Bunús na Gaeilge - Basic Irish Language

There is no other way to revive Irish than for a crowd of people to spread it.
- Douglas Hyde

Note: 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.

Lesson 46: Personal Grooming

When it comes to learning another language, it's important to know the "bare necessities!" This week, the focus is on personal grooming.

Phrase: Personal Grooming
Irish: Ciortha Ghlanta Pearsanta
Pronunciation: keer-hah glahn-thah pahr-sahn-thah

Word: Skin
Irish: craiceann
Pronunciation: krahk-unn

Word: Hair Brush
Irish: scuab gruaige
Pronunciation: skoob groo-ig-eh

Word: Comb
Irish: cior
Pronunciation: keer

Word: Toothbrush
Irish: scuab fiacal
Pronunciation: skoob fee-kul

Word: Toothpaste
Irish: taos fiacal
Pronunciation: thees fee-kul

Word: Dentures
Irish: fiacail bhréige
Pronunciation: fee-kill vray-geh

Word: Mouthwash
Irish: folcadh béil
Pronunciation: fuhl-kah bay-il

Word: Shampoo
Irish: foltfholcadh
Pronunciation: fuhlth-uhl-kah

Word: Hairdryer
Irish: triomadóir gruaige
Pronunciation: thrim-ah-dhohit groo-ig-eh

Word: Conditioner
Irish: oiriúinteoir
Pronunciation: err-oon-chih-ohr

Phrase: Toilet Soap
Irish: cneasghallúnach
Pronunciation: knahss-ghahl-oon-ukh

Phrase: Cleansing Cream
Irish: uachtar ghlantach
Pronunciation: ookh-thahr ghlahn-thahkh

Word: Deodorant/Antiperspirant
Irish: díobholaíoch
Pronunciation: djee-vuhl-ee-ukh

Word: Shave
Irish: bearradh
Pronunciation: bah-rah

Phrase: Shaving Cream
Irish: uachtar bearra
Pronunciation: ookh-thahr bah-rah

Word: Razor
Irish: rásúr
Pronunciation: raw-soor

Phrase: Nail file
Irish: raspa ingne
Pronunciation: rahspah ing-neh

Word: Manicure
Irish: lámh-mhaisiú
Pronunciation: lawv-wash-oo

Word: Pedicure
Irish: cos-mhaisiú
Pronunciation: kuss-wash-oo

Word: Tweezers
Irish: pionsúirín
Pronunciation: pin-shoor-een

Word: Shower
Irish: cithfolcadh
Pronunciation: kih-ful-kah

Word: Bath
Irish: folcadh
Pronunciation: fuhl-kah

Word: Tub
Irish: tobán
Pronunciation: thub-awn
NOTE: In Ireland, bath is used for washing the body. Tub is used for washing clothes.

Phrase: Bubble Bath
Irish: folcadh súilíní
Pronunciation: fuhl-kah sool-een-ee

Word: Wash
Irish: níochán
Pronunciation: nee-ukh-awn

Word: Water
Irish: uisce
Pronunciation: ish-geh

Word: Basin
Irish: báisín
Pronunciation: baw-sheen

Word: Towel
Irish: tuáille
Pronunciation: thoo-awl-yeh

Word: Facecloth
Irish: tuáille aghaidhe
Pronunciation: thoo-awl-yeh eye-yeh

Word: Bathrobe
Irish: róba folcadh
Pronunciation: roh-bah fuhl-kah

Word: Mirror
Irish: scathán
Pronunciation: skah-hawn

Phrase: Travel Case
Irish: cás taistil
Pronunciation: caws thahsh-thill

Phrase: I like your new hairstyle
Irish: Taithníonn do stíl ghruaige nua liom
Pronunciation: thah-nee-unn dhus shtheel noo-ah ghroo-ig-eh li-um

Phrase: Where is the nearest barbershop?
Irish: cá bhfuil an siopa bearbóire is congaraí?
Pronunciation: caw will on shup-ah bahr-bohr-eh is kohn-gahr-ee?

Phrase: Where is the nearest hairdresser?
Irish: cá bhfuil an gruagaire is cóngaraí?
Pronunciation: caw will on groo-ig-err-eh is kohn-gahr-ee?

Phrase: I prefer a shower to a bath
Irish: is fearr liom cithfolcadh ná folcadh
Pronunciation: iss fahr li-um kih-fuhl-kah naw fuhl-kah

Phrase: I enjoy taking a shower
Irish: is breá liom me féin a bhogadh sa chithfolcadh
Pronunciation: iss brah li-um may fayn a wug-ah sah khih-fuhl-kah

Phrase: I must give myself a manicure
Irish: ní mór dom m'ingne a chóiriú
Pronunciation: nee mohr dhum muh ing-neh ah khoh-ir-oo

Phrase: She is fair-skinned
Irish: tá gealchraiceann uirthí
Pronunciation: thaw gih-ahl-khrahk-unn irr-hee

Phrase: I need a shave
Irish: tá gá ar bhearradh orm
Pronunciation: thaw gaw err vah-rah urm

Phrase: She is fixing her hair
Irish: tá sí ag réiteach a cinn
Pronunciation: thaw she egg ray-tchukh a kinn

Phrase: How much is it for a shampoo and set?
Irish: cé mhéad le h-aghaidh ionlach agus reiteach ghruaige?
Pronunciation: kay vyadh leh heye un-lukh agus ray-chukh ghroo-ig-eh?

Phrase: Go have a wash and brush-up
Irish: buail baslach ort féin
Pronunciation: boo-il bahs-lukh urth fayn

Phrase: We need more hot water
Irish: tá tuille uisce te ag teastáil againn
Pronunciation: thaw thill-eh ish-geh cheh egg thahs-thaw-il ah-ginn

Phrase: I like to have a sauna
Irish: Is maith liom folcadh allais a ghlacadh
Pronunciation: iss my li-um fuhl-kah ahl-ish ah ghlahk-ah

Phrase: I forgot my toothpaste/toothbrush
Irish: dhein mé dearmaid ar mo scuab fiacal/taos fiacal
Pronunciation: yen may djahr-midge err muh skoob fee-kul/
thees fee-kul

Note: This caught our eye. Yes, we know it isn't gaeilge, but it is fascinating. If nothing else, it is certainly language (and Irish language as well.)
Slanguage
by Bernard Share
...for all 'decent skins', 'crawthumpers', horse-protestants', 'hard chaws' and 'strong farmers'...a dictionary of Irish slang that's as amusing as it is informative.
Click here for Slanguage


For More Basic Irish please click here: Irish Index

Image: Gaeilge Beo from All Posters and Prints.