syncopation 

The remaining - very small - group of second conjugation verbs resist syncopation, so that a 

disyllabic verbal stem will produce a trisyllabic inflected form: 

foghlaim foghlaimím foghlaimíonn sé ag foghlaim learn 

tarraing tarraingím tarraingíonn sé ag tarraingt pull 

taistil taistealaím taistealaíonn sé ag taisteal travel 

freastail freastalaím freastalaíonn sé ag freastal attend 

§1.3 The Irregular Verbs 


feicim ní fheicim an bhfeiceann tú? see 

déanaim ní dhéanaim an ndéanann tú? do 

téim ní théim an dtéann tú? go 

faighim ní fhaighim an bhfaigheann tú? get 

deirim ní deirim an deir tú / an deireann tú? say 

cluinim ní chluinim an gcluineann tú? hear 

tugaim ní thugaim an dtugann tú? give 

tagaim ní thagaim an dtagann tú? come 

beirim ar ní bheirim ar an mbeireann tú ar? catch 

ithim ní ithim an itheann tú? eat 

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§1.4. Negative and Interrogative 

negative: Ní cheannaím milseáin. I do not buy sweets. 

interrog.: An gceannaíonn tú milseáin? Do you buy sweets? 

neg. int.: Nach gceannaíonn sé milseáin? Doesn’t he buy sweets? 

Ní éirím go luath. I don't get up early. 

An éiríonn tú 32 go luath? Do you get up early? 

Nach n-éiríonn tú go luath? Don't you get up early? 

Responses to questions are constructed by repeating the verb: 

An dtuigeann tú an léacht? Do you understand the lecture? 

Tuigim. / Ní thuigim. Yes. / No. 

§2. An Aimsir Ghnáthláithreach (The Present Habitual) 

The substantive verb has a special form used to express habitual action in the present: 

bím I am habitually 

bíonn tú you are habitually 

bíonn sé/sí he/she is habitually 

bíonn muid U / bímid we are habitually 

bíonn sibh you are habitually 

bíonn siad they are habitually 

negative: ní bhíonn tú 

interrogative: an mbíonn tú? 

neg. interrogative: nach mbíonn tú? 

where: cá mbíonn tú? 

Bíonn sé tinn go minic. He is sick often. 

§3. An t-Am (Time) 

a haon a seacht 

a dó a hocht 

a trí a naoi 

a ceathair a deich 

a cúig a haon déag 

a sé a dó dhéag 

Cad é an t-am / Cén t-am atá sé? What time is it? 

32 Note that the interrogative particle an does not prefix an `n' to a verb beginning with a vowel. 

106


Tá sé a haon a chlog. It’s one o’clock. 

Tá sé a dó a chlog. It’s two o’clock. 

Tá sé leath i ndiadh U a trí. It’s half past three. 

Tá sé ceathrú go dtí U a hocht. It’s a quarter to eight. 

leathuair, leathuair a chloig half an hour 

ceathrú, ceathrú uair a chloig quarter of an hour 

bomaite U minute 

go dtí to, until 


san oíche at night 

ar maidin in the morning, a.m. 

sa tráthnóna in the afternoon, p.m. 

ag meán lae at midday 

ag meán oíche at midnight 

Talking about Daily Activities 

Cén t-am a éiríonn tú ar maidin? What time do you get up in the morning? 

Cá huair a éiríonn tú ar maidin? What time do you get up in the morning? 

Eirím de ghnáth ar a hocht. I usually get up at eight. 

Ithim mo bhricfeasta ar a naoi. I eat breakfast at nine. 


1. Freagair na ceisteanna seo: 

1. An éiríonn tú go luath ar maidin? 

2. An itheann tú bricfeasta mór ar maidin? 

3. An ólann tú tae nó caife? 

4. An nglacann tú bainne nó an ólann tú tae/caife dubh? 

5. An éisteann tú leis an raidió ar maidin? 

6. An siúlann tú nó an dtéann tú ar an bhus? 

7. An léann tú san oíche? 

8. An ndéanann tú do dhinnéar féin? 

9. An dtéann tú amach san oíche? 

10. An ólann tú fíon nó uisce beatha? 

2. Obair Ranga: Agallamh le Réaltóg 

Tá agallamh agat le réaltóg chailiúil. Conduct an interview with your partner (the famous star) 

along the lines of: 

Bia 

An itheann tú: feoil glasraí bia mara (`seafood')? 

107


bia Francach / Iodáileach / Spáinneach / Indiach / Síneach? 

Deoch 

An ólann tú: uisce fíon uisce beatha ceirtlis? 

Tobac 

leann dubh tae caife? 

An gcaitheann tú: tobac toitíní píopa? 

Ceol 

An éisteann tú le: ceol traidisiúnta ceol clasaiceach? 

snagcheol popcheol rac-cheol? 

San Oíche 

An dtéann tú go dtí: an teach tábhairne an amharclann an phictiúrlann? 

3. Put the following sentences into the present tense, then turn them into questions, and give a 

negative response: 

1. Ghlan sé an t-urlár. 

2. Bhris an páiste an fhuinneog. 

3. D’fhan sí liom. 

4. D’fhoscail muid an litir. 

5. Cheannaigh mé uisce. 

6. Chuaigh sé abhaile. 

7. Tháinig Máire linn. 

8. Thug mé leabhar dó. 

9. Chuala sí ceol. 

10. Rinne mé dearmad. 

Obair Bhaile 


1. I go to sleep at nine o’clock every night. 

2. She eats breakfast at five thirty every morning. 

3. Do you take milk? No. 

4. Do you understand his book? Yes. 

5. He doesn’t come here too often. 

6. They buy vegetables here every day. 

7. She runs two miles every day. 

8. He studies all the time. 

9. Do you play soccer? Yes. 

10. Do you eat meat? No. 

2. What do you do every day? Every weekend? Write a schedule of your activities. 

3. Imagine you’re an anthropologist doing field work on Mars. What are regular activities of the 

locals? 

108



Seanfhocail 

Déanann neart ceart. Might is right. 

Déanann sparán trom croí éadrom. A full purse makes for a light heart. 

Molann an obair an fear. The work praises its maker. 

Aithníonn ciaróg ciaróg eile. It takes one beetle to recognize another. 

Giorraíonn beirt bóthar. Company shortens the road. 

Tarraingíonn scéal scéal eile. One story draws out another. 

Bíonn an fhírinne searbh. Truth is bitter. 

Bíonn gach tosach lag. Every beginning is weak. 

Bíonn siúlach scéalach. A traveller is full of tales. 

Nuair a bhíonn an braon istigh, When a drop has been taken, 

bíonn an chiall amuigh. sense goes out the door. 

Tomhas 

Cad é a théann suas nuair a thagann an fhearthainn anuas? 

What goes up when the rain comes down? 

Rann do Pháistí 

Gugalaí-gug, mo chircín dubh, Gugalaí-gug, my little black hen, 

Suíonn sí síos is beireann sí ubh: Sits down and lays an egg: 

Ubh inné is ubh inniu, One egg yesterday and one egg today, 

Gugalaí-gug mo chircín dubh. Gugalaí-gug, my little black hen. 

(RR 4) 

109

Tic, toc an gcloiseann tú mé? 

Is mise an clog, is seanchlog mé. 

Buailim a haon is buailim a dó 

Ní chloiseann tú mé chomh luath sa ló. 

Buailim a trí, a ceathair is a cúig; 

Muintir an tí go fóill i suan. 

Buailim a sé is buailim a seacht; 

Éirigh a Róis, is réitigh an teach. 

Buailim a hocht; tá an bricfeasta réidh. 

Suígí síos is ólagaí bhur gcuid tae. 

Buailim a naoi go hard is go binn; 

Bígí ag triall ar scoil le bhur linn. 

Buailim a deich is a haon déag a chlog; 

Gach duine ag obair ag saothrú a chuid. 

Buailim a dó dhéag ag meán lae 

Fáilte an Aingil is abraigí é. 

(CC #227) 


Rann: An t-Am `Telling Time' 

110 

Tick, tock, do you hear me? 

I'm the clock – I'm an old clock. 

I strike one and I strike two 

You don't hear me so early in the day. 

I strike three, four and five 

The household is still asleep. 

I strike six and I strike seven; 

Get up, Rose, and get the house in order. 

I strike eight; breakfast is ready. 

Sit down and drink your tea. 

I strike nine, loud and melodious 

Set out for school at this time. 

I strike ten and I strike eleven 

Everyone working earning a living. 

I strike twelve at noon 

for you to recite the Angelus.

11 

CEACHT A HAON DÉAG 

FOCLÓIR 

an samhradh seo chugainn next summer 



ar ais back 

bailigh, ag bailiú collect 

cad é atá ann? U what is it? 

a choíche ever, never (future events) 

crann Nollag Christmas tree 

cuidigh le, ag cuidiú le help 

daor expensive 

de dhíth (ar dhuine) U needed (by someone) 

fiafraigh de, ag fiafraí de ask 

freagair, ag freagairt answer 

déan gar dom do me a favor 


glaoch (m) call 

go raibh míle maith agat thank you very much 

go raibh céad maith agat U thank you very much 

iarr, ag iarraidh request, want 

iarr (ar dhuine) ask (someone) 

i gceann tamaill in a while, later 

i mbliana this year 

in am in time 

inis, ag insint tell 

inteacht U some 

laethanta saoire vacation 

le déanamh to do 

níos déanaí later 

nó dhó or two 

Nollaig (f) Christmas 

ó (uaim, uait, uaidh, from (from me, from you, etc) 

uaithi, uainn, uaibh, uathu) 

roimh (romham, romhat, roimh, before (before me, before you, etc) 

roimpi, romhainn, romhaibh, rompu) 

sula before (used with verb) 

saoire (f) holiday, vacation 

tuillte earned 

úrscéal (m) novel 

111

CEACHT A HAON-DÉAG / LESSON ELEVEN 

COMHRÁ 

I ndiaidh an ranga... 

Áine: Fan bomaite, a Mháirín, tá rud inteacht agam duit. Nollaig shona duit! 

Máirín: Go raibh míle maith agat. 

Áine: Tá fáilte romhat. Ná foscail do bhronntanas roimh an Nollaig! 

Máirín: Ceart go leor, ní fhosclóidh! Agus seo bronntanas beag duitse. 

Áine: O, go raibh céad maith agat! (ag breith air) Hmm. Cad é atá ann? 

Máirín: Ní déarfaidh mé leat é sin! Caithfidh tú fanacht! 

Áine: Ceart go leor, fanfaidh mé! Go raibh maith agat arís. 

Máirín: Tá fáilte romhat. Cad é a dhéanfaidh tú ar na laethanta saoire? 

Áine: Ní dhéanfaidh mé rud ar bith. Rachaidh mé abhaile agus fanfaidh mé sa bhaile. Cuideoidh mé 

le mo thuismitheoirí; beidh go leor le déanamh againn sa teach – gheobhaidh muid crann Nollag 

agus déanfaidh muid cócaireacht. Ach beidh saoire dheas agam – íosfaidh mé bia maith, turcaí, 

cáca milis, léifidh mé úrscéal nó dhó. Ní dhéanfaidh me obair ar bith. Bainfidh mé sult as sin. 

Máirín: Bainfidh, cinnte. Tá saoire tuillte agat. 

Áine: O, an ndéanfaidh tú gar domh, a Mháirín? 

Máirín: Déanfaidh. Cad é atá de dhith ort? 

Áine: An bhfeicfidh tú Pádraigín sula n-imíonn sí? 

Máirín: Feicfidh. 

Áine: An féidir leat a bronntanas a thabhairt di? 

Máirín: Is féidir. Tabharfaidh mé di anocht é. 


§1. An Aimsir Fháistineach (The Future Tense) 

The difference between the two conjugations is more marked in the future tense than in the 

present. 

§1.1. First Conjugation Verbs 

The future tense of first conjugation verbs is formed by adding the ending -f(a)idh to the stem: 

cuir glac 

cuirfidh mé I will put glacfaidh mé I will take 

cuirfidh tú you will put glacfaidh tú you will take 

cuirfidh sé/sí he/she will put glacfaidh sé/sí he/she will take 

cuirfidh muid U /cuirfimid we will put glacfaidh muid U /glacfaimid we will take 

cuirfidh sibh you will put glacfaidh sibh you will take 

cuirfidh siad they will put glacfaidh siad they will take 

The `f' of the future tense stem is pronounced as an `h' in Ulster Irish (Ó Baoill 1996, 22), except 

112


for the future of chí `see,' as in the frequently heard parting words: 

Chífidh mé tú/thú! I'll be seeing you! 

Monosyllabic verbs in -igh lose their stem ending before adding the future ending: 

-faidh -fidh 

dóigh `burn' dófaidh léigh `read' léifidh 

báigh `drown' báfaidh nigh `wash' nífidh 

brúigh `press' brúfaidh luigh `lie' luífidh 

buaigh `win' buafaidh suigh `sit' suífidh 

§1.1B. Polysyllabic Stems 

Polysyllabic stems tend to be de-palatalized and take a broad -faidh, but there are exceptions: 

-faidh -fidh 

taispeáin `show' taispeánfaidh tiomáin `drive' tiomáinfidh 

ceiliúir `celebrate' ceiliúrfaidh 

sábháil `save' sábhálfaidh 

vótáil `vote' vótálfaidh 

§1.2. Second Conjugation Verbs 

The future tense of second-conjugation verbs is formed by adding the ending -óidh / -eoidh to 

broad / slender stems respectively. 

§1.2A. Most second-conjugation verbs end in -(a)igh, an ending which is lost in the future tense: 

ceannaigh imigh 

ceannóidh mé I will buy imeoidh mé I will leave 

ceannóidh tú you will buy imeoidh tú you will leave 

ceannóidh sé/sí he/she will buy imeoidh sé/sí he/she will leave 

ceannóimid we will buy imeoimid we will leave 

ceannóidh sibh you will buy imeoidh sibh you will leave 

ceannóidh siad they will buy imeoidh siad they will leave 

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§1.2B. Syncopated Stems 

Other second-conjugation verbs add the future ending to the stem. Often the stem is syncopated 

in the process, so that the inflected form has the same number of syllables as the stem: 

-óidh -eoidh 

codail `sleep' codlóidh imir `play' imreoidh 

foscail U òpen' fosclóidh inis `tell' inseoidh 

freagair ànswer' freagróidh 

labhair `talk' labhróidh 

múscail `wake' músclóidh 

§1.2C. Stems that Resist Syncopation 

Some few second-conjugation verbs resist syncopation, so that a disyllabic stem will produce a 

trisyllabic inflected form: 

-óidh -eoidh 

freastail àttend' freastalóidh foghlaim `learn' foghlaimeoidh 

taistil `travel' taistealóidh tarraing `pull' tarraingeoidh 

In Ulster Irish, the second conjugation future ending is disyllabic (see Ó Baoill 1996, 24). It is 

pronounced as if it were written: 

ceannóchaidh mé, tú, sé, sí, muid, sibh, siad [k'añohi] 

imeochaidh mé, tú, sé, sí, muid, sibh, siad [im'ohi] 

Negative: ní (causes séimhiú) ní chuirfidh mé 

Interrogative: an (causes urú) an ólfaidh tú 33 

Neg. int.: nach (causes urú) nach nglacfaidh tú 

Before: sula (causes urú) sula n-imeoidh mé 

Samplaí 

Cuirfidh mé an cupán ansin. I will put the cup there. 

