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Irish Pronunciation
Irish Vowels, Diphthongs, and Pronunciation
Term | Definition |
---|---|
a | as in f<b>a</b>ther |
á | as in l<b>a</b>w |
e | as in b<b>e</b>d<br /><br />Never occurs before consonants, where its usually spelled <i>ei</i> |
é | as in d<b>a</b>y<br /><br />Also spelled <i>éa</i> or <i>éi</i> before a consonant |
i | as in f<b>i</b>sh |
í | as in f<b>ea</b>r |
o | as in t<b>ou</b>gh |
ó | as in b<b>oa</b>t |
u | as in p<b>u</b>t |
ú | as in d<b>o</b> |
Vowels followed by __, __, __, __, __, or __ are pronounced long (unless followed by another vowel) | n, nn, ll, rr, rd, m |
<b>ae(i)</b> | pronounced like <b>é</b><br /><br /> t<b>ae</b><br/> G<b>aei</b>lge<br/> tr<b>aei</b>n |
<b>ao</b> and <b>aoi</b> | pronounced like <b>í</b><br/><br/> s<b>ao</b>r<br/> n<b>aoi</b> |
<b>eo(i)</b> | pronounced like <b>ó</b><br/><br/> l<b>eo</b>r<br/> c<b>eo</b><br/> <b>Eoi</b>n |
<b>ai</b> after a consonant | pronounced like <b>a</b><br /><br /> b<b>ai</b>nis<br/> c<b>ai</b>lín<br/> |
<b>io</b> | pronounced like <b>i</b><br/><br/> f<b>io</b>s |
<b>oi</b> | pronounced like <b>e(i)</b><br/><br/> t<b>oi</b>l<br/> <b>oi</b>read |
<b>ui</b> | pronounced like <b>i</b><br/><br/> <b>ui</b>sce<br/> f<b>ui</b>l |
<b>iu</b> | pronounced like <b>u</b><br/><br/> fl<b>iu</b>ch |
Diphthong<br/> <b>ia</b> | <i>ee-uh</i><br/><br/> b<b>ia</b><br/> c<b>ia</b>ll |
Diphthong<br/> <b>ua</b> | <i>oo-uh</i><br/><br/> n<b>ua</b><br/> t<b>ua</b>th |
<b>o</b> in Connacht<br/> <b>a</b> in Munster<br/> <b>abh</b><br/> <b>amh</b> | pronounced as <b>au</b>/<b>ow</b><br/><br/> p<b>o</b>ll<br/> g<b>abh</b>a<br/> s<b>amh</b>radh |
<b>adh</b>, <b>agh</b>, <b>aigh</b>, <b>aidh</b> | pronounced like <b>ai</b>/<b>i</b><br/><br/> cl<b>adh</b>aire<br/> c<b>aigh</b>deán |