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🇮🇪 Gaeilge

30 real-life Irish speaking situations, with English translations

Short scenes from everyday life: cafés, markets, work, travel, friends. Four connected sentences each, from simple to richer. Read them aloud: speaking practice beats silent reading for getting words out when you need them.

Practise speaking freeNatural Irish expressions

Introducing yourself

It is the first evening of an Irish course and you introduce yourself to the group.

  1. Dia duit, is mise Ciara agus is as Corcaigh mé.
    Hello, I am Ciara and I am from Cork.
  2. Tá mé anseo ar chúrsa Gaeilge coicíse.
    I am here on a two-week Irish course.
  3. Níl mórán Gaeilge agam fós, ach tá mé ag foghlaim gach lá.
    I do not have much Irish yet, but I am learning every day.
  4. Is breá liom an áit seo cheana féin, mar bíonn fáilte mhór roimh dhaoine anseo.
    I love this place already, because people get a great welcome here.

Ordering at the café

You come in out of the wind to a small café in a Gaeltacht village.

  1. Caife le bainne agus scóna, le do thoil.
    A coffee with milk and a scone, please.
  2. Tá ocras an domhain orm i ndiaidh na siúlóide.
    I am starving after the walk.
  3. An bhfuil bord saor agaibh cois na fuinneoige?
    Do you have a free table by the window?
  4. Tagaim isteach anseo gach maidin, mar is annamh a chloisim Gaeilge chomh nádúrtha sin in aon áit eile.
    I come in here every morning, because it is rare to hear Irish spoken that naturally anywhere else.

In the village shop

You call into the local shop for a few messages on your way home.

  1. Tá bainne agus arán uaim, le do thoil.
    I need milk and bread, please.
  2. Cé mhéad atá ar an mála prátaí?
    How much is the bag of potatoes?
  3. Íocfaidh mé le cárta, mura miste leat.
    I will pay by card, if you do not mind.
  4. Bíonn comhrá fada agam le bean an tsiopa i gcónaí, agus sin an fáth a mbíonn moill orm gach Satharn.
    I always end up in a long chat with the woman of the shop, and that is why I am held up every Saturday.

Asking for directions

You are new to the area and stop somebody on the street for help.

  1. Gabh mo leithscéal, cá bhfuil an t-ionad pobail?
    Excuse me, where is the community centre?
  2. Tá mé caillte, mar tá mé anseo den chéad uair.
    I am lost, because it is my first time here.
  3. Mar sin, téim díreach ar aghaidh agus casaim ar chlé ag an séipéal.
    So I go straight on and turn left at the church.
  4. Míle buíochas, tá daoine an-chabhrach sa cheantar seo.
    Thanks a million, people are very helpful around here.

Talking about your day

A colleague asks how the day is going in an office that works through Irish.

  1. Tá lá gnóthach agam san oifig inniu.
    I have a busy day at the office today.
  2. Scríobhaim ríomhphoist ar maidin agus bíonn dhá chruinniú agam tráthnóna.
    I write emails in the morning and I have two meetings in the afternoon.
  3. Oibrím trí Ghaeilge, rud a chuireann áthas orm.
    I work through Irish, which makes me happy.
  4. Cé go mbíonn an lá fada, is maith liom an obair, mar foghlaimím rud éigin nua gach seachtain.
    Even though the day is long, I like the work, because I learn something new every week.

Telling a friend about a trip

You are back from a weekend on the Aran Islands and tell a friend about it.

  1. Chuaigh mé go hInis Mór le mo dheirfiúr an deireadh seachtaine seo caite.
    I went to Inis Mór with my sister last weekend.
  2. Thógamar rothair agus chaitheamar an lá ag rothaíocht cois farraige.
    We took bikes and spent the day cycling by the sea.
  3. Ba é Dún Aonghasa an rud ab fhearr liom, gan amhras.
    Dún Aonghasa was the best of it, without a doubt.
  4. Ba mhaith liom filleadh sa samhradh, mar deirtear go mbíonn na hoileáin faoi bhláth an t-am sin.
    I would like to go back in the summer, because they say the islands are in full bloom then.

Ordering a round in the pub

You are up at the counter of a small Gaeltacht pub on a cold evening.

  1. Pionta pórtair, le do thoil.
    A pint of stout, please.
  2. An mbeidh deoch agat féin?
    Will you have a drink yourself?
  3. Suífimid cois na tine, tá sé fuar amuigh.
    We will sit by the fire, it is cold outside.
  4. Is é seo an t-aon teach tábhairne sa bhaile a mbíonn Gaeilge le cloisteáil ann gach oíche.
    This is the only pub in town where you hear Irish every night.

At a music session

A traditional session is starting in the corner of the pub and you join in.