Freagróidh sé gan mhoill. He will answer soon. 

Ní thógfaidh sé teach sa bhaile seo. He will not build a house in this town. 

Ní chodlóidh sé anseo. He won't sleep here. 

An nglanfaidh sé an teach? Will he clean the house? 

An éireoidh tú ag a seacht amárach? Will you get up at seven tomorrow? 

Nach gceannóidh tú bronntanas dó? Won't you buy a present for him? 

33 As in the present tense, the interrogative particle does not prefix `n' to verbs beginning with a vowel. 

114


§1.3. The Irregular Verbs 

The irregular verbs have the following future tense forms: 


beidh ní bheidh an mbeidh be 

feicfidh ní fheicfidh an bhfeicfidh see 

cluinfidh ní chluinfidh an gcluinfidh hear 

déanfaidh ní dhéanfaidh an ndéanfaidh do 

tabharfaidh ní thabharfaidh an dtabharfaidh give 

tiocfaidh ní thiocfaidh an dtiocfaidh come 

béarfaidh ní bhéarfaidh an mbéarfaidh catch, hold 

gheobhaidh ní bhfaighidh an bhfaighidh get, find 

íosfaidh ní íosfaidh an íosfaidh eat 

déarfaidh ní déarfaidh an ndéarfaidh say 

rachaidh ní rachaidh an rachaidh go 

§2. The Prepositions ó and roimh and their Prepositional Pronouns 

Ó `from' ROIMH `before' 

uaim from me romham before me 

uait from you romhat before you 

uaidh from him roimh before him 

uaithi from her roimpi before her 

uainn from us romhainn before us 

uaibh from you romhaibh before you 

uathu from them rompu before them 

1. Future Tense, First Conjugation 

Cuir Gaeilge air seo: 

1. I will write a letter. 

2. She will close the door. 

3. You will take a drink, won't you? 

4. Will you put the milk here? 


115

5. He won't wait for her. 

6. She will sweep the floor. 

7. I will enjoy the night. 

8. Won't they drink milk? 

9. We will listen to him. 

10. I shall run to the shop. 


2. Future Tense, Second Conjugation 

Cuir Gaeilge air seo: 

1. She will finish her homework now. 

2. We will sleep well tonight. 

3. I will open the window. 

4. Will he answer my question? 

5. Shall we tell him the good news? 

6. He will not leave his daughter. 

7. He will collect stories. (scéalta) 

8. The children will not play together. 

9. Will you buy a coat there? 

10. I will help the woman of the house. (bean an tí) 


1. I will go home later. 

2. Will they eat meat? I don't know. 

3. I'll see you tomorrow! 

4. They won't see you. 

5. Will you finish it in time? No. 

6. She'll get a great job. 

7. I'll get up at five o'clock tomorrow morning, but I won't do anything until nine. 

8. Won't they come back tomorrow? No, they'll never come back. 

9. Will he listen to me? Yes. 

10. I won't buy anything there. It's too expensive. 

11. He won't get a call from me today! 

4. Plan your winter holidays. What will you do? What presents will you give to your friends and 

family? Where will you travel? When will you return? 

5. You are planning a three-day fieldtrip. Write out a detailed plan for the participants, listing 

speakers and their transportation, speaking times, accommodation, meals, and entertainment. 

Write out your plans using the future tense. 

116



Casfhocal `Tongue Twister' 

Ní thuigfidh mise fear as Toraigh I won't understand a man from Tory (Island), 

is ní thuigfidh fear as Toraigh mé. and a man from Tory won't understand me. 

Seanfhocail 

Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí. Praise the young and they will get there. 

Béarfaidh bó éigin lao éigin lá éigin. Some cow will have some calf some day. 

Cuidigh féin leat is cuideoidh Dia leat! Help yourself and God will help you! 

Nollaig agus an Bhliain Úr (Christmas and New Year) 

Modern western Christmas customs are observed in Ireland today, including Christmas tree, 

Christmas cards and presents, and British-style Christmas dinner, with its obligatory turkey, 

brussel sprouts and Christmas crackers. Introduced from Britain, these customs are, however, of 

relatively recent vintage in Ireland. The older layer of native custom described below, which it has 

to some extent at least replaced, is more likely to reflect common medieval European tradition. 

The Holy Family, Mary, Joseph, and Jesus, were believed to walk about on earth on 

Christmas Eve, and a candle was lit in every window, often by the youngest child, to show the 

wanderers that they were welcome there: 

Bíonn soilse ar lasadh in gach aon fhuinneog in gach tigh Oíche Nollag, Oíche Lae 

Nollag, Oíche Choille, Oíche Lae Choille, Oíche Nollag Beag, agus Oíche Lae 

Nollag Beag, ar fud na bparóisteacha timpeall. Le honóir d'Ár Slánaitheoir atá gach 

éinne á dhéanamh. Bíonn suipéar maith agus dinnéar maith Lá Nollag mar onóir dó 

leis. (LSÍC, 354f) 

Lights burn in every window in every house on Christmas Eve, the night of 

Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, the night of New Year's Day, Little Christmas 

Eve, the night of Little Christmas Day in all the parishes round about. It is in 

honour of Our Saviour that everyone does it. It is in honour of him too that there is 

a good supper and a good dinner on Christmas Day and Christmas Eve. (SOCB, 

319) 

This folk belief is also reflected in literature, as in Máirtín Ó Direáin's poem Cuireadh do Mhuire 

Ìnvitation to Mary,' and in Máire Mhac an tSaoi's Oíche Nollag: 

117


Fágaidh an doras ar leathadh ina coinne, 

An Mhaighdean a thiocfaidh is a naoi ar a hucht [...] 

Luífidh Mac Dé ins an tigh 34 seo anocht. 

Leave the door ajar for them 

Our Lady who will come with her baby in her arms [...] 

The Son of God will sleep in this house tonight. 

In a shortstory by Pádraig Pearse, St Mary is offerred hospitality by a childless couple and in 

return grants her hostess's request for a child. 

Animals, too, were thought to feel the divine presence: at midnight on Christmas Eve the 

animals have the power of human speech, and ox and ass are said to go down on their knees in 

reverence. On the Eve of Epiphany (6th of January; in some areas called `little Christmas,' 

Nollaig Bheag), water was said to turn to wine, rushes to silk, and gravel to gold, in memory not 

only of the three Magi, but also of the Wedding at Cana, which was thought to have taken place 

on that day (SOCB, 318). 

Decorating the house with holly is also traditional, whether it is native or a reflection of 

English custom. Christmas mumming in Ireland is demonstrably of English origin. It is found in 

those areas in which English influence goes back longest, in the area around Dublin referred to as 

`the Pale', in Wexford, and in the Northeastern counties. Although it is well-established in those 

areas, and the English cast of characters has received some Irish additions (in some areas St 

Patrick beats his rival St George), it never was part of Irish-language tradition. 

Gaelic tradition did, however, have its own version of Christmas disguise and procession: 

On St Stephen's Day (December 26th), the wrenboys (lucht an dreoilín) went from house to 

house, dressed up and carrying a live or dead wren, and reciting poetry and collecting gifts: 

Ó mhaidean go tráthnóna bíonn lucht a dreóilín ag imeacht ó thig go tig, a's a 

dreóilín marabh acu ar bharra cleithe, agus craobh ghlas agus ribíní tímpal air. A' 

bailiú airigid a bhíonn lucht a' dreoilín. A' dul isteach sa tig dóibh, abaraid siad 

rócán an dreóilín, agus nuair a bhíonn sé ráit' aca, agus ábhar facht 35 aca, bailíonn 

siad leó ansan. 36 (LSÍC 355) 

From morning to evening the wrenboys go from house to house, with a dead wren 

on top of a staff, which has a green branch and ribbons around it. Collecting 

money is what the wrenboys do. When they enter the house they say the rime of the 

wren, and when they have said it, and got something, they go off again. (SOCB, 

319) 

34 

= teach. The oblique case form tigh (= the dative form) has taken the place of the nominative in Munster Irish. 

35 

= faighte, `gotten'. 

36 

Ó Duilearga's spelling attempts to represent Munster dialect closely; the passage contains many divergences from 

modern standard orthography. 

118

Here is a typical wrenboy rhyme: 


Dreoilín, dreoilín, rí na n-éan 

Lá Fhéile Stiofáin a ceapadh mé. 

Éirigh suas, a bhean an tí 

Caith an donacht as do chroí 

Agus tabhair cúpla pingin don dreoilín. (CC #262a) 

Wren, wren, king of the birds 

On St Stephen's Day I was trapped 

Get up, Woman of the House 

Banish evil from your heart 

And give a couple of pence to the wren. 

As at Halloween and St Brigid's Day, the ritual and disguise accommodated and sanctioned noisy 

and unruly behaviour, especially if the procession included a hobby-horse, the láir bhán. The 

one-sided drum now ubiquitously associated with the traditional music seisiún, the bodhrán, was 

originally only associated with the wrenboy procession (Danaher 1977, 127). Some of the wren 

rhymes are quite aggressive: 

Dreoilín, dreoilín, cois chlaí an chloch 

Chaith me mo mhaide leis, bhris mé a chos. 

Éirigh i do shuí, a bhean an tí, 

Agus tabhair dúinn deoch 

Nó sáfaidh mé an dreoilín siar i do chorp! (LSÍC 355) 

The wren, the wren, at the foot of the stone wall 

I threw my stick at him, I broke his leg. 

Get up, woman of the house, 

And give us a drink, 

Or I will stuff the wren down your throat! (SOCB, 319) 

New Year's, called Lá Coille (from Latin `Calends Day') or Lá Cinn Bhliana `Day of the Year's 

End' was a comparatively minor holiday. The custom of persuading one's neighbours to have a 

drink, though much less widespread than in Gaelic Scotland, is also attested in Ireland (SOCB, 

318). The formula Go mbeirimid beo ar an am seo arís `May we be alive this time next year' was 

said on New Year's Eve. As on Christmas Day itself, everyone, even the poorest members of the 

community, were supposed to get a good meal: 

Tugtar Oíche na Coda Móire ar Oíche Choille. Siud é an focal a bhíonn ar siúl ag na 

daoine an oíche sin: 

`Corcán mór go mbuailimid síos é 

Go n-ithimid ár ndóthain 

119


Agus is cuma cé dhíolfaidh!' 

An té ná híosfadh a dhóthain an oíche sin, ní íosfadh sé go ceann bliana eile é. 

(LSÍC, 353) 

Oíche Choille is called `the Night of the Big Meal.' This is the saying the people 

have about that night: 

À big pot let us put down 

That we may eat our fill 

No matter who pays for it!' 

Whoever did not eat his fill that night, would not eat it for another year. (SOCB, 

318) 

An eol duit, a Mhuire, 

Cá rachair i mbliana 

Ag iarradh foscaidh 

Do do Leanbh Naofa 

Tráth a bhfuil gach doras 

Dúnta ina éadan 

Ag fuath is uabhar 

An chine dhaonna? 

Deonaigh glacadh 

Le cuireadh uaimse 

Go hoileán mara 

San Iarthar cianda: 

Beidh coinnle geala 

I ngach fuinneog lasta 

Is tine mhóna 

Ar theallach adhainte. 

Dán: Cuireadh do Mhuire Ìnvitation to Mary' 

le Máirtín Ó Díreain (as Dánta Aniar, 1943) 

Nollaig 1942 

120 

Do you know, Mary, 

Where you will go this year 

Looking for shelter 

For your holy child 

When every door 

Is closed in His face 

By the hate and the pride 

Of the human race? 

Deign to accept 

My invitation 

To an island in the sea 

In the remote West: 

Bright candles 

Will shine in every window 

And a turf fire 

On the hearth.

Oíche chiúin, oíche mhic Dé 

Cách ina suan, dís araon, 

Dís is dílse ag faire le spéis 

Naíon beag gnaoigheal 

ceananntais caomh 

Críost ina chodladh go séimh 

Críost ina chodladh go séimh. 

Oíche chiúin, oíche mhic Dé 

Aoirí ar dtús chuala an scéal 

Allelúia aingeal ag glaoch 

Cantain suairc i ngar is i gcéin 

Críost an slánaitheoir féin 

Críost an slánaitheoir féin. 

Dia do bheatha a Naí anocht 

A rugadh insa stábla bocht 

Go ciúin gan chaoi i do luascadh a luí 

Tá do mháithrín le do thaobhsa. 

Anseo ina luí sa mhainséirín 

I gcró chúng an asailín 

Gean is grá ó Bheithilín 

Ag cur síocháin i gcroí gach éinne. 

Na haingle insna Flaithis thuas 

Na haoirí ag triall ó shliabh anuas 

Ag neosadh dúinn gur rugadh Críost 

Ag tabhairt féirín uainn go léir dhuit. 

Dia do bheatha a Naí anocht 

A rugadh insa stábla bocht 

Go ciúin gan chaoi i do luascadh a luí 

Tá do mháithrín le do thaobhsa. 


Amhráin Nollag 

Oíche Chiúin `Silent Night' 

121 

Silent Night, night of God's son 

Everyone's asleep, except for one couple 

The most faithful couple watching with 

affection 

Over a small beautiful dear fair child: 

Christ, calmly asleep 

Christ, calmly asleep. 

Silent night, night of God's son. 

Shepherds first heard the tale 

The angels' calling `Halleluya' 

Lovely chanting near and far. 

Christ the saviour himself 

Christ the saviour himself. 

Carúl na Nollag À Christmas Carol' 

God be with you tonight, little one 

Who was born in the poor stable 

Your mother's by your side, rocking you 

quietly to sleep without tears. 

Lying here in the little manger 

In the donkey's narrow shed 

Affection and love from Bethlehem 

Is putting peace in everyone's heart. 

The angels in heaven above 

The shepherds coming down the hill 

Telling us that Christ is born 

And gringing gifts from us all. 

God be with you tonight, little one 

Who was born in the poor stable 

Your mother's by your side, rocking you 

quietly to sleep without tears.


