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Irish Language Basic Pronunciation Guide - Part 1

Irish Language Basic Pronunciation Guide - Part 1

 

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The Irish language, also known as Gaelic or Gaeilge, has a unique set of sounds and pronunciation rules. Here's a brief guide to some of the most important sounds and how to pronounce them, along with some examples of Irish words:

The modern Irish language uses the same alphabet as English, which consists of 26 letters. However, there are a few letters that are not used in Irish:

  1. J
  2. K
  3. Q
  4. V
  5. W
  6. X
  7. Y
  8. Z

While some of these letters do appear in loanwords or personal names in Irish, like zú (zoo), they are not considered part of the Irish alphabet. 

Here's a simple guide to help you with Irish pronunciation. Keep in mind that this is a basic overview, and the best way to perfect your pronunciation is by listening to native speakers and practicing regularly.

Vowels:

  1. A: Pronounced like the "a" in "cat" (short) or "aw" in "law" (long)
  2. E: Pronounced like the "e" in "get" (short) or "ay" in "say" (long)
  3. I: Pronounced like the "i" in "bit" (short) or "ee" in "see" (long)
  4. O: Pronounced like the "o" in "cot" (short) or "o" in "bone" (long)
  5. U: Pronounced like the "u" in "put" (short) or "oo" in "too" (long)

Note that long vowels are often marked with an accent called a "fada" (á, é, í, ó, ú).

Consonants:

  1. B: Pronounced like the "b" in "bat"
  2. C: Pronounced like the "k" in "cat"
  3. D: Pronounced like the "d" in "dog"
  4. F: Pronounced like the "f" in "fish"
  5. G: Pronounced like the "g" in "go"
  6. H: No sound by itself, but modifies the sound of the preceding consonant (called "séimhiú")
  7. L: Pronounced like the "l" in "love"
  8. M: Pronounced like the "m" in "mother"
  9. N: Pronounced like the "n" in "no"
  10. P: Pronounced like the "p" in "pat"
  11. R: Pronounced with a rolled or flapped "r," similar to Spanish or Scottish
  12. S: Pronounced like the "s" in "sun" (before e or i), or like the "sh" in "shoe" (before a, o, or u)
  13. T: Pronounced like the "t" in "top"

Consonant combinations:

  1. Bh, Mh: Pronounced like a "v" or "w" (depending on the surrounding vowels)
  2. Ch: Pronounced like the "ch" in the German "Bach" or Scottish "loch"
  3. Dh, Gh: Pronounced like the "y" in "yes" (before e or i), or like a voiced version of "ch" (before a, o, or u)
  4. Ph: Pronounced like the "f" in "phone"
  5. Sh: Pronounced like the "h" in "hue"
  6. Th: Pronounced like the "h" in "hat"

Keep in mind that this is a simplified guide, and Irish pronunciation may vary depending on the dialect. It's a good idea to listen to native speakers or watch videos to get a better sense of the nuances in pronunciation.

Please note that some of the Irish words may have different meanings or alternate spellings depending on the context and dialect.

 

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