If you’re a parent who wants to start using Irish at home, but who doesn’t speak Irish at all yet, there are a few ways you can get started!
Read, Listen, Repeat – 60 phrases to get started
The audiovisual books below take you through 60 useful phrases to start using at home, helping with pronunciation and giving you the chance to read, listen, and repeat each phrase – all in the Donegal dialect. These have been provided free via the Altram website.
- Book 1 – Maidin mhaith! (click here to open the book and Read, Listen, Repeat)
Phrases in this book:- Maidin mhaith! = “Good morning”
- Éirigh! Éirigh! = “Get up! Get up!”
- Tá sé in am duit éirí! = “It’s time for you to get up!”
- Tá an lá anois ann! = “It’s daytime now”
- Cad é mar atá tú inniu? = “How are you today?”
- Book 2 – Taispeáin Dom! (click here to open the book and Read, Listen, Repeat)
Phrases in this book:- Taispeáin dom! = “Show me!”
- Maith thú! = “Well done/Good on you!”
- Tá sin galánta! = “That’s lovely!”
- Tá tú ar fheabhas! = “You’re brilliant!”
- Fíormhaith! = “Very good/excellent!”
- Book 3 – Cad é atá cearr? (click here to open the book and Read, Listen, Repeat)
Phrases in this book:- Cad é atá cearr? = “What’s wrong?”
- Ná bí ag caoineadh! = “Don’t be crying/Don’t cry!”
- An bhfuil tart/ocras/tuirse/eagla ort? = “Are you thirsty/hungry/tired/scared?”
- Ar mhaith leat rud éigin a ól/ithe? = “Would you like to drink/eat something?”
- An bhfuil tú dúdóite? = “Are you fed up?”
- Ar mhaith leat rud éigin a dhéanamh? = “Would you like to do something?”
- An bhfuil pian i do bholg? = “Is your tummy sore?”
- Ar mhaith leat dul chuig an leithreas? = “Would you like to go to the toilet?”
- Ar mhaith leat dul a luí? = “Would you like to go to bed?”
- Ar mhaith leat póg agus barróg? = “Would you like a kiss and a hug?
Tip: When a question begins with “An bhfuil tú…?” you can answer with Tá! (“Yes!”) or Níl! (“No!”); when a question begins with Ar mhaith leat…? you can answer with Ba mhaith! (“Yes!”) or Níor mhaith! (“No!”)
- Book 4 – Tar amach! (click here to open the book and Read, Listen, Repeat)
Phrases in this book:- Tar amach! = “Come out!”
- Tá sé ag cur fearthainne! = “It’s raining!”
- Cuir ort do chóta agus do hata! = “Put on your coat and your hat!”
- Tá sé deas fliuch amuigh! = “It’s nice and wet outside!”
- Tá an ghrian ag soilsiú! = “The sun is shining!”
- Bain díot do hata/do chóta = “Take off your hat/your coat!”
- Tá sé breá te amuigh! = “It’s nice and warm outside!”
- Tá maimeo/daideo anseo! = “Granny/Grandad is here!”
- Cuir ort do gheansaí! = “Put on your jumper!”
- Tá sé rud beag fuar amuigh! = “It’s a bit cold outside!”
- Ná tar amach! = “Don’t come out!”
- Tá sé ag cur sneachta! = “It’s snowing!”
- Fan istigh! = “Stay inside!”
- Tá sé sioctha fuar amuigh! = “It’s freezing cold outside!”
- Tá an ghaoth ag séideadh! = “The wind is blowing!”
- Tá sé gaofar amuigh! = “It’s windy outside!”
- Tá am luí ann! = “It’s bedtime!”
- Bain díot d’éadaí!” = “Take off your clothes!”
- Cuir ort do chulaith oíche!” = Put on your pyjamas!”
- Book 5 – Déan deifir! (click here to open the book and Read, Listen, Repeat)
Phrases in this book:- Déan deifir! = “Hurry up!”
- Tá muid mall! = “We’re late!”
- Tá eagla orm! = “I’m scared!”
- Tá mé tuirseach! = “I’m tired!”
- Tá ocras/tart orm! = “I’m hungry/thirsty!”
- Tá codladh orm! = “I’m sleepy!”
- Tá mé tinn! = “I’m sick!”
- Tá mé gortaithe! = I’m hurt!”
- Book 6 – Ná bain de sin! (click here to open the book and Read, Listen, Repeat)
Phrases in this book:- Ná bain de sin! = “Don’t touch that!”
- Tá sé salach! = “It’s dirty!”
- Ní leat é! = “It’s not yours!”
- Tá sé fliuch! = “It’s wet!”
- Tá an babaí ina chodladh! = “The baby is sleeping!”
- Tá sé contúirteach! = “It’s dangerous!”
- Tá sé te! = “It’s hot!”
- Book 7 – Oíche mhaith! (click here to open the book and Read, Listen, Repeat)
Phrases in this book:- Oíche mhaith! = “Good night!”
- Tabhair póg dom! = “Give me a kiss!”
- Gabh a chodhladh! = “Go to sleep!”
- Tchifidh mé thú ar maidin! = “I’ll see you in the morning!”
- Tá grá ag Mamaí/Daidí duit! = “Mammy/Daddy loves you!”
