an t-uisce
Water
Usage
The basic word for drinking water; works with pointing
Grammar Note
Masculine; a masculine noun starting with a vowel takes "t-" after the article
an bia
Food
Usage
The general word when you are looking for something to eat
Grammar Note
Masculine; the genitive is "an bhia"
an t-airgead
Money
Usage
Comes up when paying or changing currency
Grammar Note
Masculine with "t-"; the word also means "silver"
an leithreas
Toilet
Usage
The word alone is enough to ask for directions
Grammar Note
Masculine; public signs read "Fir" and "Mná"
an ciarsúr páipéir
Tissue
Usage
For asking at a shop or a diner
Grammar Note
Masculine; "páipéir" is the genitive, "of paper"
an cógas
Medicine
Usage
The core word at a pharmacy, paired with your symptom
Grammar Note
Masculine; a pharmacy is "an chógaslann"
an bagáiste
Luggage
Usage
For checking in, picking up, or storing bags
Grammar Note
Masculine and uncountable; one suitcase is "mála taistil"
an eochair
Key
Usage
For collecting or returning it at hotel reception
Grammar Note
Feminine; the plural is "na heochracha"
an ticéad
Ticket
Usage
The base word for transport and admission tickets
Grammar Note
Masculine; plural "na ticéid"
an pas
Passport
Usage
Comes up at every check-in and border control
Grammar Note
Masculine; also "pas taistil"
an fón
Phone
Usage
Refers to the device and to making a call
Grammar Note
Masculine; a mobile is "an fón póca"
an luchtaire
Charger
Usage
When you want to borrow one at a hotel or café
Grammar Note
Masculine; from "luchtaigh" (to charge)
an stáisiún
Station
Usage
The easiest landmark to name when asking directions
Grammar Note
Masculine; a railway station is "an stáisiún traenach"
an t-ospidéal
Hospital
Usage
The first word you need if you fall ill
Grammar Note
Masculine, taking "t-" before the vowel
na Gardaí
Police
Usage
For theft or accidents; the word alone gets help
Grammar Note
The Irish police force is "An Garda Síochána"; one officer is a "garda"
an siopa
Shop
Usage
The general word when hunting for somewhere to buy things
Grammar Note
Masculine; plural "na siopaí"
an seomra
Room
Usage
For negotiating a stay or confirming a room number
Grammar Note
Masculine; a hotel bedroom is "seomra leapa"
an bóthar
Road
Usage
Used when asking directions, often over a map
Grammar Note
Masculine; a town street is "an tsráid" (feminine)
an teaghlach
Family
Usage
Comes up in small talk about who you are travelling with
Grammar Note
Masculine, the household; the wider kin is "an mhuintir"
an t-ainm
Name
Usage
For confirming a booking or introducing yourself
Grammar Note
Masculine with "t-"; a surname is "an sloinne"
an cloigeann
Head
Usage
Point at it to show where it hurts; a headache is "tinneas cinn"
Grammar Note
"cloigeann" (masc.). "Ceann" also means head but equally means "one (unit)" and "end", so it is ambiguous on a card
an tsúil
Eye
Usage
Point at it for eye pain, something in the eye, or eye drops; both eyes are "na súile"
Grammar Note
"súil" (fem.). Feminine nouns in s + vowel take a prefixed t after the article: "an tsúil"
an fhiacail
Tooth
Usage
Point at it at the dentist or with toothache; the teeth are "na fiacla"
Grammar Note
"fiacail" (fem.); lenited after the article to "an fhiacail" (the f goes silent)
an scornach
Throat
Usage
Point at it for a sore throat; "Tá scornach thinn orm" = my throat is sore
Grammar Note
"scornach" (fem.). No prefixed t here because s is followed by a consonant
an bolg
Stomach / belly
Usage
Point at it for belly pain; the stomach as an organ is "an goile"
Grammar Note
"bolg" (masc.). Note "goile" covers both the stomach organ and appetite
an droim
Back
Usage
Point at it for back pain
Grammar Note
"droim" (masc.); genitive "droma"
caol an droma
Lower back
Usage
Point at it for lower-back pain
Grammar Note
