In this lesson, we will introduce you to Irish numbers and how to tell time in Irish.
Irish Numbers
In Irish, numbers are used in various contexts, such as telling time, counting, and measuring. Here are the Irish numbers from 1 to 10:
- A haon (one) – pronounced “uh hayn”
- A dó (two) – pronounced “uh doh”
- A trí (three) – pronounced “uh tree”
- A ceathair (four) – pronounced “uh kah-her”
- A cúig (five) – pronounced “uh koo-ig”
- A sé (six) – pronounced “uh shay”
- A seacht (seven) – pronounced “uh shokht”
- A hocht (eight) – pronounced “uh hokht”
- A naoi (nine) – pronounced “uh nee”
- A deich (ten) – pronounced “uh deh”
To form numbers above 10, simply combine the appropriate tens digit with the appropriate ones digit. For example, “twenty-one” in Irish is “fiche a haon” (literally “twenty one”).
Telling Time
In Irish, time is told using the 12-hour clock. Here are some examples of how to tell time in Irish:
- Tá sé a chlog (It’s six o’clock) – pronounced “taw shay a khlog”
- Tá sé a dó a chlog (It’s two o’clock) – pronounced “taw shay a doe a khlog”
- Tá sé a deich tar éis a naoi (It’s ten past nine) – pronounced “taw shay a dehk tar aysh a nee”
- Tá sé fiche chun a seacht (It’s twenty to seven) – pronounced “taw shay fih-ke kun a shockt”
When telling time in Irish, the word “a chlog” (o’clock) is added after the hour. For minutes, the word “tar éis” (past) or “chun” (to) is used with the appropriate number of minutes.
Conclusion
In this lesson, we introduced you to Irish numbers and how to tell time in Irish. Practice counting and telling time using these numbers, and become familiar with the different ways time is told in Irish. Keep practicing and exploring the language to deepen your understanding of this fascinating language.