Beannachtaí na Nollag – Christmas Greetings 

Nollaig shona duit Merry Christmas 

Nollaig mhaith chugat Merry Christmas 

Nollaig faoi shéan is faoi shonas duit A prosperous and happy Christmas to you 

Beannachtaí na Nollag / na hAthbhliana Christmas / New Year's Greetings 

Athbhliain faoi mhaise duit Happy New Year 

Foclóirín Beag na Nollag 

crann Nollag Christmas tree 

coinneal, pl coinnle candle 

lampaí draíochta tree lights (`magic lamps') 

cártaí Nollag Christmas cards 

siopadóireacht na Nollag Christmas shopping 

bronntanas present 

Aifreann na Nollag Christmas mass, midnight mass 

ag dul chuig an aifreann going to mass 

máinséar crèche (belen) 

pleascóga Nollag Christmas crackers 

hataí páipéir paper hats 

Dadaí na Nollag / San Nioclás Father Christmas / Santa Claus 

Dinnéar Lá Nollag Christmas Dinner 

cóilis cauliflower 

bachlóga Bhruiséile Brussels sprouts 

tornapaí turnip 

turcaí turkey 

toirtín úll apple pie 

traidhfil trifle 

císte Nollag, maróg Nollag British style Christmas pudding 

uisce beatha whisky 

122


SÚIL SIAR (REVISION): CEACHT 8 – CEACHT 11 



tell first one person, then two, to listen, to clean the house, to get up, to leave, to buy coffee, to 

open the door, to speak Irish, to sit down, to be quiet, to come here, and to go there (8.1). 

now tell them NOT to do any of the above-mentioned (8.1). 

address the following people: Cáit, Donncha, Pádraigín, Seán, Séamus, Máire (8.2). 

know at least six different terms of endearment to address your true love (8.2.1). 

say `give me a kiss, NN [insert personal name], love of my heart' (8.2.1). 

address a letter to NN conveying similar sentiments, and closing with appropriate greetings 

(8.2.3). 

say `to me, to you, to him, to her, to us, to you, to them' (8.3). 

say `from me, from you, from him, from her, from us, from you, from them' (8.3). 

say `give me the book'; `take off your hat'; `put on your coat'; `buy me an ice cream'; `tell me' to 

first one person, then two (8.1/8.3) 

tell first one person, then two, to come in; go out; go downstairs; come upstairs; sit down and 

get up again (8.4). 

say Ì got up, I washed myself, I put on my trousers, I ate my breakfast, I ran outside, I got the 

bus, I went to university, I came into the classroom, I sat down, I listened to the teacher, I fell 

asleep (9.1). 

now say that you didn't do any of the above (9.1). 

now ask Síle whether she did any of the above yesterday (9.1). 

say the numbers from 1-10 (9.2). 

say `1 + 1 = 2; 8 - 2 = 6' (9.1.1). 

say your telephone number (9.1.2). 

count Fionn Mac Cumhaill's 10 cats (one cat, two cats, three cats etc; 9.2.2) 

say that you went to a concert; to the doctor; to your sister's; to Dublin; to Alaska; to France; to 

the library (9.3). 

say what you do every day (10.1). 

ask Seán whether he does any of these things; as it turns out, he doesn't: report what he doesn't 

do (10.1.3). 

say Ì am (habitually), you are (habitually), he is (habitually), etc (10.2). 

say what time it is (10.3). 

describe what you will do tomorrow. 

say Ì will clean; I will drink; I will buy; I will leave; I will sleep' (11.1). 

say that you will not, in fact, do the above (11.1). 

say `from me, from you, from him, from her, from us, from you, from them' (11.2). 

123

APPENDIX 1 

CÚRSAÍ CANÚNA 

ULSTER IRISH MUNSTER AND/OR CONNACHT IRISH 

bocsa bosca box 

cad é (also spelt caidé, goidé) cad what 

fosta freisin also 

muidinne sinne we/us (emphatic form) 

ruball eireaball tail 

tábla bord table 

The Copula 

In some dialects of Ulster Irish, the distinctive negative form cha/chan is used rather than ní, not 

only in the context of the copula, but as the negative particle with any verb. Cha/chan is the 

regular negative form in Scottish Gaelic, and its occurence in Ulster Irish has sparked a scholarly 

controversy; should we regard the use of cha in Ulster Irish as a relatively recent import from 

Scotland, as T. F. O'Rahilly claimed in Irish Dialects Past and Present, or as a native 

development from Old Irish nicon, parallel to its development in Scottish Gaelic? 37 

Examples of cha/chan as negative copula: 

Chan geal atá sé ach liath. It is not white but gray. 

Cha m(h)aith liom é. I don’t like it. 


madadh madra dog 

1 

2 

37 I am grateful to Bettina Kimpton for her research on the issue of cha versus ní. See T.F. O Rahilly, Irish 

Dialects Past and Present (Dublin 1932); Heinrich Wagner, Linguistic Atlas and Survey of Irish Dialects (Dublin, 

1958-69) and “Iarfhocal ar Ní agus Cha sa Ghaeilge,” Féilscríbhinn Thomáis de Bhaldraithe, ed. S. Watson 

(Dublin 1986), 1-10; Breandán Ó Buachalla, “Notaí ar Ghaeilge an Tuaiscirt,” Éigse 16 (1976), 285-315, and “Ní 

and Cha in Ulster Irish,” Ériu 28 (1977), 92-141; Cathair Ó Dochartaigh, “Cha and Ní in the Irish of Ulster,” Éigse 

16 (1976), 317-36; A.J. Hughes, “Gaeilge Uladh,” in Stair na Gaeilge, ed. K. McCone et al (1994), 614-18, and 

“Ulster Irish Char as a reflex of Old Irish Nicon Ro rather than a Scottish Import,” in Miscellanea Celtica in 

Memoriam Heinrich Wagner, ed. S. Mac Mathúna and A. Ó Corráin (Uppsala 1997). 

124

The Prepositional Pronoun of le 

A number of the prepositional pronouns have slightly different forms in Donegal Irish; the 3 sg f 

and 3 plu in particular tend to have a different form: 

3 sg f 

léithe = léi with her 

3 plu 

leo and leofa = leo with them 

3 

Identification Copula 

In the context of the copula, the phenomenon of the proleptic (i.e. anticipatory) or the echoing 

pronoun is a relatively innovative feature in Irish, and there is some dialect variation in its use. In 

Donegal Irish, the pronoun tends to be used more sparingly than elsewhere; e.g. it is not used 

with the demonstrative pronouns sin and seo: 


Seo an peann. Seo é an peann. 

Sin an fear. Sin é an fear. 

There is much variation between dialects in their use of interrogative pronouns, as illustrated e.g. 

by the interrogatives `what' and `how': 


cad é / caidé cad what 

cad é mar cén chaoi / conas how 

4 

Dialectal variation is therefore particularly noticeable in interrogative idioms. Thus `how are 

you?' is expressed as cad é mar atá tú? in Donegal Irish, cén chaoi bhfuil tú? in Connemara, and 

conas atá tú? in Kerry. If you ask for someone's name you say c’ainm atá ort? / Cad é an t-ainm 

atá ort? in Donegal; elsewhere, you will hear cad is ainm duit? 

In some cases, semantic dialect variation is more a question of preference rather than exclusive 

use. Thus, in Donegal Irish, gairid is the preferred word for `short', rather than gearr, and doiligh 

rather than deacair is used for `difficult.' 

The Substantive Verb 

In some Ulster dialects, níl can be expressed as chan fhuil: 

An bhfuil tú tinn? - Chan fhuil. Are you sick? - No. 

125

CÚRSAÍ CANÚNA: NOTES ON DIALECT VARIATION 

In some areas in which cha is less commonly used, eg. SW Donegal, chan fhuil can express an 

emphatic negative response: 

Níl tú tinn, an bhfuil? - O, chan fhuil. You aren't sick, are you? - No, I'm not. 

The Particle go 

In Donegal Irish, the particle go is used much less often in this context, in Connacht and Munster 

it is obligatory: 

Tá sé deas. It is nice. 

Tá sé go deas. It is nice. 


druidte dúnta closed 

foscailte oscailte open 

ag cluinstin ag cloisteáil /ag cluinstin hearing 

Cluinstin (which is also found elsewhere in Irieland) is used in Ulster rather than cloisteáil. Note 

that amharc is pronounced [ank] in some parts of western Donegal; elsewhere it is pronounced 

[ork]. 


cad chuige cén fáth why 

'achan (gach aon) chuile (gach uile) every 

5 

6 

The Substantive Verb 

In areas where the negative particle cha is used rather than ní, the negative of the past tense of the 

substantive verb is cha raibh: 

An raibh tú ann aréir? - Cha raibh. Where you there last night? - No. 

Initial Mutations of the Noun in the Dative Case 

In Ulster Irish, all prepositions followed by the definite article cause lenition of the noun in the 

dative. This represents a drastic simplification of a historically complex situation, and the 

southern dialects preserve some of this historical complexity. In Connacht Irish, prepositions 

followed by the article cause eclipsis, except do and de, which cause lenition. The situation in 

126


Munster Irish is similar, with most prepositions causing eclipsis, and the prepositions do, de, 

and sa causing lenition. 

The Zero Copula and the Prepositional Pronoun i 

Note that the alternative copula construction fear deas atá ann (rather than is fear deas é) has 

become the preferred way of expressing a classification sentence and is extremely common: 

Lá deas atá ann. Nice day today. 

Múinteoir atá ionam. I'm a teacher. 


ábalta in ann able 

druid, ag drud dún, ag dúnadh close 

foscail, ag foscladh oscail, ag oscailt open 

ag tuigbheáil ag tuiscint understand 

goitse (gabh anseo) tar anseo come here 

7 

8 

The Prepositional Pronouns of de and do 

In Connacht and Munster Irish, the distinction between the pronominal forms of the 

prepositions do and de is strictly maintained. In some dialects of Donegal Irish, particularly 

South Donegal (Teelin) it is also maintained; Hughes gives the following forms for de (1994, 658): 

MUNSTER AND/OR CONNACHT IRISH 

Sg 1 díom díom 

2 díod díot 

3m de de 

3f díthe di 

Pl 1 dínn dínn 

2 d(h)íbh díbh 

3 díofa díobh 

Note the following Donegal forms of do (Hughes 1994, 658; Ó Baoill 1996, 95): 

Sg 1 domh and dom dom to me 

3f daoithe di to her 

Pl 3 daofa, dófa dóibh to them 


9 

127


ar dóigh ar fheabhas great, excellent 

barraíocht an iomarca too much 

Cha and the Past Tense Verb 

In the past tense, the negative particle cha becomes char: 

char chríochnaigh mé I didn’t finish 

char sheinn sé He didn’t play (a musical instrument) 

char ith mé I didn’t eat 

The Past Tense: Irregular Verbs 

The following variant forms of the irregular verbs are found in Ulster Irish: 

an/ar ní/níor cha(r) 

déan `do': an dtearn ní thearn cha dtearn 

tabhair `give': an dtug ní thug cha dtug 

tar `come': an dtáinig ní tháinig cha dtáinig 

téigh `go': an dteachaigh ní theachaigh cha dteachaigh 

abair `say' ar dhúirt níor dhúirt char dhúirt 

feic `see': an bhfaca ní fhaca chan fhaca 

cluin `hear': ar chuala níor chuala char chuala 

faigh `get': an bhfuair ní bhfuair chan fhuair 

The Prepositional Pronoun of chuig 

The preposition chuig `to' is pronounced [uig] or [eig]; in the pronominal forms, the initial `ch' is 

reduced to a [h], and the medial `g' is often elided in the 1 and 2 sg (Hughes 1994, 658): 

Sg Pl 

1 hogem / hu:m hogiN 

2 hogad / hu:d hogif 

3 heg'e hoku 

he'ki 

Telling the Time 


bomaite nóiméad minute 

i ndiaidh tar éis after 

tá sé trí bhomaite i ndiaidh a dó tá sé trí nóiméad tar éis a dó it's 2.03 

go dtí chun to 

tá sé trí bhomaite go dtí a dó tá sé trí nóiméad chun a dó it's 1.57 

10 

Cha and the Present Tense Verb 

cha bhíonn sé He isn’t (habitually) 

chan fheicim I don’t see 

128


cha chluineann sé He doesn’t hear 

chífidh mé thú [t'ifi] feicfidh mé thú see you later 

inteacht éigin some, a certain 

tá sé de dhíth orm tá sé uaim I need it 

11 

The Future Tense 

In Ulster Irish, the `f' in the future tense ending -f(a)idh is regularly pronounced [h], except in 

Teelin (On the development -f- -> [h] see O'Rahilly Irish Dialects Past and Present (1932, 222), 

Ó Buachalla `The f-future in Modern Irish: a re-assessment,' Proceedings of the Royal Irish 

Academy 85 C (1985, 1-36), Ó Dochartaigh Dialects of Ulster Irish (1987, 166-8) and Hughes 

`Gaeilge Uladh' (1994, 644). A notable exception is the idiom chífidh mé t(h)ú, where it is 

generally pronounced [f] (Hughes 1994, 644 and Ó Baoill 1996, 47). The situation in other 

dialects is more complex; the `f' is generally pronounced [f] in Munster Irish; it is sometimes 

pronounced [f] in Connacht. 

In dialects of Ulster Irish where cha is used, the negative future is expressed by cha plus the 

present tense: 

chan fheicim I will not see. 

cha dtéid sé He will not go. 

The Prepositional Pronouns of ó and roimh 

The 3 plu of the preposition ó has the -fa ending we are familiar with from leofa and daofa: 

uafa uathu from them 

In the 3 sg f and 3 plu of the preposition roimh, the `m' is dropped in Donegal Irish: 

3 sg f 

roipi (also róithe) roimpi before her 

3 plu 

ropu rompu before them 

Further Reading on Ulster Irish 

Hughes, Art. 1994. “Gaeilge Uladh,” in Stair na Gaeilge, ed. Kim McCone et al, 611-660. 

Mac Congáil, Nollaig. 1983. Scríbhneoirí Thír Chonaill. 

Mac Maoláin, Seán. 1992. Cora Cainte as Tír Chonaill. Baile Átha Cliath. 

Ó Baoill, Dónall. 1996. An Teanga Bheo: Gaeilge Uladh (Institiúid Teangeolaíochta Éireann). 

129


Ó Corráin, A. 1989. A Concordance of Idiomatic Expressions in the Writings of Seamus Ó 

Grianna. Belfast. 

Ó Dochartaigh, Cathair. 1987. Dialects of Ulster Irish. Belfast. 

Ó Grianna, Séamus [`Máire']. 1976. Caisleáin Óir. Baile Átha Cliath. [available on tape, read by 

Áine Nic Giolla Bhríde, Raidió na Gaeltachta, as part of the Focal ar Fhocal series; a study guide 

by Pól de Bhál, Caisleáin Óir (Nótaí) helps with the idioms.] 

Ó Searcaigh, Cathal. 1993. An Bealach 'na Bhaile / Homecoming. Cló Iar-Chonnachta [a selection 

from the work can be found on a cassette of the same title, issued by Cló Iar-Chonnachta in 

1991]. 

130

Vowels 

a 

teach house 

fear man 

aisteach strange 

a: 

Seán John 

níos fearr better 

ama time (Gen.) 

