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Gaeilge ar do Chonlán Féin

Irish On Your Own

In the mid 1990s a resource came out for Gaeilge in the Ulster dialect that - although it's dated (some of us don't have tape players any longer) - is still one of the best for new students. Here we attempt to put all the resources in a single page.

All the companies involved are long out of business now, but the author continued his work with another current company:

We'll try to unite the video, text, and audio if possible on this page to present you with everything that was once available for it.

THE VIDEO PROGRAM AND THE WORKBOOK/AUDIO FILES ARE DIFFERENT
But they are related, of course. That is why we present them together here.


  • Amazon Link (sometimes cheap, sometimes not)


  • If you're just after how to pronounce Irish words, follow this link.

    1: Meeting People



    Chapter 1 Audio File as MP3

    Information Text from the Workbook

    GREETING SOMEONE

    The most common greeting is
    Cad é mar atá tú? How are you?
    This greeting is sometimes preceded by Haló.

    GREETING MORE THAN ONE PERSON

    Cad é mar atá sibh? How are you

    RESPONDING TO A GREETING

    Tá mé go maith. I'm fine.
    or simply
    Go maith.
    People often add
    ... go raibh maith agat. ... thank you.
    Agus tú fein? And yourself?

    When responding to Agus tú fein? people generally avoid repeating Tá mé go maith. and use instead Tá mé go breá.. Listen to some examples on the tape.

    The words and are called pronouns and are used when you don't need to or want to repeat a noun. Here is a list of pronouns, accompanied by the present tense of the verb (be).
    • Tá mé (I am)
    • Tá tú (you are)
    • Tá sé/sí (he/she is)
    • Tá muid (we are)
    • Tá sibh (you are)
    • Tá siad (they are)
    We'll be dealing with pronouns in more detail in Aonad 5.

    TALKING ABOUT THE WEATHER

    People often comment on the weather after they've exchanged greetings.
    • Tá lá breá ann. It's a fine day.
    • Tá drochlá ann inniu. It's a bad day today.
    • Tá sé fuar. It's cold.
    • Tá sé te. It's hot/warm.
    • Tá sé fliuch. It's wet.
    • Tá, cinnte. It is indeed.
    Buíochas le Dia (thank God) is used quite frequently in this context.
    Tá lá breá ann inniu, buíochas le Dia. It's a fine day today, thank God.

    SAYING GOODBYE

    Slan. Goodbye.
    Slan go fóill. Goodbye for now.

    You can respond to Slan. with another Slan., or with Slan go fóill. If, however, the first person says Slan go fóill., the second person simply says Slan. You also hear the following:

    Chífidh mé tú. I'll see you.

    2: Introductions



    Chapter 2 Audio File as MP3

    Information Text from the Workbook

    INTRODUCING YOURSELF

    To introduce yourself you say
    Is mise ... I'm...
    or
    Mise ...
    followed by your name.

    ASKING SOMEONE'S NAME

    C'ainm atá ort? What's your name?
    If you wish to ask the same question after you have given your name, then use the following:
    C'ainm atá ortsa? What's your name?
    People normally respond to this question by simply giving their name.

    FILLING IN FORMS

    Sloinne Surname
    Cad é an sloinne atá ort? What's your surname?

    ASKING WHO SOMEONE IS

    Cé seo? Who's this?
    If you're referring to more than one person you use the following:
    Cé hiad seo?

    INTRODUCING OTHERS

    Seo Diarmaid. This is Diarmaid.

    INTRODUCING FAMILY MEMBERS

    • mathair mother
    • Seo mo mhathair.
    • athair father
    • Seo m'athair.
    • iníon* daughter
    • Seo m'iníon.
    • mac son
    • Seo mo mhac.
    * In Ulster the i at the beginning of iníon is not pronounced.

    This is how you introduce more than one daughter or son:
    Seo mo chuid inlonacha.
    Seo mo chuid mac.

    The Irish for 'my' is mo. If it precedes a word beginning with a consonant (other than l, n, or r) a h is added to the initial letter, causing a change in sound:
    mac = mo mhac
    If mo precedes a word beginning with a vowel or f, the o in mo is dropped:
    iníon = m'iníon

    3: Speaking about your background



    Chapter 3 Audio File as MP3

    Information Text from the Workbook

    ASKING SOMEONE WHERE THEY ARE FROM

    Cá as tú? Where are you from?
    After giving your response, you can ask the same question in the following ways:
    Cá as túsa? Where are you from?
    or
    Cá as tú féin? Where are you from yourself?

