A Taste of Irish in < 30 seconds!

A Taste of Irish in < 30 seconds! is a series of 50 Irish-language video lessons aimed at beginners or those who know only a limited amount of Irish. Each video lasts less than 30 seconds, making learning quick and easy! Start speaking Irish now, with these simple, useful everyday phrases.

This series is useful preparation for those who are interested in doing a beginners or elementary Irish course with Gaelteanga, either on a self-study basis or by attending a live online Zoom class.

How to use this series

• Watch one video at a time.
• Listen first, and when you’re familiar with the sentences, repeat them without stopping the recording. This will help you develop a feel for the rhythm and sounds of Irish.
• Don’t worry about being pronouncing everything perfectly – that will come with time.
• It’s better to spend about 15 minutes a day watching one video, rather than spending an hour or two at a time trying to learn the content.

Why it works

• You’re hearing authentic, natural Irish as it’s spoken by fluent speakers in the Gaeltacht and beyond
• You’re actively speaking and repeating the language, not just reading or studying grammar.
• Short videos make it easier to practise regularly, even with a busy schedule.
• Repetition helps new words and sentence patterns stick in your memory.
• Listening to native speakers improves your pronunciation, rhythm and understanding of spoken Irish.
• You build confidence quickly by mastering short, practical phrases you can use immediately.
• Bite-sized lessons feel manageable and motivating, which makes it easier to stay consistent.
• Short videos make it easier to practise regularly, even with a busy schedule.

Tips for speaking Irish

• Don’t worry initially about choosing one of the three main dialects of Irish – most learners of the language have a mixture of dialects.
• Learn whole spoken phrases, not isolated vocabulary. It’s more useful to know how to introduce yourself or to thank someone, for example, than to know how to name various types of food. Irish sentence structure feels different from English, so chunks are far more effective.
• Listen to the language constantly. The biggest mistake learners make is reading Irish more than listening to it.
• For more tips about speaking Irish, have a look at our FAQs About Learning Irish blog.

Lesson 1: Greetings 1

Start speaking Irish now, with these simple, useful everyday phrases.

Cén chaoi a bhfuil tú?
Conas atá tú?
Cad é mar atá tú?

Lesson 2: Greetings 2

Start speaking Irish now, with these simple, useful everyday phrases.

Cén chaoi a bhfuil tú?
Tá mé go maith, go raibh maith agat. Agus tú féin?
Tá mé go breá.

Lesson 3: Referring to the weather

Start speaking Irish now, with these simple, useful everyday phrases.

te / an-te
fuar / an-fhuar
fliuch / an-fhliuch

Lesson 4: Saying goodbye 2

Start speaking Irish now, with these simple, useful everyday phrases.

Slán.
Slán go fóill.
Slán agat.
Slán leat. Feicfidh mé amárach thú.
Feicfidh mé ar ball thú.
Feicfidh mé gan mhoill thú.

Lesson 5: Asking where someone is from

Start speaking Irish now, with these simple, useful everyday phrases.

Cé as thú?
Cad as duit?
Cé as tú?

Lesson 6: Saying where you’re from

Start speaking Irish now, with these simple, useful everyday phrases.

Is as Béal Feirste mé.
Is as Baile Átha Cliath dom.
Is as Corcaigh ó dhúchas mé.
Is as Luimneach ó dhúchas dom.

Lesson 7: Saying what your name is

Start speaking Irish now, with these simple, useful everyday phrases.

Sinéad is ainm dom.
Sinéad an t-ainm atá orm.
Cad is ainm duit?
Cén t-ainm atá ort?

Lesson 8: Thanking someone

Start speaking Irish now, with these simple, useful everyday phrases.

Go raibh maith agat.
Ná habair é.
Go ndéana a mhaith duit.
Níl a bhuíochas ort.

Lesson 9: Introducing people

Start speaking Irish now, with these simple, useful everyday phrases.

Seo é Liam.
Seo í Caitríona.
Seo iad Dara agus Caoimhe.
Tá sé go deas bualadh leat.
Tá sé go deas bualadh libh.

Lesson 10: Saying what your nationality is 1

Start speaking Irish now, with these simple, useful everyday phrases.

