Irish On Your Own IV

16: Shopping



Chapter 16 Audio File as MP3

Information Text from the Workbook

ASKING HOW MUCH THINGS COST

Cá mhéad atá air seo? How much is this?
Cá mhéad atá orthu seo? How much are these?
Cá mhéad atá air sin? How much is that?
Cá mhéad atá orthu sin? How much are those?

COUNTING THE POUNDS

Punt is a regular noun and follows the rules you learnt earlier for counting things.
punt one pound
dhá phunt two pounds
trí phunt three pounds
ceithre phunt four pounds
cúig phunt five pounds
sé phunt six pounds
seacht bpunt seven pounds
naoi bpunt nine pounds
deich bpunt ten pounds

Eleven pounds is aon punt déag

12-19 are easy to remember: simply add déag to 2-9 pounds:
dhá phunt déag
cúig phunt déag
ocht bpunt déag

Twenty pounds is fiche punt

DEALING WITH QUANTITIES

an ceann each
an dosaen per dozen
an mála per bag
an buidéal per bottle
an bosca per box
an cileagram per kilogram
an punt per pound
an lítear per litre
an pionta per pint

LOOKING AFTER THE PENNIES

The word pingin (penny) is irregular and doesn't follow the rules for counting things.
pingin one penny
dhá phingin two pence
trí pingine three pence
ceithre pingine four pence
cúig pingine five pence
sé pingine six pence
seacht bpingine seven pence
ocht bpingine eight pence
naoi bpingine nine pence
deich bpingine ten pence

Remember this pattern:
1p 2p 3-6p 7-10p
pingin dhá phingin ... pingine ... bpingine

Eleven pence is aon phingin déag.

Again just add déag to 2-9 pence to get 12-19 pence.
ceithre pingine* déag
naoi bpingine* déag
* When you listen to the tape you'll notice that the e is not pronounced before the word déag.

Twenty pence is fiche pingin.

REFERRING TO ITEMS BY NAME

Cá mhéad atá ar an fhíon sin? How much is that wine?
Cá mhéad atá ar na pinn luaidhe seo? How much are these pencils?
Cá mhéad atá ar an cháca seo? How much is this cake?

The words ar an cause a séimhiú in nouns beginning with the leters b, c, f, g, m, and p:
an caife the coffee
but
Cá mhéad atá ar an cháife seo?

an bainne
but
Cá mhéad atá ar an bhainne?

ASKING WHAT THE TOTAL PRICE IS

Cá mhéad sin? How much is that?

ASKING FOR CHANGE

An bhfuil briseadh agat? Have you change?
An bhfuil briseadh puint agat? Have you change of a pound?

SAYING YOU HAVE NO MONEY

Níl leathphingin rua agam. I have no money./ I'm broke. (Literally, I haven't got a red halfpenny.)

20-100
20 fiche punt fiche pingin
30 tríocha punt tríocha pingin
40 ceathracha punt ceathracha pingin
50 caoga punt caoga pingin
60 seasca punt seasca pingin
70 seachtó punt seachtó pingin
80 ochtó punt ochtó pingin
90 nócha punt nócha pingin
100 céad punt céad pingin

Counting the pounds and pence in between is simple enough.
21p fiche is a haon pingin (literally, twenty and one pence)
22p fiche is a dó pingin
£33 tríocha is a trí punt
£44 ceathracha is a ceathair punt
55p caoga is a cúig pingin
£66 seasca is a sé punt
77p seachtó is a seacht pingin
£88 ochtó is a hocht punt
99p nócha is a naoi pingin
Note that the forms punt and pingin are used between 21 and 100.

EXPRESSING AN OPINION ON PRICES

Tá sé saor. It's cheap.
Tá sé an-saor. It's very cheap.
Tá siad daor. They're dear (expensive).
Tá siad an-daor. They're very dear.
Tá sé ródhaor. It's too dear.
Tá siad i bhfad ródhaor. They're far too dear.