    SAYING WHERE YOU'RE FROM

    Is as ... mé. I'm from ...
    Is as Dún Geanainn mé. I'm from Dungannon.

    This is generally used as a statement or as a response to a general question such as 'Tell me a little about yourself.' However, when answering a more specific question, such as Cá as tú? people tend to say As and the name of the place.

    As Léim an Mhadaidh. From Limavady.

    ASKING SOMEONE WHERE THEY LIVE

    Cá bhfuil tú i do chónaí? Where do you live?

    SAYING WHERE YOU LIVE

    Tá mé i mo chónaí i(n)... I live in...
    Tá mé i mo chónaí in Aontroim. I live in Antrim.
    Tá mé i mo chónaí i nDún Geanainn. I live in Dungannon.
    If you are responding to the question Cá bhfuil tú i do chónaí? you can just say, I(n) and the name of the place.

    The following sentence will prove useful to you if you don't live in the place you are originally from.
    As Ard Mhacha ó dhúchas mé, ach tá mé i mo chónaí i mBeal Feirste anois.
    I'm originally from Armagh, but I live in Belfast now.

    The Irish for 'in' is i or in.
    I is used before words beginning with a consonant, and causes an urú:
    i dTír Eoghain
    i nDún Dealgan

    If the word begins with a vowel, in is used instead:
    in Achadh na Chloiche
    in Ard Mhacha


    TALKING ABOUT LOCATION

    You can use the following if you wish to be more precise about where you live:
    Tá mé i mo chónaí i lár an bhaile. I live in the centre of town.
    ... taobh amuigh den bhaile. ... outside the town
    ... faoin tuath ... in the countryside
    ... i lár na cathrach ... in the city centre.
    sraid street
    ... ar shráid Anraí ... in Henry Street
    bóthar road
    ... ar Bóthar na Carraige ... on Carrick Road

    NA hUIMHREACHA 1-12 NUMBERS 1-12

    0 a náid 7 a seacht
    1 a haon 8 a hocht
    2 a dó 9 a naoi
    3 a trí 10 a deich
    4 a ceathair 11 a haon déag
    5 a cúig 12 a dó dhéag
    6 a sé
    In everyday speech the a preceding the numbers is often not pronounced. It is always used, however, after the word uimhir, (number):
    uimhir a cúig number five

    ASKING SOMEONE THEIR PHONE NUMBER

    Cad é d'uimhir fóin? What's your phone number?
    or simply
    D'uimhir fóin? Your phone number?

    ASKING WHAT TIME IT IS

    Cad é an t-am atá sé? What time is it?

    If you're asking a stranger you should use the phrase, Gabh mo leithscéal (Excuse me) first in order to attract their attention. If you're already talking to someone you can use the phrase:

    Cad é an t-am atá sé, le do thoil? What time is it, please?

    SAYING WHAT TIME IT IS

    Tá sé ... a chlog. It's ... o'clock.
    • a haon a chlog
    • a dó a chlog
    • a trí a chlog
    • a ceathair a chlog
    • a cúig a chlog
    • a sé a chlog
    • a seacht a chlog
    • a hochr a chlog
    • a naoi a chlog
    • a deich a chlog
    • a haon déag a chlog
    • a dó dhéag a chlog
    ceathrú i ndiaidh ... a quarter past ...
    leath i ndiaidh ... half past ...
    ceathrú go dtí ... a quarter to ...

    When you're responding to the question Cad é an t-am atá sé? you can leave out Tá sé ... if you wish and simply say the time.

    4: Discussing Languages



    Chapter 4 Audio File as MP3

    Information Text from the Workbook

    ASKING SOMEONE IF THEY SPEAK A LANGUAGE

    An bhfuil ... agat? Can you speak ...? (literally, Have you ...?)
    An bhfuil Gaeilge agat? Can you speak Irish?
    An bhfuil Fraincis agat? Can you speak French?

    TEANGACHA Languages
    Béarla English
    Gearmáinis German
    Iodáilis Itailian
    Spáinnis Spanish
    Breatnais Welsh
    Gaeilge na hAlban Gaelic (Scotland)

    SAYING HOW WELL YOU SPEAK A LANGUAGE

    Tá Gaeilge líofa agam. I speak Irish fluently.
    Tá beagán Fraincise agam. I speak a little French.
    Tá mé ag foghlaim Gearmáinise. I'm learning German.
    Níl mórán Iodáilise agam. I can't speak much Italian.

