Greetings & Farewells
* Dia dhuit! (dee-a gwit) - Hello! (formal, to one person)
* Dia daoibh! (dee-a jee-v) - Hello! (formal, to more than one person)
* Dia is Muire dhuit! (dee-a iss moo-ray gwit) - God and Mary be with you! (formal, to one person)
* Dia is Muire daoibh! (dee-a iss moo-ray jee-v) - God and Mary be with you! (formal, to more than one person)
* A Dhia! (a dee-a) - Oh God!
* Slán! (slawn) - Goodbye!
* Slán agat! (slawn uh-gut) - Goodbye! (formal, to one person)
* Slán agat! (slawn uh-gut) - Goodbye! (formal, to more than one person)
* Slán abhaile! (slawn uh-hil-ya) - Goodbye and good luck!
General Phrases
* Go raibh maith agat! (gur-riv mah ag-ut) - Thank you! (formal)
* Go raibh maith agat! (gur-riv mah ag-ut) - Thank you! (formal, to more than one person)
* Tá fáilte romhat! (taw fawl-cha row-hut) - You're welcome!
* Ba mhaith liom... (bah vith lee-um...) - I would like...
* Cad chuige sin? (cud koo-geh shin?) - Why is that?
* Ceart go leor! (kyart go lyor) - Okay!
* Níl aon fhadhb! (nil awn fad-uv) - No problem!
* Ní fhaca mé riamh! (nee fa-ka may ree-uv) - I've never seen anything like it!
* Is breá liom... (iss bray lee-um...) - I love...
* Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine. (ar skah a khay-la a vaw-run na dow-nee) - People survive by helping each other. (This proverb is often translated as "A tree cannot stand alone.")
Drinking & Fun
* Sláinte! (slawn-cha) - Cheers!
* Cead mile fáilte! (kyad mil-ya fawl-cha) - A hundred thousand welcomes!
* Is maith an rud é! (iss mah an rud ay) - That's a good thing!
* Ar mhaith leat... (ar vith lat...) - Would you like...?
* Tá mé ag ól. (taw may ag owl) - I'm drinking.
Remember:
* Pronunciation: Irish is a phonetic language, meaning that it's generally pronounced how it's spelled. But there are some common rules and sounds that can be tricky for English speakers to master.
* Formal vs. Informal: Irish has a strong distinction between formal and informal speech. Use the formal phrases in formal situations like meeting someone new or speaking to someone older.
For further learning:
* Online Resources: There are many websites and apps dedicated to teaching Irish, like Duolingo, Memrise, and Irish Language Hub.
* Books: Irish language textbooks and phrasebooks are widely available.
* Language Exchange Partners: Find an Irish speaker to practice with! You can use websites like HelloTalk, Tandem, or italki to connect with native speakers.
Have fun learning Irish! ☘️