ε 

eile other 

seic check 

meigeall goatee 

ε: 

Séamus James 

bréag lie 

féar grass 

i 

sin that 

fios knowledge 

cistin kitchen 

APPENDIX 2 

PHONETIC EXERCISES (DONEGAL IRISH) 

131 

Ψ 

madadh dog 

tamall while 

mac son 

Ψ: 

tá is 

barr top 

tharla happened 

e 

Dé day 

beir catch 

te hot 

e: 

Éire Ireland 

sé he 

maighdean maiden 

i: 

mín smooth 


Síle Sheila

o 

doras door 

ocht eight 

ocras hunger 

o: 

srón nose 

comhrá conversation 

leabhar book 

bóthar road 

[: 

ór gold 

go deo forever 

ag ól drinking 

] 

muc pig 

thug gave 

cur putting 

u 

guth voice 

briseadh breaking 

gasúr boy 

u: 

cú hound 

údar author 

scrúdú exam 

Diphthongs 

ia 

Dia God 

siad they 

liath grey 

ua 

suas up 

PHONETIC EXERCISES 

132

trua pity 

fuar cold 

au 

Eabhrais Hebrew 

cadhla coil, rope 

cabhsa path 

Consonants 

p 

Pádraig Patrick 

póg kiss 

stop stop, stay 

cupa cup 

b 

báire match, contest 

bos palm of hand 

gob beak, mouth 

i bpáirc in a field 

m 

Máire Mary 

am time 

i mbróg in a shoe 

f 

fan wait! 

phós married 

scríofa written 

w 

a Mháire o Mary 

bhuail hit 

an bhfuil? is there? 


133 

p' 

píosa piece 

corp body 

cipín matches 

b' 

béic scream 

bris break 

ribe hair of strand 

i bpian in pain 

t 

tá is 

alt article 

cat cat

m' 

mire merriment 

imirt playing 

im butter 

i mbríste in trousers 

f' 

fear man 

feoil meat 

feic see! 

caife coffee 

v' 

bhí was 

an bhfeiceann tú? do you see? 

bhris broke 

seilbh property 

t' 

te hot 

caint talk 

ite eaten 

d 

do to, for 

ard high 

fada long 

an dtugann do (you) take? 

n 

nóta note 

náire shame 

canna can 

rann poem 

ñ 

neamart neglect 

inné yesterday 

roinn department 

an ndéanfaidh?will (you) do? 


134 

d' 

deas nice 

in airde up high 

séid blow 

an dtéann? do (you) go? 

n' 

mo náire my shame 

ceannach buying 

bean woman 

anuraidh last year 

h 

thuas up above 

mhothaigh sensed 

shásaigh satisfied

sheas stood 

π 

dhá two 

mo dhorn my fist 

dhruid closed 

sa ghluaisteán in the car 

k 

carr car 

mac son 

acu at them 

ñ' 

sin that 

gloine glass 

nigh mé I washed 

y 

gheall promised 

mo dheirfiúr my sister 

faoi gheasa under a spell 

róghlic too smart 

k' 

ceol music 

ciúin quiet 

minic often 

cic kick 

ng 

rang class 

i ngluaisteán in a car 

i ngan fhios in ignorance 

an ngoideann do (you) steal? 


135 

x 

chuala heard 

mo chóta my coat 

amach out 

a chara o friend 

ng' 

rince dancing 

in greim in the grip 

i ngleann in a glen 

inghreimim I persecute 

x' 

chíor combed 

chlis jumped, started 

cluiche game 

an cheist the question

s 

sonas happiness 

suí sitting 

suas up 

gasúr boy 

l 

lá day 

urlár floor 

callán noise, clamour 

geall promise 

L (l') 

caill lose 

cailleach old woman 

r 

rud thing 

carr car 

seomra room 

rith run 

g 

gasta quick 

snag a catch, halt 

ar gcara our friend 

s' 

sín stretch out! 

leis with him 

briseadh breaking 

lenited l 

mo lá my day 

labhair mé I talked 


136 

mála bag 

geal bright 

lenited L (l') 

léigh mé I read 

ball member 

cailín girl 

r' 

Máire Mary 

obair work 

uimhir number 

Doire Derry 

g' 

gé goose 

aige at him 

lig let 

i gceann in a head

BIBLIOGRAPHY 

An Gúm. 1994. Foclóir Scoile. Baile Átha Cliath. 

The Christian Brothers. 1980. New Irish Grammar. Dublin. 

Comhar na Múinteoirí Gaeilge. 1999. Teanga Bheo. Baile Átha Cliath. Collection of poetry 

accompanied by audio cassettes [Teanga Bheo]. 

Cussen, Cliodna. 1987. Inniu an Luan: Rainn Bheaga ón mBéaloideas. Coiscéim. 

Danaher, Kevin. 1977. `Calendar Customs and Festival Practices in Ireland', Literature and 

Folk Culture: Ireland and Newfoundland, ed. A. Feder and B. Schrank. St John's, 

Newfoundland, 111-128. 

de Bhaldraithe, Tomás. 1959. English - Irish Dictionary. Dublin. 

Hughes, Art. 1994. “Gaeilge Uladh,” in Stair na Gaeilge, ed. Kim McCone et al, 611-660. 

Mac Dhonnagáin, Tadhg. 2004. Imíonn an tAm: Rogha Amhrán (CD). An Spidéal. 

Mac Gabhann, Risteard. 1991. Cúrsa Closamhairc Gaeilge. Belfast. [Cúrsa Closamhairc] 

Ní Uallacháin, Pádraigín, and Garry Ó Briain. 1994. A Stór is a Stóirín. Báile Atha Cliath 

[booklet and tape set]. 

Ó Baoill, Dónall. 1996. An Teanga Bheo: Gaeilge Uladh. Institiúid Teangeolaíochta Éireann. 

Ó Cathasaigh, Roibeard, et al. 1998. Rabhlaí Rabhlaí: Rogha Rannta Traidisiúnta don Aos 

Óg (book and CD). Baile Átha Cliath. [RR] 

Ó Dochartaigh, Cathair. 1987. Dialects of Ulster Irish. Belfast. 

Ó Dónaill, Niall, ed. 1977. Foclóir Gaeilge - Béarla. Dublin. 

Ó Duilearga, Séamas. 1977. Leabhar Sheáin Uí Chonaill. Dublin (=Seán Ó Conaill's Book, 

tr. Máire MacNeill, Dublin 1981). [LSIC] 

Ó Murchú, Helen and Máirtín. 1999. Irish: Facing the Future / An Ghaeilge: a haghaidh 

roimpi. published by European Bureau for Lesser Used Languages. Dublin. 

O'Rahilly, Thomas F. 1972. Irish Dialects Past and Present. Dublin. 

Ó Siadhail, Mícheál. 1989. Modern Irish: Grammatical Structure and Dialectal Variation. 

137

Cambridge. 

Ó Tuama, Seán and Thomas Kinsella. 1981. An Duanaire 1600-1800: Poems of the 

Dispossessed. Mountrath, Portlaoise. [Duanaire] 

Oifig an tSoláthair. Gramadach na Gaeilge agus Litriú na Gaeilge: An Caighdeán Oifigiúil. 

1958. Baile Átha Cliath. 

Wagner, Heinrich. 1958-69. Linguistic Atlas and Survey of Irish Dialects. 4. vols. Dublin 

Institute for Advanced Studies. 

Williams, Nicholas, ed. 1988. Cniogaide Cnagaide: Rainn Traidisiúnta do Pháistí. Baile Átha 

Cliath. [CC] 

138

FOCLÓIR GAEILGE-BÉARLA 38 

A 

a (before a person's name etc) vocative marker 

a (before a noun) 3rd person poss. pronoun 

a (before a verbal noun) to 

abair say 

ábalta U able 

ábhar (m) subject 

ach but; (with negative) only 

'achan U (

ar chúl in the back 

ar fad complete(ly), entire(ly) 

arán (m) bread 

árasán (m) apartment 

ard tall 

aréir last night 

arís again 

arú aréir night before last 

as from 

athair (m) father 

athair (m) mór grandfather 

áthas (m) happiness 

B 

Baile Átha Cliath Dublin 

baile (m) village 

baile (m) mór, sa bhaile mhór town, in town 

abhaile, 'na bhaile U (< chun an bhaile) home, homewards 

as baile out of town 


bain sult as, ag baint suilt as enjoy 

bainisteoir (m) manager 

bainne (m) milk 

bairín breac (m) barmbrack (fruit loaf) 

bán white 


barr (m) top 

barraíocht U too much 

beag small 

béal (m) mouth 

bean (f) woman 

bean (f) chéile wife 

beannacht (f) blessing, greeting 

beannachtaí (pl) greetings 


beirt two people 

b'fhéidir maybe 

bheith being (substantive verb) 

bhuel well 

bí be 

bia (m) food 

bialann (f) restaurant 

blasta delicious 

bláth (m) flower 

140

liain (f) year 

an bhliain seo chugainn next year 

bó (f) cow 

bocht poor 

bocsa U bruscair waste paper basket 

bolg (m) stomach 

bomaite (m) minute 

bóthar (m) road 

breá lovely 

an Bhreatain Bheag (f) Wales 

an Bhreatain Mhór (f) Britain 

Breatnach (n and adj) Welsh person or thing 

Breatnais (f) Welsh language 

bricfeasta (m) breakfast 

briosca (m), brioscaí (pl) cookie 

Briotanach (n and adj) Briton, British 

an Bhriotáin (f) Brittany 

Briotánach (n and adj) Breton 

Briotáinis (f) Breton language 

bris, ag briseadh break 

bris isteach break into 

briste broken 

bríste (m), pl: brístí pants 

bróg (f) shoe 

brón (m) sorrow 

bronntanas (m) present 

brú (m) hostel 

buachaill (m), buachaillí (pl) boy, lad 

buail, ag bualadh strike, hit 

buail le, ag bualadh le meet 

buartha worried 

buí yellow 

buíochas (m) thanks 

buíochas le Dia! thank God! 

bun (m) bottom, basis 

bunchéimeach undergraduate 

bus (m) bus 

C 

cá where? 

cad chuige why? 

cad é U / caidé U what? 

caife (m) coffee, café 

cailc (f) chalk 

141

cailín (m), cailíní (pl) girl 

caint (f) talk (n) 

ag caint faoi talking about 

caith, ag caitheamh spend, consume, throw 

caithfidh must 

cantalach grumpy 

caora (f) sheep 

capall (m) horse 

cara (m) friend 

carr (m) car 

carraig (f) rock 

cas ar a chéile meet each other 

cat (m) cat 

cathair (f) city 

cathaoir (f) chair 

cé who? 

ceann (m) head 

an ceann seo (m) this one 

céanna same 

ceannaigh, ag ceannach buy 

ceantar (m) area 

ceap, ag ceapadh think, invent 

ceapaire (m) sandwich 

cearc (f) chicken 

ceart right, proper 

ceart go leor right enough, allright 

ceathair four 

ceathrú quarter 

ceol (m) music 

ceol (m) clasaiceach classical music 

ceol (m) traidisiúnta traditional music 

ceolchoirm (f) concert 


a chlog o'clock 

chomh le as…as (in comparison) 

chomh maith as well 

chuig to 

cileagram kilogram, 

cineál (m) kind, sort 

cineálta kind (adj) 

cinnte certain 

cionn is go because 

císte (m) cake 

cistin (f) kitchen 

142

ciúin quiet 

clann (f) children 

clár dubh (m) blackboard 

cliste intelligent, clever 

cluas (f) ear 


cluiche na bhfochupán saucer game 

cluin, ag cluinstin hear 

cnó (m), pl cnónna nut, nuts 


ag cócaireacht cooking 

codladh (m) sleep 

cóipleabhar (m) notebook 

cóisir (f) party 

col ceathrair (m), pl col ceathracha cousin 

cónaí (m) home 

cos (f) foot 

cosúil, is cosúil likely, it is likely 

cóta (m) coat 

crann (m) tree 

críochnaigh, ag críochnú finish 


croí (m) heart, darling 

cuid (f) portion 

cuid (f) mhór a lot 

cúig five 

is cuimhin le remember 

cuir, ag cur put 

cuisneoir (m) fridge 

is cuma liom I don't mind, I don't care 

cúpla a couple 

ag cur báistí raining 

ag cur sneachta snowing 

cúrsa, pl cúrsaí (m) course 

D 

dá if (in conditional sentence) 

ag damhsa dancing 

daoine beaga/maithe the fairies 

dath (m), pl dathanna colour 

dathúil handsome, pretty 

de from 

de ghnáth usually 

deacair difficult 

143

déan, ag déanamh do 

déan deifir hurry up 

déan dearmad (ar rud) forget (something) 

ag déanamh staidéir ar studying 

déanta done 

dearg red 

deartháir (m) brother 

deas nice 

dea-scéala good news 

deich ten 

deifir (f) hurry 

deireadh (m) seachtaine weekend 

deirfiúr (f) sister 

deoch (f) drink 

dhá, an dá two (adj) 

dia (m) god 

Dia duit Hello (`God to you') 

Dia is Muire duit (response) Hello (`God and Mary to you') 

dinnéar (m) dinner 

ag díol selling 

díomá (f) disappointment 

dlíodóir (m) lawyer 

do (+ lenition) to, for 

dó two (number) 


dóite burned 

donn brown 

doras (m) door 

dorcha dark 

dráma (m) drama 

droch- (prefix) bad 

drochscéal (m) bad news 

druid, ag druidim U close 


dubh black 

dubh dóite sick and tired 

duine (m) person, man 

dúiseacht (f) waking state 

duit to you (sg) 

ag dul going 

dul ag iascaireacht go fishing 

E 

é, eisean he 

144

eagla (f) fear 

éan (m) bird 

earrach (m) spring 

eile other 

Eilvéis, an (f) Switzerland 

Éire (f) Ireland 

Éireannach Irish person or thing 

éirigh, ag éirí rise, get up, become 

éiríonn le (impersonal) succeed in 

éist, ag éisteacht (le) listen (to) 

eitleán (m) plane 

eolas (m) knowledge 

F 

fada long 

fadhb (f) problem 

faigh, ag fáil get 

fáilte romhat! welcome! 

