Learn to read Irish
A short, active path into reading Irish: sound out eight real words before the alphabet, learn to undo séimhiú and urú on sight, put the verb at the front of the sentence, and read a story whose pronunciation and English begin hidden.
Reading
3 sectionsFirst reading with help: two animals meet
- Read the Irish line first, then use the pronunciation and the English underneath.
- When a line will not come apart: first word is the action, then who, then to what — and undo any h or bolted-on letter.
- Re-read it once without looking at the English.
One new clue before the story
Mina and Dara on the road
Tá Mina an luch ag siúl ar an mbóthar.
taw MIN-uh un lukh egg shool err un MOH-hur.
Mina the mouse is walking on the road.
Feiceann sí Dara an sionnach.
FEK-un shee DAR-uh un SHUN-ukh.
She sees Dara the fox.
“Dia duit, a Dhara,” arsa Mina.
“JEE-uh ditch, uh GHAR-uh,” AR-suh MIN-uh.
“Hello, Dara,” said Mina.
“Dia is Muire duit, a Mhina,” arsa Dara.
“JEE-uh iss MWIR-uh ditch, uh VIN-uh,” AR-suh DAR-uh.
“Hello to you too, Mina,” said Dara.
“Cá bhfuil tú ag dul?” a d’fhiafraigh Mina.
“kaw wil too egg dul?” uh JEE-uh-free MIN-uh.
“Where are you going?” asked Mina.
“Tá mé ag dul go dtí an choill, mar tá ocras orm,” arsa Dara.
“taw may egg dul guh JEE un KHWIL, mar taw UK-rus OR-um,” AR-suh DAR-uh.
“I am going to the forest, because I am hungry,” said Dara.
“Tá mo theach sa choill,” arsa Mina.
“taw muh hakh suh KHWIL,” AR-suh MIN-uh.
“My house is in the forest,” said Mina.
“Slán agat, a Dhara.” “Slán leat, a Mhina.”
“slawn AH-gut, uh GHAR-uh.” “slawn lat, uh VIN-uh.”
“Goodbye, Dara.” “Goodbye, Mina.”
Two delayed recalls before the new story
- orm
Show answer +Hide answer −
ormOR-um“on me” — the word feelings sit on. - arsa
Show answer +Hide answer −
arsaAR-suh“said” — and the next word is the speaker.