Money & Exchange

1. Cé mhéad atá air?

   kay VAYD uh-TAW er

   How much is it?

   Usage

   Basic price inquiry. "Air" (on it) refers to a specific item

   Grammar Note

   "Cé mhéad" — "méad" lenites to "mhéad" (/w/) after "cé." "Atá" is the relative form of "tá." "Air" = "ar (on) + sé (it)." The price "is on" the item — an idiomatic Irish price expression.

2. Tá sé ró-dhaor

   taw shay roh GHEER

   It is too expensive

   Usage

   Saying something is too expensive. "Ró-" is the "too" intensifier prefix

   Grammar Note

   The prefix "ró-" (too) triggers lenition on the following adjective: "daor → ró-dhaor" (too expensive), "mór → ró-mhór" (too big). "Ró-" is the Irish equivalent of English "too" as in "too much."

3. An nglacann tú le cártaí?

   un GLAK-un too leh KAR-tee

   Do you accept cards?

   Usage

   Checking if card payment is accepted

   Grammar Note

   Question particle "an" triggers eclipsis: "glacann → nglacann" (g→ng, /ŋg/). "An" causes eclipsis in present/future tenses. "Le cártaí" (with cards) is a prepositional phrase of means.

4. Tabhair dom an sóinseáil

   TOW-ir dum un SOHN-shawl

   Give me the change

   Usage

   Asking for your change back

   Grammar Note

   "Sóinseáil" is the Irish phonological adaptation of English "change." "Tabhair dom" uses the irregular verb "tabhairt" in the imperative. Irish has 11 irregular verbs that require separate memorization.

5. Níl airgead agam

   neel AR-ih-gid AG-um

   I don't have money

   Usage

   Saying you don't have money

   Grammar Note

   "Airgead" means both "money" and "silver" etymologically — from Latin "argentum" through Celtic. "Níl X agam" is the negative of "tá X agam" (I have X) — I don't have X.

6. Tá sé ar lascaine

   taw shay er LAS-kin-eh

   It is on sale

   Usage

   Indicating something is on sale or at a discount

   Grammar Note

   "Ar lascaine" (on sale) uses "ar" (on) + "lascaine" (discount). "Ar" is a versatile Irish preposition indicating states: "ar fáil" (available), "ar siúl" (ongoing/happening). Note that "ar díol" only means "for sale", not discounted.

7. Tá sé saor

   taw shay seer

   It is cheap / It is free

   Usage

   "Saor" means "cheap/free/free (as in liberty)." Context determines the meaning

   Grammar Note

   "Saor" is polysemous in Irish: "cheap/free/liberated." "Ar shaor" = cheaply,"saor in aisce" = completely free. "Saoirse" (freedom/independence) derives from this root — a key Irish political concept.

8. An dtabharfaidh tú lascaine dom?

   un DOW-ruh-fee too LAS-kin-eh dum

   Will you give me a discount?

   Usage

   Negotiating a discount

   Grammar Note

   "An dtabharfaidh" — question particle "an" eclipses future tense: t→dt (/d/). "Tabharfaidh" is the future of the irregular verb "tabhairt" (to give). Irish future tense requires learning irregular forms.

9. D'íoc mé cheana féin

   DEEK may KYAN-uh fayn

   I already paid

   Usage

   Confirming you have already paid

   Grammar Note

   A past-tense verb beginning with a vowel takes the d' prefix, so "íoc" becomes "d'íoc" (past tense). "Cheana féin" (already) is cheana (before) + the intensifier féin, which also appears in mé féin (myself) and tú féin (yourself)

10. An dteastaíonn admháil uait?

    un CHASS-teen AD-wawl OO-it

    Do you need a receipt?

    Usage

    Asking if someone needs a receipt

    Grammar Note

    "An dteastaíonn" — "teastaíonn" eclipses to "dteastaíonn" (t→dt) after "an." "Uait" = "ó (from) + tú (you)." In Irish, "need" is expressed as something "going from" you — a distinct conceptualization.

11. Éarlais.

    Deposit

    Usage

    A deposit held for accommodation or rentals, refunded at checkout

12. Aisíocaíocht.

    Refund

    Usage

    Getting money back that was already paid

13. Réamhíocaíocht.

    Prepayment

    Usage

    Paying in advance before receiving a service

14. Táille bhreise.

    Extra charge

    Usage

    An additional charge added afterward

15. Táille seirbhíse.

    Service fee

    Usage

    A fee charged for a service or procedure

16. airgead tirim

    AR-i-gyad TCHIR-im

    Cash

    Usage

    Point at it to say you will pay in cash

    Grammar Note

    Literally "dry money"; "airgead" means both money and silver

17. cárta bainc

    KAWR-ta bank

    Bank card

    Usage

    Point at it to say you will pay by card

    Grammar Note

    "Cárta" alone means any card, so "bainc" narrows it; a credit card is "cárta creidmheasa"

18. Roinnfimid an bille

    RIN-hi-mij un BIL-eh

    We'll split the bill

    Usage

    Show it when you want the bill divided between you

    Grammar Note

    Future 1pl of "roinn" (to divide); separate bills are "billí ar leithligh"

19. Bille amháin, le do thoil

    BIL-eh a-WAWN, leh duh hull

    One bill, please

    Usage

    Show it when one person is paying for everyone

    Grammar Note

    "Amháin" (one/only) follows the noun; the opposite is "billí ar leithligh"

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