Pronunciation Key
VOWELS
STRESSED AND UNSTRESSES SYLLABLES: In multi-syllable words, the syllables which are underlined are stressed (accented) in pronunciation. Keep in mind that as a general rule most Irish words are pronounced with the stress on the first syllable with any remaining syllables being unstressed.
Short Vowels | ||
Symbol Used Here | Irish Examples | Nearest English Equivalent |
a | bean, mac | bat |
e | ceist, te | set |
i | duine, im | sit |
o | obair, seo | son |
u | dubh, tiubh | book |
Long Vowels | ||
Symbol Used Here | Irish Examples | Nearest English Equivalent |
a | ard, tá | far |
e | mé, tae | |
i | buí, naoi | me |
o | ceol, mór | more |
u | siúl, tú | who |
The Neutral Vowel | ||
Symbol Used Here | Irish Examples | Nearest English Equivalent |
 | mála, míle | about |
Dipthongs | ||
Symbol Used Here | Irish Examples | Nearest English Equivalent |
ai | radharc | I, eye |
au | leabhar | cow |
 | bia, pian | pianist |
 | fuar, suas | fluent |
Broad Consonants | ||
Symbol Used Here | Irish Examples | Nearest English Equivalent |
b | bán, buí | - |
d | dó | - |
f | faoin | - |
g | Gaeilge | fog |
h | hata, thit | hat |
k | cad | cot |
l | lón, mála | mill |
m | maoin, mór | - |
n | anam, naoi | - |
p | paca | - |
r | fuar | - |
s | cás | - |
t | tacht | - |
v | vóta | wore |
w | wigwam | wigwam |
x | loch | German “Bach” |
z | zú | - |
 | longa | long |
 | dhá | Spanish “Agua” |
d´z´ | jab | job |
Slender Consonants | ||
Symbol Used Here | Irish Examples | Nearest English Equivalent |
b | bí, beo | be, beauty |
d | deo | - |
f | fíon, fiú | feet, few |
g | gé, Gaeilge | gay, egg |
k | cé, cead | key, came |
l | leon, míle | live |
m | maoin, mór | may, me |
n | ainm, ní | canyon |
p | peaca | piece |
r | fuair | - |
s | cáis | she |
t | tacht | - |
v | bhí | very |
x | cheol | Hugh, German “Ich” |
z | xileafón | pleasure |
| loingeas | sing |
| dhíol | yes |
