Ahh, the Irish love for our mother tongue… it’s a complex one.
Today is International Mother Language Day.
So we’ve compiled a short list of the must-have phrases “as Gaeilge” to know abroad because, let’s be completely honest with ourselves, apart from the admirable minority who speak our beautiful tongue on a daily basis, most of us just like to have the “beagín” bit of Gaeilge to get us by bitching in private abroad.
This way you can slag off the Germans for booking their sunbeds with their towels at some ungodly hour of the morning, you can turn to your other half and complain about the prices at the local Turkish market or you can have a secret natter about the hot guy who’s been keeping the plants at the Spanish beachfront watered all day…
Sounds good to us.
So, here we have it… the ten phrases everybody should know before they hit the Ryanair flight for their two weeker by the pool.
Here’s hoping your love of the “cupla focail” is reignited again…
1. “Look at your man”
“Féach ar an fear seo…”
2. “I like it”
“Is maith liom é”
3. “I don’t like it”
“Ní maith liom é”
4. “This is shite”
“Tá sé leadránach”
5. “Another drink?”
“Ba mhaith leat deoch eile?”
6. “I’m hungover as ****”
“Tá póit orm”
7. “He/She’s hot”
“Tá sé/sí taibhseach”
8. “State of your wan”
“Tá sí ina phraiseach”
9. “Would he ever feck off?”
“Ba mhaith liom go mbeadh sé a fhágáil”
10. “Let’s get the hell out of here”
“Ba chóir dúinn a fhágáil”
