16: Shopping
Chapter 16 Audio File as MP3
Information Text from the Workbook
ASKING HOW MUCH THINGS COST
Cá mhéad atá air seo? How much is this?Cá mhéad atá orthu seo? How much are these?
Cá mhéad atá air sin? How much is that?
Cá mhéad atá orthu sin? How much are those?
COUNTING THE POUNDS
Punt is a regular noun and follows the rules you learnt earlier for counting things.| punt | one pound |
| dhá phunt | two pounds |
| trí phunt | three pounds |
| ceithre phunt | four pounds |
| cúig phunt | five pounds |
| sé phunt | six pounds |
| seacht bpunt | seven pounds |
| naoi bpunt | nine pounds |
| deich bpunt | ten pounds |
Eleven pounds is aon punt déag
12-19 are easy to remember: simply add déag to 2-9 pounds:
dhá phunt déag
cúig phunt déag
ocht bpunt déag
Twenty pounds is fiche punt
DEALING WITH QUANTITIES
| an ceann | each |
| an dosaen | per dozen |
| an mála | per bag |
| an buidéal | per bottle |
| an bosca | per box |
| an cileagram | per kilogram |
| an punt | per pound |
| an lítear | per litre |
| an pionta | per pint |
LOOKING AFTER THE PENNIES
The word pingin (penny) is irregular and doesn't follow the rules for counting things.| pingin | one penny |
| dhá phingin | two pence |
| trí pingine | three pence |
| ceithre pingine | four pence |
| cúig pingine | five pence |
| sé pingine | six pence |
| seacht bpingine | seven pence |
| ocht bpingine | eight pence |
| naoi bpingine | nine pence |
| deich bpingine | ten pence |
Remember this pattern:
| 1p | 2p | 3-6p | 7-10p |
| pingin | dhá phingin | ... pingine | ... bpingine |
Eleven pence is aon phingin déag.
Again just add déag to 2-9 pence to get 12-19 pence.
ceithre pingine* déag
naoi bpingine* déag
* When you listen to the tape you'll notice that the e is not pronounced before the word déag.
Twenty pence is fiche pingin.
REFERRING TO ITEMS BY NAME
Cá mhéad atá ar an fhíon sin? How much is that wine?Cá mhéad atá ar na pinn luaidhe seo? How much are these pencils?
Cá mhéad atá ar an cháca seo? How much is this cake?
The words ar an cause a séimhiú in nouns beginning with the leters b, c, f, g, m, and p:
an caife the coffee
but
Cá mhéad atá ar an cháife seo?
an bainne
but
Cá mhéad atá ar an bhainne?
ASKING WHAT THE TOTAL PRICE IS
Cá mhéad sin? How much is that?ASKING FOR CHANGE
An bhfuil briseadh agat? Have you change?An bhfuil briseadh puint agat? Have you change of a pound?
SAYING YOU HAVE NO MONEY
Níl leathphingin rua agam. I have no money./ I'm broke. (Literally, I haven't got a red halfpenny.)20-100
| 20 | fiche punt | fiche pingin |
| 30 | tríocha punt | tríocha pingin |
| 40 | ceathracha punt | ceathracha pingin |
| 50 | caoga punt | caoga pingin |
| 60 | seasca punt | seasca pingin |
| 70 | seachtó punt | seachtó pingin |
| 80 | ochtó punt | ochtó pingin |
| 90 | nócha punt | nócha pingin |
| 100 | céad punt | céad pingin |
Counting the pounds and pence in between is simple enough.
| 21p | fiche is a haon pingin (literally, twenty and one pence) |
| 22p | fiche is a dó pingin |
| £33 | tríocha is a trí punt |
| £44 | ceathracha is a ceathair punt |
| 55p | caoga is a cúig pingin |
| £66 | seasca is a sé punt |
| 77p | seachtó is a seacht pingin |
| £88 | ochtó is a hocht punt |
| 99p | nócha is a naoi pingin |
EXPRESSING AN OPINION ON PRICES
Tá sé saor. It's cheap.Tá sé an-saor. It's very cheap.
