Free Quickstart Guide
Words in Irish by letter

Alphabet Words in Irish, as Gaeilge

Irish Words Starting With Each letter of the Alphabet

Learn from this list of high frequency words as Gaeilge and Irish word pronunciation. 

These are the most commonly used words in Irish organised alphabetically. This could make a really nice checklist for you to tick off the ones you know and to learn new ones on your Irish language journey. 

Each word is linked to its pronunciation in each of the dialects too. 

If you like this, you'll probably love the free Irish pronunciation guide. There's nothing like it out there to explain how to pronounce the Irish language and all of the most common pronunciation rules that will make you a better reader. 

 

Words in Irish beginning with a

Click on each Irish word to hear pronunciation in each dialect

  1. asal - donkey
  2. áit - Place
  3. Ainm - Name
  4. Athair - Father
  5. Abhainn - River
  6. Am - Time
  7. Aonach - Fair, market
  8. Aerfort - Airport
  9. Aimsir - Weather
  10. Aire - Minister
  11. Anlann - Sauce
  12. Amhrán - Song

 

Words in Irish beginning with b

  1. Bád - Boat
  2. - Cow
  3. Béal - Mouth
  4. Báisteach - Rain
  5. Bealach - Way, path
  6. Bróg - Shoe
  7. Bia - Food
  8. Baile - Town
  9. Béar - Bear
  10. Bille - Bill
  11. Bán - white
  12. Béile - Meal
  13. Bliain - Year
  14. Béarla - English language
  15. Buachaill - Boy
  16. Bóthar - Road
  17. Bruscar - Trash, rubbish
 

Words in Irish beginning with c

  1. Cailín - Girl
  2. Caint - Speech, talk
  3. Carraig - Rock
  4. Cathair - City
  5. Ceann - Head
  6. - Quay, pier
  7. Ceol - Music
  8. Ciall - Sense, meaning
  9. Cineál - Kind, type
  10. Clann - Family
  11. Cloch - Stone
  12. Coill - Forest
  13. Comhairle - Council, advice
  14. Craic - Fun, entertainment
  15. Crann - Tree
  16. Cúl - Back, behind
  17. Cúpla - Couple, few
  18. Cúrsa - Course, route

 

Words in Irish beginning with d

  1. Dath - Color
  2. Doras - Door
  3. Duine - Person
  4. Dlí - Law
  5. Deoch - Drink
  6. Droichead - Bridge
  7. Dia - God
  8. Dúlra - Nature
  9. Damhán alla - Spider
  10. Dán - Poem
  11. Díseart - Desert, wilderness
  12. Dráma - Drama
  13. Dún - Fort
  14. Dúnmharú - Murder
  15. Dúchas - Heritage
  16. Dúshlán - Challenge 

 

Words in Irish beginning with e

  1. Éan - Bird
  2. Éire - Ireland
  3. Éad - Jealousy
  4. Éasca - Easy
  5. Éisc - Fishes
  6. Éadrom - Light
  7. Éagsúlacht - Variety, diversity
  8. Éirí - Rising, getting up
  9. Éadóchas - Despair
  10. Éalú - Escape 

 

Words in Irish beginning with f

  1. Fad - Length, distance
  2. Fear - Man
  3. Focal - Word
  4. Fuinneog - Window
  5. Fómhar - Autumn
  6. Fáilte - Welcome
  7. Fíor - True
  8. Foinse - Source
  9. Feirm - Farm
  10. Fáinne - Ring
  11. Físeán - Video
  12. Faoi - Under, beneath
  13. Fíric - Fact
  14. Fáth - Reason, cause

 

Words in Irish beginning with g

  1. Gaeilge - Irish language
  2. Gaeltacht - Irish-speaking region
  3. Garda - Police officer
  4. Gaoth - Wind
  5. Grá - Love
  6. Geall - Promise
  7. Grian - Sun
  8. Grianghraf - Photograph
  9. Gáire - Laughter
  10. Glas - Green (also lock)
  11. Gabhar - Goat
  12. Géag - Branch
  13. Géar - Sharpness
  14. Gúna - Dress
  15. Gairdín - Garden
  16. Gluais - Move, movement
  17. Gné - Aspect, feature

 

Words in Irish beginning with h

The Irish language has fewer native words that start with the letter 'H' compared to other letters, as 'H' is often used in lenition (séimhiú) to change the sound of other consonants.