tá fáilte romhat you're welcome 

falsa lazy 

fan, ag fanacht (le) wait (for) 

faoi (+ lenition) about, under 

faoin tuath in the country side 

farraige (f) sea 

fear (m) man 

fear (m) céile husband 

féar (m) grass 

fearg (f) anger 

fearr (comparative of maith) better 

feic, ag feiceáil see 

is féidir liom I am able, I can 

feirm (f) farm 


feith, ag feitheamh wait, expect 

feoil (f) meat 

fidil (f) fiddle 

fíon (m) wine 

fionn blond 

fios (m) knowledge 

fliuch wet 

foghlaim, ag foghlaim learning 

fómhar (m) fall 

foscail U open 

foscailte U open 

145

fosta U also 

an Fhrainc (f) France 

Fraincis (f) French 

freastálaí (m) attendant, waiter 

fuar cold 

fuath (m) hate 

fuinneog (f) window 

G 

gach every 

an Ghaeilge (f) Irish language 

Gaeilge na hAlban (f) Scots Gaelic 

gaineamh (m) sand 

ag gáire laughing 

gairid short 

gan without 


gaoth (f) wind 

gasúr (m) small boy 

geal bright 

gealach (f) moon 

geansaí (m) pullover (sweater) 

gearán (m) complaint 

an Ghearmáin (f) Germany 

Gearmáineach (n and adj) German 

Gearmáinis (f) German 

geimhreadh (m) winter 

glac, ag glacadh take 

glantóir (m) duster 

glan clean (adj) 

glan, ag glanadh clean (vb) 

glao (m); cuir glao ar X call; call X (on the phone) 

glas green (as in vegetation 

glasraí vegetables 

gléasta dressed 

gloine (f) glass 

glúin (f) knee, generation 

gluaisteán (m) car 

gnó (m) business 

gnóthach, gnóitheach U busy 

go (prep.; prefixes `h' to vowel) to 

go (before adj) adverbial marker 

go hannamh seldom 

go fóill yet 

146

go minic often 

go raibh maith agat thank you 

go raibh céad/míle maith agat thank you very much 

go dtí to, up to, until 

gorm blue 

goid, ag goid steal 

grá (m) love 

grian (f) sun 


gúna (m) dress 

H 

hata (m) hat 

I 

i (+ eclipsis) in 

í, ise she 

i m'aonar by myself 

i mbun in charge of 

i gceann within 

i gceann tamaill in a little while 

i gcónaí always 


iad, iadsan they 

iarchéimeach postgraduate 

iarsmalann (f) museum 

idir between 

imigh, ag imeacht leave 

imir, ag imirt play (a sport) 

imní (f) anxiety, worry 

in aice near 

Indiach Indian (noun or adjective) 

iníon (f) daughter 

inné yesterday 

inniu today 

Iodáileach Italian (noun or adjective) 

Iodáilis (f) Italian 

iontach wonderful; as adv.: very 

iontas (m) surprise, wonder 

is (conj.) and 

is (verb)is is (copula verb) 

is éigean do must 

isteach in 

ith, ag ithe eat 

147

L 

lá (m) day 

labhair, ag labhairt speak 

lag weak 

láidir strong 

lámh (f) hand 

le (prefixes `h' to vowel) with, by 

le anuas for (duration of time past) 

le chéile together 

le do thoil please 

leaba (f) bed 

leabhar (m) book 

leabharlann (f) library 


léachtóir (m) lecturer 

ag léamh reading 

leanbh (m) child 

léann (m) Ceilteach Celtic Studies 

leath half 

leathuair half hour 

léigh, ag léamh read 

léine (f) shirt 

liath (m. noun and adj) grey, grey-haired 

lig do scíth relax 

litir (f) letter 

lón (m) lunch 

luch (f) mouse 

luí (m) lying, reclining 

M 

má if 

mac (m) son 

mac léinn (m), mic léinn (pl) student 

madadh U (m) dog 

maidin (f) morning 

maith good 

mála (m) bag 

mar as, like 

mar atá as it is 

mar because 

mar gheall ar because of 

mar sin therefore, then 

marbh dead 

148

máthair (f) mother 

máthair (f) mhór grandmother 

mé, mise I, me 

meas (m) respect 

Meiriceá America, USA 

Meiriceánach American (n or adj) 

mí (f) month 


milseán (m), milseáin (pl) candy (sweets) 

ní miste liom I don't mind 

mol, ag moladh praise 

mór big 

mór millteach U great big, huge 

muid, muidinne we 

múinteoir (m), múinteoirí (pl) teacher 

N 

ná than; or 

ná do not 

ná bí buartha don't worry 

'na bhaile (=chun an bhaile) (to) home 

ná déan dearmad ar don't forget 

ná habair é don't mention it 

náire (f) shame 


nia (m) nephew 

nimhneach sore 

níos déanaí later 

nó or 

nua new 

Nua Eabhrac New York 

nuair when 

O 

ó (+ lenition) from 

ó am go ham from time to time 

ó shin ago, since then 

obair (f) work 

ocht eight 

ocras (m) hunger 

óg young 

oíche (f) night 

Oíche Shamhna (f) Halloween 

oifig (f) office 

149

ól, ag ól drinking 

olc bad 

ollscoil (f) university 

ollmhargadh (m) supermarket 

óstán (m) hotel 

P 

pacáilte packed 

páipéar (m) paper 

páiste (m) child 

Páras (m) Paris 

peann (m) pen 

peann luaidhe (m) pencil 

peil (f) soccer 

péinteáil painting 

pionta (m) pint 

píosa (m) a piece 

plódaithe crowded 

plúr (m) flour 

popcheol (m) pop music 

post (m) job 

pósta married 

prátaí rósta roast potatoes 

púicín (m) blindfold 

R 

ag rá saying 

ramhar fat 

rang (m) class 

an rang (m) Gaeilge the Irish class 

réitigh, ag réiteach arrange, settle, get along with 

ag rince dancing 

rith, ag rith run 

rua red-haired 

rud (m) thing 

rúnaí (m) administrator 

S 

sa (

Sasanach (n and adj) English person or thing 

sásta content 

scamallach cloudy 

scannán (m) movie 

scartha separated 

scéal (m) story 

sciorta (m) skirt 

scoil (f) school 

scríobh, ag scríobh writing 

scríbhneoir (m) writer 

sé six 

seacht seven 

seachtain (f) week 


sean old 

seasamh (m) standing 

séasúr (m) season 

seinn, ag seinm play (music) 

seo this 

seomra (m) room 

seomra scoile (m) schoolroom 

sibh, sibhse you (pl) 

sin that 

sine (< sean) elder, eldest 

singil single 

an tSín (f) China 

Sínis (f) Chinese 

siopa (m) shop 

siopadóir (m) shopkeeper 

ag siopadóireacht shopping 

síos down 

na síoga the fairies 

siúil, ag siúl walk 

slaghdán (m) cold (n) 

slán healthy 

slán! goodbye! 

slán go fóill! goodbye! see you later! 

slí bheatha profession 

sliabh (m) hill 

snagcheol (m) jazz 

ag snámh swimming 

ag soilsiú shining 

sona happy 

sona sásta very happy 

151

an Spáinn (f) Spain 

Spáinneach (n and adj) Spaniard, Spanish 

Spáinnis (f) Spanish language 

spéir (f) sky 

spéirbhean dream woman 

speisialta special 

go speisialta especially 

sráid (f) street 

srón (f) nose 

stábla (m) stable 

stad, ag stad stop 

ag staidéar studying 

suas up 

suigh, ag suí sit 

súil (f) eye, expectation, hope 

tá súil agam I hope 

ag súil le expecting 

ag súil go mór le looking forward to 

suim (f) interest (n) 

tá suim agam i I am interested in 


T 

tá am, is, etc (substantive vb) 

tábhachtach important 

tabhair, ag tabhairt give 

tábla U (m) table 

tae (m) tea 

taibhse (m), taibhsí (pl) ghost, ghosts 

taisteal (m) travel 

taitníonn le pleases 


tar, ag teacht come 

te hot 

teach (m) house 

teach lóistín lodging house 

teach tábhairne pub 

ag teacht coming 

teaghlach (m) household 

teilifís (f) television 

téigh, ag dul go 

thall ansin over there 

thig le is able 

chífidh mé thú I'll see you! 

152

tinn sick 

tinneas (m) cinn headache 

tinneas (m) fiacaile toothache 

tiomáin, ag tiomáint drive 

tiománaí (m) driver 

tirim dry 

tost (m) silence 

trá (f) beach 

traein (f) train 

traidisiúnta traditional 

trí three 

triúr three people 

troid, ag troid fight 

trua (f) pity 

is trua é, is trua sin it's a pity 

tú, tusa you (sg) 

tuig, ag tuigbheáil U , ag tuiscint understand 

tuirse (f) fatigue, tiredness 

tuirseach tired 

tuismitheoir (m), tuismitheoirí (pl) parent 

tús (m) beginning 

U 

uachtar (m) reoite ice cream 

uaine (f. noun and adj) green (as in garments etc.) 

uair (f), uaireanta (pl) hour 

uaireanta sometimes 

uimhir (f) number 

uisce (m) water 

úll (m), pl úlla apple, apples 

uncail (m) uncle 

153

FOCLÓIR BÉARLA-GAEILGE 

A 

able ábalta U 

about fá U , faoi 

above os cionn (+ gen.) 

acquaintance, knowledge of person aithne (f) 

actor aisteoir (m) 

accent (n) blas (m) 

he has an American accent tá blas Meiriceánach air 

administrator (US) rúnaí (m) 

address seoladh (m) 

adolescent déagóir (m) 

adult (adj) do dhaoine fásta 

adult (n.) duine fásta 

Africa an Afraic (f) 

after i ndiaidh U / tar éis (+ gen) 

afternoon tráthnóna (m) 

again arís 

against in aghaidh (+ gen.) 

age aois (f) 

ago ó shin 

agree with aontaigh le, ag aontú le 

a lot cuid mhór U , a lán 

allow, let lig 

almost chóir a bheith U , beagnach 

alright ceart go leor 

also fosta U , freisin 

always i gcónaí 

America, USA Meiriceá (m) 

American (n and adj) Meiriceánach (m) 

among i measc (+ gen) 

and agus, is 

anger fearg (f) 

anger ar buile 

animal ainmhí (m) 

announcement, notice fógra (m) 

annoy, bother cuir as do 

answer (vb) freagair, ag freagairt 

answer (n) freagra (m) 

answering machine gléas (m) freagartha 

anxiety, worry imní (f) 

apartment (US) árasán (m) 

154

apple úll (m) 

apple pie toirtín (m) úll 

approximately thart fá U 

architect ailtire (m) 

area ceantar (m) 

around thart fá U 

around the area thart fán áit U 

arrogant sotalach 

art ealaín (f) 

artist ealaíontóir (m) 

as, like mar 

as ... as chomh ... le 

as well, in addition chomh maith 

Asia an Áise (f) 

ask fiafraigh de 

at, by ag 

at all ar bith, ar chor ar bith U 

attendant, waiter freastálaí (m) 

aunt aintín (f) 

autumn fómhar (m) 

B 

baby leanbh (m), naíonán (m) 

back (n) droim (m) 

back (adv) ar ais 

bad olc, drochbad 

news drochscéala 

bag mála (m) 

bank banc (m) 

barmbrack bairín breac (m) 

be bí, bheith 

be able thig le, bheith ábalta 

beach trá (f) 

beautiful álainn 

bed leaba (f) 

beer beoir (f) 

before roimh, sula (with verb) 

beginning tús (m) 

believe creid, ag creidbheáil U 

ag creidiúint 

better níos fearr 

between idir (+ lenition) 

big mór 

bird éan (m) 

155


biscuit(s), cookie(s) briosca (m), brioscaí 

black dubh 

blackboard clár dubh (m) 

blonde fionn 

blue gorm 

bone cnámh (f) 

book leabhar (m) 

boring leadránach 

boss saoiste (m) 

bother, annoy cuir as do 

Boston Bostún (m) 

bottle buidéal (m) 

bottom bun (m) 

boy buachaill (m), gasúr (m) 

branch craobh (f) 

bread arán (m) 

break bris, ag briseadh 

breakfast bricfeasta (m) 

Breton (n and adj) Briotánach (m) 

Breton language Briotáinis (f) 

bright geal 

Britain An Bhreatain Mhór 

British Briotanach 

broken briste 

brother deartháir (m) 

brown donn 

brush (n) scuab (f) 

hairbrush scuab gruaige (f) 

brush, sweep scuab, ag scuabadh 

bus bus (m) 

busy gnóthach 

but ach 

butcher búistéir (m) 

butter im (m) 

buy, buying ceannaigh, ag ceannach 

by, next to cois (+ gen) 

by (authorship) le (prefixes `h' to vowel) 

C 

café caife 

cake císte (m) 

call cuir glaoch ar, cuir scairt ar 

camcorder ceamthaifeadán (m) 

156


camera ceamara (m) 

car carr (m), gluaisteán (m) 

cat cat (m) 

CD see compact disc 

cell phone fón póca, fón siúil 

Celtic Studies an Léann Ceilteach (m) 

certainly cinnte 

chair cathaoir (f) 

chalk cailc (f) 

cheese cáis (f) 

change (n) briseadh 

change (vb) athraigh, ag athrú 

character carachtar (m) 

cheers! Sláinte! Sláinte mhaith! 

chemistry ceimic (f) 

chicken cearc (f) 

child leanbh (m), páiste (m) 

children clann (f) 

China an tSín (f) 

Chinese language Sínis (f) 

Christmas Nollaig (f) 

Christmas tree crann (m) Nollag 

church teach (m) an phobail (Cath.) 

eaglais (f) (Cath./Prot.) 

cider (alcoholic) ceirtlis (f) 

cider, apple juice sú úll (m) 

cigarette toitín (m) 

cinema pictiúrlann (f) 

city cathair (f) 

city centre lár (m) na cathrach 

class rang (m) 

classical music ceol clasaiceach (m) 

clean (adj) glan 

clean (vb) glan, ag glanadh 

clever cliste 

clock clog (m) 

o'clock a chlog 

close druid, ag druidim U ; 

dún, ag dúnadh 

closed druidte U , dúnta 

clothes cuid (f) éadaigh 

cloudy scamallach 

coat cóta (m) 

157


coffee caife (m) 

cold (adj) fuar 

cold (n.) slaghdán (m) 

collect bailigh 

college coláiste (m) 

color dath (m) 

come tar, ag teacht 

come here goitse U ; tar anseo 

compact disc dlúthdhiosca (m) 

compact disc player seinnteoir (m) dlúthdhioscaí 

complaint gearán (an) 

completely, entirely ar fad 

computer, personal ~ ríomhaire (m); ~ pearsanta 

computer game cluiche (m) ríomhaire 

computer software bogearraí ríomhaire 

concert ceolchoirm (f) 

condom coiscín (m) 

contemporary comhaimseartha 

content sásta 

contraceptives frithghiniúnaigh 

cook cócaire (m) 

cookie(s) briosca(í) (m) 

cooking ag cócaireacht 

copy (n) cóip (f) 

copy (vb) déan cóip de 

country tír (f) 

countryside, in the country faoin tuath 

country-western ceol (m) tuaithe 

couple, a few cúpla 

couple (n) lánúin (f) 

course cúrsa (m) 

cousin col ceathrair (m) 

cousins col ceathracha 

cow bó (f) 

credit card cárta (m) creidmheasa 

crosswords crosfhocail 

crowded plódaithe 

culture cultúr (m) 

current affairs cúrsaí reatha 

D 

dancing ag damhsa, ag rince 

dangerous contúirteach 

158


dark (adj) dorcha 

daughter iníon (f) 

day lá (m) 

dead marbh 

degree (academic) céim (m) 

undergraduate degree bunchéim (m) 

graduate/postgraduate degree ardchéim (m) 

department roinn (f) 

depressed in ísle (f) brí 

dessert milseog (f) 

detective bleachtaire (m) 

detective story scéal (m) bleachtaireachta 

delicious, tasty blasta 

describe cuir síos (ar) 

description cur síos 

desert fásach 

detective bleachtaire 

difficult deacair, crua 

dinner dinnéar (m) 

disappointment díomá 

dishes soithí 

dissertation tráchtas (m) 

divorce colscaradh (m) 

divorced colscartha 

do déan, ag déanamh 

doctor dochtúir (m) 

dog madadh U/C (m); madra M (m) 

doll babóg (f) 

dollar dollar (m) 

done déanta 

door doras (m) 

down síos (direction), 

thíos (location) 

dozen dosaen (an) 

drama, play dráma (m) 

drama, dramatic art drámaíocht (f) 

dress (n) gúna (m) 

dress (vb) cuir éadaí ort 

dressed gléasta 

drink (n) deoch (f) 

drink (vb) ól, ag ól 

drive tiomáin, ag tiomáint 

driver tiománaí (m) 

