Features of the Language

1. An síneadh fada (the accent). (pronounced: un sheena fada)

2. broad (a,o,u) + slender vowels (i,e)

3. séimhiú + urú (lenition and eclipsis mutations). (Pronounced: sheyvoo + uroo. Like her-roo without the ‘h’)

4. Short (1 syllable) + long verbs (2 syllables)

5. Verb-Subject-Object agreement

6. masculine + feminine nouns

7. word stress (the first syllable is usually stressed)

seven features of the Irish Language

á = aw like law

ó = oh like blow

ú = oo like zoo

í = ee like pee

é = ay like may

An síneadh fada sounds
á
ó
ú
í
é

a o u

broad vowels

leathan (lahan)

broad

caol (coil)

slender

e i

slender vowels

bh, ch, dh, fh, gh, mh, ph, sh, th

Séimhiú only occurs on which 9 letters

9

séimhiú occurs on __ letters

added h (lenition)

what is a séimhiú

L N R H sc sm sp st (scallions smell spicy in stew)

a séimhiú never occurs on

1. When addressing somebody (e.g. A Mháirín = dear Máirín)
2. For regular verbs in the past tense (e.g. dún = to close
dhún mé = I closed)
Roses are red, violets are blue, regular verbs in the past tense take a séimhiú.
3. For possession (my, your, his: e.g., mo mhadra = my dog)
4. Definite article “an” (the) + feminine noun (e.g., an bhean = the woman. Pronounced un van)
5. Negative present and future verbs (e.g. ní dhúnann, ní dhúnfaidh)
6. Counting things 2-6 takes a séimhiú (e.g. dhá chat)
7. After some prepositions (e.g. sa chistin)

When do we use the séimhiú?

nasalisation (eclipses)

What is urú?

7

The urú goes on how many letters?

mB gC nD dT nG bP bhF

(my brother got caught not doing dishes tonight nobody gets blueberry pie before he finishes)

Which letters take an urú?

n-
(e.g. ár n-athair =our father)

What is the urú on vowels?

my brother
got caught
not doing
dishes tonight
nobody gets
blueberry pie
before he finishes.

What is the urú mnemonic to remember which letters it effects?

1. After some prepositions (e.g. i mBaile Átha Cliath)
2. Possessions (our, pl. your, their e.g. a mbaile = their home).
3. Counting things 7-10 (e.g., seacht gcat = 7 cats)
4. Questions forms in present and future tenses (e.g. an ndúnann tú? An ndúnfaidh tú?)

when do we use an urú?

verb - subject -object

(e.g. D’ith Mollie cáca (ate Mollie cake). Pronounced Di mollie kawka.
Cheannaigh sí caife (bought she coffee). Pronounced kharnee she cuffeh)

Sentence order

first
fada

(e.g. - doras = door; buachaill = boy; amárach = tomorrow pronounced amOREokh)

word stress is placed on the _____ syllable unless there is a _______.

An síneadh fada (arn sheena farda)

The accent

Often Broad ending or ending in ‘-ín’
All Professions
an fear = the man (no séimhiú on nouns starting with consonant)
an t-am = the time (added t- on nouns starting with vowels)
an sagart = the priest (no added t to nouns starting with s)

Masculine Nouns (Ainmfhocal Firinscneach)

Mostly Slender Endings or endings in -lann / -óg / -eog / -aíocht
Most Countries
Languages (excluding Béarla)
an bhean = the woman (Takes a séimhiú on nouns starting with a consonant)
an aimsir = the weather (no t- on nouns starting with a vowel)
an tsúil = the eye (Added t on nouns starting with a s)

Feminine Nouns