• Advertise
  • Contact
  • Find a Retailer
  • eMagazine
Subscribe
IRISH COUNTRY MAGAZINE
  • Inside the issue
  • Irish Made
  • Style
  • Food
  • Sustainability
  • Beauty
    • BIAB Nails
    • Hair
    • Health & Fitness
    • Makeup
    • Skin Care
  • Interiors
  • Win
  • More
    • Culture
    • Family
    • Gardening
    • Health
    • Travel
No Result
View All Result
IRISH COUNTRY MAGAZINE
  • Inside the issue
  • Irish Made
  • Style
  • Food
  • Sustainability
  • Beauty
    • BIAB Nails
    • Hair
    • Health & Fitness
    • Makeup
    • Skin Care
  • Interiors
  • Win
  • More
    • Culture
    • Family
    • Gardening
    • Health
    • Travel
No Result
View All Result
Irish Country Magazine
No Result
View All Result

Cúpla focal for when you want to practice your Gaeilge

Saoirse Hanley by Saoirse Hanley
July 13, 2021
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A

Here are some phrases as Gaeilge to have on hand

As you might have seen in this month’s Irish Country Magazine, there are loads of little ways for you to employ your cúpla focal as Gaeilge around the country. From visiting a Gaeltacht to wearing a gorgeous necklace, you can promote our lovely language in a myriad of ways. 

WAW signage Slea Head

ADVERTISEMENT

Image by Chris Hill via Tourism Ireland

But what if you don’t know where to start? Below you’ll find some words and phrases to get you feeling fluent in no time. One of the most important phrases for you to take forward into your learning is “labhair cibé Gaeilge atá agat,” meaning speak however much Irish you have. As the saying goes, is fearr Gaeilge bhriste ná Béarla cliste (better to have broken Irish than clever English). 

Like all languages, Gaeilge is constantly evolving, and phrases get added or changed all the time. Most recently, the term duine de dhath was added to the National Terminology Database. Duine de dhath is now the official Gaeilge for person of colour. Previously, speakers used the outdated expressions duine gorm, literally meaning “blue person”, or duine daite, a “coloured person”.  Last year, a team in DCU launched new phrasing for COVID-19. You won’t need a dictionary to translate Coróinvíreas, that’s for sure!

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

The evolution of the language aside, here are some small phrases to start bringing into conversations. You don’t need to recreate your Irish oral every day, but even swapping out your ‘hello’ for dia dhuit can make a difference.

Key phrases

Go raibh maith agat (Guh rev mah agut) – Thank you. 

(This can be shortened to GRMA on social media, if you want to introduce Gaeilge into your online spaces!)

ADVERTISEMENT

Conas atá tú** (Kun-ass at-aw too) – How are you?

Cad é an scéal?/Aon scéal? (Kod ay on sh-kayl/ay-n sh-kayl) – What’s the story? What’s up?

Sláinte (Slawn-tah) – Cheers. A handy one for the reopening of the pubs!

Cén fáth? (Kay-n faw) – Why?

ADVERTISEMENT

Gan dabht (Gone dowt) – Without a doubt.

Tá bron orm (Taw bro-n ur-um) – I’m sorry.

Gabh mo leithscéal (Gov muh le-shkayl) – Excuse me.

**If you’re in Munster. In Ulster, it’s more common to use Go dté mar atá tú?, and in Connacht they say Cén chaoi a bhfuil tú?

For more handy phrases, as well as pronunciation guides, check out Daltaí. Take your new Irish skills on your next staycation, and go n’éirí an t-ádh leat! (Good luck!)

READ MORE

What you need to make the perfect Irish coffee
Drink

What you need to make the perfect Irish coffee

January 27, 2023
Two Irish writers are nominated for prestigious literary awards
Featured

Two Irish writers are nominated for prestigious literary awards

January 26, 2023
New programme is launched to support Irish design and craft businesses
Featured

New programme is launched to support Irish design and craft businesses

January 25, 2023
Work with us: Irish Country Magazine is hiring
Hot topics

Work with us: Irish Country Magazine is hiring

January 23, 2023
Calling all Irish producers: here’s how you could boost your business
Featured

Calling all Irish producers: here’s how you could boost your business

January 20, 2023
The cosiest Irish jumpers to snuggle up in this month
Fashion

The cosiest Irish jumpers to snuggle up in this month

January 19, 2023
Load More
ADVERTISEMENT
IRISH COUNTRY MAGAZINE

© 2022 Irish Country Magazine

IRISH COUNTRY MAGAZINE

  • Terms of service
  • Privacy statement
  • Advertise
  • eMagazine
  • Download Gift Card
  • Contact
  • Cookie Settings
  • Find a Retailer

Follow Us

  • Inside the issue
  • Irish Made
  • Style
  • Food
  • Sustainability
  • Beauty
    • BIAB Nails
    • Hair
    • Health & Fitness
    • Makeup
    • Skin Care
  • Interiors
  • Win
  • More
    • Culture
    • Family
    • Gardening
    • Health
    • Travel
Subscribe
No Result
View All Result

© 2022 Irish Country Magazine