  1. Hata - Hat
  2. Héileacaptar - Helicopter
  3. Haca - Hocky

 

Words in Irish beginning with i

  1. Iasc - Fish
  2. Iníon - Daughter
  3. Iománaíocht - Hurling (the sport)
  4. Iarratas - Application, request
  5. Im - Butter
  6. Iodáil - Italy
  7. Iompar - Transport
  8. Iarsmalann - Museum
  9. Ionad - Center, place
  10. Iomlán - Total, entirety
  11. Iomaitheoir - Competitor
  12. Ionsaí - Attack
  13. Iomarca - Excess, surplus

 

Words in Irish beginning with L

  1. - Day
  2. Leabhar - Book
  3. Lámh - Hand
  4. Léine - Shirt
  5. Loch - Lake
  6. Laoch - Hero
  7. Léargas - Insight, view
  8. Léitheoir - Reader
  9. Léirmheas - Review, critique
  10. Líne - Line
  11. Léitheoireacht - Reading
  12. Láidir - Strong
  13. Leithreas - Toilet
  14. Luch - mouse

 

Words in Irish beginning with m

  1. Madra - Dog
  2. Mála - Bag
  3. Máthair - Mother
  4. Muir - Sea
  5. Milseáin - Sweets
  6. Maith - Goodness
  7. Meán - Mean, average
  8. Múinteoir - Teacher
  9. Mór - Big, large
  10. Máistir - Master
  11. Meas - Respect, esteem
  12. - Month
  13. Dé Máirt - Tuesday
  14. Músaem - Museum
  15. Mian - Desire, wish

 

Words in Irish beginning with n

  1. Nasc - Link, connection
  2. Nóta - Note
  3. Nua - New
  4. Náire - Shame
  5. Níos - More (comparative)
  6. Nuacht - News
  7. Nádúr - Nature
  8. Níochán - Washing, laundry
  9. Nollaig - Christmas
  10. Nádúr - Nature (alternative spelling)
  11. Neart - Strength
  12. Náisiún - Nation
  13. Nádúrtha - Natural

 

Words in Irish beginning with o

  1. Oíche - Night
  2. Ól - Drink, drinking
  3. Oifig - Office
  4. Oileán - Island
  5. Óstán - Hotel

 

Words in Irish beginning with p

  1. Páiste - Child
  2. Peann - Pen
  3. Páirc - Field, park
  4. Pota - Pot
  5. Práta - Potato

 

Words in Irish beginning with r

  1. - King
  2. Ráth - Fort
  3. Ród - Road (alternative to Bóthar)
  4. Ríomhaire - Computer
  5. Rince - Dance

 

Words in Irish beginning with s

  1. Súil - Eye
  2. Siopa - Shop
  3. Sliabh - Mountain
  4. Spórt - Sport
  5. Scoil - School

 

Words in Irish beginning with t

  1. Tír - Country, land
  2. Teanga - Language
  3. Tábla - Table
  4. Talamh - Ground, earth
  5. Trá - Beach

 

Words in Irish beginning with u

  1. Uisce - Water
  2. Úll - Apple
  3. Údar - Author
  4. Úsáid - Use
  5. Úllord - Orchard

 

Words in Irish beginning with v

(Note: The letter 'V' is not native to Irish and is usually found in loanwords)

  1. Veain - Van
  2. Víosa - Visa
  3. Vóta - Vote

 

Words in Irish beginning with x

(Note: The letter 'X' is not native to Irish and is usually found in loanwords)

  1. X-gha - X-ray

 

 

Words in Irish beginning with z

(Note: The letter 'Z' is not native to Irish and is usually found in loanwords)

  1. - Zoo

 

MORE FREE IRISH LANGUAGE RESOURCES AND COURSES 

πŸ‘ͺ Irish for Parents Here

πŸ‘ͺ Free Quickstart Gaeilge Guide for Parents 

πŸ“– Irish for Beginners

πŸ—£οΈEveryday Gaeilge

πŸ—£οΈFree Daily Translation Challenge 

πŸ“™Free pronunciation guide to the Irish Language Here

Β The Best Irish Language Newsletter

Every week we deliver free mini lessons and lots of workbooks and goodies for you and the kids.