·         Some vowels are considered broad, some are considered slender. They make the consonants next to them also slender or broad. This has to do with how your mouth is positioned when saying them.

o   Broad: A O U

o   Slender: I E

·         They usually pair up in the syllable, this is what is mean by them being with one another.

o   Madra= dog (m)

o   Abhainn= river (f)

o   Saibhir= rich (adj)

Séimhiú

·         Initial Mutation: this means the beginning of a word changes in response to something:

o   Putting a verb into the past tense, using posession, making adjectives feminine, and many more.

·         “h” added to certain consonants: a dot above the letter in the old script, seanchló.

o   It changes the sound, making it softer. It helps the mouth transition from sound to sound. The language is made to be easily spoken and to flow, this helps the flow. How it changed depends on the consonant it modifies:

·         Only certain letters can recieved a séimhiú: b c d f g m p t s

o   B> bh “w” or “v” sound

§  Connacht bh and broad = w

§  Connacht bh and slender= v

§  Other dialects= always v

o   M>mh “w” or “v” sound

§  Connacht mh and broad = w

§  Connacht mh and slender= v

§  Other dialects= always v

o   C>ch “shh” or “scraping sound” (like making spit in your mouth)

§  Connacht, slender = sssh like German “ich“

§  Broad = like German Brauch

o   T>th= silences the t is “thar lear”=har lar

o   S>sh- sliences the s

o   F>fh-sliences both f and h

o   D>dh “y” if slender or “gh” if broad

§  Dhuit

§  Dhéanamh

o   G>gh Like d: “y” if slender or “gh” if broad

o   P>ph- like English, f sound

·         If you see a dh, mh, etc it’s not always the result of a séimhiú. Sometimes they are pronounced the same as we’ve discussed, but sometimes these clusters are pronounced differently if they’re encountered in the middle or end of a word. This may also depend on the dialect.

o   Dh in the middle of a word, after a vowel can often serve the purpose of a fada, lenghtens the vowel

§  Maedhbh (f, the Queen Maeve) Maeve

o   Bh, Mh, etc in the center of the word can be pronounced the same as if séimhiú.

§  Tabhachtach- important (adj) “v” or “w” depending on dialect

o   Bh, Mh at the end of the word changes depending on dialect, can be silent in Conamara, can be a v as in Munster, can be an “oo” as in Ulster

Videos:

·         https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hW1pWl6jqo8 WTF!? What’s a séimhiú? Ciara Ní É

·         https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bucXo6zaw_M How to pronounce LENITION in Irish, Gaeilge i mo chroí

 ·         https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViMCW7iMljU Broad and Slender Consonants in Irish, Language Learning Life (theory, why to learn, tips for monolingual speakers)

·         https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIokUII7LX0 Sounds and Spelling of Irish, stwidgie (North American English references)

·         https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbSKWDyaYWU Pronounciation Guide Irish Language – Mh, Ph, Sh, Fh, Th, Bh, Learn Irish (Munster)

·         https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aj45ma-qh2I WTF!? Slender R in Irish, Ciara Ní É

·         https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMZkF0Y1PEA How to ACTUALLY pronounce broad and slender consonants in Irish Gaelic (L, D, T, N, G, C), Dave Learns Irish

·         https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuTIB7zGJrg Irish Language Dialects Explained, Learn Irish

·         https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3rzcjnAxQs Irish Language Dialects – Some Differences Clearly Explained, Learn Irish

·         https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBU3ec87lrU The 3 Main Irish Gaelic Dialects, Bitesize Irish

nó = or

aiteach- queer (adj)

aerach- gay (adj)

leispiach-lesbian (adj)

déghnéasach- bisexual (adj)

éighnéasach-asexual (adj)

il-leannánach-polyamorous (adj)

barrpháirtí (nó barradóir)- top (noun, m)

bunpháirtí (nó bunadóir)- bottom (noun, m)

baineann go fireann (BGF-FTM) (adj)

fireann go baineann (FGB-MTF) (adj)

bean thras- trans woman (noun, f)

fear tras-trans man (noun, m)

neamh-dhénártha- non-binary  (adj)

aistriú- transition (noun, m- verb is aistrigh)

eofóiria inscne- gender euphoria (noun)

máinliacht uachtair- top surgery (noun, f)

máinliacht íochtair-bottom surgery (noun, f)

banríon draig- drag queen (noun, f)

draig-rí (nó rí draig)- drag king (noun, m)

Can be a noun:

Is maith liom mo mhadra.- I like my dog

Is maith liom brioscaí- I like biscuits/cookies

Can be a special form of a verb:

Is maith liom *a bheith* ag imirt- I like to play

Ní maith liom + what you don’t like- I don’t like

Ní maith liom do mhadra.- I don’t like your dog.

Ní maith liom an leabhar.- I don’t like the book.

Ní maith liom an sneachta.- I don’t like the snow. 

An maith leat? – Do you like?

An carr (m)- the car

An cat (m)- the cat

An leabhar (m)- the book

An amhrán (m)- the song

Ceol (m)- music

Mo chara (m)- my friend

To prefer:

Is fearr liom + what you prefer- I prefer (lit “is best with me”)

Is fearr liom cúpan tae- I prefer a cup of tea

Is fearr liom Minnesota- I prefer Minnesota.

Ní fearr liom -I don’t prefer

Ní fearr liom feoil a ithe- I don’t prefer to eat meat.

An fearr leat? ... ná... – Do you prefer...or...?

An fearr leat cait ná madraí?- Do you prefer cats or dogs?