    If you are responding specifically to the question An bhfuil Gaeilge agat? here are some possible answers:
    Tá. Yes.
    Níl. No.
    Beagán. A little.
    Tá. Tá mé líofa. Yes. I'm fluent.
    Tá mé ag foghlaim. I'm learning.

    ASKING SOMEONE WHICH LANGUAGES THEY SPEAK

    Cad é na teangacha atá agat? Which languages can you speak?

    SAYING WHAT LANGUAGES YOU SPEAK

    Tá Fraincis agus Gearmáinis agam. I speak french and German.
    Tá Iodáilis agam ach níl aon Spáinnis agam. I speak Italian but I can't speak Spanish.
    Níl aon Fraincis nó Spáinnis agam. I speak neither french nor Spanish.

    SAYING WHERE YOU'RE LEARNING A LANGUAGE

    If you tell someone that you are learning a language, you might be asked where: Cá háit? Here are some possible answers:
    Ón teilifís. From the television.
    Ón raidió. From the radio.
    Ag rang oíche. At a night class.
    Ó fhístéipeanna sa bhaile. From videos at home.

    ASKING IF SOMEONE UNDERSTANDS A LANGUAGE

    An dtuigeann tú Gaeilge? Do you understand Irish?
    Tuigim. Yes (I do understand).
    Ní thuigim. No (I don't understand).

    A question is formed in the present tense by placing An before the verb. This causes an urú in verbs beginning with a consonant (except l, m, n, r or s):
    An dtuigeann tú? Do you understand?
    (This An tends not to be pronounced in everyday speech.)

    As you've probably noticed, there's no equivalent of the words 'yes' or 'no' in Irish. You must listen to the question and use the same verb in your answer:
    An ólann tú caife? Do you drink coffee?
    Ólaim. Yes.
    Ní ólaim No.

    When precedes a verb beginning with a consonant (except l, n, or r) it causes a séimhiú:
    thuigim. I don't understand.

    Only a handful of irish verbs (eleven, to be precise) are irregular, but they occur quite frequently. You've already come across one of the most widely used: Tá.
    An bhfuil Gaeilge agat? Can you speak Irish?
    Yes.
    Níl No.
    You'll have plenty of opportunities to practise using verbs between now and the end of the course, so don't worry unduly about them!

    COUNTING THINGS

    teanga a language
    teanga amháin one language
    dhá theanga two languages
    trí phionta three pints
    ceithre dhoras four doors
    cúig bhuidéal five bottles
    chaife six coffees
    trí leabhar three books
    dhá rothar two bicylces

    NOTE
    The numbers a haon, a dó, and a ceathair change when counting things.
    Words beginning with a vowel remain unchanged:
    ceithre úll four apples
    cúig oráiste five oranges

    Note how the singular form is used after numbers in Irish:
    oráistí oranges
    but
    cúig oráiste five oranges
    teangacha languages
    but
    dhá theanga two languages

    5: Expressing opinions



    Chapter 5 Audio File as MP3 (May not play on the web, we've had success after downloading)

    Information Text from the Workbook

    SAYING THAT YOU LIKE SOMETHING

    Is maith liom ... I like ...
    Is breá liom ...
    or
    Tá dúil mhór agam i(n)... I really like ...

    SAYING THAT YOU DON'T LIKE SOMETHING

    Ní maith liom ... I don't like ...
    Ní maith liom ...ar chor ar bith. I don't like ... at all.
    Is fuath liom... I hate ...

    Listen to some people expressing opinions on television programmes. Before turning on the tape, have a look at the vocabulary below.
    cláracha programmes
    cláracha faisnéise documentaries
    cláracha spóirt sports programmes
    cláracha ceoil music programmes
    cláracha cainte talk shows
    cláracha dúlra nature programmes
    banc bank

    SAYING WHAT YOU LIKE DOING

    When you talk about the things you like doing or actually participating in, as opposed to just liking, you can use the word bheith:
    Is maith liom a bheith ... I like ...
    • ag garraíodóireacht gardening
    • ag péinteáil painting
    • ag cócaireacht cooking
    • ag iascaireacht fishing
    • ag léamh reading

    Here are some other popular pastimes and activites.
    Is maith liom ... I like to ...
    • a dhul ag rith. go running.
    • amharc ar an teilifís. watch television.
    • éisteacht le ceol. listen to music.
    • a dhul ag snámh. go swimming.
    • a dhul chuig scannáin. go to films.
    • a dhul chuig drámaí. go to plays.
    • leadóg a imirt. play tennis.