159


drug(s) druga(í) 

drug abuse mí-úsáid (f) drugaí 

Dublin Baile (m) Átha Cliath 

duster glantóir (m) 

E 

ear clúas (f) 

earned tuillte 

eat ith, ag ithe 

economics eacnamaíocht (f) 

egg (n) ubh (f) 

eight ocht 

electric leictreach 

e-mail ríomhphost (m) 

emergency exit doras (m) éalaithe 

empty folamh 

end (n) deireadh (m) 

in the end sa deireadh 

engaged (to be married) geallta 

English Béarla (m) 

enjoy bain sult as, ag baint suilt as 

entrance bealach (m) isteach 

environment an comhshaol (m) 

euro euro 

even fiú 

ever riamh (in past) 

choíche (in future) 

every gach, gach aon ('achan U ) 

exactly díreach 

exactly! go díreach 

exam scrúdú (m) 

excuse me gabh mo leithscéal 

exit (n) bealach (m) amach 

expensive daor 

extremely thar a bheith 

eye (n) súil (f) 

F 

face (n) aghaidh (f) 

factory monarcha (f) 

fair-haired fionn, bán 

fairies na síogaí, na daoine beaga, 

na daoine maithe 

160


fail (vb) theip ar 

I failed the test theip orm sa teist 

fall, autumn fómhar (m) 

falling in love ag titim i ngrá 

farm (n) feirm (f) 

farmer feirmeoir (m) 

fat ramhar 

father athair (m) 

fatigue tuirse (f) 

favour gar (m) 

fear eagla (f) 

feel braith; mothaigh 

fence (n) claí (m) 

fiction ficsean (m) 

fiddle fidil (f) 

fight (vb) troid, ag troid 

field (of grass) páirc (f) 

field (tilled) gort (m), cuibhreann (m) 

find (vb) aimsigh; faigh 

finish (vb) críochnaigh, ag críochnú 

finished críochnaithe 

fire (n) tine (f) 

fish (n) iasc (m) 

fishing iascaireacht (f), ag ~ 

fitting, proper cóir 

five cúig 

flower bláth (m) 

flour plúr (m) 

fluent líofa 

food bia (b) 

foot cos (f) 

for do (+ lenition) 

for (completed duration of time) ar feadh (+ gen) 

for (ongoing duration of time) le 

foreign (language etc.) iasachta 

foreigner coimhthíoch 

forget déan dearmad (ar) 

fortnight coicís (f) 

found, establish cuir ar bun 

four ceathair 

France an Fhrainc (f) 

free saor 

French person or thing Francach (m) 

161


French language Fraincis (f) 

friend cara (m) 

friendly cairdiúil 

from (a place) as; ó (+ lenition) 

from, made of de (+ lenition) 

fruits torthaí 

full lán 

funny greannmhar 

G 

game cluiche (m) 

generally go ginearálta 

German (n and adj) Gearmáineach (m) 

German language Gearmáinis (f) 

Germany an Ghearmáin (f) 

get, find faigh, ag fáil 

get along with, agree with, s.o. ag réiteach le duine 

get up éirigh, ag éirí 

ghost taibhse (m) 

girl cailín (m) 

give tabhair, ag tabhairt 

glass gloine (f) 

glove lámhainn (f) 

go téigh, ag dul 

go on! lean ort, lean ar aghaidh 

good maith 

good luck! go n-éirí leat 

good luck, goodbye! ádh mór 

good news dea-scéala 

goodbye slán 

government rialtas (m) 

grandfather athair mór, seanathair (m) 

grandmother máthair mhór, seanmháthair 

grass féar (m) 

grey-haired liath 

greeting(s) beannacht (f), beannachtaí green 

glas (natural), uaine (other) 

group dream (m) 

grumpy cantalach 

guidebook treoirleabhar (m) 

guitar giotar (m) 

gust síobán (m) 

162


H 

hair gruaig (f), cuid (f) gruaige 

half leath (f) 

and a half go leith 

half hour leathuair (f) 

half pint leathphionta (m) 

Halloween Oíche Shamhna (f) 

hand lámh (f) 

handsome, beautiful dathúil 

happiness áthas (m), lúcháir (m) 

hard crua 

harm (n) urchóid (f) 

harp cláirseach (f) 

hat hata (m) 

hate (n) fuath 

he é, eisean, sé 

head (n) ceann (m) 

headache tinneas (m) cinn 

headphones cluasáin 

health sláinte (f) 

hear, hearing cluin, ag cluinstin 

heart croí (m) 

Hello! Dia duit! 

Hello! (response) Dia is Muire duit! 

here anseo 

hip-hop ceol hip hap 

hitchhiking dul ar ordóg 

home (n) cónaí, teach 

at home sa bhaile 

home, homewards abhaile, 'na bhaile U 

homework obair bhaile 

horrible uafásach 

horror movie scannán (m) uafáis 

horse capall (m) 

hospital otharlann (f), ospidéal (m) 

hostel brú (m) 

hot te 

hotel óstán (m) 

hour, one hour uair (f), uair an chloig 

house teach (m) 

household teaghlach (m) 

housework obair tí (f) 

163


how? cad é mar U 

conas M 

cé chaoi C 

how long? cá fhad 

how much/many? cá mhéad 

hunger ocras (m) 

hurry (n) deifir (f) 

hurry up déan deifir 

husband fear (m) céile 

I 

I mé, mise 

ice cream reoiteog (f), uachtar reoite (m) 

idea barúil (f), smaoineamh (m) 

good idea smaoineamh maith 

ideology ídé-eolaíocht 

if dá (with conditional verb), 

má (otherwise) 

in i (+ eclipsis) 

in a while i gceann tamaill 

in back of ar chúl (+ gen) 

in front of os comhair (+ gen) 

information eolas (m) 

intelligent cliste 

intend bheith ar intinn ag duine 

interest suim (f) 

interesting suimiúil 

internet idirlíon (m) 

international idirnaisiúnta 

intersection crosbhóthar (m) 

interview agallamh (m) 

into isteach 

Ireland Éire (f) 

Irish Éireannach (m) 

Irish language an Ghaeilge (f) 

is is (copula), 

tá (substantive verb) 

island oileán (m) 

Italian (n and adj) Iodáileach (m) 

Italian language Iodáilis (f) 

Italy an Iodáil (f) 

J 

164


jazz snagcheol (m) 

job post (m) 

journey aistear (m) 

K 

key eochair (f), pl eochracha 

keyboard méarchlár (m) 

kidding, teasing ag magadh 

kind (n) cineál (m), sórt (m) 

kind (adj) cineálta 

kitchen cistin (f) 

knee glúin (f) 

knowledge (of place or expertise) eolas (m) 

knowledge of fact fios (m) 

knowledge of person, acquaintance aithne (f) 

L 

last, endure, live mair, ag maireachtáil 

last (adj) deireannach 

last month an mhí seo caite 

last night aréir 

last week an tseachtain seo caite 

last year anuraidh 

later níos déanaí, níos moille 

laughing ag gáire 

laughter gáire (m) 

lawyer dlíodóir (m) 

leaf duilleog (f) 

learn foghlaim, ag foghlaim 

leave (intrans.), go away imigh, ag imeacht 

leave behind (trans.), fág, ag fágáil 

lecture léacht (f) 

lecturer léachtóir (m) 

letter litir (f) 

library leabharlann (f) 

life saol (m) 

lift, ride síob (f) 

like (prep) cosúil le 

I like is maith liom; tá dúil agam i 

listen (to) éist (le), ag éisteacht (le) 

literature litríocht (f) 

local áitiúil 

local people muintir (f) na háite 

165


look, watch amharc (ar), ag amharc (ar) 

looking forward to ag súil (go mór) le rud 

lose caill, ag cailleadh 

a lot a lán, cuid mhór 

love (n) grá 

I love, like is breá liom 

I love (romantically) tá mé i ngrá le 

lovely go breá 

London Londain (f) 

long fada 

luck ádh 

lunch lón (m) 

lying down ag luí 

M 

magazine iris (f) 

make-up smideadh (m) 

man fear (m) 

manager bainisteoir (m) 

map léarscáil (f) 

married pósta 

marry pós, ag pósadh 

maybe b'fhéidir 

meat feoil (f) 

medicine leigheas (m) 

meet cas ar, ag casadh ar 

meet with buail le, ag bualadh le 

meeting cruinniú (m) 

melancholy lionn dubh (m), gruaim (f) 

mention trácht ar 

mermaid maighdean mhara (f) 

mess praiseach (m) 

microwave (n) micreáthonnán (m) 

middle lár (m) 

milk bainne (m) 

mind (n) intinn (f) 

I don't mind/care is cuma liom 

minister (religious) ministir (m) 

minister (government) aire 

minute bomaite U (m) 

mistake meancóg (f) 

mobile phone fón siúil (m), fón póca (m) 

month mí (f) 

166


moon gealach (f) 

morning maidin (f) 

mother máthair (m) 

mountain sliabh (m) 

mouse luchóg (f) 

mouth béal (m) 

movie, film scannán (m) 

moving ag bogadh 

museum iarsmalann (f) 

music ceol (m) 

music program clár (m) ceoil 

musicals ceolraí 

musician ceoltóir (m) 

must caithfidh 

N 

name (n) ainm (m) 

near cóngarach do, in aice le 

need, lack (n) díth (f) 

I need tá ... de dhíth orm U 

neighbor comharsa (f) 

Nepal Neipeál (f) 

nephew nia (m) 

new nua 

New York Nua Eabhrac (m) 

next to in aice (le) 

next month an mhí seo chugainn 

next summer an samhradh seo chugainn 

next thing an chéad rud eile 

next week an tseachtain seo chugainn 

next year an bhliain seo chugainn 

nice deas 

niece neacht (f) 

night oíche (f) 

night before last arú aréir 

nine naoi 

nose srón (f) 

novel (n) úrscéal (m) 

now anois 

number uimhir (f) 

nurse (n) banaltra (f) 

nut cnó (m) 

167


O 

o'clock a chlog 

office oifig (f) 

often go minic 

old sean 

old-fashioned sean-aimseartha 

on ar (+ lenition) 

once uair (f) 

once or twice uair nó dhó 

one (number) aon 

one (adj) amháin 

this one an ceann seo 

only ach (with negative) 

only one aon ... amháin 

open (vb) foscail U , oscail 

open (adj) foscailte U , oscailte 

opera ceoldráma (m) 

opinion barúil (f) 

what's your opinion? cad é do bharúil? U 

in my opinion dar liom (go) 

or nó 

orange (n and adj) oráiste (m) 

other eile 

out (going ~) amach (as) 

outside (being ~) amuigh 

outside of taobh amuigh de 

over, across, past thar 

overseas thar lear, thar sáile 

P 

packed pacáilte 

painter péintéir (m) 

painting ag péinteáil 

pants, trousers bríste (m) 

paper páipéar (m) 

parent tuismitheoir (m) 

Paris Páras (m) 

party (social) cóisir (f) 

party (political) páirtí (m) 

pass, succeed éiríonn le 

I passed the test d'éirigh liom sa teist 

pc see personal computer 

pen peann (m) 

168


pencil peann (m) luaidhe 

penny pingin (f) 

people (collective) muintir (f) 

people (sg) pobal (m) 

people (pl) daoine (m pl) 

perhaps b'fhéidir 

person duine (m) 

personal (adj) pearsanta 

personal computer ríomhaire pearsanta 

personally go pearsanta 

pet peata (m) 

PhD, doctorate dochtúireacht (f) 

phone (n) fón (m) 

cell phone fón póca 

phone number uimhir (f) fóin 

photo (n) grianghraf (m) 

photocopy (n) fótachóip (f) 

photography grianghrafadóireacht (f) 

physics fisic (f) 

piano pianó (m) 

piece píosa (m) 

pig muc (f) 

pint pionta (m) 

pity trua (f) 

plan (n) plean (m) 

plane eitleán (m) 

plant planda (m) 

play, drama (n) dráma (m) 

playing (an instrument) ag seinm 

playing (a game or sport) ag imirt 

please! le do thoil! 

plot (n) plota (m) 

pocket (n) póca (m) 

poem dán (m) 

poet file (m) 

poetry filíocht (f) 

politics polaitíocht (f), 

cúrsaí polatíochta 

poor bocht 

pop music popcheol (m) 

portion cuid (f) 

positive, certain dearfach 

post office oifig (f) an phoist 

169


postgraduate (adj) iarchéimeach 

postgraduate student mac léinn iarchéimeach (m) 

potato(es) práta(í) (m) 

pound punt (m) 

praising ag moladh 

pregnant torrach 

present, gift bronntanas (m) 

priest sagart (m) 

print (in print, out of print) cló (m) (i gcló, as cló) 

prize duais (f) 

probably is cosúil, is dócha 

problem fadhb (f) 

profession slí (f) bheatha 

professor (B&I), full professor (US) ollamh (m) 

professor (US) léachtóir (m) 

program clár (m) 

proud (of) bródúil (as) 

psychology síceolaíocht (f) 

pub, bar teach (m) tábhairne 

pullover geansaí (m) 

purse sparán (m) 

put cuir, ag cur 

Q 

quarter ceathrú (f) 

quarter of an hour ceathrú (f) uair an chloig 

quiet ciúin 

R 

radio raidió (m) 

rain (n) báisteach (f); fearthainne (f) 

raining ag cur báistí 

raise, take tóg, ag tógáil 

read léigh, ag léamh 

ready, finished réidh 

reasonable réasúnta 

reasonably réasúnta, measartha 

recognize aithin, ag aithint 

red dearg 

red-haired rua 

refrigerator cuisneoir (m) 

relax lig do scíth 

remedy (n) leigheas (m) 

