Speak Irish Now (Bí ag Caint): Irish Phrases for Beginners
Speak Irish Now! from Gaelteanga is a practical, engaging video series designed to help learners start speaking Irish with confidence from day one. Through authentic, real-life conversations, and easy-to-follow lessons, the series brings the Irish language to life for beginners and returning speakers alike. The dialogues in Speak Irish Now! are taken from Gaelteanga’s Online Irish Self-Study Courses and will give you a taste of what’s covered in those courses.
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 this 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.
Tips for speaking Irish
- Remember that you don’t need to understand every word – an important skill to develop is being able to get the gist of what is being said. Aim for material where you understand ~60–80% and let the rest come naturally through repetition. Children’s content, beginner podcasts, and slow conversations are ideal early on.
- One thing that surprises many learners: pronunciation becomes much easier once you hear enough real Irish. Early exposure matters more than perfect spelling knowledge.
- It’s best to spend about 15 minutes a day studying Irish rather than doing an hour or two, once or twice a week.
For more tips about speaking Irish, have a look at our FAQs About Learning Irish blog.
Learn Irish Online with Gaelteanga
The sentences contained in the Speak Irish Now! / Bí ag Caint! are taken from Gaelteanga’s Beginners (A1) and Elementary (A2) self-study courses. If you’d like to take your Irish further and become a confident speaker of the language, sign up today for one of our courses at Level A1 or Level A2.
Lesson 1: Meeting people
Practise listening and repeating simple everyday Irish phrases in a natural, authentic conversation.
Ailbhe and Oisín meet for the first time, at an Irish language course in Connemara.
Cén chaoi a bhfuil tú?
Is mise Ailbhe – cén t-ainm atá ortsa?
Mise Oisín.
Tá sé go deas bualadh leat, a Oisín.
Lesson 2: Introducing people 1
Practise listening and repeating simple everyday Irish phrases in a natural, authentic conversation.
At a party, Ciara introduces various people to her friend Niamh, who doesn’t know anyone else there.
Seo é Rónán.
Tá sé go deas bualadh leat, a Niamh.
Seo í Siobhán.
Cén chaoi a bhfuil tú?
Agus seo iad Dónall agus Peadar.
Cén chaoi a bhfuil sibh?
Lesson 3: Background
Practise listening and repeating simple everyday Irish phrases in a natural, authentic conversation.
Méabh and Gearóid meet for the first time during an Irish language course in Galway.
Cén chaoi a bhfuil tú? Is mise Méabh – cén t-ainm atá ortsa?
Mise Gearóid.
Tá sé go deas bualadh leat, a Ghearóid.
Cé as thú, a Mhéabh?
As Sligeach mé. Cé as thú féin?
As Luimneach ach tá mé i mo chónaí i Maigh Eo anois, i gCaisleán an Bharraigh.
Lesson 4: Marital status
Practise listening and repeating simple everyday Irish phrases in a natural, authentic conversation.
Tríona and Órla only met recently and are still getting to know each other.
Níl tú féin pósta?
Níl. Bhí mé pósta ach tá mé colscartha anois.
Tá brón orm é sin a chloisteáil.
Á, sin an saol! Tá tú féin geallta, feicim.
Tá, tá mé geallta le Ciarán. Táimid an-sona le chéile.
Tá sé sin go hiontach!
Lesson 5: Talking about children
Practise listening and repeating simple everyday Irish phrases in a natural, authentic conversation.
Siobhán and Órla talk about their children.
An bhfuil páistí agat?
Tá, tá beirt agam – mac agus iníon.
Agus cén aois atá siad?
Tá Eimear seacht mbliana agus tá Dara deich mbliana – tá siad óg go fóill.
An bhfuil páistí agat féin?
Tá mac amháin agam, Antóin – tá sé cúig bliana d’aois.
Lesson 6: Introducing people 2
Practise listening and repeating simple everyday Irish phrases in a natural, authentic conversation.
Caoimhe brings her boyfriend Breandán home to meet the family for the first time.
Seo iad mo thuismitheoirí Séamas agus Helen.
Dia daoibh. Tá sé go deas bualadh libh.
Agus seo í mo dheirfiúr Cáit.
Tá sé go deas bualadh leat, a Bhreandáin.
Agus seo iad mo dheartháireacha Seán agus Dáithí.
Cén chaoi a bhfuil sibh?
An mbeidh cupán tae agat, a Bhreandáin?
Lesson 7: Daily routine
Practise listening and repeating simple everyday Irish phrases in a natural, authentic conversation.
Caoimhín recently moved to a new town. His friend Debbie wants to find out about his life there.
Cén t-am a éiríonn tú de ghnáth?
Éirím timpeall a hocht agus bíonn bricfeasta agam sa bhaile.
Níl sé sin ró-luath.
Níl, níl sé ró-olc ar chor ar bith. Bím san obair timpeall a naoi.
Agus cén t-am a fhágann tú an obair?
Idir a cúig agus leathuair tar éis a cúig de ghnáth. Bíonn leathlá agam ar an Aoine.
Lesson 8: Work
Practise listening and repeating simple everyday Irish phrases in a natural, authentic conversation.
Caitlín has recently moved abroad. Her friend Marc rings her to find out how she’s getting on in her new bar job.
An maith leat an post nua?
Is breá liom é. Tá sé an-suimiúil agus tá an t-airgead ceart go leor.
An mbíonn tú ag obair gach deireadh seachtaine?
Bím. Bíonn an beár an-ghnóthach ar an Aoine agus ar an Satharn.
Agus an mbíonn tú ag obair déanach go minic, mar sin?
Bím. Faighim tacsaí abhaile timpeall a trí a chlog de ghnáth.
Lesson 9: Pastimes
Practise listening and repeating simple everyday Irish phrases in a natural, authentic conversation.
Bairbre and Cathal meet at a speed-dating event for people who want to fall in love through Irish!
Céard a dhéanann tú nuair a bhíonn am saor agat?
Tá mé an-aclaí. Téim ag rith agus ag snámh gach lá.
Gach lá! Maith thú!
Céard a dhéanann tú féin nuair a bhíonn am saor agat?
Is maith liom a bheith ag léamh agus is breá liom a bheith ag seinm ceoil. Tá suim mhór agam sa cheol.
Lesson 10: Social life
Practise listening and repeating simple everyday Irish phrases in a natural, authentic conversation.
Anna recently moved from the country to the city and is telling her friend Niamh about her social life.
Téim go dtí an teach tábhairne beagnach gach oíche!
Tá sé sin an-dána! An dtéann tú chuig ceolchoirmeacha nó seisiúin cheoil?
Téim, oíche Dé hAoine nó oíche Dé Sathairn de ghnáth.
Go hiontach.
Agus téim chuig dráma nó chuig scannán go minic freisin.
Tá saol iontach agat! Tá mé go mór in éad leat!