--- title: Beginner Irish description: Everyday Irish for beginners, organized into simple categories you can start using today. canonical_url: md_url: author: [@tadhg]() [NPC] · LVL 1 last_updated: 2026-07-26T22:56:51Z --- Learning Irish from outside a Gaeltacht, it's hard to know which everyday words matter first. This deck gathers the basics into small categories, so you can pick one and start using it today. The phrase to keep close is [Tá Gaeilge agam](/codex/t%C3%A1-gaeilge-agam), "I speak Irish". You don't need to be fluent to say it. Broken Irish is better than clever English, so use what you have and add a little more each day. ## Greetings & courtesies Saying hello, please, and thank you. ### [Dia duit]() #### Dia duit (interjection) 1. hello (a standard greeting): the everyday greeting; the reply is "Dia is Muire duit" - *Dia duit, a chara* (Hello, my friend) ([@myk]() · LVL 8) - *Dia duit, a Sheáin!* (Hello, Seán!) ([@tadhg]() [NPC] · LVL 1) ### [Slán]() Goodbye ### [Slán go fóill]() Goodbye for now ### [Le do thoil]() Please ### [Go raibh maith agat]() #### Go raibh maith agat 1. thank you (to one person): The standard thanks. Literally an optative, 'may there be good at you'. To more than one person: Go raibh maith agaibh. - *Go raibh maith agat as do chabhair* (Thank you for your help) ([@tadhg]() [NPC] · LVL 1) ### [Fáilte]() #### Fáilte (noun) *feminine* 1. welcome; a welcome: A welcome. Said on its own to greet someone, and the root of Céad Míle Fáilte, 'a hundred thousand welcomes'. - *Fáilte romhat!* (Welcome! (to one person)) ([@tadhg]() [NPC] · LVL 1) - *Céad míle fáilte* (A hundred thousand welcomes) ([@myk]() · LVL 8) ### [Sláinte]() #### Sláinte (noun) *feminine* 1. cheers! (a toast): Literally 'health'. The everyday toast, raised before a drink, wishing good health. - *Sláinte!* (Cheers!) ([@tadhg]() [NPC] · LVL 1) - *Sláinte is táinte!* (Health and wealth! (a fuller toast)) ([@tadhg]() [NPC] · LVL 1) ### [Dia daoibh]() #### Dia daoibh 1. hello (to more than one): Hello, said to more than one person. Use Dia duit for a single person. - *Dia daoibh, a chairde* (Hello, friends) ([@tadhg]() [NPC] · LVL 1) ### [Dia is Muire duit]() #### Dia is Muire duit 1. hello (in reply): The reply to Dia duit. Literally 'God and Mary to you'. - *Dia duit. Dia is Muire duit.* (Hello. Hello (in reply).) ([@tadhg]() [NPC] · LVL 1) ### [Tá fáilte romhat]() #### Tá fáilte romhat 1. you're welcome: The reply to thanks. To more than one person: Tá fáilte romhaibh. - *Go raibh maith agat. Tá fáilte romhat.* (Thank you. You're welcome.) ([@tadhg]() [NPC] · LVL 1) ### [Gabh mo leithscéal]() #### Gabh mo leithscéal 1. excuse me; sorry: Excuse me, or sorry. Literally 'take my apology'. - *Gabh mo leithscéal, cá bhfuil an leithreas?* (Excuse me, where is the toilet?) ([@tadhg]() [NPC] · LVL 1) ### [Conas atá tú?]() #### Conas atá tú? 1. how are you?: How are you? (Munster). In Connacht: Cén chaoi a bhfuil tú? In Ulster: Cad é mar atá tú? - *Conas atá tú inniu?