Short Vowels | Long Vowels | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Symbol Used Here | Irish Examples Click for sound | Nearest English Equivalent | Symbol Used Here | Irish Examples Click for sound | Nearest English Equivalent |
|
a | bean, mac |
bat | a: | ard, tá |
far | |
e | ceist, te |
set | e: | mé, tae |
say | |
i | duine, im |
sit | i: | buí, naoi |
me | |
o | obair, seo |
son | o: | ceol, mór |
more | |
u | dubh, tiubh |
book | u: | siúl, tú |
who | |
The Neutral Vowel | ||||||
Symbol Used Here | Irish Examples Click for sound | Nearest English Equivalent | ||||
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mála, míle |
about |
Dipthongs | ||
---|---|---|
Symbol Used Here | Irish Examples Click for sound | Nearest English Equivalent |
ai | radharc |
I, eye |
au | leabhar |
cow |
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bia, pian |
pianist |
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fuar, suas |
fluent |
Broad Consonants | Slender Consonants | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Symbol Used Here | Irish Examples Click for sound | Nearest English Equivalent | Symbol Used Here | Irish Examples Click for sound | Nearest English Equivalent |
|
b | bán, buí |
— | b´ | bí, beo |
be, beauty | |
d | dó |
— | d´ | deo |
— | |
f | faoin |
— | f´ | fíon, fiú |
feet, few | |
g | Gaeilge |
fog | g´ | gé, Gaeilge |
gay, egg | |
h | hata, thit |
hat | ||||
k | cad |
cot | k´ | cé, cead |
key, came | |
l | lón, mála |
mill | l´ | leon, míle |
live | |
m | maoin, mór |
— | m´ | mé, mín |
may, me | |
n | anam, naoi |
— | n´ | ainm, ní |
canyon | |
p | paca |
— | p´ | peaca |
piece | |
r | fuar |
— | r´ | fuair |
— | |
s | cás |
— | s´ | cáis |
she | |
t | tacht |
— | t´ | teacht |
— | |
v | vóta |
wore | v´ | bhí |
very | |
w | wigwam |
wigwam | ||||
x | loch |
German "Bach" | x´ | cheol |
Hugh, German "Ich" | |
z | zú |
— | z´ | xileafón |
pleasure | |
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longa |
long | ![]() |
loingeas |
sing | |
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dhá |
Spanish "Agua" | ![]() |
dhíol |
yes | |
d´z´ | jab |
job |
STRESSED AND UNSTRESSES SYLLABLES:
In multi-syllable words, the syllables which are underlined are stressed (accented) in pronunciation. Keep in mind that as a general rule most Irish words are pronounced with the stress on the first syllable with any remaining syllables being unstressed.