IIs Éireannach mé.
Is Albanach mé.
Is Breatnach mé.
Is Sasanach mé.

Lesson 11: Saying what your nationality is 2

Start speaking Irish now, with these simple, useful everyday phrases.

An Iodálach thú?
Is ea.
An Ceanadach thú?
Ní hea – is Meiriceánach mé.
Francach
Gearmánach
Spáinneach
Portaingéalach

Lesson 12: Hunger and thirst

Start speaking Irish now, with these simple, useful everyday phrases.

Tá ocras orm.
Tá tart orm.
An bhfuil ocras ort?
An bhfuil tart ort?
Níl.

Lesson 13: Offering someone a drink

Start speaking Irish now, with these simple, useful everyday phrases.

Cad ba mhaith leat?
Cad a bheidh agat?
Pionta Guinness, le do thoil.
Gloine bheorach, le do thoil.
Gloine uisce bheatha, le do thoil.
Gloine fíona, le do thoil.
Fíon dearg.
Fíon geal.

Lesson 14: Drinking someone’s health

Start speaking Irish now, with these simple, useful everyday phrases.

Sláinte!
Sláinte mhaith!
Sláinte na mban.
Comhghairdeas leat.
Comhghairdeas libh.

Lesson 15: Saying what’s wrong with you

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Cad atá ort?
Tá póit uafásach orm.
Tá tinneas cinn orm.
Tá slaghdán orm.
Tá pian i mo bholg.
Á, a chréatúir!

Lesson 16: Languages 1

Start speaking Irish now, with these simple, useful everyday phrases.

Cé mhéad teanga atá agat?
Cé mhéad teanga iasachta atá agat?
Dhá cheann – Gaeilge agus Béarla.
Trí cinn – Fraincis, Spáinnis agus Gearmáinis.

Lesson 17: Languages 2

Start speaking Irish now, with these simple, useful everyday phrases.

An bhfuil Gaeilge líofa agat?
Tá – tá mé an-líofa.
Níl.
Tá Fraincis líofa agam.
Iodáilis / Tá beagán Iodáilise agam.
Tá Gearmáinis réasúnta maith agam.
Níl teangacha iasachta ar bith agam.

Lesson 18: Musical ability

Start speaking Irish now, with these simple, useful everyday phrases.

An bhfuil ceol agat?
Tá.
Níl.
Tá bua an cheoil aige.
Tá bua an cheoil aici.
Tá féith an cheoil ann.
Tá féith an cheoil inti.

Lesson 19: Types of music

Start speaking Irish now, with these simple, useful everyday phrases.

An maith leat ceol clasaiceach?
Is maith.
Ní maith.
Is maith liom ceol traidisiúnta.
Is aoibhinn liom popcheol.
Is breá liom rac-cheol.
Ní maith liom snagcheol.

Lesson 20: Marital status

Start speaking Irish now, with these simple, useful everyday phrases.

An bhfuil tú pósta?
Tá.
Níl.
Tá mé pósta.
Níl mé pósta – tá mé singil.
Tá mé colscartha.
Is baintreach mé.

Lesson 21: Finding out if someone has children

Start speaking Irish now, with these simple, useful everyday phrases.

An bhfuil clann agat?
An bhfuil páistí agat?
Níl.
No.
Tá – tá páiste amháin agam.
Tá mac amháin agus iníon amháin agam.
Tá beirt mhac agus triúr iníonacha agam.

Lesson 22: Introducing various family members

Start speaking Irish now, with these simple, useful everyday phrases.

athair / Seo é m’athair.
máthair / Seo í mo mháthair.
deartháir / Seo é mo dheartháir Máirtín.
deirfiúr / Seo í mo dheirfiúr Anna.
mac agus iníon / Seo iad mo mhac agus m’iníon.

Lesson 23: Saying goodbye 2

Start speaking Irish now, with these simple, useful everyday phrases.

Oíche mhaith.
Codladh sámh.
Slán abhaile.
Go dté tú slán.
Ádh mór ort.

Lesson 24: Work 1

Start speaking Irish now, with these simple, useful everyday phrases.