Other videos:

·         https://www.youtube.com/shorts/tuyV3x1RiKs How to say ‘I like to read’ in Irish, Bitesize Irish

·         https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3L3FnEPYwC8 How to say ‘I like to play’ in Irish, Bitesize Irish

·         https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwOIsWqgkIs How to Use an Chopail (the copula) in Irish, Gaeilge i mo Chroí

Conjugate bí

There are two ways to form the bí verb, we’re just going to concentrate on one today. This is a simple conjugation. In Irish, conjugation doesn’t often change from person to person, that means that the verb will be the same regardless of who’s doing the action. Please note that this is not true for all tenses and all dialects, but it is a general guideline.

The verb to be = bí. Conjugated it is “tá”

·         Tá mé- I am

·         Tá tú- you are

·         Tá sé- he is

·         Tá sí- she is

·         Tá muid- we are (can be tá sinn)

·         Tá sibh- y’all are

·         Tá siad- they are

Those pronouns are used in most conjugations: mé (I), tú (you [singular]), sé (he), sí (she), muid (we), sibh (y’all), siad (they).

Please note there is no formal pronoun in Irish (ie Sie, Vouz). Plural “you” cannot be used formally.

Sentence structure in Irish

·         Verb+pronoun+other.

·         “Tá” is the conjugated verb “bí” and it comes before personal pronouns

Tá mé + state of me

or

Tá emotion orm (lit “emotion is on me”) – this structure is widely used for a variety of things and is worth leaning and becoming comfortable with. It is used in this lesson when talking about emotions specifically. Emotions never define a person in Irish. They are only on us for a period of time.

Tá mé...

Go maith- good

Go dona- bad

Ar fheabhas- great

Togha- fine

Ceart go leor- alright

Tuirseach- tired

Go breá- lovely, good

Brónach- sad

Sásta- happy

Tinn- sick

Iontach/go hiontach- wonderful

Ar meisce- drunk

Ar bís- excited

Ar mire- furious

Tá emotion orm.

Ta áthas orm- I’m happy (lit “[there] is happiness on me”)

Tá brón orm- I’m sad/I’m sorry*

Tá tinneas orm- I’m sick*

Tá tuirse orm- I’m tired*

Tá eagla orm (roimh madraí, ex)- I am afraid (of dogs) (lit “[there] is fear on me before dogs)

*these are different than the form used in tá mé... Think of them as “tiredness, sadness, happiness,” the quality of being tired, sad, or happy.

Emotions can be put on someone, they can come on someone, they can be on someone.

Below are some examples, but they are rather complex and I wouldn’t suggest you take a lot of time with them yet. Just tuck the idea in your back pocket that Irish expresses itself very differently than English.

Cuir + pronoun + emotion + orm- they caused me to be emotion

Cuireann siad imní orm- they worry me (lit “put they worry on me”)

Tar + emotion + on a person – The emotion came/comes on a person

Tháinig mearbhall air- he got confused

Video:

·         https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMl7e30-mV8 How to Describe your feelings in Irish, Gaeilge i mo Chroí (Ulster)

·         Sionnach app, beginner’s section

·         https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViGAb66Nsdo How to start speaking Irish, Gaeilge i mo Chroí (Ulster)

·         https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYJjFW80ejM How to say ‘Hello’ in Irish, Bitesize Irish

·         https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26Kp2rAcAkc How to start a Conversation in Irish, Gaeilge i mo Chroí (Ulster)

·         https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkbfs5Euf_o A Natural Conversation in Irish with subtitles, Bitesize Irish

·         https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgn2kqnb9fI Pagan Greetings as Gaeilge – Irish Language Pronunciation for Pagans, Lora O’Brien – Ogham Academy

abair.ie <use this to hear how the words sound

Dia duit – Hello (lit “God to you” ie God be with you)

Dia is Muire duit -Hello back (lit “God and Mary to you” ie God and Mary be with you)

Conas atá tú? How are you? 

Tá mé... I am

                Go maith- good

                Go dona- bad

                Go hiontach- wonderful

                Ar fheabhas- great

                Ceart go leor/togha- ok/fine

                Tuirseach- tired

Agus tú féin? – and yourself?

Go raibh maith agat – thank you (lit “that there be goodness at you,” that you may have goodness)

Na habair é- Don’t mention it/No worries

Tá fáilte romhat

Cé tusa? – Who are you?

Is mise... I am (followed by your name)

Cé as thú? Cad as tú? - Where are you from?

Is as....mé. (I’m from...)

                Meiriceá (m)- America (USA= Stáit Aontaithe Mheiriceá)

                Ceanada (f)- Canada

                Albain (f)- Scotland

                Éire (f)-Ireland

                Sasana (m)- England

                An Fhrainc (f)- France

                An Ghearmáin (f)- Germany 

Cá bhfuil tú i do chónaí?- Where do you live? (lit “Where are you in your living?”)

Tá mé i mo chónaí...- I live..

                i lár na cathrach- in the center of the city

                faoin tuath- in the countryside

                sa chathair (+ city name)- in the city (city name ie of Duluth)

                ar imeall na bhaile- on the outskirts of town                

Agus tú féin?- And yourself?

Deas bualadh leat- Nice to meet you

Slán!- Bye

Slán go fóill!- Bye for now

https://www.gaeilge.ca/  The Canadian Gaeltacht!

Abair

Sionnach App

Teanglann (Dictionary)

Focloir (Dictionary)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zks78hv Complete Beginner’s Course  

TG4 Learner’s videos: Bunscoil: https://foghlaim.tg4.ie/bunscoil/gaeilge

Useful websites: https://www.forasnagaeilge.ie/10-useful-sites-for-the-adult-learner/?lang=en

Listening Practice

·         Podcast 

o   Gaeilge Weekly (beginner through fluent)

o   Speaking Irish (beginner)

·         Youtube

o   Gaeilge i mo Chroí

·         TV Online

o   (online at TG4 app/site): Lí Ban, Cula4 (Irish subtitles, children’s show)