The Essential Gaeilge for Irish dancers #1

The Irish language is an essential part of Irish dance. If you are lucky to have a native Irish person teaching you Irish dancing, the words and phrases below may already be part of your

dance vocabulary. However many Irish dance teachers and dancers around the world practice this beautiful tradition without knowing how to pronounce some of the terms.

I invited an Irish dancer, Colene Nee, from the Gaeltacht area who has graduated with a BA in Irish Music and Dance and also studied Irish for 4 years and received a certificate in Irish in accordance to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages at the University of Limerick to help me and you with pronunciation of the essential Irish dance terms.

Below you find the first part of useful words, phrases or terms divided into smaller sections. Each section is in English and Irish language. The Irish terms are connected with an audio recording, so you can listen to the correct pronunciation.

---

GREETINGS

Words and phrases used at competitions, dance classes, social events or in correspondence.

ENGLISH	IRISH
Hello.	Dia Duit.
How are you?	Cén chaoi a bhfuil tú?/ Conas atá tú?
Welcome.	Fáilte.
You are welcome.	Tá fáilte romhat.
Good luck.	Ádh Mór.
All the best.	Beir Bua.
Thank you.	​Go raibh maith agat.
Well done you.	​Maith thú.
Very good.	An-mhaith.
​Great.	​Iontach.
Congratulations.	​Comhghairdeachas.
Good bye.	Slán.
Hard luck.	​Mí-ádh.
Take care.	Tabhair aire.
Safe home.	Slán abhaile.

NUMBERS

As an Irish dancers the least we do is give ourselves a count to start the dance. At the dance competition sometimes you hear a count during the results to point your toe and bow. Find below numbers from 1 to 10.

ENGLISH	IRISH
One	a haon
Two	a dó
Three	​a trí
Four	a ceathair
Five	a cúig
Six	a sé
Seven	a seacht
Eight	a hocht
Nine	a naoi
Ten	a deich

DANCES

Irish dances and music also have their names in Irish language.

ENGLISH	IRISH
Reel	​Cor / Ríl
Light jig	Port éadrom
​Single jig	​Port singil
​Slip jig	​Port luascadh
​Heavy jig	​Port trom
Hornpipe	​Cornphíopa

DANCE LEVELS

ENGLISH	​IRISH
​Beginner	​Bun grád
​Primary	​Tús grád
​Intermediate	​Meán grád
​Open	​Árd grád

COMPETITIONS AND EXAMS

ENGLISH	IRISH
Competitions	Comórtas
​Exams	​Scrúdaithe
Dancing competition / competitions	Feis / Feiseanna
Festival	Féile
Dancing competition / Festival	Oireachtas
The Irish Dance World Championships	Oireachtas Rince na Cruinne
The All-Ireland Championships	Oireachtas Rince na hÉireann
Dance	Rince, Damhsa
Dancer	Rinceoir, Damhsóir
​Dance school	​Scoil Rince
Musician	Ceoltóir
Adjudicator	Moltóir
Teacher	Múinteoir
Boys / Men	Buachaillí / Fir
Girls / Ladies	Cailíní / Mná
First place	Chéad áit
Second place	Dara háit
Third place	​Tríú háit
The Irish Dancing Commission (CLRG)	An Coimisiun Le Rincí Gaelacha
The Regional Council of Continental Europe and Asia (RCCEA)	​​An Comhairle Réigiùnach mór-roinn na hEorpa agus na hÁise (not official)
The Diploma of the Irish Dancing Commission	​Diploma Rinceoirí
Irish ceilí dance teacher (TMRF)	​Teastas Coimisiún le Rince Gaelacha
Irish dance teacher (TCRG)	Teastas Coimisiún le Rince Gaelacha
Adjudicator (ADCRG)	Árd Diplóma an Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha
​Examiner (SDCRG)	Scrúdaithoir Coimisiún Le Rincí Gaelacha