Cén post atá agat?
Is …. mé.
Is múinteoir mé.
Is altra mé.
freastalaí
dochtúir
tógálaí
feirmeoir

Lesson 25: Work 2

Start speaking Irish now, with these simple, useful everyday phrases.

Is post lánaimseartha é.
Is post páirtaimseartha é.
Is post buan é.
An post sealadach é?
Is ea. / Ní hea.

Lesson 26: Work 3

Start speaking Irish now, with these simple, useful everyday phrases.

An dtaitníonn do phost leat?
Taitníonn.
Ní thaitníonn.
Is breá liom é.
Ní thaitníonn sé liom ar chor ar bith.
Is fuath liom é.
Tá sé an-leadránach.

Lesson 27: Brothers or sisters

Start speaking Irish now, with these simple, useful everyday phrases.

An bhfuil deartháir nó deirfiúr ar bith agat?
Níl – is páiste aonair mé.
Tá – tá deartháir amháin agam.
Tá deirfiúr amháin agus deartháir amháin agam.
Tá beirt deartháireacha agam.
Tá triúr deirfiúracha agam.

Lesson 28: Saying who you live with

Start speaking Irish now, with these simple, useful everyday phrases.

Tá mé i mo chónaí i m’aonar.
Tá mé i mo chónaí le mo bhuachaill.
Tá mé i mo chónaí le mo chailín.
Tá mé i mo chónaí in árasán le beirt eile.
Tá mé ag roinnt tí le triúr eile.

Lesson 29: Asking someone where he lives

Start speaking Irish now, with these simple, useful everyday phrases.

Cá bhfuil tú i do chónaí?
cathair / Tá mé i mo chónaí i lár na cathrach.
Tá mé i mo chónaí ar imeall na cathrach.
baile / Tá mé i mo chónaí i mbaile beag.
Tá mé i mo chónaí faoin tuath.
Tá mé i mo chónaí cois farraige.

Lesson 30: Finding out what time it is

Start speaking Irish now, with these simple, useful everyday phrases.

Cén t-am atá sé?
Tá sé …
a haon a chlog.
a dó a chlog.
a trí a chlog.
a ceathair a chlog.
a cúig, a sé, a seacht, a hocht, a naoi, a deich, a haon déag, a dó dhéag

Lesson 31: Making arrangements

Start speaking Irish now, with these simple, useful everyday phrases.

Cén t-am a bhuailfimid le chéile?
Buailfidh mé leat …
ag meán lae.
ag ceathrú tar éis a haon.
ag leathuair tar éis a ceathair.
ag ceathrú chun a hocht.

Lesson 32: Congratulating someone

Start speaking Irish now, with these simple, useful everyday phrases.

Comhghairdeas leat!
Maith thú féin!
Maith an fear!
Maith an bhean!
Mo cheol thú!

Lesson 33: Wishing someone well

Start speaking Irish now, with these simple, useful everyday phrases.

Lá breithe sona duit!
Breithlá sona duit!
Go n-éirí go geal leat.
Go maire sibh bhur saol nua.
Go maire sibh bhur nuaíocht.

Lesson 34: Sentences you can use with children

Start speaking Irish now, with these simple, useful everyday phrases.

Bí ciúin! / Bígí ciúin!
Ná bí dána! / Ná bígí dána!
Suigh síos! / Suígí síos!
Ith do dhinnéar! / Ithigí bhur ndinnéar!

Lesson 35: Talking about love

Start speaking Irish now, with these simple, useful everyday phrases.

Tá mé i ngrá leat.
Tá mo chroí istigh ionat.
Is tú grá geal mo chroí.
Tá mé dúnta i ngrá leis.
Tá mé dúnta i ngrá léi.

Lesson 36: Terms of endearment

Start speaking Irish now, with these simple, useful everyday phrases.

a Róisín, a stór
a Liam, a thaisce
a chroí
a rún
a rún mo chroí

Lesson 37: Apologising

Start speaking Irish now, with these simple, useful everyday phrases.

