Irish Language Numbers

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If you’re a native English speaker, you’ll only be familiar with counting such as “One, two, three”, and also counting things using the exact same words “One dog, two dogs, three dogs”.

But the words for the numbers in the Irish language change depending on the following situations:

  1. If you are just counting numbers.
  2. Or if you’re counting things.
  3. Or if you’re counting people.

(We’ve written an article also on Irish language grammar).

Basic Irish Language Numbers (1 to 3)

Let’s teach you how to first count the basic Irish Gaelic numbers. You need to start small!

1. A haon /ah hay-un/ = One

2. A dó /ah doh/ = Two

3. A trí /ah tree/ = Three

That’s it! You can now count to three in the Irish language. There’s a couple of things to look at here. First, I have put the approximate pronunciation guide in italics for English speakers. Second, you have surely notice the “A” at the beginning of each number. It’s pronounced somewhere between /ah/ and /uh/. The “A” is said before a number when you’re counting up. It’s just a convention which comes naturally to Irish native speakers. The pure Irish words for “one, two, three” are “aon, dó, trí”. But if you’re counting up in a row, you’ll say “a haon, a dó, a trí“.
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Counting 1 to 10 in Irish

Ready to count some more numbers? Let’s go now from one to ten. To hear these numbers spoken, check the Irish Gaelic lesson on Bitesize Irish Gaelic.

1. A haon /ah hay-un/ = One

2. A dó /ah doh/ = Two

3. A trí /ah tree/ = Three

4. A ceathair /ah cah-hir/ = Four

5. A cúig /ah coo-ig/ = Five

6. A sé /ah shay/ = Six

7. A seacht /ah shocked/ = Seven

8. A hocht /ah hukt/ = Eight

9. A naoi /ah nay-ee/ = Nine

10. A deich /ah jeh/ = Ten

For more examples on counting in Irish Gaelic, sign up for Bitesize Irish Gaelic to listen to Counting above 20 Part I and Counting above 20 Part II. The BBC have a great online lesson on counting that you can listen to in your browser. Do you want this lesson to be longer and cover more items? If so, just comment on this article, and I’ll get right to it! Seriously!

26 thoughts on “Irish Language Numbers”

  9. I need the translation for January 13, 2006 either written out or in number format. Could someone please help me?

    • Stop being so rude! I’m not saying I hate English. You’re a right ole beggar if you think you can get away with that!

  11. I actually HATE irish!!!! when the leaving cert is over i will never speak a word of it AGAIN!!!!!!!

  12. Can Angela translate that sentence into Irish? God Save the Queen, no doubt.

  13. how do say he is 21 years old and how do you say he is 22 years old?? Help! FAST!! :)

  18. Is me Luka or Luka is mo ainm. Tagaimm ar – how do you call the university? Tagaimm go would be for a litteral action if i’m now going to the university is it? if tagaimm is right for I go? :) I’m studying old Irish for two semestres and now i’ve been looking something for irish not so exhaustingly on the internet and with facebook in irish, I would like anyone of you to pretty translate me the sentence: I’m going to university now! :) Thanks haha!

    • You could use something like: “Tá mé ag freastal ar an olscoil.”

      “Ag freastal ar…” is like “attending”. Good luck with your studies, hope you enjoy it.

  19. Angela, I know a man whom felt the same way you do. He was born and raised in Ireland and now lives in Dallas, TX. Many years later he regrets not paying more attention. Now at 27 yrs-old he is in an Irish language class trying to relearn the language. Speaking Irish to telemarketers is great! They hang up in no time! Too many people speek Spanish here to use it on the telemarketers. I, too, hated taking English in high school (meánscoil), and I have a hard time with grammar. However, I can notice the poor grammar and syntax of young adults today (40 yrs after high school).

  20. I am wanting to get a tattoo of my son’s birthday in Irish. how would i write (as short as possible) his birthday of ” 16.3.2011″