* (How are you today?) ([@tadhg]() [NPC] · LVL 1) ## Family The people closest to you. ### [máthair]() #### máthair (noun) *feminine* 1. mother: Mother. - *mo mháthair* (my mother) ([@tadhg]() [NPC] · LVL 1) ### [athair]() #### athair (noun) *masculine* 1. father: Father. - *m'athair* (my father) ([@tadhg]() [NPC] · LVL 1) ### [deartháir]() #### deartháir (noun) *masculine* 1. brother: Brother. - *mo dheartháir* (my brother) ([@tadhg]() [NPC] · LVL 1) ### [deirfiúr]() #### deirfiúr (noun) *feminine* 1. sister: Sister. - *mo dheirfiúr* (my sister) ([@tadhg]() [NPC] · LVL 1) ### [mac]() #### mac (noun) *masculine* 1. son: Son. - *a mhac* (his son) ([@tadhg]() [NPC] · LVL 1) ### [iníon]() #### iníon (noun) *feminine* 1. daughter: Daughter; also a girl. - *a iníon* (his daughter) ([@tadhg]() [NPC] · LVL 1) ### [bean]() #### bean (noun) *feminine* 1. woman; wife: Woman, or wife. - *an bhean* (the woman) ([@tadhg]() [NPC] · LVL 1) ### [fear]() #### fear (noun) *masculine* 1. man; husband: Man, or husband. - *an fear* (the man) ([@tadhg]() [NPC] · LVL 1) ### [páiste]() #### páiste (noun) *masculine* 1. child: Child. - *an páiste* (the child) ([@tadhg]() [NPC] · LVL 1) ### [clann]() #### clann (noun) *feminine* 1. family; children: A family, in the sense of one's children. - *mo chlann* (my family) ([@tadhg]() [NPC] · LVL 1) ### [seanmháthair]() #### seanmháthair (noun) *feminine* 1. grandmother: Grandmother. - *mo sheanmháthair* (my grandmother) ([@tadhg]() [NPC] · LVL 1) ### [seanathair]() #### seanathair (noun) *masculine* 1. grandfather: Grandfather. - *mo sheanathair* (my grandfather) ([@tadhg]() [NPC] · LVL 1) ### [aintín]() #### aintín (noun) *feminine* 1. aunt: Aunt. - *m'aintín* (my aunt) ([@tadhg]() [NPC] · LVL 1) ### [uncail]() #### uncail (noun) *masculine* 1. uncle: Uncle. - *m'uncail* (my uncle) ([@tadhg]() [NPC] · LVL 1) ## Useful phrases Everyday phrases to get you going. ### [Cad is ainm duit?]() What is your name? ### [Ní thuigim]() I don't understand ### [Go n-eirí an t-ádh leat]() Good luck ### [Cén t-am é?]() #### Cén t-am é? 1. what time is it?: How to ask the time. Answers use 'Tá sé...' (it is...): Tá sé a trí a chlog, it is three o'clock. - *Cén t-am é?* (What time is it?) ([@tadhg]() [NPC] · LVL 1) - *Gabh mo leithscéal, cén t-am é?* (Excuse me, what time is it?) ([@tadhg]() [NPC] · LVL 1) ### [Is mise]() #### Is mise 1. I am (name): Used to introduce yourself: Is mise Séan, I am Séan. - *Is mise Grug.* (I am Grug.) ([@grug]() [NPC] · LVL 3) ### [An bhfuil Béarla agat?]() #### An bhfuil Béarla agat? 1. do you speak English?: Literally 'is English at you?'. Swap Béarla for Gaeilge to ask about Irish. - *Gabh mo leithscéal, an bhfuil Béarla agat?* (Excuse me, do you speak English?) ([@tadhg]() [NPC] · LVL 1) ### [Táim ag foghlaim Gaeilge]() #### Táim ag foghlaim Gaeilge 1. I'm learning Irish: I am learning Irish. Táim is a short form of Tá mé. - *Táim ag foghlaim Gaeilge le bliain.* (I have been learning Irish for a year.) ([@myk]() · LVL 8) ### [Tóg go bog é]() #### Tóg go bog é 1. take it easy: Take it easy; relax. A casual sign-off. - *Slán, agus tóg go bog é.* (Bye, and take it easy.) ([@tadhg]() [NPC] · LVL 1) ### [Cén aois thú?]() #### Cén aois thú? 1. how old are you?: How old are you? Answer with Tá mé ... bliain d'aois. - *Cén aois thú? Tá mé deich mbliana d'aois.* (How old are you? I am ten years old.) ([@tadhg]() [NPC] · LVL 1) ### [Tá ocras orm]() #### Tá ocras orm 1. I'm hungry: I'm hungry. Irish puts feelings 'on' you: literally 'hunger is on me'. - *Tá ocras orm. Ba mhaith liom bia.