COMBINING POUNDS AND PENCE

Ceithre phunt caoga (pingin*) £4.50
Sé phunt seachtó is a cúig (pingin*) £6.75
Dhá phunt déag nócha is a naoi (pingin*) £10.99
Tríocha is a sé punt ochtó is a seacht (pingin*) £36.87
*You have a choice here whether or not to use pingin; most people don't.

17: Asking for things



Chapter 17 Audio File as MP3

Information Text from the Workbook

SAYING WHAT YOU WANT

Tá mé ag iarraidh ... I want ...

This phrase is often used when buying something- in a shop or a pub for example.
Tá mé ag iarraidh pionta beorach. I want a pint of beer.

Children are also fond of using Tá mé ag iarraidh!
Tá mé ag iarraidh gloine oráiste. I want a glass of orange.

Adults tend to avoid using Tá mé ag iarraidh in the way children do, in order not to sound abrupt. They usually use it as a statement of what they want or would like rather than as a demand.

ASKING SOMEONE WHAT THEY WANT OR WOULD LIKE

Cad é atá tú ag iarraidh?
or
Cad é atá de dhíth ort?* What do you want?
Cad é atá de dhíth oraibh?* What do you want? (plural)
*The de in this phrase is not said in everday speech.

If you don't know what you want you can say
Níl a fhios agam. I don't know.

ASKING SOMEONE IF THEY WANT A PARTICULAR THING

An bhfuil tú ag iarraidh ...? Do you want ...?

The phrase Cad é atá de dhíth ort? literally means 'what is lacking on you?' Ort is made up of ar (on) + (you).
orm on me orainn on us
ort on you oraibh on you
air on him orthu on them
uirthi on her

Cad é atá de dhíth air? What does he want?
Cad é atá de dhíth uirthi? What does she want?
Cad é atá de dhíth orthu? What do they want?

OFFERING ASSISTANCE

An dtiocfadh liom cuidiú leat? May I help you? (literally, Could I help you?)

SAYING THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING

Tá mé ag cuartú ... I'm looking for ...

This phrase is often used when shopping.
Tá mé ag cuartú ... I'm looking for ...
péire bróg. a pair of shoes.
péinte don seomra suí. paint for the sitting room.

ASKING FOR MORE DETAILS

Cad é cineál? What kind?
Cad é dath? What colour?

If someone is asking you to choose between two things they'll say:
Cé acu ceann? Which one?

If there are more than two things to choose from you can either use:
Cé acu ceann?
again or
Cad é an ceann?

BEING SPECIFIC

An ceann seo. This one.
An ceann sin. That one.
An ceann dearg. The red one.

DATHANNA COLOURS
dearg red
bán white
bándearg pink
dubh black
gorm blue
dúghorm navy blue
glas green
donn brown

SAYING YOU WANT TO BORROW SOMETHING

Tá me ag iarraidh ... ar iasacht. I want to borrow ...
Tá me ag iarraidh peann luaidhe ar iasacht. I want to borrow a pencil.
Tá me ag iarraidh leabhair ar iasacht. I want to borrow a book.
Tá me ag iarraidh téipe ar iasacht. I want to borrow a tape.

ASKING IF YOU CAN BORROW SOMETHING

An dtig liom ...? May I ...?
An dtig liom cúig phunt a fháil ar iasacht? May I borrow five pounds?

You might hear the following answers:
Thig, cinnté. You can, of course.
Ní thig. You can't.


18: Going on holiday

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Chapter 18 Audio File as MP3

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SAYING YOU ARE GOING ON HOLIDAY

Tá mé ag dul ar soaire.* I'm going on holiday.
Tá muid ag dul ar soaire.* We're going on holiday.
*Laethanta saoire is also used.

