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, tÃĄ | far |
e | mÃĐ, tae | |
i | buÃ, naoi | me |
o | ceol, mÃģr | more |
u | siÚl, tÚ | who |
The Neutral Vowel | ||
Symbol Used Here | Irish Examples | Nearest English Equivalent |
 | mÃĄla, mÃle | 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 | bÃĄn, buà | - |
d | dÃģ | - |
f | faoin | - |
g | Gaeilge | fog |
h | hata, thit | hat |
k | cad | cot |
lïŧŋ | lÃģn, mÃĄla | mill |
m | maoin, mÃģr | - |
n | anam, naoi | - |
pïŧŋ | paca | - |
r | fuar | - |
s | cÃĄs | - |
t | tacht | - |
v | vÃģta | wore |
w | wigwam | wigwam |
x | loch | German âBachâ |
z | zÚ | - |
 | longa | long |
 | dhÃĄ | Spanish âAguaâ |
dÂīzÂī | jab | job |
Slender Consonants | ||
Symbol Used Here | Irish Examples | Nearest English Equivalent |
b | bÃ, beo | be, beauty |
d | deo | - |
f | fÃon, fiÚ | feet, few |
g | gÃĐ, Gaeilge | gay, egg |
k | cÃĐ, cead | key, came |
lïŧŋ | leon, mÃle | live |
m | maoin, mÃģr | may, me |
n | ainm, nà | canyon |
pïŧŋ | peaca | piece |
r | fuair | - |
s | cÃĄis | she |
t | tacht | - |
v | bhà | very |
x | cheol | Hugh, German âIchâ |
z | xileafÃģn | pleasure |
| loingeas | sing |
| dhÃol | yes |
