An bhfuil Gaeilge líofa agat?
D’fhoghlaim muid Gaeilge ar scoil. Chaith mé cúpla coicís sa Ghaeltacht agus d’éirigh go maith liom sna scrúduithe. Ach… le déanaí, thuig mé nach raibh mórán misnigh agam an Ghaeilge a labhairt amach.
If you went to school in Ireland, there is a good chance you had a similar experience — you can read Irish, you can write Irish, but you have so little experience or confidence with speaking Irish out loud. You may even feel self-conscious about using the language.
Because when we were in school the focus was on perfect grammar and verbs. But we never spoke the language to one another, and we almost never spoke it at home. Looking back, that feels like a strange way to learn a language.
Anois, tá mo pháistí ag freastal ar Ghaelscoil. Agus cloisim iad ag caint Gaeilge lena chéile agus lena gcairde. Cloisim an cailín beag sna naíonáin bheaga ag múineadh focail dá deartháir óg. Déanann siad botúin i gcónaí, ach ní chuireann sé isteach orthu. Tá muinín acu, agus tá siad ag baint taitneamh as an teanga a labhairt.
Watching our children learn Irish has shown me something different: you don’t need “perfect” Irish to speak it. They layer in phrases and focail naturally as they come to them. They make so many mistakes with grammar. But what matters most is that they are enjoying speaking it.
Agus táimid ag caint níos mó Gaeilge sa teach na laethanta seo. Cinnte tá mé ag déanamh botún chuile am. Ach — “Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good,” a deirim liom féin. Úsáidim frásaí agus focail Gaeilge agus is aoibhinn liom fuaim na teanga a chloisteáil sa teach.
And as we use it - more and more I notice that the sound of the Irish word often captures the feeling I want to convey. Words like “brostaígí” (hurry up) or “sceitimíní athais” (excitement) are so wonderfully phonetically descriptive — they deserve to be used and savoured.
Is beatha an teanga í a labhairt. Bain triail aisti i do theach féin.
Seo duit frása úsáideacha agus simple a d’fhéadfá triail a bhaint astu.
Ar maidin / In the morning:
Brostaígí! Brostaígí! — Hurry up
Cá bhfuil do ……..? — Where is your …?
Tóg go bog é — Take it easy
Tá an bricfeasta réidh - Breakfast is ready
Cuir ort do chóta / do hata / do bhróga / geansaí - Put on your coat / hat / shoes / sweatshirt
Amach leat! — Out you go!
Ná déan dearmad — Don’t forget
I Rith an Lae / During the day
Ar fheabhas - Excellant
Sceitimíní áthais - Delighted and excited
Iontach - Wonderful
Cad a tharla? - What happened
An bhfuil an leithreas / sneaic / aon rud ag teastáil uait? - Do you need the toilet / a snack / anything
Tabhair dom do lámh - Give me your hand
Plódaithe — Crowded
Go raibh maith agat - Thank you
Bain triail as - Try it
Amuigh faoin spéir - Outside
Fan go fóill — Wait a moment
Tar anseo — Come here
Dún an doras! — Close the door
Tá sé ag stealladh báistí - It is lashing rain
Bogha báistí - Rainbow
Tá tú fliuch báite - You are soaked wet
Cá bhfuil do ... mhála / do dheirfiúr / do dheartháir? - Where is your ... bag / your sister / your brother
An dtuigeann tú? - Do you understand
Tuigim - I understand
Sa Tráthnóna
An bhfuil aon obair bhaile agat? - Do you have homework
Tá an dinnéar réidh - Dinner is ready
Tá sé in am dul a chodladh - It is time for bed
Damhán alla - Spider
Codladh sámh - Sleep well
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Words and Images: Jo Anne Butler