Basic Irish Language I

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Module I

Lesson 2: Irish Grammar and Structure

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In this lesson, we will introduce you to the Irish alphabet, vowels and consonants, and the spelling rules that make Irish a unique language.

Irish Alphabet

The Irish language uses the same alphabet as English, with a few additional letters. Here is the Irish alphabet:

A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, L, M, N, O, P, R, S, T, U

In addition to the English alphabet, Irish has two unique letters:

  • Á (pronounced “aw”)
  • Ó (pronounced “oh”)

Vowels and Consonants

Irish has a unique system of vowels and consonants. Here are the vowels in Irish and how they are pronounced:

  • A (pronounced “ah” as in “father”)
  • E (pronounced “eh” as in “met”)
  • I (pronounced “ih” as in “hit”)
  • O (pronounced “oh” as in “go”)
  • U (pronounced “oo” as in “moon”)

Here are some of the consonants in Irish and how they are pronounced:

  • B (pronounced “b” as in “boy”)
  • C (pronounced “k” as in “cat” before A, O, or U, and “ch” as in “church” before E or I)
  • D (pronounced “d” as in “dog”)
  • F (pronounced “f” as in “fun”)
  • G (pronounced “g” as in “go” before A, O, or U, and “y” as in “yet” before E or I)

Spelling Rules

Irish has some unique spelling rules that may be unfamiliar to English speakers. Here are some basic spelling rules:

  • Irish words can have double letters, such as “cc,” “dd,” “ff,” “ll,” “mm,” “nn,” “pp,” “rr,” “ss,” and “tt.”
  • The letter “h” can appear after some consonants to indicate a change in pronunciation. For example, “bh” is pronounced “v” as in “have,” and “ch” is pronounced “kh” as in “loch.”
  • The letter “i” can appear after some consonants to indicate palatalization, which changes the pronunciation. For example, “bh” is pronounced “v” as in “have,” but “bhi” is pronounced “vee.”

Conclusion

In this lesson, we introduced you to the Irish alphabet, vowels and consonants, and the spelling rules that make Irish a unique language. Practice the pronunciation of vowels and consonants, and become familiar with the spelling rules to start reading and writing in Irish. Keep practicing and exploring the language to deepen your understanding of this fascinating language.