Tá siad daor. They're dear (expensive).
Tá siad an-daor. They're very dear.
Tá sé ródhaor. It's too dear.
Tá siad i bhfad ródhaor. They're far too dear.
COMBINING POUNDS AND PENCE
Ceithre phunt caoga (pingin*) £4.50Sé phunt seachtó is a cúig (pingin*) £6.75
Dhá phunt déag nócha is a naoi (pingin*) £10.99
Tríocha is a sé punt ochtó is a seacht (pingin*) £36.87
*You have a choice here whether or not to use pingin; most people don't.
17: Asking for things
Chapter 17 Audio File as MP3
Information Text from the Workbook
SAYING WHAT YOU WANT
Tá mé ag iarraidh ... I want ...This phrase is often used when buying something- in a shop or a pub for example.
Tá mé ag iarraidh pionta beorach. I want a pint of beer.
Children are also fond of using Tá mé ag iarraidh!
Tá mé ag iarraidh gloine oráiste. I want a glass of orange.
Adults tend to avoid using Tá mé ag iarraidh in the way children do, in order not to sound abrupt. They usually use it as a statement of what they want or would like rather than as a demand.
ASKING SOMEONE WHAT THEY WANT OR WOULD LIKE
Cad é atá tú ag iarraidh?or
Cad é atá de dhíth ort?* What do you want?
Cad é atá de dhíth oraibh?* What do you want? (plural)
*The de in this phrase is not said in everday speech.
If you don't know what you want you can say
Níl a fhios agam. I don't know.
ASKING SOMEONE IF THEY WANT A PARTICULAR THING
An bhfuil tú ag iarraidh ...? Do you want ...?The phrase Cad é atá de dhíth ort? literally means 'what is lacking on you?' Ort is made up of ar (on) + tú (you).
| orm | on me | orainn | on us |
| ort | on you | oraibh | on you |
| air | on him | orthu | on them |
| uirthi | on her |
Cad é atá de dhíth air? What does he want?
Cad é atá de dhíth uirthi? What does she want?
Cad é atá de dhíth orthu? What do they want?
OFFERING ASSISTANCE
An dtiocfadh liom cuidiú leat? May I help you? (literally, Could I help you?)SAYING THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING
Tá mé ag cuartú ... I'm looking for ...This phrase is often used when shopping.
Tá mé ag cuartú ... I'm looking for ...
péire bróg. a pair of shoes.
péinte don seomra suí. paint for the sitting room.
ASKING FOR MORE DETAILS
Cad é cineál? What kind?Cad é dath? What colour?
If someone is asking you to choose between two things they'll say:
Cé acu ceann? Which one?
If there are more than two things to choose from you can either use:
Cé acu ceann?
again or
Cad é an ceann?
BEING SPECIFIC
An ceann seo. This one.An ceann sin. That one.
An ceann dearg. The red one.
DATHANNA COLOURS
| dearg | red |
| bán | white |
| bándearg | pink |
| dubh | black |
| gorm | blue |
| dúghorm | navy blue |
| glas | green |
| donn | brown |
SAYING YOU WANT TO BORROW SOMETHING
Tá me ag iarraidh ... ar iasacht. I want to borrow ...Tá me ag iarraidh peann luaidhe ar iasacht. I want to borrow a pencil.
Tá me ag iarraidh leabhair ar iasacht. I want to borrow a book.
Tá me ag iarraidh téipe ar iasacht. I want to borrow a tape.
ASKING IF YOU CAN BORROW SOMETHING
An dtig liom ...? May I ...?An dtig liom cúig phunt a fháil ar iasacht? May I borrow five pounds?
You might hear the following answers:
Thig, cinnté. You can, of course.
Ní thig. You can't.
18: Going on holiday
No video yet foundChapter 18 Audio File as MP3
Information Text from the Workbook
SAYING YOU ARE GOING ON HOLIDAY
Tá mé ag dul ar soaire.* I'm going on holiday.Tá muid ag dul ar soaire.* We're going on holiday.