170


remember is cuimhin le 

request (vb) iarr (ar), ag iarraidh (ar) 

research taighde (m) 

respect (n) meas (m) 

restaurant bialann (f) 

retire éirigh as, ag éirí as 

retired éirithe as 

rice rís (f) 

right, proper ceart 

right enough ceart go leor 

rise, get up éirigh, ag éirí 

road bóthar (m) 

rock carraig (f) 

rock-music roc-cheol (m) 

romance (novel) scéal (m) grá 

romantic affairs cúrsaí grá 

room seomra (m) 

rose rós (m) 

run rith, ag rith 

S 

sailor mairnéalach (m) 

salt salann (m) 

same céanna 

sand gaineamh (m) 

sandwich ceapaire (m) 

say, tell abair (le); inis (do) 

school scoil (f) 

primary school bunscoil (f) 

secondary school, high school meánscoil (f) 

science eolaíocht (f) 

Scot Albanach (m) 

Scotland Albain (f) 

Scottish Albanach 

Scottish Gaelic Gaeilge na hAlban (f) 

sea farraige (f) 

season (n) séasúr (m) 

secretary rúnaí (m) 

see feic, ag feiceáil 

seldom annamh 

selling ag díol 

sensible ciallmhar 

separated scartha 

171


seven seacht 

shame (n) náire (f) 

she í, ise, sí 

sheep caora (f) 

shining ag soilsiú 

shirt léine (f) 

shoe bróg (f) 

shop siopa (m) 

shopkeeper siopadóir (m) 

shopping ag siopadóireacht 

shopping centre ionad (m) siopadóireachta 

short gairid 

shy faiteach 

sick tinn 

silence (n) tost (m) 

silence! ciúnas! (m) 

sing (a song) abair amhrán, gabh amhrán 

singing ag canadh 

single singil 

sister deirfiúr (f) 

sitting ag suí 

six sé 

skirt sciorta (m) 

sky spéar 

sleep codladh (m) 

sleet fliuchshneachta (m) 

small beag 

smart, clever cliste 

smile meangadh (m) 

smoking ag caitheamh (tobaic) 

no smoking! cosc ar thobac 

snow sneachta (m) 

snowing ag cur sneachta 

soap opera sobalchlár (m) 

soccer peil (f) 

sociology socheolaíocht (f) 

some éigin, inteacht U 

sometimes uaireanta, corruair 

son, boy mac (m) 

song amhrán (m) 

soon ar ball, gan mhoill 

sore nimhneach 

sorrow brón (m) 

172


sound fuaim (f) 

Spain an Spáinn (f) 

Spaniard Spáinneach 

Spanish (adj) Spáinneach 

Spanish language Spáinnis (f) 

speak labhair, ag labhairt 

speech óráid (f) 

spices spíosraí 

spoil mill, ag milleadh 

sport spórt (m) 

sports program clár (m) spóirt 

sports centre ionad (m) spóirt 

spring earrach (m) 

stable (n) stábla (m) 

standing ag seasamh 

star réalta (f) 

movie star, starlet réalta scannán, realtóg 

stay fan, ag fanacht 

stay there fan ansin 

staying ag stopadh, ag fanacht 

steal goid, ag goid 

stereo, record player seinnteoir (m) 

stomach (n) bolg (m) 

stop (vb) stad, ag stad 

storm stoirm (f) 

story scéal (m) 

straight díreach 

strange aisteach 

street sráid (f) 

strong láidir 

student mac (m) léinn 

studying ag staidéar 

stupid bómánta 

suburb bruachbhaile (m) 

succeed (in) éiríonn le (i) 

I passed the exam d'éirigh liom sa srúdú 

sugar siúcra (m) 

summer samhradh (m) 

sun grian (f) 

sunny grianmhar 

supermarket ollmhargadh (m) 

swim snámh, ag snámh 

173


sweep scuab, ag scuabadh 

sweets milseáin 

Swiss Eilvéiseach 

Switzerland an Eilvéis (f) 

T 

table tábla U (m), bord (m) 

take glac, ag glacadh; 

tóg, ag tógáil 

talk (n) caint (f) 

talking ag caint 

talk show clár (m) cainte 

tall ard 

tape téip (m) 

tapedeck, tape recorder téipthaifeadán (m) 

taste (n) blas (m) 

tasty blasta 

tea tae (m) 

tea pot pota (m) tae 

teacher múinteoir (m) 

tear (vb) stróic, ag stróiceadh 

telephone (n) teileafón (m); guthán (m) 

television teilifís (f) 

tell (a story) inis (sceal), ag insint (scéil) 

tell (someone something) inis (do); abair (le) 

ten deich 

tennis leadóg (f) 

terrorist sceimhlitheoir (m) 

than ná 

thanks buíochas (m) 

many thanks míle buíochas 

thank God buíochas le Dia 

thank you (sg/pl) go raibh maith agat/agaibh 

thank you (sg) very much go raibh céad/míle maith agat 

that an ... sin 

that book an leabhar sin 

that's it sin é 

that's all sin a bhfuil 

theatre amharclann (f) 

theology diagacht (f) 

therapy teiripe (f) 

there ansin 

they siad, siadsan, iad, iadsan 

174


thick tiubh 

thief gadaí (m) 

thin tanaí 

thing rud (m) 

think (about) smaoinigh (ar), ag smaoineamh 

thirst (n) tart (m) 

thirsty, dry tirim 

I got thirsty bhuail tart mé 

this an ... seo 

this one an ceann seo 

this year i mbliana 

thought, idea smaoineamh (m) 

three trí 

three people triúr 

thriller (novel, film) scéinséir (m) 

throughout ar fud 

Tibet an Tibéid (f) 

tidy, put in order réitigh, ag réiteach 

tights riteoga 

tired tuirseach 

I'm tired of it tá mé tuirseach de 

tiredness, fatigue tuirse (f) 

to (a place) go (prefixes `h' to vowel) 

to (event) chuig 

to, for do (+ lenition) 

to, in order to le (prefixes `h' to vowel) 

chun (+ gen) 

together le chéile, in éineacht le 

tomorrow amárach 

today inniu 

tonight anocht 

too (also) fosta U ; freisin 

too (excessive) ró- 

too much (n) barraíocht U 

tooth fiacal (m), fiacla (pl) 

toothache tinneas fiacaile (m) 

toothbrush scuab fiacla (f) 

toothpaste taos fiacla 

top barr (m) 

tourist turasóir (m) 

translate aistrigh, ag aistriú 

translation aistriúchán (m) 

tree crann (m) 

175


tradition traidisiún (m) 

traditional music ceol traidisiúnta (m) 

train traein (f) 

train station stáisiún traenach (m) 

travel taisteal (m) 

trouble trioblóid (f) 

trousers bríste (m) 

truth fírinne (f) 

turkey turcaí (m) 

two (number) dó 

two (adj) dhá (+ lenition) 

two people beirt (f) (+ lenition) 

U 

uncle uncail (m) 

under faoi (+ lenition) 

undergraduate bunchéimeach 

undergraduate degree bunchéim (m) 

understand tuig, ag tuigbheáil U / ag tuiscint 

unemployed dífhostaithe 

university ollscoil (f) 

until, up to go dtí 

up (direction) suas 

up (location) thuas 

use (n) úsáid (f) 

he used to... ba ghnách dó U ... 

usually de ghnáth 

V 

vacation laethanta saoire 

vegetables glasraí 

vegetarian feoilséantóir (m) 

very an-, iontach U 

videocamera físcheamara (m) 

videotape fístéip (f) 

video recorder físthaifeadán (m) 

visit cúairt (f) 

vitamins vitimíní 

voice guth (m) 

W 

wait (for) fan (le), ag fanacht 

wait a minute fan bomaite U /nóiméad (m) 

176


waiter freastalaí (m) 

wake dúisigh, ag dúiseacht 

waking state dúiseacht 

Wales an Bhreatain Bheag (f) 

walk siúil, ag siúl 

walkman seinnteoir (m); 

dlúthdhioscaí pearsanta 

wash nigh, ag ní 

waste basket bocsa U /bosca bruscair (m) 

watch (n) uaireadóir (m) 

watch (vb) amharc U / féach M / breathnaigh C 

watching tv ag amharc ar an teilifís 

water uisce (m) 

we muid, muidinne 

weak lag 

wealthy saibhir 

the web an greasán (m) 

website suíomh gréasáin (m) 

wedding bainis (f) 

week seachtain (f) 

weekend deireadh seachtaine (m) 

welcome, you're welcome fáilte (f), fáilte romhat 

well! bhuel 

well, healthy go maith 

Welsh (person or thing) Breatnach 

Welsh language Breatnais (f) 

wet fliuch 

Western (movie) scannán (m) buachaillí bó 

what? cad é? U , caidé? U 

when? cá huair? U , cathain? 

when nuair 

where? cá, cá háit? 

whiskey uisce (m) beatha 

white bán 

who? cé? 

why? cad chuige? 

widow, widower baintreach (f) 

wife bean chéile (f) 

wind gaoth (f) 

window fuinneog (f) 

wine; white / red wine fíon (m); fíon bán / dearg 

winter geimhreadh (m) 

with le (prefixes `h' to vowel) 

177


without gan ((+ lenition) 

woman bean (f) 

wonder, surprise iontas (m) 

wonderful iontach 

work (n) obair, cuid (f) oibre 

work (vb) ag obair 

worker oibrí (m) 

world domhan (m) 

worried buartha 

write scríobh, ag scríobh 

writer scríbhneoir (m) 

writing scríbhneoireacht (f) 

wrong contráilte, mícheart 

Y 

year bliain (f) 

yellow buí 

yesterday inné 

yet go fóill 

yonder údaí U , úd 

you (pl) sibh, sibhse 

you (sg) tú, thú, tusa 

young óg 

178


GEARRLIOSTA BRIATHRA: A SELECT VERB LIST 

The three forms listed for each verb are, in that order, the second singular imperative (`go!') 

which in Irish is the same as the verbal stem, the first person singular present tense (I go'), and 

the verbal noun (`going'), which is either masculine (m) or feminine (f). Irregular verbs are 

printed in bold. Superscript U (for Ulster) denotes an Ulster dialect variant. 

Regular verbs follow one of two conjugations. All monosyllabic stems take the first 

conjugation; all polysyllabic stems in -igh take the second conjugation. In the case of 

polysyllabic verbs which have a different ending, their conjugation has been indicated by a bold 1 

or 2, followed by a letter A, B, or C to refer to subdivisions (based on Mac Congáil 2004, 117f). 

Thus polysyllabic second-conjugation stems that syncopate (e.g. freagair) are marked 2B, and 

second-conjugation polysyllables that do not syncopate (e.g. foghlaim) are marked 2C. 

A 

adhlaic! adhlacaim; ag adhlacadh (m) 1C bury 

admhaigh! adhmaím, ag adhmáil (f) admit 

aistrigh! aistrím; ag aistriú (m) translate 

aithin! aithním; ag aithint (f) 2B recognize 

aontaigh! aontaím; ag aontú (m) agree 

athraigh! athraím; ag athrú (m) change 

athscríobh! athscríobhaim; ag athscríobh (m) 1C rewrite, copy, transcribe 

B 

báigh! báim; ag bá (m) / ag báthadh (m) U 1A drown (tr.) 

bácáil! bácálaim; ag bácáil (f) 1B bake 

bagair! bagraím; ag bagairt (f) 2B threaten 

bailigh! bailím; ag bailiú (m) collect, gather 

bain! bainim; ag baint (f) pick, extract 

beannaigh! beannaím; ag beannú (m) bless, greet 

beartaigh! beartaím; ag beartú (m) plan 

béic! béicim; ag béiceadh (m) yell 

beir! beirim; ag breith (f) bear; take 

bí! táim /tá mé U ; a bheith be 

blais! blaisim; ag blaiseadh (m) taste 

bog! bogaim; ag bogadh (m) soften; move 

breathnaigh! breathnaím; ag breathnú (m) observe, look 

bris! brisim; ag briseadh (m) break 

brostaigh! brostaím; ag brostú (m) hurry; urge 

brúigh! brúim; ag brú (m) 1A press 

buail! buailim; ag bualadh (m) hit 

buaigh! buaim; ag buachan (f) 1A win 

C 

179


cabhraigh! cabhraím; ag cabhrú (m) help 

caill! caillim; ag cailleadh (m) lose 

cáin! cáinim; ag cáineadh (m) condemn; fine 

caith! caithim; ag caitheamh (m) throw, spend, smoke, wear 

can! canaim; ag canadh (m) sing 

caoin! caoinim; ag caoineadh (m) weep 

cas! casaim; ag casadh (m) turn, twist 

ceadaigh! ceadaím; ag ceadú (m) allow 

ceangail! ceanglaím; ag ceangal (m) 2B tie, connect 

ceannaigh! ceannaím; ag ceannach (m) buy 

ceap! ceapaim; ag ceapadh (m) think, invent 

ceartaigh! ceartaím, ag ceartú (m) correct 

ceil! ceilim; ag ceilt (f) hide 

ceiliúir! ceiliúraim, ag ceiliúradh (m) 1C celebrate 

ceistigh! ceistím; ag ceistiú (m) question 

ciallaigh! ciallaím; ag ciallú (m) mean; explain 

cíor! cíoraim; ag cíoradh (m) comb 

cleachtaigh! cleachtaim; ag cleachtadh (m) practise 

clis! clisim; ag cliseadh (m) jump, start; fail 

clóbhuail! clóbhuailim; ag clóbhualadh (m) 1C print 

clois! cloisim; ag cloisteáil (f) hear 

clóscríobh! clóscríobhaim; ag clóscríobh (m) type(write) 

clúdaigh! clúdaím; ag clúdach (m) cover 

cluin! cluinim; ag cluinstin (f) hear 

cnag! cnagaim; ag cnagadh (m) knock 

cniotáil! cniotálaim; ag cniotáil (f) 1B knit 

cnuasaigh! cnuasaím; ag cnuasach (m) gather 

cóirigh! cóirím; ag cóiriú (m) arrange, dress 

comhlíon! comhlíonaim; ag comhlíonadh (m) 1C fulfil 

cónaigh! cónaím; ag cónaí (m) live, dwell 

corraigh! corraím; ag corraí (m) move, stir 

cosnaigh! cosnaím; ag cosaint (f) defend; cost 

cráigh! cráim; ag crá (m) annoy, torment 

creid! creidim; ag creidiúint (f)/creidbheáil (f) U believe, think 

críochnaigh! críochnaím; ag críochnú (m) finish 

crith! crithim; ag crith (m) shake, tremble 

croch! crochaim; ag crochadh (m) hang 

crom! cromaim; ag cromadh (m) bend, stoop 

cruaigh! cruaim; ag cruachan (f) harden (tr. & intr.) 

crúigh! crúim; ag crú (m) 1A milk 

cruinnigh! cruinním; ag cruinniú (m) gather, collect (tr. & intr.) 