ASKING SOMEONE WHERE THEY'RE GOING

Cá háit? Where?
Cá bhfuil tú ag dul? Where are you going?
Cá háit a bhfuil tú ag dul ar saoire i mbliana? Where are you going on holiday this year?

SAYING WHERE YOU'RE GOING

Tá mé ag dul thar lear. I'm going abroad.
Tá mé ag dul go dtí an Spáinn. I'm going to Spain.

COUNTRIES
tír a country
tíortha countries
Éire/Éirinn Ireland
Sasana England
Albain Scotland
An Bhreatain Bheag Wales
An Fhrainc France
An Ghearmáin Germany
An Spáinn Spain
An Iodáil Italy
An Ghréig Greece
Meiriceá America

ASKING SOMEONE HOW LONG THEY'RE GOING TO SPEND SOMEWHERE

Cá fhad ...? How long ...?
Cá fhad a bheas tú sa Fhrainc? How long will you be in France?

SAYING HOW LONG YOU'LL BE SOMEWHERE

You have already learnt the following words:
seachtain a week
coicís a fortnight
a month

Have a look now at what happens when you place ar feadh ('for') in front of the above words:
ar feadh seachtaine
ar feadh coicíse
ar feadh míosa

Nouns that come after ar feadh, therefore, are usually placed in the genitive case.

ASKING SOMEONE WHO'S GOING WITH THEM

Cé atá ag dul leat? Who is going with you?
or
Cé atá ag dul libh? Who is going with you?

Here are some possible answers:
Mo chara. My friend.
Mo chairde. My friends.
Tá mé ag dul liom féin.
or
Tá mé ag dul i m'aonar. I'm going on my own.

ASKING ABOUT TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS

An bhfuil tú ag dul ...? Are you going ...?
  • ar an eitleán by plane
  • ar an bhád by boat
  • ar an traein by train
  • sa charr by car

ASKING SOMEONE WHERE THEY'LL BE STAYING

Cá háit a mbeidh tú ag fanacht? Where will you be staying?
Cá háit a mbeidh sibh ag fanacht? (plural)

SAYING WHERE YOU WILL BE STAYING

Beidh mé ag fanacht ... I'll be staying ...
  • in óstán in a hotel
  • i dteach lóistín in a guest house
  • i mbrú in a hostel
  • i gcarbhán in a caravan

ASKING SOMEONE IF THEY'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO SOMETHING

An bhfuil tú ag súil go mór leis? Are you looking forward to it?

SAYING YOU'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO SOMETHING

Tá mé ag súil go mór leis. I'm looking forward to it.

In reply to the question An bhfuil tú ag súil go mór leis? you can simply say or Níl.

DESCRIBING ACCOMMODATION

seomra singil a single room
seomra dúbailte a double room
seomra le cithfholcadán a room with a shower


19: Speaking to children and friends



Chapter 19 Audio File as MP3

Information Text from the Workbook

TELLING SOMEONE TO BE QUIET

Ciúnas! Quiet!
Bí ciúin!
or
Bí suaimhneach! Be quiet!

Let's look now at a negative order:
Ná bí ag caint. Stop talking. (literally, Don't be talking.)
Ná bígí ag caint. Stop talking. (plural)

SPEAKING TO CHILDREN

Ná bí ag caoineadh. Don't cry.
Ná bígí ag caoineadh. (plural)

Ná bí ag gáire. Don't laugh.
Ná bígí ag gáire. (plural)

Ná bí dána! Don't be bold!
Ná bígí dána! (plural)

If you want to tell someone to stop doing something, you place before the imperative form of the verb. doesn't affect words beginning with a consonant, but it prefixes h to vowels:
Ná déan sin. Don't do that.
habair sin. Don't say that.

