Time and days in Irish
Now, later, tomorrow, what time it opens and one moment please. 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
- Anoisah-NISH
- Now
- Ar baller BOLL
- Later
- InniuIN-yoo
- Today
- Amárachah-MAW-rakh
- Tomorrow
- Anochtuh-NOKHT
- Tonight
- Cathain?KA-hin
- When?
- Cén t-am a osclaíonn sé?kayn TOM uh US-klee-un shay
- What time does it open?
- Nóiméad, le do thoilNOH-maid, leh duh HULL
- One moment, please
- NóiméidNOH-maid
- Minutes
- Uair an chloigOOR un KHLUG
- Hours
The "s" at the end softens to a "sh" sound, which is characteristic of Irish. "Anois" appears constantly in speech and means "right now" or "at this moment." "Anois díreach" (ah-NISH DEER-akh) means "right this second."
Literally "in a while," this is the Irish equivalent of "later" in casual speech. It implies a short time from now rather than hours away. For "much later" you might hear "níos déanaí" (nees JAY-nee).
A short, easy word you'll use constantly. "Inniu" appears in everyday speech, news headlines and shop signs. "Cad atá ar siúl inniu?" (what's on today?) is a useful extension once you're comfortable.
The final "ch" is a soft guttural sound like the Scottish "loch," not a hard "k." Amárach is used in the same way as "tomorrow" in English. "Feicfidh mé thú amárach" (I'll see you tomorrow) is a common farewell.
The plural, used without a number. After a number Irish keeps the singular: "trí nóiméad", three minutes.
Literally "an hour of the clock". After numbers: "dhá uair an chloig", two hours.