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Learn Irish

Learn Irish spelling, sounds and mutations, and start speaking Gaeilge.

Free to start. Built from a single prompt. No credit card.

Irish, or Gaeilge, is a Celtic language and an official language of Ireland and the European Union. It looks hard on the page because spelling encodes a key sound contrast: every consonant is broad or slender, marked by the vowels beside it. Words also change at the start through mutations, so bean (woman) becomes an bhean (the woman) and cat becomes ár gcat (our cat). Sentences put the verb first, and there are no single words for yes and no; you answer by repeating the verb. Irish has three main dialects, Munster, Connacht and Ulster. Learnr builds a personalized Irish course from a single prompt and teaches it in short lessons.

How to learn Irish, step by step

Choose a dialect for pronunciation. Munster, Connacht and Ulster Irish differ in pronunciation and some vocabulary, while the written standard, An Caighdeán Oifigiúil, is shared. Pick one dialect for listening and speaking so you build consistent habits.
Learn spelling through broad and slender. The rule caol le caol agus leathan le leathan means consonants are flanked by slender vowels (e, i) or broad vowels (a, o, u). This tells you whether a consonant is palatal or velar. The fada (á, é, í) marks long vowels.
Master the mutations step by step. Lenition adds an h, as in mo chara (my friend), and eclipsis adds a letter in front, as in i mBaile Átha Cliath (in Dublin). Learn which words trigger each, starting with mo, do, an and ár.
Build sentences with the verb first. Irish word order is verb, subject, object: Tá mé tuirseach (I am tired). Practice answering questions by repeating the verb: An bhfuil tú réidh? Tá. Níl.
Learn prepositional pronouns and possession. Irish combines prepositions with pronouns: agam (at me), leat (with you). Possession uses ag: Tá carr agam means I have a car, literally a car is at me. Drill these forms early.
Listen to native speakers and practice daily. Irish radio, TV and podcasts let you hear natural Gaeltacht speech. Short daily Learnr lessons keep mutations and verb forms fresh, and conversation groups give you real practice.

What you'll learn

Read Irish spelling and pronounce broad and slender consonants
Apply lenition and eclipsis after common words
Build verb-first sentences and answer questions without yes or no
Use prepositional pronouns like agam and liom
Hold simple conversations about yourself, family and the weather

What's inside your Irish course

A sample path Learnr builds for Irish. Your real course adapts to your goal and level.

1. Irish sounds, the fada and broad and slender consonants
2. Greetings and essential phrases
3. Verb-first sentences and the verb bí
4. Lenition, eclipsis and the article
5. Prepositional pronouns and expressing possession
6. Past and future tenses and real conversation

How long does it take to learn Irish?

Many learners hold simple conversations after about a year of daily 30 to 60 minute sessions. Mutations and spelling take time to feel natural, and comfortable fluency usually takes a few years. Time in the Gaeltacht or with regular speakers speeds things up considerably.

What you need before you start

No knowledge of other Celtic languages is needed, though Scottish Gaelic learners will recognize much of the grammar. Complete beginners can start here.

Common mistakes to avoid

Pronouncing Irish words as if they were English, which ignores broad and slender consonants and makes spelling seem random.
Ignoring mutations and saying "mo cara" instead of mo chara, one of the most noticeable learner errors.
Mixing pronunciation from different dialects; pick one model speaker and stay with it at first.

How Learnr builds your course

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Irish questions, answered

Is Irish the same as Gaelic?

Irish is often called Gaelic in English, but in Ireland the language is usually called Irish or Gaeilge. Scottish Gaelic is a separate, related language, and the two are partly understandable to each other.

Why is Irish spelling so different from its pronunciation?

Irish spelling follows its own consistent system, which shows broad and slender consonants and mutations. Once you learn the rules, spelling is far more predictable than it first appears.