*Laethanta saoire is also used.
ASKING SOMEONE WHERE THEY'RE GOING
Cá háit? Where?Cá bhfuil tú ag dul? Where are you going?
Cá háit a bhfuil tú ag dul ar saoire i mbliana? Where are you going on holiday this year?
SAYING WHERE YOU'RE GOING
Tá mé ag dul thar lear. I'm going abroad.Tá mé ag dul go dtí an Spáinn. I'm going to Spain.
COUNTRIES
| tír | a country |
| tíortha | countries |
| Éire/Éirinn | Ireland |
| Sasana | England |
| Albain | Scotland |
| An Bhreatain Bheag | Wales |
| An Fhrainc | France |
| An Ghearmáin | Germany |
| An Spáinn | Spain |
| An Iodáil | Italy |
| An Ghréig | Greece |
| Meiriceá | America |
ASKING SOMEONE HOW LONG THEY'RE GOING TO SPEND SOMEWHERE
Cá fhad ...? How long ...?Cá fhad a bheas tú sa Fhrainc? How long will you be in France?
SAYING HOW LONG YOU'LL BE SOMEWHERE
You have already learnt the following words:seachtain a week
coicís a fortnight
mí a month
Have a look now at what happens when you place ar feadh ('for') in front of the above words:
ar feadh seachtaine
ar feadh coicíse
ar feadh míosa
Nouns that come after ar feadh, therefore, are usually placed in the genitive case.
ASKING SOMEONE WHO'S GOING WITH THEM
Cé atá ag dul leat? Who is going with you?or
Cé atá ag dul libh? Who is going with you?
Here are some possible answers:
Mo chara. My friend.
Mo chairde. My friends.
Tá mé ag dul liom féin.
or
Tá mé ag dul i m'aonar. I'm going on my own.
ASKING ABOUT TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS
An bhfuil tú ag dul ...? Are you going ...?- ar an eitleán by plane
- ar an bhád by boat
- ar an traein by train
- sa charr by car
ASKING SOMEONE WHERE THEY'LL BE STAYING
Cá háit a mbeidh tú ag fanacht? Where will you be staying?Cá háit a mbeidh sibh ag fanacht? (plural)
SAYING WHERE YOU WILL BE STAYING
Beidh mé ag fanacht ... I'll be staying ...- in óstán in a hotel
- i dteach lóistín in a guest house
- i mbrú in a hostel
- i gcarbhán in a caravan
ASKING SOMEONE IF THEY'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO SOMETHING
An bhfuil tú ag súil go mór leis? Are you looking forward to it?SAYING YOU'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO SOMETHING
Tá mé ag súil go mór leis. I'm looking forward to it.In reply to the question An bhfuil tú ag súil go mór leis? you can simply say Tá or Níl.
DESCRIBING ACCOMMODATION
seomra singil a single roomseomra dúbailte a double room
seomra le cithfholcadán a room with a shower
19: Speaking to children and friends
Chapter 19 Audio File as MP3
Information Text from the Workbook
TELLING SOMEONE TO BE QUIET
Ciúnas! Quiet!Bí ciúin!
or
Bí suaimhneach! Be quiet!
Let's look now at a negative order:
Ná bí ag caint. Stop talking. (literally, Don't be talking.)
Ná bígí ag caint. Stop talking. (plural)
SPEAKING TO CHILDREN
Ná bí ag caoineadh. Don't cry.Ná bígí ag caoineadh. (plural)
Ná bí ag gáire. Don't laugh.
Ná bígí ag gáire. (plural)
Ná bí dána! Don't be bold!
Ná bígí dána! (plural)
If you want to tell someone to stop doing something, you place Ná before the imperative form of the verb. Ná doesn't affect words beginning with a consonant, but it prefixes h to vowels:
Ná déan sin. Don't do that.
Ná habair sin. Don't say that.
TELLING SOMEONE TO CLEAN OR TO TIDY THEMSELVES UP
Nigh d'aighaidh. Wash your face.Nígí bhur n-aighaidh. (plural)
Glan do lámha. Wash your hands.
