Useful Phrases
Following is a list of useful phrases that can be used in correspondence and in conversation and you conducting business in Irish.
An rud is annamh, is iontach
- What is rare is strangest.
Is maith an scáthán súil charad
- A friend’s eye is a good mirror.
Aithníonn ciaróg ciaróg eile
- It takes one to know one.
Moladh luath agus cáineadh mall
- Early praise and delayed criticism.
Bíonn blas ar an mbeagán
- A little tastes well.
Éist le fuaim na habhann agus gheobhaidh tú breac
- Listen to the sound of the river and you will get a trout
Eochair feasa foghlaim
- Learning is the key to knowledge.
Faigheann an tseanbhróg an tseanstoca
- The old shoe gets the old stocking.
Giorraíonn beirt bóthar
- Two shorten the road
Is ait an mac an saol
- Life is strange.
Is binn béal ina thost
- Silence is golden.
Is fearr an tsláinte ná an táinte
- Health is better than wealth.
Tagann cruatan i ndiaidh an chaite
- Waste not, want not.
Is glas iad na cnoic i bhfad uainn
- Faraway hills are green.
Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine
- People live in one another’s shadow.
An té nach gcuirfidh san earrach, ní bhainfidh sé san fhómhar.
- He who does not sow in spring, will not reap in the autumn.
Uireasa a mhéadaíonn cumha.
- Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Beidh lá eile ag an bPaorach.
- Power will have another day.
Is breá an ní an óige, ach ní thagann sí faoi dhó.
- Youth is a fine thing, but it does not come twice.
Níl aon tinteán mar do thinteán féin.
- There is no place like home.
Níor bhris focal maith fiacail riamh.
- A good word never broke a tooth.
Tarraingíonn scéal scéal eile.
- One story leads on to another.
Ní bhíonn in aon rud ach seal.
- Nothing lasts for ever.
Ní dhéanfaidh an saol capall rása d’asal.
- The world would not make a donkey a racehorse.
Is minic ciúin ciontach.
- The quiet ones are often guilty.
I ndiaidh a chéile a thógtar na caisleáin.
- Rome was not built in a day.
Imíonn an tuirse is fanann an tairbhe.
- Tiredness goes away and the benefit remains.
Aithnítear cara i gcruatan.
- It is in hardship that a friend is recognised.
Maireann croí éadrom i bhfad.
- A light heart lives longest.
Ní bhíonn uasal ná íseal, ach thuas seal thíos seal.
- Noble and poor are both up and down a while.
Ní féidir an dubh a chur ina gheal, ach seal.
- You can only deny the truth, for a while.
Ní mar a shíltear a bhítear.
- Things are not always as they seem.
Ní neart go cur le chéile.
- There is no strength without unity.
Ní thagann ciall roimh aois
- Sense does not come before age.
Níl aon leigheas ar an ngrá, ach pósadh.
- The only cure for love is marriage.
Soitheach folamh is mó torann
- Empty vessels make the most noise.
Is maith an scéalaí an aimsir.
- Time is a good messenger.
Taithí a dhéanann máistreacht.
- Experience brings perfection.
Tír gan teanga, tír gan anam.
- A country without a language, is a country without a soul.
Tús maith leath na hoibre.
- A good start is half the work / well begun half done.
Beatha teanga í a labhairt.
- The life of a language is to speak it.
An té a bhíonn siúlach, bíonn sé scéalach.
- Travellers have tales to tell.
Is fearr cara sa chúirt, ná punt sa sparán.
- Better a friend in court, than a pound in the purse.
Ní sheasann sac folamh.
- An empty sack will not stand.
An té nach bhfuil láidir, ní mór dó a bheith glic.
- He who is weak needs to be clever.
Ná mol agus ná cáin tú féin.
- Neither praise nor criticise yourself.
Buail an t-iarann te.
- Strike when the iron is hot.
Ní thagann ciall roimh aois.
- Sense doesn’t come before age.
Múineann gá seift.
- Necessity is the mother of invention.
Ní fhanann trá le héinne.
- Time and tide awaits no man.
Is binn béal ina thost.
- Silence is golden.
Ná tabhair breith ar an chéad scéal.
- Never judge on first opinions.
Ag tuileadh agus ag trá a chaitheann an fharraige an lá.
- The tide spends the day going in and out.
Oíche aerach is maidin bhrónach.
- A lively night and a sad morning.
Ar scáth a chéile a mhairimid.
- We all exist in each others’ shadow.
Go n-éirí an bóthar leat is do chosán cóngair.
- May your journey, long or short be a success.
General Phrases
Dia Duit
- Hello
Dia’s Muire duit
- Hello (reply to Dia duit)
Cén chaoi a bhfuil tú?
- How are you?
Tá mé go maith
- I’m fine
Go raibh míle maith agat
- Thank you very much
Slán go fóill
- Goodbye
Dia duit, Máire anseo
- Hello, Mary here
Dia ‘s Muire duit
- Hello (reply to Dia duit)
Coinnigh an líne le do thoil
- Hold the line please
An féidir liom teachtaireacht a thógáil?
- Can I take a message?
Níl sí anseo faoi láthair
- She is not here at the moment
Go raibh maith agat
- Thank you
Slán
- Goodbye
Special Days
Lá Fhéile Vailintín Sona duit
- Happy Valentine’s Day
Do mo Ghrá Geal
- For my Loved One
Le Grá
- With Love
Mo Ghrá Geal
- My Love
Amhrán Grá
- Love Song
A Stóirín!
- Darling!
Mo Mhuirnín
- My sweetheart
Grá mo chroí
- Love of my heart
Cuisle mo chroí
- Pulse of my heart
Is tú grá mo chroí
- You’re the love of my life
Thaitneodh bláthanna liom!
- I would like flowers!
Níl aon leigheas ar an ngrá ach pósadh
- The only cure for love is marriage
Giorraíonn beirt bóthar
- Two shorten the road
Lá na Máithreacha
- Mothers' Day
Beannachtaí Lá na Máithreacha oraibh go léir
- Happy Mothers’ day to all
Tabhair aire di
- Take care of her
Is lá speisialta é, Lá na Máithreacha
- Mothers' day is a special day.
Bain sult as Lá na Máithreacha
- Enjoy Mothers' Day
Is duine speisialta í do mháthair
- Your Mother is special
Social Media
Dia Daoibh
- Hello (plural)
Dia Daoibh ar maidin
- Hello (ar maidin)
Bíodh lá maith agaibh
- Have a good day (iolra)
Cén chaoi a bhfuil sibh inniu?
- How are you (plural) today
Lá breá samhraidh anseo i nGaillimh
- A lovely summer’s day here in Galway
Slán go fóill
- Bye for now
Oíche Mhaith
- Good night
Sin é
- That’s it
Bíodh tráthnóna/deireadh seachtaine maith agaibh
- Have a good evening/weekend
Coinnigh súil amach
- Keep an eye out
Bí linn
- Join us
Buail isteach
- Drop in
Fáilte go dtí mo bhlag
- Welcome to my blog
Déan nasc liom
- Connect with me
Cad é bhur dtuairimí?
- What is your opinions?
Bí linn
- Join us
Buail isteach
- Drop in
Ádh mór ar fhoireann Rugbaí Chonnacht
- Best of luck to the Connacht Rugby team
Ádh mór ar fhoireann Sacair na hÉireann
- Best of luck to the Irish Soccer Team
Tá an deireadh seachtaine linn
- It’s the weekend
