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:
- J
- K
- Q
- V
- W
- X
- Y
- 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:
- A: Pronounced like the "a" in "cat" (short) or "aw" in "law" (long)
- E: Pronounced like the "e" in "get" (short) or "ay" in "say" (long)
- I: Pronounced like the "i" in "bit" (short) or "ee" in "see" (long)
- O: Pronounced like the "o" in "cot" (short) or "o" in "bone" (long)
- 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:
- B: Pronounced like the "b" in "bat"
- C: Pronounced like the "k" in "cat"
- D: Pronounced like the "d" in "dog"
- F: Pronounced like the "f" in "fish"
- G: Pronounced like the "g" in "go"
- H: No sound by itself, but modifies the sound of the preceding consonant (called "séimhiú")
- L: Pronounced like the "l" in "love"
- M: Pronounced like the "m" in "mother"
- N: Pronounced like the "n" in "no"
- P: Pronounced like the "p" in "pat"
- R: Pronounced with a rolled or flapped "r," similar to Spanish or Scottish
- S: Pronounced like the "s" in "sun" (before e or i), or like the "sh" in "shoe" (before a, o, or u)
- T: Pronounced like the "t" in "top"
Consonant combinations:
- Bh, Mh: Pronounced like a "v" or "w" (depending on the surrounding vowels)
- Ch: Pronounced like the "ch" in the German "Bach" or Scottish "loch"
- Dh, Gh: Pronounced like the "y" in "yes" (before e or i), or like a voiced version of "ch" (before a, o, or u)
- Ph: Pronounced like the "f" in "phone"
- Sh: Pronounced like the "h" in "hue"
- 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.
Check our our new free download which is a full guide to pronunciation of the Irish language; 📙Free pronunciation guide to the Irish Language Here
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