An mhí seo beimid ag feiceáil ar frásaí úsáideach.

(This month we’ll be looking at useful phrases).



These are phrases you might find useful to respond to someone, to comment briefly, to fill gaps, to encourage someone else to carry on with their story.

• That’s interesting: Tá sé sin suimiúil
• That’s funny: Sin greannnmhar (Tá sé sin=that is, but is often shortened to just sin in speech.)
• That’s weird: Sin ait
• It’s a shame/pity: Is mór an trua é (trua=pity)
• Without a doubt: Gan amhras
• Unbelievable: Dochreidte
• No way! Seans ar bith!
• Of course: Ar ndóigh
• I agree: Aontaím leat
• I see: Tuigim
• Exactly: Go díreach
• Really/seriously? I ndáiríre?
• Is that so? An mar sin é?
• Sure: cinnte
• Maybe: B’fhéidir
• It doesn’t matter: Is cuma
• I don’t care about/I’m not bothered: Is cuma liom

And here are a few phrases that will help your Irish flow like that of a Gaelgeoir!!

• By the way: Dála an scéal
• Actually: Mar a tharlaíonn
• To tell the truth: Chun an fhírinne a rá
• In any case: Ar aon nós
• Would you believe? An gcreidfeá?
• On the other hand: Ar an lámh eile
• sin sin: That’s that
• OK: Ceart go leor

Remember, if you are struggling with pronunciation, try abair.ie which will tell you how the word is pronounced in the three main dialects.

Better still, come along to Norton’s in Digbeth on the second Sunday of the month at 1pm and meet others, at all levels of Irish, who will make you very welcome!

Le gach dea-ghuí,

Terri