    ASKING SOMEONE WHETHER THEY LIKE SOMETHING

    An maith leat ...? Do you like... ?
    An maith libh ...? Do you like... ? (when speaking to more than one person)

    GIVING YOUR REPLY

    When replying to the question An maith leat ...? there's no need to use liom when saying yes or no.
    An maith leat ceol clasaiceach? Do you like classical music?
    Is maith. Yes.
    Ní maith. No.
    Is breá liom é. I really like it.
    Ní maith liom ar chor ar bith é. I don't like it at all.
    Is fuath liom é. I hate it.
    Tá sé ceart go leor. It's all right.

    Having replied to the question An maith leat ...? you may wish to return the same question. You can do this in two ways:
    An maith leatsa é? Do you like it?
    An maith leat féin é? Do you like it yourself?

    CINEÁLACHA CEOIL Types of music
    ceol traidisiúnta traditional music
    ceol clasaiceach classical music
    snagcheol jazz
    roc-cheol rock music
    popcheol popular music
    ceol traidisiúnta traditional music

    SAYING THAT YOU PREFER SOMETHING

    Is fearr liom ... I prefer ...
    Is maith liom snagcheoil ach is fearr liom ceol traidisiúnta. I like jazz but I prefer traditional music.

    You'll hear people saying what kinds of food and drink they prefer. Before listening to the tape, have a look at the vocabulary below.

    BIA AGUS DEOCH food and drink
    feoil meat
    glásraí vegetables
    bia mara seafood
    sicín chicken
    fíon bán white wine
    fíon dearg red wine

    All nouns in Irish are either masculine or feminine.
    The words é, í and iad are known as pronouns and are used to avoid repeating a noun, whether that noun represents a person or a thing.

    é: 'him', or 'it' when refering to a masculine word
    í: 'her', or 'it' when refering to a feminine word*
    iad: 'them', in all cases

    ceol (masculine)
    - An maith leat ceol?
    - Is breá liom é.

    leadóg (feminine)
    - An maith leat leadóg?
    - Is fuath liom í
    *There is as growing tendency to use é all the time for 'it'.

    cláracha (plural)
    - An maith leat cláracha ceoil?
    - Is breá liom iad.

    When pronouns é, í and iad immediately follow the verb, the following forms are used:
    sé: 'him', or 'it' when refering to a masculine word
    sí: 'her', or 'it' when refering to a feminine word
    siad: 'them', in all cases

    - An maith leat cláracha spóirt?
    - Tá siad ceart go leor.

    - An maith leat Julia Roberts?
    - Tá sí ceart go leor.

    SAYING WHAT SOMETHING IS LIKE

    Tá sé maith. It's good.
    Tá sé an-maith. It's very good.
    Tá sé measartha maith. It's reasonably good.
    Níl sé rómhaith. It's not too good.
    Tá sé go dona. It's very bad.

    ASKING WHETHER SOMETHING IS ANY GOOD

    An bhfuil ... maith? Is ... good?
    An bhfuil an fíon seo maith? Is this wine good?
    An bhfuil maith ar bith sa ...? Is the ... any good?
    An bhfuil maith ar bith sa bhialann sin? Is that restaurant any good?

    NA hUIMHREACHA 1-20 NUMBERS 1-20
    We'll have a recap on the numbers you've learnt already and add a few more.
    0 a náid 11 a haon déag
    1 a haon 12 a dó dhéag
    2 a dó 13 a trí déag
    3 a trí 14 a ceathair déag
    4 a ceathair 15 a cúig déag
    5 a cúig 16 a sé déag
    6 a sé 17 a seacht déag
    7 a seacht 18 a hocht déag
    8 a hocht 19 a naoi déag
    9 a naoi 20 fiche
    10 a deich



    To save bandwidth and improve load times for mobile devices. Only 5 lessons are presented on a page (which is the same way the old cassette tapes were arranged).

  • Click Here For Page 1
  • Click Here For Page 2
  • Click Here For Page 3
  • Click Here For Page 4
  • Click Here For Page 5
  • Click Here For Page 6


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