Literally "the narrow of the back": caol + genitive "droma". The waist itself is "an choim"
an chos
Leg / foot
Usage
Irish "cos" covers both leg and foot — point at your own body to show which part
Grammar Note
"cos" (fem.), lenited to "an chos". "Troigh" is the sole of the foot and the unit of measure
an lámh
Hand
Usage
Point at it for an injured or painful hand; "lámh" can extend to the whole arm, so point to narrow it down
Grammar Note
"lámh" (fem.). Words in l show no written lenition, so it stays "an lámh"
an cliabhrach
Chest
Usage
Point at it for chest pain or breathing trouble; an anatomical term, so it avoids misreadings
Grammar Note
"cliabhrach" (masc., ribcage/thorax). "Brollach" also means breast, so it was avoided here
an t-óstán
Hotel
Usage
Point at it as a destination in a taxi or when asking directions
Grammar Note
"óstán" (masc.); vowel-initial masculine nouns take "t-" after the article
an t-aerfort
Airport
Usage
Point at it as a destination for a taxi or bus
Grammar Note
"aerfort" (masc.). Signs are bilingual, e.g. "Aerfort Bhaile Átha Cliath / Dublin Airport"
stad an bhus
Bus stop
Usage
Point at it when looking for a bus stop; signage reads "Stad Bus"
Grammar Note
"stad" and "bus"; the genitive article lenites bus to "bhus"
an ambasáid
Embassy
Usage
Point at it when you need your embassy after losing a passport or in an incident
Grammar Note
"ambasáid" (fem.); vowel-initial feminine nouns are unchanged in the nominative
an t-inneall airgid
ATM / cash machine
Usage
Point at it when asking where you can withdraw cash
Grammar Note
"inneall" (masc.) + genitive "airgid". The abbreviation ATM is also understood
an mhalairt airgid
Money exchange
Usage
Point at it when looking for a place to change foreign currency
Grammar Note
"malairt" (fem.), lenited to "an mhalairt". Shopfronts are signed "Malairt Airgid"
an neachtlann
Launderette
Usage
Point at it when looking for somewhere to do laundry
Grammar Note
"neachtlann" (fem.); words in n are unchanged after the article
an t-inneall dóiteáin
Fire engine
Usage
A fire engine; point at it when reporting a fire or at the scene
Grammar Note
"Inneall" (machine, masc.) + genitive "dóiteáin" (of fire); a masculine noun beginning with a vowel takes "t-" after the article
an chonsalacht
Consulate
Usage
A consulate; an embassy is "an ambasáid"
Grammar Note
"Consalacht" is a 3rd-declension feminine noun and lenites to "chonsalacht" after the article; the French consulate is "consalacht na Fraince"
More Irish phrases
- Basic Words
- Basic Verbs
- Adjectives
- Question Words
- Greetings
- Food & Drinks
- Transportation
- Shopping
- Numbers
- Hotel
- Emergency
- Sightseeing
- Flirting
- Nightlife
- Massage & Spa
- Compliments
- Contacts & SNS
- Beach & Activities
- Places & Areas
- Useful Phrases
- Airport & Customs
- Weather & Climate
- Pharmacy & Health
- Directions
- Money & Exchange
- Health & Hospital
- Internet & WiFi
- Nature & Outdoors
- Religion & Temples
- Café & Drinks
- Schedule & Booking
- Culture & Etiquette
- Traveling with Kids
- Sports & Activities
- Public Transport
- Accommodation
- Banking & ATM
- Visa & Immigration
- Business & Work
- School & Education
- Cooking & Markets
- Music & Entertainment
- Art & Museums
- Festivals & Events
- Photography
- Laundry
- Post Office
- Language Learning
- Dating & Romance
- Dating Apps
- Volunteering
- Accessibility
- Sustainability & Eco
- Fruits
- Colors
- Dietary & Allergies
- Markets & Souvenirs
- Wine & Spirits
- Car Rental & Driving
- Time & Dates
- Hiking & Trekking
- Diving & Water Sports
- Skiing & Winter Sports
- Hot Springs & Baths
- Yoga & Wellness
- Casino & Gambling
- Beauty & Grooming
- Remote Work
- Fashion & Clothing
- Convenience Store
- Martial Arts
- Signs
- Body Parts
- Animals
- Vehicles
- Electronics
- Feelings
- Slang
- Local Dishes
- Local Drinks
- Indulgences