Help and emergencies in Irish
The words you hope to never need. Play the ten Irish words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Irish phrases in this lesson
- Cabhaigh liom!KOV-ee lum
- Help!
- Glaoigh ar dhochtúir!GLEE-ig er GHOKHK-toor
- Call a doctor
- GardaíGAR-dee
- Police
- CógaslannKOH-gus-lun
- Pharmacy
- OspidéalOS-pid-ale
- Hospital
- Tá mé cailltetaw may KYLE-cheh
- I'm lost
- Níl mé ag mothú go maithneel may eg MOH-hoo guh mah
- I don't feel well
- Goideadh éGID-uh ay
- It was stolen
- Is éigeandáil éiss AY-gun-dawl ay
- It's an emergency
- Fág mé i m'aonarfawg may i MAY-nur
- Leave me alone
The verb cabhair means "to help" and cabhaigh is the imperative form. In a genuine emergency, shouting this loudly will be understood. The Irish public and emergency services are well-practiced and responsive. Remain calm and shout clearly.
Dochtúir is borrowed from Latin "doctor." The lenited form after "ar" gives "dhochtúir" with a soft "gh" at the start. In a medical emergency, call 999/112 and ask for an ambulance. The word for ambulance is "otharcharr" (OH-her-khar).
The Irish police, An Garda Síochána. The emergency number is 999 or 112.
You'll more often see the sign "Pharmacy" or a green cross on Irish shops, but knowing the Irish word helps with asking directions. Ireland has excellent pharmacy coverage and pharmacists can advise on minor ailments without a prescription.
Borrowed from Latin/English "hospital." Ireland has public hospitals under the HSE (Health Service Executive) as well as private hospitals. As a visitor, carry your EHIC card if EU-based or travel insurance details at all times.
Caillte means "lost" (also "dead" in some contexts, so the tone of voice matters). Saying this with a slightly helpless look will almost certainly result in a local stopping to help you at length. Irish people are exceptionally helpful to lost visitors.
A useful phrase for communicating illness to a pharmacist, hotel receptionist or tour guide. Mothú means "to feel." You can also say "Tá mé tinn" (taw may cheen, I am sick/ill) which is shorter and equally clear.
Goideadh is the past passive of "to steal." Use this when reporting a theft to the Gardaí or for an insurance report. Keep copies of important documents digitally so theft of the originals is less catastrophic.
Literally "leave me alone".