Vowels
Long Vowels
These are always pronounced this way, whatever their position in a word. Often, the vowels marked with the sineadh fada (áéíú) will be written with another short vowel before or after it. This generally does not affect the pronunciation, but it written to obey the rule of broad vowels with broad consonants, and slender vowels with slender consonants.
| Broad Vowel | Pronunciation | Example | Translation |
| á | aw as in “law” | lá [law] | day |
| ae | ay as in “day” | Gael [g(w)ayl] | Irish (culture) |
| ao | ay as in “day” (Munster) |
saor [sair] | free |
| ee (Connacht, Ulster) |
saor [seer] | free | |
| aoi | ee | saoirse [SEER-shuh] | freedom |
| é | ay as in “day” | céad [kyaid] | first, hundred |
| eo | oh as in “go” | ceol [kyohl] | music |
| í | ee | cailín [KAH-leen] | girl |
| ia | EE-uh | bia [BEE-uh] | food |
| ó | oh as in “go” | a dó [uh DOH] | two |
| ú | oo as in “too” | fiú [fyoo] | even |
| ua | OO-uh | bua [BOO-uh] | win, talent |
Short vowels
Short vowels are pronounced as follows only when they are the stressed syllable of a word.
All short vowels in unstressed syllables are pronounced “uh”.
| Short Vowel | Pronunciation | Example | Translation |
| a | ah as in “father” | fada [FAH-duh] | long |
| ai | often like a in “cat” | aithne [A-huh-nuh] | to know a person |
| e | eh in “bet” | te [cheh] | hot |
| ea | often like a or ai | fear [fyar] | man |
| bealach [BYAH-lukh] | way | ||
| ei | eh in “bet” | feis [fesh] | festival |
| i | i as in “hit” | fir [fir] | men |
| io | i as in “hit” | scrios [shkriss] | destroy, to wreck |
| yuh | pioc [pyuk] | to pick | |
| o | o in “pot” | sos [soss] | rest, break |
| oi | often like eh in “bet” | oifig [EFF-ig] | office |
| u | oo as in “book” | muc [muck] | pig |
| ui | often wi as in “quick” | cuid [kwidge] | part |
Anina said,
January 19, 2008 @ 8:49 am
Good morning!
I’ve found the website very helpful for my Irish studies, but I have one question concerning the pronunciation of diphthongs of which the first vowel has a fada on it. For example staidéar (éa).
Another problem arose when I looked up the translation of watch (uaireadóir). The combination of “uai” is is nowhere to be found on the translation page.
I’d be very grateful if you explained how to pronounce those things!!!
Thanks in advance,
Anina
Karen said,
February 20, 2008 @ 5:18 pm
Is duine go hailinn tusa agus ta suile agan go feicidh me tusa an t-am eile.
Eoin said,
February 20, 2008 @ 9:24 pm
Hi Karen: please use our site’s free translation forum for your translation request.
Anyse said,
October 8, 2008 @ 9:34 pm
Anina,
I know of a ver good web site for ALL of the pronunciations of the letters, vowels, dipthongs, etc.
It is located at: http://www.angaelmagazine.com/pronunciation/introduction.htm
You are going to be one happy woman with this site. Should you be interested in making sure that you use one dialect or another, I am setting up the full pronunciation scheme presented on the web site to which I am referring you in BYKI! made by Transparent Language. I should have this set of “flash cards” ready next week (Oct. 16, 2008). Get in touch with me, if you wish at anyse1@mac.com
Take care.