TELLING SOMEONE TO CLEAN OR TO TIDY THEMSELVES UP

Nigh d'aighaidh. Wash your face.
Nígí bhur n-aighaidh. (plural)

Glan do lámha. Wash your hands.
Glanaigí bhur lámha. (plural)

Cíor do chuid gruaige. Comb your hair.
Cíoraigí bhur gcuid gruaige. (plural)

ASKING SOMEONE WHAT'S WRONG WITH THEM

Cad é atá ort? What's wrong with you?
Cad é atá oraibh? (plural)

ASKING SOMEONE IF THEY ARE ILL

An bhfuil tú tinn? Are you ill?

SAYING WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU

Tá tinneas cinn orm. I have a headache.
Tá tinneas fiacile. I have a toothache.
Tá pian i mo bholg. I have a pain in my stomach.

ASKING SOMEONE IF THEY'RE ALL RIGHT

An bhfuil tú ceart go leor? Are you all right?

ASKING A MORE SPECIFIC QUESTION

An bhfuil tú fuar? Are you cold?
An bhfuil ocras ort? Are you hungry?

20: Describing people



Chapter 20 Audio File as MP3

Information Text from the Workbook

ASKING WHAT SOMEONE LOOKS LIKE

Cad é an chuma atá air? What does he look like?
Cad é an chuma atá uirthi? What does she look like?

SAYING WHAT A PERSON LOOKS LIKE

Tá sé ... He's ...
Tá sí ... She's ...
  • ard tall
  • beag small
  • ramhar fat
  • tanaí thin
  • dathúil
  • or
  • dóighiúil handsome, goodlooking
Is fear beag é. He's a small man.
Is bean ard í. She's a tall woman.

SAYING THAT SOMEONE IS GETTING FAT OF THIN

Tá sé ag éirí ramhar. He's getting fat.
Tá sí ag éirí tanaí. She's getting thin.

ASKING WHAT SOMEONES CHARACTER IS LIKE

Cad é an cinéal duine é? What kind of person is he?
Cad é an cinéal duine í? What kind of person is she?

DESCRIBING SOMEONE'S CHARACTER

Is fear lách é. He's a pleasant man.
Tá sé lách.
Is bean chairdiúil í. She's a friendly woman.
Tá sí cairdiúil.
Ní duine rólách é. He isn't a very pleasant person.
Níl sé rólách.
Ní duine róchairdiúil í. She isn't a very friendly person.

Most adjectives come after the noun in Irish:
fear dathúil
lá deas

A feminine noun adds a séimhiú to an adjective that begins with a consonant (other than l, n, or r).
bean chairdiúil
bean bheag

DESCRIBING HAIR COLOUR

gruaig dhubh black hair
gruaig fhionn blond hair
gruaig dhonn brown hair
gruaig bhán white hair
gruaig liath grey hair
gruaig rua red hair

Tá gruaig dhubh orm. I have black hair.
Tá gruaig fhionn air. He has blond hair.
Tá gruaig dhonn uirthi. She has brown hair.
Tá féasóg dhubh air. He has a black beard.

DESCRIBING HAIR LENGTH AND STYLE

Tá gruaig ghairid air. He has short hair.
Tá gruaig fhada uirthi. She has long hair.
Tá gruaig chatach air. He has curly hair.
Tá gruaig dhíreach air. He has straight hair.

As in English, words describing length of hair or beard come before words that describe colour:
gruaig fhada dhonn

Tá gruaig dhubh orm. I have black hair. (literally, There's black hair on me)

You need these words to talk about other peoples hair:
ort on you orainn on us
air on him oraibh on you
uirthi on her orthu on them

Tá gruaig fhada orthu.
Tá gruaig chatach rua uirthi.

DESCRIBING EYES

You're already familiar with the colours in Irish. Have a look now at how they change in the plural.
gorm
súile gorma blue eyes
donn
súile donna brown eyes
glas
súile glasa green eyes
liath
súile liatha grey eyes

Tá súile glasa agam. I have green eyes.
Tá súile donn aige. He has brown eyes.
Tá súile gorma aici. She has blue eyes.


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