Here is a substantial list of common Irish nouns used in everyday conversation, organized loosely by category. Here included the Irish Gaelic spelling, a simple phonetic transcription (using a practical English-based system that works for most learners), and the English meaning.
| Irish (Gaeilge) | Pronunciation (approx.) | English |
|---|---|---|
| teach | TCHAHK / TYAHK | house |
| baile | BAL-yeh | town, home |
| cathaoir | KAH-heer / KA-hoo-ir | chair |
| bord | BORD | table |
| doras | DUH-rus | door |
| fuinneog | fwin-YOHG | window |
| leaba | LYA-ba | bed |
| cisteanach | kish-TYAN-ukh | kitchen |
| seomra | SHOH-mra | room |
| carr | KAHR | car |
| bus | BUS | bus |
| rothar | ROH-har | bicycle |
| bóthar | BOH-har | road |
| siopa | SHOP-ah | shop |
| bia | BEE-ah | food |
| uisce | ISH-keh | water |
| bainne | BAN-yeh | milk |
| arán | ah-RAWN | bread |
| cáis | KAW-sh | cheese |
| feoil | FYOH-il | meat |
| iasc | EE-usk | fish |
| ubh | UV | egg |
| cupán | kup-AWN | cup |
| pláta | PLAW-tuh | plate |
| scian | SKEE-an | knife |
| forc | FORK | fork |
| spúnóg | spoo-NOHG | spoon |
| gloine | GLIN-yeh | glass (drinking) |
| fón | FOH-un | phone |
| ríomhaire | REEV-hee-ra | computer |
| teilifís | TEL-ih-feesh | television |
| leabhar | LYOW-ur | book |
| peann | PYOWN | pen |
| páipéar | paw-PAYR | paper |
| mála | MAW-lah | bag |
| bróga | BROH-gah | shoes |
| cóta | KOH-tuh | coat |
| hata | HAH-tuh | hat |
| scárf | SKAHRF | scarf |
| lá | LAW | day |
| oíche | EE-hyeh | night |
| maidin | MAH-jin | morning |
| tráthnóna | TRAW-noh-nah | afternoon/evening |
| seachtain | SHAKHT-in | week |
| mí | MEE | month |
| bliain | BLEE-in | year |
| madra | MAH-drah | dog |
| cat | KAT | cat |
| capall | KAH-puhl | horse |
| bean | BAN | woman |
| fear | FAR | man |
| páiste | PAWSH-tchah | child |
| mac | MAHK | son |
| iníon | in-YEEN | daughter |
| máthair | MAW-hir | mother |
| athair | AH-hir | father |
| deartháir | DRAH-hawr | brother |
| deirfiúr | DJE-ruh-FYOOR | sister |
| cara | KAH-rah | friend |
| scoil | SKUL | school |
| múinteoir | MOON-tchoh-ir | teacher |
| dalta | DAHL-tah | pupil/student |
| obair | OH-bir | work |
| post | POHST | job/post |
| airgead | AIR-gud | money |
| praghas | PRYS | price |
| ticéad | ti-KAYD | ticket |
| traein | TREN | train |
| eitleán | ETCH-lawn | aeroplane |
| báicéara | baw-KAY-rah | baker |
| dochtúir | DUKH-toor | doctor |
| altra | AL-trah | nurse |
| póilín | POH-leen | policeman/police |
| tine | TIN-yeh | fire |
| ospidéal | OSP-i-dail | hospital |
| leigheas | LEH-yas | medicine |
| am | AHM | time |
| clog | KLOHG | clock |
| uair | OO-ir | hour |
| nóiméad | NOH-mayd | minute |
| aimsir | AIM-shir | weather |
| fearthainn | FAR-hin | rain |
| grian | GREE-an | sun |
| gaoth | GEE-uh | wind |
| sneachta | SHNAKH-tah | snow |
| ceol | KYOH-il | music |
| amhrán | OU-rawn | song |
| rinc | RINK | dance |
| pictiúr | PIK-tyoor | picture |
| culaith | KOOL-uh | suit/clothes |
| gúna | GOO-nah | dress |
| léine | LAY-nyeh | shirt |
| bríste | BREE-shteh | trousers |
| stocaí | STOH-kee | socks |
Note on pronunciation:
- “ch” is always the guttural sound like in Scottish “loch” or German “Bach”
- “mh” and “bh” are usually like a “w” or soft “v” sound
- “dh” and “gh” are similar, often like a soft throaty “y” or “g”
- Unstressed vowels are often reduced; stressed syllables are marked in capitals above for clarity.
This list focuses on genuinely common, everyday vocabulary you’ll hear in Irish-speaking homes and communities today (especially in Gaeltacht areas).