Glanaigí bhur lámha. (plural)
Cíor do chuid gruaige. Comb your hair.
Cíoraigí bhur gcuid gruaige. (plural)
ASKING SOMEONE WHAT'S WRONG WITH THEM
Cad é atá ort? What's wrong with you?Cad é atá oraibh? (plural)
ASKING SOMEONE IF THEY ARE ILL
An bhfuil tú tinn? Are you ill?SAYING WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU
Tá tinneas cinn orm. I have a headache.Tá tinneas fiacile. I have a toothache.
Tá pian i mo bholg. I have a pain in my stomach.
ASKING SOMEONE IF THEY'RE ALL RIGHT
An bhfuil tú ceart go leor? Are you all right?ASKING A MORE SPECIFIC QUESTION
An bhfuil tú fuar? Are you cold?An bhfuil ocras ort? Are you hungry?
20: Describing people
Chapter 20 Audio File as MP3
Information Text from the Workbook
ASKING WHAT SOMEONE LOOKS LIKE
Cad é an chuma atá air? What does he look like?Cad é an chuma atá uirthi? What does she look like?
SAYING WHAT A PERSON LOOKS LIKE
Tá sé ... He's ...Tá sí ... She's ...
- ard tall
- beag small
- ramhar fat
- tanaí thin
- dathúil
- dóighiúil handsome, goodlooking
Is bean ard í. She's a tall woman.
SAYING THAT SOMEONE IS GETTING FAT OF THIN
Tá sé ag éirí ramhar. He's getting fat.Tá sí ag éirí tanaí. She's getting thin.
ASKING WHAT SOMEONES CHARACTER IS LIKE
Cad é an cinéal duine é? What kind of person is he?Cad é an cinéal duine í? What kind of person is she?
DESCRIBING SOMEONE'S CHARACTER
Is fear lách é. He's a pleasant man.Tá sé lách.
Is bean chairdiúil í. She's a friendly woman.
Tá sí cairdiúil.
Ní duine rólách é. He isn't a very pleasant person.
Níl sé rólách.
Ní duine róchairdiúil í. She isn't a very friendly person.
Most adjectives come after the noun in Irish:
fear dathúil
lá deas
A feminine noun adds a séimhiú to an adjective that begins with a consonant (other than l, n, or r).
bean chairdiúil
bean bheag
DESCRIBING HAIR COLOUR
| gruaig dhubh | black hair |
| gruaig fhionn | blond hair |
| gruaig dhonn | brown hair |
| gruaig bhán | white hair |
| gruaig liath | grey hair |
| gruaig rua | red hair |
Tá gruaig dhubh orm. I have black hair.
Tá gruaig fhionn air. He has blond hair.
Tá gruaig dhonn uirthi. She has brown hair.
Tá féasóg dhubh air. He has a black beard.
DESCRIBING HAIR LENGTH AND STYLE
Tá gruaig ghairid air. He has short hair.Tá gruaig fhada uirthi. She has long hair.
Tá gruaig chatach air. He has curly hair.
Tá gruaig dhíreach air. He has straight hair.
As in English, words describing length of hair or beard come before words that describe colour:
gruaig fhada dhonn
Tá gruaig dhubh orm. I have black hair. (literally, There's black hair on me)
You need these words to talk about other peoples hair:
| ort | on you | orainn | on us |
| air | on him | oraibh | on you |
| uirthi | on her | orthu | on them |
Tá gruaig fhada orthu.
Tá gruaig chatach rua uirthi.
DESCRIBING EYES
You're already familiar with the colours in Irish. Have a look now at how they change in the plural.gorm
súile gorma blue eyes
donn
súile donna brown eyes
glas
súile glasa green eyes
liath
súile liatha grey eyes
Tá súile glasa agam. I have green eyes.
Tá súile donn aige. He has brown eyes.
Tá súile gorma aici. She has blue eyes.
To save bandwidth and improve load times for mobile devices. Only 5 lessons are presented on a page (which is the same way the old cassette tapes were arranged).