Gabh mo leithscéal.
Tá brón orm.
Tá an-bhrón orm faoi sin.
Tá brón orm go bhfuil mé déanach.
Tá cathú orm.
Tá mé iontach buartha.

Lesson 38: A person’s appearance 1

Start speaking Irish now, with these simple, useful everyday phrases.

Cén chuma atá air?
Cén chuma atá uirthi?
Tá sí ard agus tanaí.
Tá sé beag agus ramhar.
Tá sí an-dathúil.
Tá sé an-dóighiúil.
Tá gruaig fhada uirthi.
Tá gruaig ghearr air.

Lesson 39: A person’s appearance 2

Start speaking Irish now, with these simple, useful everyday phrases.

Tá gruaig fhada dhubh uirthi.
Tá gruaig fhada fhionn uirthi.
Tá gruaig ghearr dhonn air.
Tá féasóg fhada liath air.

Lesson 40: Fitness and sports

Start speaking Irish now, with these simple, useful everyday phrases.

Tá mé an-aclaí.
Níl mé aclaí ar chor ar bith.
Téim ag rith dhá uair sa tseachtain.
Téim ag siúl go minic.
Imrím peil agus leadóg.
Imrím galf.

Lesson 41: Positive traits

Start speaking Irish now, with these simple, useful everyday phrases.

Is duine cairdiúil é.
Is duine cineálta í.
Is duine ionraic é.
Is duine fial í.
dearfach
béasach
foighneach
díograiseach

Lesson 42: Negative traits

Start speaking Irish now, with these simple, useful everyday phrases.

Is duine leisciúil é.
Is duine drochbhéasach í.
Is duine mí-ionraic é.
Is duine sotalach í.
suarach
santach
mífhoighneach
éadmhar

Lesson 43: Positive emotions

Start speaking Irish now, with these simple, useful everyday phrases.

Tá mé sona sásta.
Tá mé ar mo sháimhín só.
Tá mé ar bís.
Tá áthas an domhain orm.
Tá mé dóchasach.

Lesson 44: Negative emotions

Start speaking Irish now, with these simple, useful everyday phrases.

TTá mé brónach.
Tá mé in ísle brí.
Tá fearg orm.
Tá eagla orm.
Bhí mé trína chéile.
Bhí náire orm.
Bhí imní orm.

Lesson 45: The days of the week

Start speaking Irish now, with these simple, useful everyday phrases.

Dé Luain
Dé Máirt
Dé Céadaoin
Déardaoin
Dé hAoine
Dé Sathairn
Dé Domhnaigh

Lesson 46: Different parts of different days

Start speaking Irish now, with these simple, useful everyday phrases.

Tháinig mé ar ais maidin Dé Luain.
Feicfidh mé tú tráthnóna Dé Máirt.
Beidh mé ar ais oíche Dé hAoine.
Beimid ar ais tráthnóna Dé Sathairn.
Tá mé ag dul ansin don deireadh seachtaine.

Lesson 47: Various countries 1

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an Spáinn / sa Spáinn
an Fhrainc / sa Fhrainc
an Iodáil / san Iodáil
an Ghearmáin / sa Ghearmáin
Albain / in Albain
Sasana / i Sasana

Lesson 48: Various countries 2

Start speaking Irish now, with these simple, useful everyday phrases.

Bhí mé sa Spáinn don deireadh seachtaine.
Bhí mé sa Fhrainc ar feadh cúpla lá.
seachtain / Bhí mé san Iodáil ar feadh seachtaine.
coicís / Bhí mé sa Ghearmáin ar feadh coicíse.
mí / Bhí mé in Albain ar feadh míosa

Lesson 49: Types of food 1

Start speaking Irish now, with these simple, useful everyday phrases.

Is maith liom bia spíosrach.
Is breá liom glasraí úra.
Is aoibhinn liom seacláid.                         
Ní maith liom bia mara.
Is fuath liom feoil.

Lesson 50: Types of food 2

Start speaking Irish now, with these simple, useful everyday phrases.

Is maith liom bia Francach.
Is breá liom bia Iodálach.
Is aoibhinn liom bia Síneach.
Ní maith liom bia Meicsiceach.
Is fuath liom bia Meiriceánach.