List of Irish words used in the English language

For a list of Irish words that have been imported into English, see the list of English words of Irish origin.

For help with pronunciation, see Help:IPA, Help:IPA for Irish, and Irish phonology.

Irish words used in English in modern Ireland without being assimilated to English forms include:

• Amhrán na bhFiann: National Anthem of Ireland (literally "Soldiers Song")
  • pronounced (/ˈəuɾˠaːn̪ˠ n̪ˠə ˈvʲiːən̪ˠ/)
• Áras an Uachtaráin: Residence of the President
  • pronounced /ˈɑːrəs ən ˈuəxt̪ərɑːnʲ/
• Ardfheis: Party conference (used by Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Sinn Féin)
  • pronounced /ˈɑːɾˠd̪ˠ ˈɛɕ/
• Ard-Rí: High King (title used in the Middle Ages)
  • pronounced /ɑːrd riː/
• Bord Fáilte: Irish Tourist Board (literally "Welcome Board"; now called Fáilte Ireland)
  • pronounced /boːrd ˈfɑːʎtʲə/
• Bunreacht na hÉireann: Constitution of Ireland
  • pronounced /ˈbunraxt nə ˈheːrʲən/
• Ceann Comhairle: Chairman of Dáil Éireann
  • pronounced /kʲaːn̪ˠ ˈkoːrʎə/
• Dáil Éireann: House of Representatives (lower house of the Irish Parliament)
  • pronounced /d̪ˠaːlʲ ˈeːrʲən̪ˠ/
• Éire: Ireland
  • pronounced /ˈeːɾʲə/
• Fianna Fáil: Irish political party (literally "Soldiers of Destiny")
  • pronounced /ˌfʲiənə ˈfɔːlʲ/
• Fine Gael: Irish political party (literally "Family of the Gael")
  • pronounced /ˈfʲɪnʲə ˈɡeːl̪ˠ/
• Gaeltacht: Irish-speaking area
  • pronounced /ˈɡeːɫ̪t̪ˠəxt̪ˠ/
• Garda: police officer (plural Gardaí)
  • pronounced /ˈɡaːrd̪ə/, pl. /ˈɡaːɾˠd̪ˠiː/
• Garda Síochána: Irish police service (literally "Guardian of the Peace")
  • pronounced /ˈɡaːrd̪ə ˈʃiːxaːn̪ˠə n̪ˠə ˈheːɾʲən̪ˠ/
• Oireachtas: (National Parliament)
  • pronounced /ɛrʲaxt̪ˠasˠ/
• Príomh Aire: Prime Minister (1919–1921 only)
  • pronounced /ˈpʲrʲiːv ˈarʲə/
• Punt: Irish pound (currency, now replaced by the euro)
  • pronounced /punt/
• Raidió Teilifís Éireann: National broadcasting service (RTÉ)
  • pronounced /ˈradʲo ˈtʲɛlʲəfʲiːʃ ˈeːrʲən/
• Saorstát Éireann: Irish Free State
  • pronounced /ˈsiːrˌstɑːt ˈeːɾʲən̪ˠ/
• Seanad Éireann: Irish Senate (upper house of the Irish Parliament)
  • pronounced /ˈʃan̪ˠəd̪ˠ ˈeːɾʲən̪ˠ/
• Sinn Féin: Irish political party (literally "Our-selves")
  • pronounced /ˈʃiɲ fʲeːnʲ/
• Sliotar: Ball used in hurling (see Gaelic Athletic Association)
  • pronounced /ʃlʲɪt̪ˠəɾˠ/
• Tánaiste: Deputy Prime Minister
  • pronounced /ˈtɑːnəʃtʲə/
• Taoiseach: Prime Minister (literally "Chieftain")
  • pronounced t̪ˠiːʃəx
• Teachta Dála: Member of the lower house of Parliament (TD)
  • pronounced /ˈtʲaxtə ˈdɑːlə/
• Uachtarán na hÉireann: President of Ireland
  • pronounced /ˈuəxt̪ˠəɾˠɑːn̪ˠ n̪ˠə ˈheːɾʲən̪ˠ/
• Údarás na Gaeltachta: Development Authority for the Gaeltacht
  • pronounced /ˈuːdərɑːs nə ˈɡeːltəxtə/

Other, more informal terms include:

• Amadán (Fool, generally male)
• Banbh (Piglet)
• Bean-sídhe (Banshee/Fairy woman)
• Bóithrín (Boreen or small country lane)
• Bualadh bos (A round of applause)
• Camán (hurley)
• Cipín (Small stick/firekindling)
• Crúibín (Pigs foot)
• Fáilte (Welcome)
• Fláithiúil (Excessively/uncommonly generous)
• Grá (Great love or affection for someone/something)
• Is maith liom (I like/It's good)
• Lúdramán (Fool)
• Lúdar (Fool)
• Meas (High regard/respect for someone/something)
• Óinseach (Fool, generally female)
• Plámás (Excessive/Insincere praise or flattery)
• Sceach (Any thorny bush, sceach gheal (Hawthorn))
• Sláinte (Cheers|Good Health)
• Slán (Safe, whole, healthy, complete) (Shortened version of go dté tu slán ("may you go safely"), used as modern equivalent of the French au revoir or English see you.)

See also

• Craic, an English word that was adapted into Irish and then re-borrowed into English
• Modern history of Durrus and District for list of Irish words in general speech in area of West Cork in 1930s
• Hiberno-English
• Lists of English words of Celtic origin
• Place names in Ireland
• Words used in the English language