  1. Tá seisiún ceoil ar siúl anseo anocht.
    There is a music session on here tonight.
  2. Seinnim an fhidil, ach níl mé ach ag foghlaim.
    I play the fiddle, but I am only learning.
  3. Iarrfar amhrán orm níos déanaí, agus canfaidh mé ceann as Gaeilge.
    I will be asked for a song later, and I will sing one in Irish.
  4. Nuair a thosaíonn na ceoltóirí ar phort mear, éiríonn an teach ciúin agus ní chorraíonn duine ar bith.
    When the musicians strike up a fast tune, the place goes quiet and nobody stirs.

Going to the GAA match

You tell a neighbour about Sunday’s championship game at the local pitch.

  1. Tá cluiche peile againn Dé Domhnaigh.
    We have a football match on Sunday.
  2. Imríonn mo dheartháir leis an gclub áitiúil.
    My brother plays for the local club.
  3. Beidh mé ar an líne ag béicíl mar a bhíonn i gcónaí.
    I will be on the sideline roaring, the way I always am.
  4. Má bhuaimid an cluiche seo, rachaimid go craobh an chontae den chéad uair le fiche bliain.
    If we win this one, we go to the county final for the first time in twenty years.

Talking to your child’s teacher

You are at a parent-teacher evening in the Gaelscoil your son attends.

  1. Tá mo mhac ag freastal ar an nGaelscoil.
    My son goes to the Gaelscoil.
  2. Tá sé sa dara rang i mbliana.
    He is in second class this year.
  3. Níl mórán Gaeilge agam féin, ach déanaim mo dhícheall cabhrú leis an obair bhaile.
    I do not have much Irish myself, but I do my best to help with the homework.
  4. Is iontach an rud é go labhraíonn sé Gaeilge lena chairde sa chlós gan smaoineamh air.
    It is a great thing that he speaks Irish with his friends in the yard without even thinking about it.

Visiting your grandmother

You call in to your grandmother’s house for the afternoon.

  1. Táim ag dul ar cuairt chuig mo sheanmháthair.
    I am going to visit my grandmother.
  2. Bíonn cáca milis agus tae réidh aici i gcónaí.
    She always has cake and tea ready.
  3. Insíonn sí scéalta dom faoin saol a bhí anseo fadó.
    She tells me stories about what life was like here long ago.
  4. Tógadh í féin le Gaeilge, agus sin an fáth a n-éistim go géar le gach focal uaithi.
    She was raised with Irish herself, and that is why I listen closely to every word she says.

Weather talk on the pier

You meet a neighbour down at the pier and the weather comes up first, as always.

  1. Tá lá breá ann inniu, buíochas le Dia.
    It is a fine day today, thank God.
  2. Bhí sé ag stealladh báistí ar maidin, áfach.
    It was lashing rain this morning, though.
  3. Deir siad go mbeidh gaoth láidir ann amárach.
    They say there will be a strong wind tomorrow.
  4. Ní chuireann an aimsir isteach orm a thuilleadh, mar bíonn ceithre shéasúr in aon lá amháin againn cois cósta.
    The weather does not bother me any more, because we get four seasons in one day out here on the coast.

Making plans for Saturday

A friend rings to see what you are doing at the weekend.

  1. Cad atá ar bun agat Dé Sathairn?
    What are you up to on Saturday?
  2. Tá scannán nua sa phictiúrlann.
    There is a new film on at the cinema.
  3. Tosaíonn sé ar a hocht, agus d’fhéadfaimis greim bia a fháil roimh ré.
    It starts at eight, and we could grab a bite beforehand.
  4. Má fhágaimid go luath, gheobhaimid bord gan áirithint a dhéanamh, rud atá i bhfad níos fusa.
    If we head off early we will get a table without booking, which is far easier.

Inviting a friend to a party

You are inviting a friend to your birthday gathering at home.

  1. Beidh cóisir agam Dé hAoine seo chugainn.
    I am having a party next Friday.
  2. Ba bhreá liom tú a fheiceáil ann.
    I would love to see you there.
  3. Tosóidh sé thart ar a hocht i dteach mo thuismitheoirí.
    It will start around eight at my parents’ house.
  4. Ná tabhair rud ar bith leat ach tú féin, mar tá an iomarca bia ceannaithe agam cheana.
    Bring nothing but yourself, because I have already bought far too much food.

Booking a table by phone

You ring a restaurant to book a table and the line is poor.

  1. Dia duit, ba mhaith liom bord a chur in áirithe.
    Hello, I would like to book a table.
  2. Bord do cheathrar anocht ar a hocht, más féidir.
    A table for four tonight at eight, if possible.
  3. Gabh mo leithscéal, níl an líne rómhaith, an gcloiseann tú mé?
    Sorry, the line is not great, can you hear me?
  4. Cuirfidh mé teachtaireacht chugat leis na sonraí, ar eagla go dtitfeadh an glaoch arís.
    I will text you the details, in case the call drops again.