cruthaigh! cruthaím; ag cruthú (m) form, shape, prove 

cuidigh! cuidím; ag cuidiú (m) help 

180


cuimhnigh! cuimhním; ag cuimhneamh (m) remember 

cuir! cuirim; ag cur (m) put 

cum! cumaim; ag cumadh (m) compose, shape 

D 

dealaigh! dealaím; ag dealú (m) separate; subtract 

déan! déanaim; ag déanamh (m) do, make 

dearbhaigh! dearbhaím; ag dearbhú (m) swear, declare 

deimhnigh! deimhním; ag deibhniu (m) affirm; certify 

abair! deirim; ag rá (m) say 

deisigh! deisím; ag deisiú (m) fix 

díol! díolaim; ag díol (m) sell; pay U 

dírigh! dírím; ag díriú (m) straighten 

diúltaigh! diúltaím; ag diúltú (m) refuse, deny 

dóigh! dóim; ag dó (m) 1A burn 

druid! druidim; ag druidim (f) / ag drud U approach, close in on / close U 

dúisigh! dúisím; ag dúiseacht (f) wake (tr. & intr.) 

dún! dúnaim; ag dúnadh (m) close 

E 

eagraigh! eagraím; ag eagrú (m) arrange, organize 

éalaigh! éalaím; éalú (m) escape, elope 

éirigh! éirím; ag éirí (m) get up, rise 

éist! éistím; ag éisteacht (f) listen 

eitil! eitlím; ag eitilt (f) 2B fly, fllutter 

F 

fág! fágaim; ag fágáil (f) leave s.th. 

faigh! faighim; ag fáil (f) get, find 

fan! fanaim; fanacht (m) wait, stay 

fás! fásaim; ag fás (m) grow 

féach! féachaim; féachaint (f) / ag féacháil (f) U look; try 

feic! feicim; ag feiceáil (f) see 

fiafraigh! fiafraím; ag fiafraí (m) ask, enquire 

fill! fillim; ag filleadh (m) / pill! pillim; ag pilleadh U return 

foghlaim! foghlaimím; ag foghlaim (f) 2C learn 

fógair! fógraím; ag fógairt (f) 2B announce 

foilsigh! foilsím; ag foilsiú (m) publish 

foscail! U see oscail! open 

freagair! freagraím; ag freagairt (f) 2B respond 

freastail! freastalaím; ag freastal (m) 2C attend, serve 

fulaing! fulaingím; ag fulaingt (f) 2C suffer 

181


G 

geall! geallaim; ag gealladh (m) / ag geallstan U promise 

gearr! gearraim; ag gearradh (m) cut 

géill! géillim; géilleadh yield 

glac! glacaim; ag glacadh (m) take 

glan! glanaim; ag glanadh (m) clean 

glaoigh! glaoim; ag glaoch (m) 1A call 

goid! goidim; ag goid (f) steal 

goin! goinim; ag goin (f) wound 

gortaigh! gortaím, ag gortú (m) hurt, injure 

guigh! guím; ag guí (f) 1A pray 

I 

iarr! iarraim; ag iarraidh (f) ask for, want 

imigh! imím; ag imeacht (m) leave (intrans.) 

imir! imrím; ag imirt (f) 2B play 

inis! insím; ag insint (f) / ag inse U 2B tell 

íoc! íocaim; ag íoc (m) pay 

iompair! iompraím; ag iompar (m) 2B carry 

ísligh! íslím; ag ísliú (m) lower 

ith! ithim; ag ithe (f) eat 

L 

labhair! labhraím; ag labhairt (f) 2B speak 

las! lasaim; ag lasadh (m) light, burn 

leag! leagaim; ag leagan (m) knock down 

lean! leanaim; ag leanúint (f) follow 

léigh! léim; ag léamh (m) 1A read 

léim! léimim; ag léim (f) jump 

léirigh! léirím; ag léiriú (m) explain, produce 

lig! ligim; ag ligean (m) allow 

líon! líonaim; ag líonadh (m) fill 

litrigh! litrím; ag litriú (m) spell 

luaigh! luaim; ag lua (m) 1A mention, cite 

luigh! luím; ag luí (m) 1A lie, lie down 

M 

maraigh! maraím; ag marú (m) / ag marbhadh (m) U39 kill 

39 In Ulster, maraigh takes an f-future / conditional, and in those tenses, the stem is pronounced as if it were 

written muir-: muirfidh sé mé; mhuirfeadh sé mé (Ó Baoill 1996, 144). 

182


meall! meallaim; ag mealladh (m) woo, entice 

meas! measaim; ag meas (m) think, estimate 

measc! meascaim; ag meascadh (m) mix 

mill! millim; ag milleadh (m) spoil 

mínigh! míním; ag míniú (m) explain 

mol! molaim; ag moladh (m) praise 

mothaigh! mothaím; ag mothú (m) / ag mothachtáil U hear; perceive, feel 

múch! múchaim; ag múchadh (m) extinguish 

múin! múinim; ag múineadh [mu:nu U ] (m) teach 

mún! múnaim; ag múnadh (m) urinate 

muscail! musclaím; ag muscailt (f) 2B wake, awake 

N 

nigh! ním; ag nigh (f) 1A wash 

O 

ól! ólaim; ag ól (m) drink 

oscail! osclaím; ag oscailt (f) / foscail! fosclaím; ag foscladh U 2B open 

P 

pacáil! pacálaim; ag pacáil (f) 1B pack 

pioc! piocaim; ag piocadh (m) pick 

pléigh! pléim; ag plé (m) 1A dispute 

póg! pógaim; ag pógadh (m) kiss 

pós! pósaim; ag pósadh (m) marry 

R 

réab! réabaim; ag réabadh (m) tear apart, rend 

réitigh! réitím; ag réiteach (m) solve, clear 

rith! rithim; ag rith (m) run 

roinn! roinnim; ag roinnt (f) divide 

S 

sábháil! sábhálaim; ag sábháilt (f) 1B save 

samhlaigh! samhlaím; ag samhlú (m) imagine 

scaoil! scaoilim; ag scaoileadh (m) release 

scairt! scairtim; ag scairteadh (m) / ag scairtigh U call, shout 

scréach! scréachaim; ag scréachach (f) screach 

scread! screadaim; ag screadach (f) / ag screadaigh U scream 

scríobh! scríobhaim; ag scríobh (m) write 

scrios! scriosaim; ag scriosadh (m) destroy 

183


scrúdaigh! scrúdaím; ag scrúdú (m) examine 

scuab! scuabaim; ag scuabadh (m) brush 

seas! seasaim; ag seasamh (m) stand 

síl! sílim; ag síleadh (m) / ag silstin (f) U think 

sín! sínim; ag síneadh (m) stretch 

sínigh! síním; ag síniú (m) sign 

siúil! siúlaim; ag siúl (m) walk 

smaoinigh! smaoiním; ag smaoineadh (m) / ag smaoiteamh (m) U think 

socraigh! socraím; ag socrú (m) settle, arrange 

spreag! spreagaim; ag spreagadh (m) urge, inspire 

sroich! sroichim; ag sroicheadh (m) reach, arrive at 

stad! stadaim; ag stad (m) stop 

stop! stopaim; ag stopadh (m) stop, stay 

suigh! suím; ag suí (m) 1A sit 

T 

tabhair! tugaim; ag tabhairt (f) give 

taispeáin! taispeánaim; ag taispeáint (f) 1C show 

taistil! taistealaím; ag taisteal (m) 2C travel 

tar! tagaim; ag teacht (m) come 

tarlaigh! tarlaím; ag tarlú (m) happen 

tarraing! tarraingím; ag tarraingt (f) 2C pull 

téigh! téim; ag dul (m) go 

teip! teipim; ag teip (f) fail 

tiomáin! tiomáinim; tiomáint (f) 1C drive 

tit! titim; ag titim (f) fall 

tóg! tógaim; ag tógaint (f) take, raise 

togh! toghaim; ag toghadh (m) choose, elect 

tosaigh! tosaím; ag tosú (m) / toisigh! toisím; ag toiseacht U begin 

troid! troidim; ag troid (f) fight 

tuig! tuigim; ag tuiscint (f) / ag tuigbheáil U understand 

U 

ullmhaigh! ullmhaím; ag ullmhú (m) prepare 

úsáid! úsáidim; ag úsáid (f) 1C use 

V 

vótáil! vótáilím; ag vótáil 1B vote 

184

INDEX OF SONGS, PROVERBS, AND RHYMES 

(Numbers refer to lessons in which material is covered) 

A haon is a dó, caora agus bó... (rann) #9 

Ahem ahem! Anocht Oíche Shamhna! (rann) #7 

Aithníonn ciaróg ... (seanfhocal) #10 

A Nóra Bheag (amhrán) #6 

Aon, dó, trí, fathach mór buí... (rann) #8 

Bean Pháidín (amhrán) #3 

Bhí náire ar Mháire (casfhocal) #6 

Bíonn an fhírinne searbh (seanfhocal) #10 

Bíonn súil le muir ach ní bhíonn súil le tír (seanfhocal) #10 

Bíonn gach tosach lag (seanfhocal) #10 

Bíonn siúlach scéalach (seanfhocal) #10 

Buail ar an doras... (rann) #8 

Cad é a théann suas... (tomhas) #10 

Caithimid suas is suas... (amhrán) #8 

Cá mhéad pingin? (tomhas) #9 

Carúl na Nollag (amhrán) #10 

Ceart dom, ceart duit (seanfhocal) #8 

Cé hé sin amuigh... (amhrán) #1 

Cuireadh do Mhuire (dán le Máirtín Ó Direáin) #10 

Déanann neart ceart (seanfhocal) #10 

Déanann sparán trom croí éadrom (seanfhocal) #10 

Dhá éinín bheaga... (rann) #8 

Dia do bheatha a Naí anocht (Carúl na Nollag) #10 

Dónall ar meisce... (rann) #7 

Dreoilín, dreoilín... (rann) #10 

Drochubh, drochéan (seanfhocal) #3 

Éamonn an Chnoic (amhrán) #1 

Éirigh suas a stóirín (amhrán) #8 

Fear an Phoist (dán le Tadhg Mac Dhonnchadha) #6 

Giorraíonn beirt bóthar (seanfhocal) #10 

I d'óige oscail do mheabhair... (rann) #8 

Inis scéal... (rann) #8 

Inniu an Domhnach ... (rann) #7 

Is binn béal ina thost (seanfhocal) #5 

Is buaine clú ná saol (seanfhocal) #2 

Is fearr Gaeilge bhriste... (seanfhocal) #2 

Is fearr rith maith... (seanfhocal) #3 

Is leor don dreoilín... (seanfhocal) #10 

Is maith an scealaí an aimsir (seanfhocal) #5 

Is maith liom bainne... (rann) #2 

185

INDICES 

Is maith le Nóra... (amhrán) #2 

Is maith an t-anlann... (seanfhocal) #2 

Is mór an rud grá... (seanfhocal) #2 

Is trom an t-ualach... (seanfhocal) #2 

Is é an trua ghéar nach mise... (amhrán) #3 

Mair a chapail (seanfhocal) #? 

Mise agus tusa... (casfhocal) #1 

Marbh le tae... (seanfhocal) #2 

Molann an obair an fear (seanfhocal) #10 

Na cait a bhí ag Fionn Mac Cumhail (rann) #3 

Ná déan nós... (seanfhocal) #8 

Níl uasal ná híseal... (seanfhocal) #8 

Níl sé amuigh ort... (tomhas) #4 

Níl sé ina lá (amhrán) #5, #9 

Nuair a bhí mé óg... (rann) #9 

Nuair a bhíonn an braon istigh... (seanfhocal) #10 

Níl ann ach mún an dreoilín (seanfhocal) #10 

Oíche chiúin, oíche Mhic Dé (amhrán) #10 

Ó Lúnasa go Samhain... (rann) #7 

Ó Lá 'le Shan Seáin go Lá 'le Míchíl... (rann) #7 

Pingin, pingin, dhá phingin (tomhas) #9 

Ráthaí Fírinneacha na Bliana (rann) #7 

Ráthaí Cama na Bliana (rann) #7 

Tá an Deisceart go hálainn... (rann) #4 

Tá mé i mo shuí ó d'éirigh an ghealach (amhrán) #5 

Tá mo chleamhnas déanta (amhrán) #9 

Tá sicín ina seasamh... (casfhocal) #5 

Tarraingíonn scéal scéal eile (seanfhocal) #10 

Téir abhaile 'riú (amhrán) #4 

Tic, toc an gcluineann tú mé? (rann) #10 

186

INDICES 

SUBJECT INDEX 


activities #5, #8 

appearance #4 

body parts #3 

Christmas #11 

classroom #1 

colours #3 

countries & languages #5, #7 

daily routine #10 

directions #8; going somewhere (chuig; go; go dtí) #9 

illnesses #4 

days of the week #7 

family #3, #9 

farmyard animals #2 

feelings #4 

food #2, #9 

greetings #1; in a letter #8; Christmas ~ #11 

Halloween #7 

house #6 

introductions #1 

knowledge (factual; personal; expertise) #5 

languages & countries #5, #7 

letter writing #8 

likes and dislikes #2 

loanwords #1 

names (first ~) #8 

numbers 1-10 #9, #10 

professions #3, #7 

terms of endearment #8 

Thanksgiving #9 

time of day #10 

vacation #11 

weather #5 

187

INDICES 

GRAMMAR INDEX 


adjective: 

predicative use #4-#5 

attributive use, with masculine/feminine noun #2 

prefixed adjectives #2 

adverb go maith #4 

article, definite #2 

aspect & direction #8 

copula: 

classification #1 

identification #3 

dative case #6 

days of the week #7 

dental rule (prevention of lenition when d/t/s is preceded by `n') #2 

directions #8 

eclipsis (urú) #3 

emphatic pronouns and particles #1 

imperative #8 

lenition #2 

noun: 

feminine & masculine #2 

vocative case #8 

dative case #6 

numbers #9, #10 

past participles #5 

prefixed adjectives: droch-, sean- #2 

prefixed intensifyers: an-, fíor-, ró-, iontach #4 

prefixing `h' #2 

prepositional pronouns: le #2; ar #4; ag, i #5; do, de #8; chuig #9; ó, roimh #11 

present progressive #5 

pronouns: 

independent ~ #1 

emphatic ~ #1 

possessive ~ #3; tá mé i mo shuí #5; tá mé i mo mhac léinn #7 

prepositional ~ #2 (le), #4 (ar), #5 (ag, i), #8 (do, de), #9 (chuig), #11 (ó, roimh) 

séimhiú (lenition) #2 

substantive verb: 

present tense #4 

past tense #6 

future tense #7 

188

present habitual #10 

time of day #10 

urú (eclipsis) #3 

verb: 

present tense #10 

past tense #9 

present habitual #10 

present progressive #5 

future tense, #11 

perfect tense with past participle #5 

INDICES 

189

Buntús na Gaeilge - People Fas Harvard - Harvard University

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