Bunús na Gaeilge - Basic Irish Language
There is no other way to revive Irish than for a crowd of people to spread it.
- Douglas HydeNote: The spellings and pronunciations used are based on Aideen's own natural use of Connemara Irish but they have been kept simple, so as to be understood where there are differences in the language.
For example, the word 'feicfidh' is used only in Connemara Irish; in Leinster, Ulster and Munster the word is 'cífidh'. There are two pronunciations; Leinster/Munster - kee-fee; Ulster - chee-fee.
The biggest problem for people whose native language is English is that the soft 't' and 'd' are in Irish, but not in English; it's difficult to 'reproduce' them in writing. Where I use 'th' and 'dh' here, they are best achieved by putting your tongue gently behind your front upper teeth."
Click here for our words & phrases Index.
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Lesson 48: Halloween and Samhain
It's Trick or Treat in the USA and Help The Hallowe'en Party in Ireland, but wherever you are, this week's lesson focuses on words and phrases associated with the day before the Celtic New Year - Samhain (sow-en).
Word: Hallowe'en
Irish: oíche shamhna
Pronunciation: ee-heh how-nah
Word: Ghost
Irish: púca or taibhse
Pronunciation: pookah or thyve-sheh
Word: Hobgoblin:
Irish: bobodha
Pronunciation:bub-uh-dhah
Word: Costume
Irish: culaith
Pronunciation: kul-ah
Word: Turnip
Irish: tornapa
Pronunciation: thurn-ah-pah
Word: Pumpkin:
Irish: puimcín
Pronunciation: pim-keen
Word: Bonfire
Irish: tine cnámha
Pronunciation: chin-eh krawv-ah
Word: Fireworks
Irish: calaine
Pronunciation: kahl-neh
Word: Sparklers
Irish: spréachláin
Pronunciation: spraykh-law-inn
Word: Mask
Irish: masc
Pronunciation: mahsk
Phrase: Trick or Treat
Irish: cleas nó cóir
Pronunciation: class noh koh-ir
Phrase: Barm Brack
Irish: Bairín Breac or Arán Breac
Pronunciation: bahr-een brack or ah-rawn brack
Word: Apples
Irish: úlla
Pronunciation: oo-lah
Word: Nuts
Irish: cnó
Pronunciation: knoh
Word: Sweets/Candy
Irish: milseáin
Pronunciation: mill-shaw-inn
Word: Games
Irish: cluichí
Pronunciation: kliff-ee
Word: Party
Irish: cóisir
Pronunciation: koh-shirr
Word: Door
Irish: doras
Pronunciation: dhur-ahs
Phrase: Door-step
Irish: leac doiris
Pronunciation: lih-ahk dhur-ish
Word/Phrase: Witch/ Witch's Broomstick
Irish: cailleach/scuab chaillí
Pronunciation: kyle-yeukh/scoob khyle-ee
Phrase: It's I who got the ring in last year's Barm Brack but I'm still not married
Irish: Is mise a fuair an fáinne san Arán Breac anuraidh ach táim fós gan posadh
Pronunciation:
iss mish-eh ah foo-ir on faw-in-yeh sahn ah-rawn brack ah-nurr-ee okh thaw-im fohs gon pohs-ah
Phrase: We have great fun when the apples are bobbing on the water
Irish:
Is mór an spraoi againne nuair a bhíonn na h-úlla ag bogadhál ar bharr an uisce
Pronunciation: iss mohr an spree ah-ginn-eh noo-ir ah vee-un nah hoo-lah egg bug-ah-dhawl err war on ish-geh
Phrase: Have we permission to go from house-to-house outdoors in the night air?
Irish: Bhfuil cead again dul amach ó dhoras-godoras faoi aer na h-oíche?
Pronunciation: will ki-ahdh ah-ginn dhul ah-mahkh oh ghur-ahs guh dur-ahs fwee air nah hee-heh
Phrase: Will we be able to see the witch on her broomstick in the dead of night?
Irish: An mbeidh deis againn an chailleach ar a scuab a fheiceáil i marbh na h-oíche?
Pronunciation: on my dhesh ag-ginn an khyle-yeukh err ah scoob ah ek-aw-il i mahrv nah hee-heh
Phrase: It's not fair to play a nasty trick on people, nor make fun of them. Stop that now!
Irish: Níl sé ceart ná cóir mealladh gránna a bhaint as dhaoine ná ceap a magadh. Éirí as sin anois!
Pronunciation: neel shay ki-arth naw koh-ir mahl-ah grawn-ah ah wahnch oss gween-ee naw ki-aho ah mah-gah. eye-ree oss shin ah-nish!
Phrase: I was scared stiff when they lit the turnip (pumpkin) with candles inside it
Irish: Bhí an t-anam scanraithe asam nuair a a las siad an tornapa (puimcín) leis na coinnle istigh ann
Pronunciation: vee on thah-nahm skon-reh-hih oss-ahm noo-r ah loss sheedh on thurn-ah-pah (pim-keen) lesh nag cwinn-leh is-chee onn
Phrase: I recognised him immediately when he dropped the mask
Irish: D'aithnigh mé é chomh luath is a d-éirí sé as an gcur i gcéill
Pronunciation: dhah-nee may ay khoh loo-ah iss ah dheye-ree shay oss on gur ih gale
Phrase: Children are full of devilment at Hallowe'en
Irish: Bíonn an diabhal i mboilg na bpáistí Oíche Shamhna
(literally: they have the devil in their bellies - nicely!!!)
Pronunciation: bee-un on jowl ih mull-ig nah bawsh-thee ee-heh how-nah
Phrase: (You, plural) Be careful with those fireworks
Irish: Bígí cúramach leis na gcailní sin
Pronunciation: bee-gee* koo-rah-makh lesh nah gahl-nee shin
* a hard 'g' sound, as in 'go' and not 'gym'
Phrase: I've never seen a ghost. Have you?
Irish: Ní fhaca me púca or taibhse riamh. Tú féin?
Pronunciation: nee ahkh-ah may pookah or thyve-sheh reev. thoo hayn?
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/3Focloir/Halloween.html