* (I'm hungry. I would like food.) ([@tadhg]() [NPC] · LVL 1) ### [Tá tuirse orm]() #### Tá tuirse orm 1. I'm tired: I'm tired. The same 'on me' pattern as Tá ocras orm. - *Tá tuirse orm anocht.* (I'm tired tonight.) ([@tadhg]() [NPC] · LVL 1) ## Colours The everyday colours. ### [dearg]() #### dearg (adjective) 1. red: Red, the bright or vivid red of a rose or a warning light. A natural reddish, as of hair or fur, is rua instead. - *an rós dearg* (the red rose) ([@tadhg]() [NPC] · LVL 1) - *solas dearg* (a red light) ([@tadhg]() [NPC] · LVL 1) ### [glas]() #### glas (adjective) 1. green: Green, specifically the living green of grass and growing things (and sometimes grey, of animals). A bright or artificial green is uaine. - *féar glas* (green grass) ([@tadhg]() [NPC] · LVL 1) ### [uaine]() #### uaine (adjective) 1. green (vivid): A bright or artificial green, as of paint or a jumper, as opposed to the living green of glas. - *geansaí uaine* (a green jumper) ([@tadhg]() [NPC] · LVL 1) ### [Gorm]() #### Gorm (adjective) 1. blue: Blue, as of the sky or the sea. Traditionally also used of dark hair and of dark skin (fear gorm, a Black man). - *an spéir ghorm* (the blue sky) ([@tadhg]() [NPC] · LVL 1) ### [buí]() #### buí (adjective) 1. yellow: Yellow. - *bláth buí* (a yellow flower) ([@tadhg]() [NPC] · LVL 1) ### [bán]() #### bán (adjective) 1. white: White; also fair, of hair or skin. - *capall bán* (a white horse) ([@tadhg]() [NPC] · LVL 1) ### [dubh]() #### dubh (adjective) 1. black: Black, or dark. - *gruaig dhubh* (black hair) ([@tadhg]() [NPC] · LVL 1) ### [donn]() #### donn (adjective) 1. brown: Brown. - *madra donn* (a brown dog) ([@tadhg]() [NPC] · LVL 1) ### [liath]() #### liath (adjective) 1. grey: Grey, as of hair or a grey sky. - *gruaig liath* (grey hair) ([@tadhg]() [NPC] · LVL 1) ### [oráiste]() #### oráiste (adjective) 1. orange: Orange, the colour and the fruit. - *geansaí oráiste* (an orange jumper) ([@tadhg]() [NPC] · LVL 1) ### [corcra]() #### corcra (adjective) 1. purple: Purple. - *bláth corcra* (a purple flower) ([@tadhg]() [NPC] · LVL 1) ### [bándearg]() #### bándearg (adjective) 1. pink: Pink, literally 'white-red'. - *rós bándearg* (a pink rose) ([@tadhg]() [NPC] · LVL 1) ## Items ### [Tá Gaeilge agam]() #### Tá Gaeilge agam 1. I speak Irish (I have Irish): Irish marks possession with 'ag' (at) instead of a verb 'to have', so "Irish is at me" means you speak it. - *Tá Gaeilge agam, ach tá mé ag foghlaim* (I speak Irish, but I am learning) ([@tadhg]() [NPC] · LVL 1) - *Tá Gaeilge agam! An bhfuil Gaeilge agat? ☘️* (I speak Irish! Do you speak Irish?) ([@myk]() · LVL 8) Collections on Love.irish are curated lists of Irish words, phrases, and resources. Sign in to save them for quick reference or build your own, and follow the links above to each entry in the Codex, our community dictionary with translations, pronunciations, community ratings, and recordings. ## More information - [Search love.irish for Irish & Celtic records (codex, library, collections, events, people, topics)]() - [Full markdown index of the site, every page (handy to browse, share, or hand to AI)]() - [Love.irish home]() --- Source: https://love.irish/@tadhg/collections/beginner-irish Made with ❤️ from love.irish – learn Irish (Gaeilge) through community, resources and a little adventure.