Food & Drinks

1. An féidir liom an biachlár a fheiceáil, le do thoil?

   On fay-dir lum on bee-a-khlar a ek-ahl, le do hull?

   Can I see the menu, please?

   Usage

   Polite way to ask for the menu in a restaurant or café

   Grammar Note

   Irish uses Verb-Subject-Object (VSO) word order. "le do thoil" (lit: with your will) means "please"

2. Ba mhaith liom stobhach Gaelach, le do thoil.

   Ba wah lum stoh-akh Gayl-akh, le do hull.

   I would like Irish stew, please.

   Usage

   Ordering Irish stew, the classic traditional dish of lamb, potato and vegetables

   Grammar Note

   "ba mhaith liom" (I would like) is one of the most useful Irish phrases. "maith" means "good"

3. Is feoilséantóir mé. An bhfuil aon bhia gan fheoil?

   Is fee-ol-shawn-to-ir may. On will ayn vya gon ee-ol?

   I am a vegetarian. Is there any food without meat?

   Usage

   Communicating vegetarian dietary requirements

   Grammar Note

   Irish questions begin with "An bhfuil" — "bhfuil" is the eclipsed form of "fuil" (the present tense of the verb "bí", not the copula)

4. Cad é an bia is fearr anseo?

   Kod ay on bee-a is far on-shoh?

   What is the best food here?

   Usage

   Asking for the local specialty or the best dish on offer

   Grammar Note

   "is fearr" is the superlative of "maith" (good) — one of several irregular comparatives in Irish

5. An féidir liom an bille a fháil, le do thoil?

   On fay-dir lum on bil-eh a awl, le do hull?

   Can I have the bill, please?

   Usage

   Asking for the check after a meal

   Grammar Note

   "fháil" is the lenited verbal noun of "faigh" (get) — lenition (adding 'h') is a core feature of Irish grammar

6. Ba mhaith liom caife, le do thoil.

   Ba wah lum kaf-eh, le do hull.

   I would like a coffee, please.

   Usage

   Ordering a coffee at a café or restaurant

   Grammar Note

   "caife" is a loanword from English "coffee", commonly used in Irish

7. An bhfuil aon bhia glútan-saor?

   On will ayn vya gloo-ton seer?

   Is there any gluten-free food?

   Usage

   Important phrase for travelers with gluten intolerance or coeliac disease

   Grammar Note

   "saor" means "free/exempt", combined with "glútan" to form the compound adjective "gluten-free"

8. Tá mé tinn tar éis an bhéile seo.

   Taw may chin tar aysh on vay-leh shoh.

   I feel sick from this meal.

   Usage

   Reporting a food-related illness to a server or medic

   Grammar Note

   "Tar éis" (after) takes the genitive. The genitive of the masculine noun "béile" (meal) lenites after the article: "an bhéile"

9. An bhfuil bricfeasta san áireamh?

   On wil brik-fas-ta son aw-rum?

   Is breakfast included?

   Usage

   Checking if breakfast is included when booking accommodation

   Grammar Note

   "An bhfuil" is the question form of "tá" (present of "bí"); "bhfuil" is the eclipsed form of "fuil". "San áireamh" means "included"

10. Bhí an béile iontach blasta.

    Vee on may-leh un-takh blas-ta.

    The meal was wonderfully delicious.

    Usage

    Complimenting the food after finishing a meal

    Grammar Note

    "bhí" is the past tense of "bí". "iontach" functions as an adverb here, intensifying "blasta" (delicious)

11. rís

    reesh

    Rice

    Usage

    Point at it when ordering or checking ingredients; Irish uses one word for cooked and uncooked rice

    Grammar Note

    "Rís" is feminine; to specify cooked rice say "rís bhruite"

12. arán

    a-RAWN

    Bread

    Usage

    Point at it when ordering or checking for wheat; Irish soda bread is "arán sóide"

    Grammar Note

    "Arán" is masculine; brown bread is "arán donn"

13. núdail

    NOO-dil

    Noodles

    Usage

    Point at it when ordering; pasta is called "pasta"

    Grammar Note

    Plural of "núdal"; normally used in the plural

14. spíosrach

    SPEES-rakh

    Spicy

    Usage

    Point at it to ask about or request spiciness; hot in temperature is "te", which is a different word

    Grammar Note

    Adjective from "spíosra" (spice); "not spicy" is "gan a bheith spíosrach"

15. milis

    MIL-ish

    Sweet

    Usage

    Point at it to ask about taste; a dessert is "milseog"

    Grammar Note

    "Milis" is an adjective; sweets are "milseáin"

16. amh

    av (Connacht) / ow (Munster)

    Raw / uncooked

    Usage

    Point at it to avoid raw food or to check whether a dish is uncooked

    Grammar Note

    "Amh" is an adjective; "well cooked" is "go maith bruite"

17. anraith

    AN-ri

    Soup

    Usage

    Point at it when ordering; the soup of the day in an Irish pub is "anraith an lae"

    Grammar Note

    "Anraith" is masculine; stock or broth is "sú feola"

18. tofú

    TOF-oo

    Tofu

    Usage

    Point at it when ordering a vegetarian or vegan alternative

    Grammar Note

    "Tofú" is a masculine loanword; see also "pónaire shoighe" if you have a soya allergy

19. torthaí

    TUR-hee

    Fruit

    Usage

    Fruit in general; see the fruits category for individual names

    Grammar Note

    Plural of "toradh", which in the singular also means "result", so the plural is safer for food

20. cáis

    kawsh

    Cheese

    Usage

    Point at it when ordering or checking for dairy

    Grammar Note

    "Cáis" is feminine; "no cheese" is "gan cháis"

21. im

    Butter

    Usage

    Point at it when ordering or checking for dairy; Ireland is a butter country

    Grammar Note

    "Im" is masculine; genitive "ime" (e.g. "cnapán ime", a pat of butter)

22. mil

    Honey

    Usage

    Point at it when ordering or checking a vegan option

    Grammar Note

    "Mil" is feminine; a bee is "beach"

23. iógart

    YOH-gart

    Yoghurt

    Usage

    Point at it at breakfast or when checking for dairy

    Grammar Note

    "Iógart" is a masculine loanword

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