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| Irish: |
Is ea. |
| English: |
It is. |
| Notes: |
Is ea means it is and is used throughout a conversation by the listener in order to reinforce the speaker. |
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| Irish: |
Dia ár sábháil! |
| English: |
God save us! |
| Notes: |
Common exclamation expressing surprise, amazement or horror. |
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| Irish: |
Fuist! |
| English: |
Whist! or Be quiet!
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| Notes: |
Short and to the point. Exclamations or interjections are a very effective form of language. They cover a wide variety of situations and are very natural. They are unduly neglected by learners. If a bluff your way into Irish was required interjections or exclamations would probably be the answer.
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| Irish: |
Faraor! |
| English: |
Alas! or Woe is me! |
| Notes: |
Faraor! Alas! or Woe is me!. An interjection expresses sudden emotions and there are several others expressing sadness or loss.
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| Irish: |
Och! |
| English: |
Oh! or Alas!
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| Notes: |
An interjection that has several uses in Irish. It can express surprise, sadness or sympathy depending on the tone and context.
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| Irish: |
Éist! |
| English: |
Be quiet! or Listen! |
| Notes: |
Similar to Fuist! and literally meaning listen!
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| Irish: |
Och! mo léan. |
| English: |
Alas! my sorrow that it is so!
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| Notes: |
A variation on "mo léan!" |
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| Irish: |
Monuar! |
| English: |
Alas! or My sad hour! |
| Notes: |
Another interjection expressing sadness and therefore sympathy.
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| Irish: |
Maith thú! |
| English: |
Well done! and Thanks!
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| Notes: |
A very useful exclamation altogether. Means both Well done! and Thanks! It is similar to the Australian “Good on yeh!” Its use becomes more frequent the more northerly one goes in the country.
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| Irish: |
Togha fir!
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| English: |
Good man! or Bravo! |
| Notes: |
Exclamation enthusiastically endorsing a male adult or child. These are used more frequently in Irish than their counterparts in English.
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| Irish: |
Togha mná!
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| English: |
Good woman! or Bravo! |
| Notes: |
Exclamation enthusiastically endorsing a female, adult or child. These endorsements are used more liberally in Irish than than their counterparts in English.
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| Irish: |
Preit! |
| English: |
Nonsense!
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| Notes: |
A short sharp way of exclaiming nonsense!
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| Irish: |
Fobún! |
| English: |
Shame! |
| Notes: |
The preposition “ar” as in Fobún oraibh! can be added to make it clear who is being addressed
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| Irish: |
Ailliliú! |
| English: |
Wonderful! |
| Notes: |
A wonderful exclamation in itself.
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| Irish: |
Mhuise! |
| English: |
Indeed! |
| Notes: |
Formerly common in Hiberno-English.
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| Irish: |
Dhera! |
| English: |
I don’t believe it! |
| Notes: |
Also formerly common in Hiberno-English.
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| Irish: |
Buíochas le Dia! |
| English: |
Thank God! |
| Notes: |
Exclaimed usually in relief or gratitude that something has worked out.
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| Irish: |
Is mór an gar é! |
| English: |
Its very fortunate or its a good thing or its a good help. |
| Notes: |
This exclamation as most others including expressions of affection or respect are used more often in Irish than their counterparts in English.
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| Irish: |
Fág an bealach! |
| English: |
Get out of the way! |
| Notes: |
An exclamation formerly used as a motto by various Irish groups.
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| Irish: |
Níl dóigh ar bith! |
| English: |
There is no way that’s going to work out! or, There is no way that’s going to happen! or, There is no way I’m going to agree to that! |
| Notes: |
There is no way that’s going to work out! or, There is no way that’s going to happen! or, There is no way I’m going to agree to that!
This exclamation, usually of incredulity, is really a short form of a longer sentence in which the part unsaid at the end is the statement made by the first speaker outlining some impossible scenario.
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| Irish: |
Amaidí! |
| English: |
Nonsense!
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| Notes: |
More particularly nonsense in the sense of tomfoolery. An out of hand dismissal of whatever has gone on before.
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| Irish: |
Tá poll sa teach! |
| English: |
There is a hole in the house! |
| Notes: |
This exclamation when said suddenly in the middle of a conversation means that someone is eavesdropping on the conversation.
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| Irish: |
Fainic! |
| English: |
Beware! or Watch out! |
| Notes: |
An essential exclamation.
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| Irish: |
Abair é! |
| English: |
Well said! or quite true!
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| Notes: |
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| Irish: |
Ná habair é! |
| English: |
Ah no!, or I hope not! Or You don't mean it!
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| Notes: |
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| Irish: |
Is maith sin!
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| English: |
That’s great! |
| Notes: |
Said to be the origin of the expression smashin! in English. Its very commom in Manx Gaelic as well.
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| Irish: |
Cad tá ort? |
| English: |
Whats the matter with you?
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| Notes: |
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| Irish: |
Tuigim! |
| English: |
I understand!
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| Notes: |
Also used as a reinforcer by listener in a conversation. |
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