50 Basic Irish Phrases with Pronunciation: Greetings, Thanks, Daily Use
These are the Irish phrases you'll actually use. Greetings, introductions, ordering food, expressing opinions, and getting through social situations. Each phrase includes a pronunciation guide in parentheses.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Irish has sounds that don't exist in English. But these will get you close enough to be understood. For deeper grammar behind these phrases, see our Irish grammar beginner's guide.
Greetings
| Gaeilge | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Dia duit | dee-a gwit | Hello (lit. "God to you") |
| Dia is Muire duit | dee-a iss mwir-a gwit | Hello (response) |
| Haigh | hi | Hi (casual) |
| Maidin mhaith | maj-in wah | Good morning |
| Tráthnóna maith | traw-no-na mah | Good afternoon/evening |
| Conas atá tú? | kun-us ah-taw too | How are you? |
Introductions
| Gaeilge | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ... is ainm dom | ... iss an-im dum | My name is ... |
| Cad is ainm duit? | cod iss an-im dit | What is your name? |
| Tá mé as ... | taw may ass ... | I'm from ... |
| Cad as duit? | cod ass dit | Where are you from? |
| Tá áthas orm bualadh leat | taw aw-hus ur-um boo-la lat | Nice to meet you |
Please, Thank You, and Sorry
| Gaeilge | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Go raibh maith agat | guh rev mah ah-gut | Thank you (one person) |
| Go raibh maith agaibh | guh rev mah ah-giv | Thank you (group) |
| Le do thoil | leh duh hull | Please |
| Más é do thoil é | maws ay duh hull ay | If you please (formal) |
| Tá brón orm | taw brone ur-um | I'm sorry |
| Gabh mo leithscéal | gov muh leh-shkale | Excuse me / Pardon me |
Opinions and Feelings
| Gaeilge | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Tá mé go maith | taw may guh mah | I'm well |
| Tá mé go holáin | taw may guh hull-aw-in | I'm great |
| Níl mé go maith | neel may guh mah | I'm not well |
| Is maith liom ... | iss mah lum ... | I like ... |
| Ní maith liom ... | nee mah lum ... | I don't like ... |
| Is breá liom ... | iss braw lum ... | I love ... |
At the Pub and Restaurant
| Gaeilge | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Pionta, le do thoil | pyun-ta, leh duh hull | A pint, please |
| Sláinte | slawn-cha | Cheers (lit. "health") |
| Sláinte mhaith | slawn-cha wah | Good health (toast) |
| An bhfuil biachlár agaibh? | un will bee-a-clahr ah-giv | Do you have a menu? |
| Ba mhaith liom ... | buh wah lum ... | I would like ... |
| An bille, le do thoil | un bill-eh, leh duh hull | The bill, please |
Social Situations
| Gaeilge | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| An bhfuil Gaeilge agat? | un will gale-ga ah-gut | Do you speak Irish? |
| Tá beagán Gaeilge agam | taw byug-awn gale-ga ah-gum | I have a little Irish |
| Tá mé ag foghlaim Gaeilge | taw may egg fow-lim gale-ga | I'm learning Irish |
| Cén scéal? | kayn shkale | What's the story? (casual greeting) |
| Aon scéal? | ayn shkale | Any news? (conversation opener) |
| Go hiontach | guh hee-un-tach | Wonderful / Great |
Farewells
| Gaeilge | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Slán | slawn | Goodbye (said by the person leaving) |
| Slán leat | slawn lat | Goodbye (said to the person leaving) |
| Slán go fóill | slawn guh foe-ill | Goodbye for now |
| Feicfidh mé thú | fek-ee may hoo | I'll see you |
| Oíche mhaith | ee-ha wah | Good night |
Useful Responses
| Gaeilge | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Tá | taw | Yes (answering "is/are" questions) |
| Níl | neel | No (answering "is/are" questions) |
| Sea | shah | Yes (copula, "it is") |
| Ní hea | nee ha | No (copula, "it is not") |
| Tuigim | tig-im | I understand |
| Ní thuigim | nee hig-im | I don't understand |
Tips for Using These Phrases
Irish doesn't have a single word for "yes" or "no." Instead, you echo the verb from the question. The responses above (Tá / Níl, Sea / Ní hea) are the most common patterns, but different verbs have different answer forms. Don't worry about getting this perfect at first. People will understand you.
Pronunciation varies by dialect. These guides are based on a general standardised pronunciation. In Munster, Connacht, and Ulster, you'll hear variations. All are correct.
The best way to get comfortable with these phrases is to practise them in short daily sessions. Start with the five most useful: Dia duit, Go raibh maith agat, Slán, Tá mé go maith, and Sláinte. Those five cover most basic social interactions. Once they're automatic, add more.
If you want to go beyond phrases and understand the grammar behind them (why go raibh maith agat literally means "may there be good at you"), blas. breaks down every construction systematically with spaced repetition so you remember what you learn. And for seasonal phrases perfect for March, see our Seachtain na Gaeilge phrase guide.
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