Common Irish Phrases As Gaeilge

Common Irish phrases are the everyday greetings, thank yous and blessings that people in Ireland still use as Gaeilge, even in mostly English speaking conversations. Words like “Slán” and “Sláinte” have made their way into daily life across the country, whether you’re in a Gaeltacht area or just having a pint in Dublin.

“As Gaeilge” simply means “in Irish”. You’ll see it a lot in this guide, since it’s the correct way to describe a word or phrase as it appears in the Irish language rather than in English.

This guide has been refreshed for 2026 with the phrases and sayings people search for most, along with a few things earlier guides tend to skip: numbers, days of the week and a quirk of Irish grammar that trips up almost every beginner.

Let’s start with the phrases you’ll actually use.

Common Irish Greetings and Everyday Phrases

Here’s a list of common Irish phrases as Gaeilge, with their meanings and pronunciations.

Dia dhuit

Means: Hello Pronounced: Dee ah gwit

Conas atá tú?

Means: How are you? Pronounced: Cun us ah taw too

Maidin mhaith

Means: Good morning Pronounced: Maw din wah

Oíche mhaith

Means: Good night Pronounced: Ee ha wah

Slán

Means: Goodbye Pronounced: Slawn

Go raibh maith agat

Means: Thank you Pronounced: Guh rev mah ag ut For “Thank you very much”, say: Go raibh míle maith agat

Gabh mo leithscéal

Means: Excuse me Pronounced: Gow muh lesh kale

Fáilte

Means: Welcome Pronounced: Fall cha

Sláinte

Used as: Cheers Pronounced: Slawn cha

Go n éirí leat

Means: Good luck to you Pronounced: Guh nye ree lat

Maith thú

Means: Well done Pronounced: Mah hoo

Feicfidh mé go luath thú

Means: See you soon Pronounced: Feck ig may guh loo ah hoo

Is mise…

Means: I am… (for introducing yourself) Pronounced: Iss mish eh

Cad is ainm duit?

Means: What is your name? Pronounced: Cod iss an im ditch

Sea, le do thoil

Means: Yes, please Pronounced: Sha, leh duh hull

Níl

Means: No Pronounced: Neel

Numbers, Days and Months in Irish

Numbers, days and months are the building blocks you’ll need once you move past greetings. Here are the essentials.

Numbers 1 to 5: Aon (one), Dó (two), Trí (three), Ceathair (four), Cúig (five)

Days of the week: Dé Luain (Monday), Dé Máirt (Tuesday), Dé Céadaoin (Wednesday), Déardaoin (Thursday), Dé hAoine (Friday), Dé Sathairn (Saturday), Dé Domhnaigh (Sunday)

A few common months: Eanáir (January), Meitheamh (June), Nollaig (December)

You’ll notice most day names begin with “Dé”, which comes from “Dia” (God), a small reminder of how tied the language is to tradition. Learning these alongside your greetings makes it far easier to book a table, plan a trip or simply follow a conversation about the week ahead.

Why Doesn’t Irish Have Words for Yes and No?

Irish has no direct word for “yes” or “no”. Instead, speakers echo the verb used in the question, either in its positive or negative form.

If someone asks “An bhfuil tú go maith?” (Are you well?), you answer “Tá” (I am) rather than a standalone “yes”. For “no”, you’d answer “Níl” (I am not).

It feels strange at first if you’re coming from English, but it actually makes answers more precise, since the response is tied directly to the verb being asked about. This is one of the clearest signs of how different Irish grammar is from English, and it’s one of the first things tutors point out to new learners.

Common Irish Sayings and Proverbs

Irish proverbs, known as seanfhocail, are older sayings that carry a lesson, often built around nature, patience or hardship. Here are some of the best known.

Is anlann maith é an t-ocras

Meaning: “Hunger is good sauce” Pronounced: Iss on linn mah ay on tuck ris Everything tastes better when you’re hungry.

Ní mhaireann solas na maidine don lá

Meaning: “The morning sun doesn’t last all day” Pronounced: Nee wir in sul us nah maw din yeh dun law A reminder to enjoy good moments before they pass.

Am agus foighne a thógann seilide go Corcaigh

Meaning: “Time and patience bring a snail to Cork” Pronounced: Awm ah gus fwin yeh a hoh gunn shell id eh guh Kur kig Good things take time.

Chomh ciotach le muc i scioból

Meaning: “As awkward as a pig in a shed” Pronounced: Koh kyut ukh leh muck ih shki bowl Used for someone who feels completely out of place.

Is é an bealach is faide timpeall an bealach is giorra abhaile

Meaning: “The longest way round is the shortest way home” Pronounced: Iss ay on bal ukh iss fy duh tim pull an bal ukh iss gyur ah a wal yeh Sometimes the patient route gets you there quicker.

Cuir síoda ar ghabhar agus is gabhar i gcónaí é

Meaning: “You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear” Pronounced: Kur shee da ar gow ar og us is gow ar ih go nee ay You can’t turn something poor quality into something fine.

Irish vs Gaelic: What’s the Difference?

Irish and Gaelic are related but not the same thing. “Irish” (Gaeilge) refers specifically to the Irish language spoken in Ireland, while “Gaelic” is a broader term that can also refer to Scottish Gaelic, a related but distinct language spoken in Scotland.

In Ireland, calling the language “Gaelic” isn’t wrong, but locals almost always say “Irish” or “Gaeilge”. If you’re learning specifically to use phrases in Ireland, search and study under “Irish” to make sure you’re getting the right dialect and vocabulary rather than Scottish Gaelic material by mistake.

Irish Dialects: Ulster, Munster and Connacht

Irish has three main living dialects: Ulster (north), Connacht (west) and Munster (south), and each pronounces and phrases things slightly differently.

For example, “Conas atá tú?” in the standard form can become “Conas taoi?” in Munster. Numbers shift too, with “cúig” (five) sounding closer to “koo ig” in Ulster and “kweeg” in Munster.

None of this should put a beginner off. Irish speakers are used to hearing all three dialects and will understand you regardless of which version you pick up first.

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