Learn some Irish!
I am not an Irish speaker, but I find the language very interesting, and I have been learning a little of it. I'm thinking to share this beautiful language to other people too.
If you find any mistakes here, just let me know :-)
Special thanks for Niamh.
The vowels
a- The letter "a" in Irish is pronounced like the "a" in "bag". So it's kinda like "ah". But when you have á, you make the "a" longer, so it's kinda like "aah". (The accent above some vowels is called a fadabh)
e- The letter "e" in Irish is pronouced just like the English. But when you have "é", it's pronounced like "ay".
i- The letter "i" is also pronounced just like the English, except for the word "i" (which means "in"). The word "i" is pronouced like the "i" in the word "big". When you have "í", it's pronounced like "ee".
o- The letter "o" is also pronounced like the English. "Ó" is pronounced like "oh".
u- "U" is also pronounced like the English and "ú" is pronounced like "oo".
The consonants
bh- The letters "bh" in Irish are pronounced as either a "w" or a "v". It just depends on the word.
ch- The letters "ch" in Irish are pronounced like the "ch" in the word "loch".
dh- "dh" in Irish is pronounced like the letter "y", or it can be pronounced like "ch" except with a "g" sound.
fh- "fh" in Irish is silent.
gh- "gh" is just like "dh".
mh- "mh" is pronounced as either a "w" or a "v".
ph- "ph" is pronouced as an "f".
sh- "sh" is pronounced as a "h".
th- "th" is also pronouced as a "h".
Simple phrases
Hello (General greeting) = Dia dhuit (sg), Dia dhaoibh (pl)
How are you? = Conas atá tú
Good morning = Maidin mnaith
Cheers! / To good Health! = Sláinte! (Health), Sláinte mhaith! (Good health)