At the doctor

You describe your symptoms at the local surgery.

  1. A dhochtúir, níl mé ar fónamh le seachtain.
    Doctor, I have not been well for a week.
  2. Tá tinneas cinn orm agus tá mé an-tuirseach.
    I have a headache and I am very tired.
  3. Ní chodlaím go maith, mar dúisím cúpla uair san oíche.
    I do not sleep well, because I wake a few times in the night.
  4. B’fhearr liom fios a bheith agam cad atá cearr sula dtógaim aon leigheas, fiú má chaithfidh mé dul faoi thástáil fola.
    I would rather know what is wrong before I take anything, even if I have to have a blood test.

Calling for help after an accident

You have come across a road accident and are on the phone to the emergency services.

  1. Cabhair, le do thoil! Tá timpiste tarlaithe.
    Help, please! There has been an accident.
  2. Tá fear gortaithe ar thaobh an bhóthair.
    There is a man injured at the side of the road.
  3. Táimid ar an mbóthar idir An Spidéal agus Indreabhán.
    We are on the road between Spiddal and Inverin.
  4. Tá sé ag análú, ach níor bhog sé ó thit sé, agus mar sin níor bhain mé leis.
    He is breathing, but he has not moved since he fell, so I have not touched him.

Checking in at the B and B

You arrive at a bed and breakfast after a long drive west.

  1. Tráthnóna maith agat, tá seomra curtha in áirithe agam.
    Good evening, I have a room booked.
  2. Seomra dúbailte do dhá oíche atá ann.
    It is a double room for two nights.
  3. An bhfuil bricfeasta san áireamh sa phraghas?
    Is breakfast included in the price?
  4. Bheadh an-áthas orm seomra ciúin a fháil ar chúl an tí, mar bhí turas fada agam.
    I would be delighted with a quiet room at the back of the house, because it was a long journey.

Buying a bus ticket

You are at the bus stop in town buying a ticket to Galway.

  1. Ticéad go Gaillimh, le do thoil.
    A ticket to Galway, please.
  2. Ticéad fillte, agus tá cárta mac léinn agam.
    A return, and I have a student card.
  3. Cén t-am a fhágann an chéad bhus eile?
    What time does the next bus leave?
  4. Fanfaidh mé ag an stad thall ansin, mar tá an bháisteach ag teacht anuas go trom.
    I will wait at the stop over there, because the rain is coming down heavily.

At the post office

You are sending a parcel at the village post office.

  1. Ba mhaith liom an beartán seo a sheoladh go Sasana.
    I would like to send this parcel to England.
  2. Cé mhéad a chosnóidh sé?
    How much will it cost?
  3. Tabhair dom cúig stampa freisin, le do thoil.
    Give me five stamps as well, please.
  4. Is fearr liom teacht anseo ná fanacht sa bhaile, mar bíonn scéalta an bhaile ar fad le cloisteáil ag an gcuntar.
    I would rather come in here than stay at home, because you hear all the local news at the counter.

Opening an account at the bank

You are at the bank counter opening a current account.

  1. Ba mhaith liom cuntas nua a oscailt.
    I would like to open a new account.
  2. Tá mo phas agus bille leictreachais liom.
    I have my passport and an electricity bill with me.
  3. An féidir liom airgead a chur isteach inniu freisin?
    Can I lodge money today as well?
  4. Táim ag iarraidh beagán a shábháil gach mí, mar tá súil agam carr a cheannach roimh an ngeimhreadh.
    I want to put a bit away every month, because I am hoping to buy a car before the winter.

At the hairdresser

You are in the chair explaining how you want your hair cut.

  1. Ba mhaith liom mo chuid gruaige a bhearradh.
    I would like a haircut.
  2. Bearr go gairid ar na taobhanna é, le do thoil.
    Take it short at the sides, please.
  3. Ná bain an iomarca den bharr, áfach.
    Do not take too much off the top, though.
  4. Beidh mé ag bainis an tseachtain seo chugainn, agus ba bhreá liom breathnú néata sna grianghraif.
    I am at a wedding next week, and I would love to look neat in the photos.

Baking bread at home

You are in the kitchen making brown bread for the dinner.

  1. Táim ag bácáil aráin anocht.
    I am baking bread tonight.
  2. Tá plúr, bainne géar agus salann uaim.
    I need flour, buttermilk and salt.
  3. Fágfaidh mé san oigheann é ar feadh uair an chloig.
    I will leave it in the oven for an hour.
  4. Is é seo an t-aon oideas a fuair mé ó mo mháthair mhór, agus déanaim é gach Domhnach ó shin.
    This is the one recipe I got from my grandmother, and I have made it every Sunday since.

Complaining about the wrong order

The waiter has brought the wrong plate and your soup has gone cold.

