Chapter 2 // Languages & Origins

an Ghaeilge

na Gaeilge

proper noun f (4th declension, no plural)

Gaeilge, the Irish language

an

particle (triggers eclipsis)

question marker (before a verb)

an bhfuil

phrase

question form of bí; Is…? (used at the beginning of a question)

An bhfuil Gaeilge agat?

phrase

Do you speak Irish? (lit. Is Irish at you?)

an Béarla

an Bhéarla

proper noun m

the English language

An bhfuil Béarla agat?

phrase

Do you speak English?

gabh

verb (1st conjugation - A)

to take

mo

determiner (triggers lenition)

my (before consonants)

an leithscéal, na leithscéalta

an leithscéil, na leithscéalta

noun m (1st declension)

excuse, apology

gabh mo leithscéal

phrase

excuse me

Gabh mo leithscéal, an bhfuil Gaeilge agat?

phrase

excuse me, do you speak Irish?

An bhfuil sé fuar inniu?

phrase

Is it cold today?

An bhfuil tú go maith?

phrase

Are you well?

agam

pronoun

at me

Tá Gaeilge agam

phrase

I speak Irish (lit. Irish is at me)

ag

preposition

at (with dative)

beagán

adverb

a little, somewhat

Tá beagán Gaeilge agam

phrase

I speak a little Irish

Tá beagán Béarla agam

phrase

I speak a little English

Gaeilge mhaith

phrase

good Irish (language)

Tá Gaeilge mhaith agam

phrase

I speak Irish well (lit. good Irish is at me)

líofa

adjective (3rd declension)

fluent (language)

Béarla líofa

phrase

fluent English

Tá Béarla líofa agam

phrase

I speak fluent English

Tá Gaeilge mhaith agat

phrase

You speak Irish well

Ach tá Gaeilge mhaith agat

phrase

But you speak Irish well

níl

verb

is not… (negative of bí)

Níl Gaeilge agam

phrase

I don’t speak Irish

Níl mé go maith

phrase

I’m not well

Níl sé fuar inniu

phrase

It’s not cold today

Tá sé tirim ar maidin ach níl sé te

phrase

It’s dry this morning but it’s not hot

A: An bhfuil sé fliuch inniu?

B: Níl

phrase

A: Is it wet today?

B: No

A: An bhfuil sé tirim inniu?

B: Tá

phrase

A: Is it dry today?

B: Yes

ach

adverb

only, merely

níl ach

phrase

there is only…, it is only…

níl ach beagán

phrase

there is only a little…, it is only a bit…

Níl ach beagán Gaeilge agam

phrase

I only speak a little Irish

an Ghaeltacht, na Gaeltachtaí

na Gaeltachta, na nGaeltachtaí

noun f (3rd declension)

Irish-speaking area

buartha

adjective (3rd declension)

sorry

Tá mé buartha

phrase

I’m sorry

Tá mé buartha, níl ach beagán Gaeilge agam

phrase

I’m sorry, I only speak a little Irish

an focal, na focail

an fhocail, na bhfocal

noun m (1st declension)

word

Níl focal Béarla agam

phrase

I don’t speak a word of English

Níl Gaeilge mhaith agam

phrase

I don’t speak Irish well

Níl ach beagán Béarla agam

phrase

I only speak a little English

an cúpla, na cúplaí

an chúpla, na gcúplaí

noun m (4th declension)

pair, couple, twins

cúpla

noun

a couple (of)… (with singular nouns)

cúpla focal

phrase

a couple words

Tá cúpla focal agam

phrase

I can speak (a language) a little bit (lit. there are a few words at me)

Níl ach cúpla focal agam

phrase

I only speak a few words (in a language, etc.)

cárb

particle (pre-vocalic)

where is…, what is…

as

preposition

out of, from (with dative)

Cárb as tú?

phrase

Where are you from?

cá

adverb (triggers eclipsis in verbs)

where (interrogative)

cárb as

phrase

Where is/are (…) from?

Gabh mo leithscéal, cárb as tú?

phrase
excuse me, where are you from?

Dia dhuit, cárb as tú?

phrase

hello, where are you from?

is

verb

non-past realis copula; is (for permanent qualities)

Meiriceá

proper noun m (4th declension)

America

as Meiriceá

phrase

from America

Is as Meiriceá mé

phrase

I am from America

Éire

na hÉireann

Éirinn

proper noun f (5th declension, irregular)

Ireland

as Éirinn

phrase

from Ireland

Is as Éirinn mé

phrase

I’m from Ireland

Sasana

Shasana

proper noun m

England

Dia duit, is as Sasana mé

phrase

Hello, I’m from England

an Ceanada

an Cheanada

proper noun m (4th declension, no plural)

Canada

Is as Ceanada mé

phrase

I’m from Canada

Albain

na hAlbain

proper noun f (5th declension)

Scotland

Is as Albain mé

phrase

I’m from Scotland

Meiriceánach

adjective (1st declension)

American

an Meiriceánach, na Meiriceánaigh

an Mheiriceánaigh, na Meiriceánach

noun m (1st declension)

American person

Is Meiriceánach mé

phrase

I’m American / I’m an American person

Éireannach

adjective (1st declension)

Irish

an tÉireannach, na hÉireannaigh

an Éireannaigh, na nÉireannach

noun m (1st declension)

Irish person

Is Éireannach mé

phrase

I’m Irish

Ceanadach

adjective (1st declension)

Canadian

an Ceanadach, na Ceanadaigh

an Cheanadaigh, na gCeanadach

noun m (1st declension)

Canadian person

Is Ceanadach mé

phrase

I’m Canadian

Albanach

adjective (1st declension)

Scottish

an tAlbanach, na hAlbanaigh

an Albanaigh, na nAlbanach

noun m (1st declension)

Scottish person

Is Albanach mé

phrase

I’m Scottish

Sasanach

adjective (1st declension)

English

an Sasanach, na Sasanaigh

an tSasanaigh, na Sasanach

noun m (1st declension)

English person

Is Sasanach mé

phrase

I’m English