• ag beannú do dhaoine (greeting people)
• ag rá cé as tú (saying where you’re from)
• ag rá cá bhfuil tú i do chónaí anois (saying where you live now)
• ag tabhairt tuairimí faoi cheantar (giving opinions about an area)

Play Video

Practice: Activity 1  /  Activity 2

Conversation 1
Tá Róisín agus Dónall ag freastal ar oíche Speed-Dating.

Sharon
The first step in any language is knowing how to greet people. Let’s look at three different situations. Our characters are meeting for the first time. Listen to how they introduce themselves and see how much you can pick up. The girl uses a phrase many of you will have heard before: “Conas tá tú?” – “How are you?"

Róisín
Conas tá tú?

Dónall
Go maith go raibh maith agat. Is mise Dónall.

Róisín
Is mise Róisín.

Dónall
Cad as duit, a Róisín?

Róisín
As Baile Átha Cliath. Rugadh agus tógadh anseo mé.

Dónall
Is as Corcaigh ó dhúchas mé féin. Ach tá mé i mo chónaí i mBaile Átha Cliath anois.

CONVERSATION 1
Dónall agus Róisín meet at a speed dating evening.

Róisín: How are you?
Dónall: I’m well, thank you. I’m Dónall.
Róisín: I’m Róisín.
Dónall: Where are you from, Róisín?
Róisín: From Dublin. I was born and raised here.
Dónall: I’m from Cork originally myself, but I live in Dublin now.

Conversation 2
Tá Mícheál, baitsiléar sna caogaidí, ag tiomáint. Tá garda ag stopadh carranna ar an mbóthar. Stopann sí Mícheál.

Sharon
We found out there that our guy is a Munster man and the greeting he used, “Conas tá tú?” is how Munster people traditionally ask you how you are. In this next scene, we see another couple getting to know each other. This pair don’t hit it off quite as well. Listen out for the Connacht expression for “How are you?” – “Cén chaoi a bhfuil tú?” – literally, “What way are you?” – “Cén chaoi a bhfuil tú?”

MÍCHEÁL
Dia duit, a Gharda.

Garda (sinéad)
Dia is Muire duit.

Michéal
Cén chaoi a bhfuil tú?

Sinéad
Go maith go raibh maith agat. Céard is ainm duit?

MÍCHEÁL
Mícheál Ó Conaola, a Gharda. Céard is ainm duit féin?

Sinéad
An Garda de Barra. Cá bhfuil tú i do chónaí?

MÍCHEÁL
Tá mé i mo chónaí i gCarna. Cá bhfuil tú féin i do chónaí, a Gharda?

Sinéad
Ní bhaineann sin leat.

Sharon
Did you notice the initial exchange? “Dia duit” – literally “God be with you” - and the reply, “Dia is Muire duit” – “God and Mary be with you”. This is a formal greeting, used in more official situations, or with people you don’t know.

We also heard there people asking each other about where they’re from and where they live. “Cad as duit?” - “Where are you from” - and “Cá bhfuil tú i do chónaí?” – “Where do you live?”

Repeat

CONVERSATION 1

Dónall
Cad as duit a Róisín?

Róisín
As Baile Átha Cliath. Rugadh agus tógadh anseo mé.

Dónall
Is as Corcaigh ó dhúchas mé féin, ach tá mé i mo chónaí i mBaile Átha Cliath anois.

Sharon
Is as Corcaigh dó, ach tá sé ina chónaí i mBaile Átha Cliath anois. The girl however, like myself, is a true blue Dub – “Rugadh agus tógadh anseo mé” – “I was born and raised here” – “Rugadh agus tógadh anseo mé”. In the second scene, the garda wanted to find out where the driver lives: “Cá bhfuil tú i do chónaí?”

Repeat

CONVERSATION 2

Sinéad
Cá bhfuil tú i do chónaí?

MÍCHEÁL
Tá mé i mo chónaí i gCarna. Cá bhfuil tú féin i do chónaí, a Gharda?

Sinéad
Ní bhaineann sin leat.

Sharon
“Ní bhaineann sin leat” – “that’s none of your business!” Hopefully a phrase you won’t have too much use for... In this next scene, our character is considering moving from the city to the country. He’s viewing a house and is being shown around by a Donegalman. The Donegal expression for “how are you?” Is “cad é mar atá tú?” – literally “how is it that you are?”

CONVERSATION 2
Mícheál tries to chat up Garda Sinéad de Barra when she stops him at a checkpoint.

Mícheál:
Hello, guard.
Sinéad:
Hello.
Mícheál: How are you?
Sinéad: I’m fine, thank you. What’s your name?
Mícheál: Mícheál Ó Conaola, guard. What’s your own name?
Sinéad (reluctantly): Garda de Barra. Where do you live?
Mícheál: I live in Carna (Conamara). Where do you live yourself, guard?
Sinéad: That’s none of your business!

Conversation 3
Tá Cathal, an gníomhaire eastáit, ag caint le Séamas taobh amuigh den teach atá ar díol.

Estate agent Cathal is showing Séamas a house.

Séamas
Cathal an ea?

Cathal
Séamas? Cad é mar atá tú?

Séamas
Go maith go raibh maith agat.

Cathal
So, tá tú ag cuimhneamh ar aistriú go dtí an ceantar seo?

Séamas
Tá. Tá mé sa chathair le deich mbliana anuas. Ba mhaith liom imeacht as anois.

Cathal
Bhuel tá an ceantar seo go hálainn. Tá áiseanna maithe ann agus tá muintir na háite go deas. Agus tá tithe deasa anseo.

Séamas
Tá na praghsanna go deas chomh maith.

Sharon
In these three scenes, we’ve heard three different ways of saying “How are you?” – The Munster expression “Conas tá tú?”, the Connacht approach “Cén chaoi a bhfuil tú?” and the Ulster phrase “Cad é mar atá tú?” This may seem terribly complicated, but the trick is not to worry about it too much. All three expressions will be understood by any Irish speaker. You take your pick and stick to the one you feel most comfortable with.

CONVERSATION 1
Séamas is considering moving from the city to the country. He has an appointment with an estate agent, Cathal, who is going to show him around a house which is for sale.

Séamas:
Cathal, is it?
Cathal:
Séamas. How are you?
Séamas: I’m well, thank you.
Cathal: So, you’re thinking of moving to this area? He hands Cathal a leaflet containing information about the house.
Séamas: Yes. I’ve been in the city for the past ten years. I’d like to leave it now.
Cathal: Well, this area is lovely. The facilities are good and the locals are nice. And there are nice houses here. Séamas: the prices are nice as well.