  1. Gabh mo leithscéal, ní hé seo a d’ordaigh mé.
    Excuse me, this is not what I ordered.
  2. D’iarr mé an t-iasc, ní an sicín.
    I asked for the fish, not the chicken.
  3. Tá an anraith fuar freisin, faraor.
    The soup is cold as well, unfortunately.
  4. Níl mé ag iarraidh raic a tharraingt, ach bheinn buíoch dá dtabharfá ar ais chuig an gcistin é.
    I do not want to make a fuss, but I would be grateful if you took it back to the kitchen.

Apologising for being late

You arrive half an hour late to meet a friend.

  1. Tá brón orm, tá mé déanach.
    I am sorry, I am late.
  2. Bhí an trácht go dona ar an mbóthar isteach.
    The traffic was bad on the road in.
  3. Ba chóir dom glaoch a chur ort, agus tá aiféala orm faoi sin.
    I should have rung you, and I am sorry about that.
  4. Geallaim duit nach dtarlóidh sé arís, agus ceannóidh mé an chéad deoch eile mar leithscéal.
    I promise you it will not happen again, and I will buy the next drink to make up for it.

Giving your opinion on the language

Someone asks you whether Irish has a future, and you say what you think.

  1. Ceapaim go bhfuil an Ghaeilge níos láidre anois ná mar a bhí.
    I think Irish is stronger now than it used to be.
  2. Cloisim í ar na sráideanna i measc daoine óga.
    I hear it on the streets among young people.
  3. Ní aontaím leo siúd a deir go bhfuil sí ag fáil bháis.
    I do not agree with the people who say it is dying out.
  4. Ar ndóigh, ní leor na meáin shóisialta, caithfear í a labhairt sa bhaile chomh maith.
    Of course, social media alone is not enough, it has to be spoken at home too.

Talking about your hobbies

A new acquaintance asks what you do with yourself outside work.

  1. Is aoibhinn liom snámh san fharraige.
    I love swimming in the sea.
  2. Téim isteach gach maidin, fiú sa gheimhreadh.
    I go in every morning, even in winter.
  3. Léim leabhar Gaeilge freisin sula dtéim a chodladh.
    I read an Irish book too before I go to sleep.
  4. Cuireann an dá rud ar mo shuaimhneas mé, agus dá n-éireoinn astu bheinn ar mire faoi cheann seachtaine.
    The two of them settle me, and if I gave them up I would be going mad inside a week.

Travelling west into the Gaeltacht

You are heading west to Connemara to use your Irish for a fortnight.

  1. Táim ag taisteal siar go Conamara.
    I am travelling west to Connemara.
  2. Stopfaidh mé i gCarna ar feadh cúpla lá.
    I will stop in Carna for a few days.
  3. Ní labhróidh mé focal Béarla fad is atá mé ann.
    I will not speak a word of English while I am there.
  4. Tá súil agam go labhróidh na comharsana Gaeilge liom, fiú má bhíonn siad róthapa dom ar dtús.
    I hope the neighbours will speak Irish to me, even if they are too fast for me at the start.

The internet is down

The broadband has stopped working and you are trying to sort it out.

  1. Níl an Wi-Fi ag obair sa teach.
    The Wi-Fi is not working in the house.
  2. Bhí sé go breá go dtí aréir.
    It was grand until last night.
  3. Rinne mé iarracht an bosca a mhúchadh agus a lasadh arís.
    I tried turning the box off and on again.
  4. Mura n-éireoidh leis sin, cuirfidh mé glaoch ar an gcomhlacht, cé nach bhfuil aon fhonn orm fanacht ar an líne ar feadh uair an chloig.
    If that does not work, I will ring the company, though I have no wish to sit on hold for an hour.

Saying goodbye at the end of the course

The Irish course is over and you are saying goodbye to the people you met.

  1. Sin deireadh leis an gcúrsa, faraor.
    That is the end of the course, sadly.
  2. Beidh mé ag imeacht ar an mbus maidin amárach.
    I will be off on the bus tomorrow morning.
  3. Coinneoidh mé i dteagmháil libh, geallaim.
    I will keep in touch with you all, I promise.
  4. Ní dhéanfaidh mé dearmad go deo ar na hoícheanta a chaitheamar ag canadh cois tine.
    I will never forget the nights we spent singing by the fire.

Questions

How should I practise these Irish scenes?

Read a scene aloud once slowly, once at natural speed, then cover the text and say each line from its meaning. The sentences in each scene go from simple to richer, so stop at the line that feels hard and repeat it tomorrow.

Can I get feedback on my speaking?

Yes. In WordSlick each scene is a speaking exercise: you record yourself, get feedback, and the AI tutor AskSlick can role-play the situation with you.

From WordSlick’s speaking-scenario bank. Updated 2026-10-14.