Glossary of Terms

amárach—[uh-MAH-rugh]—tomorrow

a Mhúinteoir—[uh WOON-chorr]—teacher, when addressing them directly

angelus—[ANE-geh-luss]—the national call to prayer in Ireland; church bells ring at noon and six in the evening

a thaisce—[uh HASH-kee]—a term of endearment, used when speaking to someone (not about them)

amadán—[AH-mah-donn]—idiot

anois—[eh-NISH]—now

babaí—[BAH-bee]—baby; young one

beag—[BYUG]—little

Bíobla—[BEEB-luh]—Bible

bodhrán—[BOW-ronn]—a traditional Irish drum

breá—[BRAW]—handsome

cad a tharla?—[CAD uh HARR-luh]—what happened?

caoineadh—[KEEN-cheh]—keening; grieving

céilí[KAY-lee]—a party with music, dancing, and often storytelling

ceol—[KYOHL]—music

cosa—[CUHSS-ee]—feet

craic—[CRACK]—fun, good times; often, but not always, involving music

créatúr—[KRAY-tur]—creature; often used as a term of endearment for an infant

Día dhuit—[JEE-uh DITCH]—a common formal greeting in Irish Gaelic

fáilte abhaile—[FALL-chuh uh-WAHL-yuh]—welcome home

Feabhra—[FOW-ruh]—February

footed—used to describe when turf is stacked on its end, typically to let it dry further

go raibh míle maith agaibh—[guh ruh MEE-luh MY uh-GEE]—Thank you very much, to more than one person

Gaeilge—[GAY-lih-guh]—Gaelic/Irish

gardaí—[garr-DEE]—police

grá mo chroí—[GHRA MOE CHREE]—love of my heart

gúna oiche—[GOO-nuh EE-huh]—nightdress

halla—hall

logh dom—[LOWG dumm]—forgive me

muinteoir—[MOON-chorr]—teacher

ní maith liom do trioblóide—[NEE MAH luhm do TRUH-bluh-juh]—traditional Irish sympathy greeting; literally “I don’t like your trouble.”

oh, Mhaidean—[oh WHY-jahn]—an exclamation of dismay; literally “Oh, Virgin!” referring to the Virgin Mary

oíche mhaith, a mhac—[EE-huh WAH uh WAHK]—good night, son

peat—[PEET]—a type of moss, found on the bog, used as solid fuel; also called turf

peata—[PA-the]—pet; a term of endearment

poitín—[PAH-cheen]—Irish moonshine

rógaire[ROH-gerd-uh]—rogue

scuab—[SKOO-uhb]—broom

seafóid—[SHAH-fooj]—nonsense

seanchaí—[SHAWN-hee]—a storyteller

sean nós—[SHAWN OHS]—a form of traditional Irish dancing or singing

shillelagh—[shih-LAY-lee]—a traditional Irish club or walking stick

sláinte—[SLAHN-chuh]—an Irish toast of blessings and health

stad—[STAHD]—stop

tá brón orm—[taw brone OR-uhm]—I’m sorry

tá sé ceart go leor, gach duine! Tá sí go álainn!—[taw shay cart go lore gak DINN-yuh! Taw shee go HAW-linn]—It’s okay, everyone! She’s lovely!

uilleann pipes—[UHL-uhn PIPES]—the Irish form of bagpipes, played by pumping a bag using one’s elbow rather than blowing into a mouthpiece