Weather & Climate

1. Tá sé an-te inniu, nach bhfuil?

   It's hot today, isn't it?

   Usage

   Used on the rare hot days in Ireland

   Grammar Note

   Irish uses "tá sé" for weather expressions. "An-" is an intensifying prefix

2. Tá cuma báistí air

   It looks like it will rain

   Usage

   One of the most-used weather phrases in rainy Ireland

   Grammar Note

   "Cuma" means "appearance/look" and "air" means "on it" — literally "rain look on it"

3. Tá stoirm ag teacht

   A storm is approaching

   Usage

   Warning when Atlantic storms approach Ireland

   Grammar Note

   "Ag teacht" is the present progressive. "Ag" + verbal noun forms the progressive in Irish

4. Tá sé fionnuar inniu, nach bhfuil?

   It's cool today, isn't it?

   Usage

   Describe the characteristic cool Irish climate

   Grammar Note

   "Nach bhfuil?" is a negative tag question. "Bhfuil" is a form of "bí" (to be)

5. An féidir leat an réamhaisnéis aimsire a insint dom?

   Please tell me the weather forecast

   Usage

   Politely ask for the weather forecast

   Grammar Note

   "An féidir leat" is a polite request. "Insint" is the verbal noun of "to tell"

6. An bhfuil uachtar gréine ag teastáil uaim?

   Un vwil OOKH-tur GRAY-neh eg CHAS-tawl oo-im?

   Do I need sunscreen?

   Usage

   Check before going out on a sunny day

   Grammar Note

   "uachtar gréine" = "uachtar" (cream) + "gréine" (genitive of "grian", sun). Need is expressed with "X ag teastáil ó + person" ("uaim" = ó + mé)

7. Ar chóir dom scáth fearthainne a thabhairt liom?

   Should I bring an umbrella?

   Usage

   Always practical in rainy Ireland

   Grammar Note

   "Scáth fearthainne" literally means "rain shade/umbrella". "Fearthainne" is the genitive of "rain"

8. Cathain a bhíonn an séasúr tirim?

   When is the dry season?

   Usage

   Ask about the relatively drier summer season in Ireland

   Grammar Note

   "Cathain" is the question word for "when". "Tirim" means "dry"

9. Cathain a bhíonn an séasúr báistí?

   When is the rainy season?

   Usage

   Ask about the wetter autumn and winter months in Ireland

   Grammar Note

   "Séasúr báistí" means "rain season". "Báistí" functions as both noun and adjective

10. Tá an ghrian an-láidir inniu

    The sun is really strong

    Usage

    Used on the rare sunny summer days in Ireland

    Grammar Note

    "Ghrian" is a mutation of "grian" (sun). Feminine nouns mutate after the article

11. báisteach

    BAWSH-tchakh

    Rain

    Usage

    Point at it when asking about the weather or whether you need an umbrella

    Grammar Note

    "Báisteach" (fem.) is the standard form; "fearthainn" is the everyday word in Munster and Ulster

12. sneachta

    SHNAKH-ta

    Snow

    Usage

    Point at it when checking road or transport conditions; snow is rare in lowland Ireland

    Grammar Note

    "Sneachta" is masculine; "it is snowing" is "Tá sé ag cur sneachta"

13. gaoth

    gway

    Wind

    Usage

    Point at it when checking whether wind has closed a ferry or a cliff walk

    Grammar Note

    "Gaoth" is feminine; "it is windy" is "Tá sé gaofar"

14. grianmhar

    GREE-un-var

    Sunny

    Usage

    Point at it when checking a forecast

    Grammar Note

    "Grian" (sun, fem.) + the suffix "-mhar" (full of); "it is sunny" is "Tá sé grianmhar"

15. scamallach

    SKAM-a-lakh

    Cloudy

    Usage

    Point at it when checking a forecast

    Grammar Note

    Adjective from "scamall" (cloud, masc.); fog is "ceo"

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