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This article is currently being updated.
This article is being heavily updated due to new content or is being heavily worked on. This article may contain inaccurate information as well as discrepancies.
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Introduction
Irish letters are classified into 2 distinct groups, referred to as broad and slender.
- The broad (velarized) consonants b, c, f, g, m can sound as if they’re being followed by a very subtle “w”.
- Slender (palatalized) consonants can sound as if they’re followed by a slight “y”.
Determining the correct group:
- Of the vowels, a, o, and u are always broad, whereas e and i are always slender.
- Consonants vary based on which group the closest vowel is in.
- Examples: tae (‘t’ is broad), te (‘t’ is slender), taistil (the first ‘t’ is broad; ‘s’, the second ‘t’ and ‘l’ are all slender).
- The vowels on either side of a consonant, or group of consonants, must both be slender or both be broad.
- Examples: déanfaidh, rithfidh, leabharlann, páirceanna, cupán, cipín, madra, maidrín.
- Note: There are some rare exceptions, such as anseo; ansin.
Vowels
| Letter
|
IPA
|
Valve Phoneme
|
EX
|
Phonetic Example
|
| a |
/a/ |
AA |
<AudioButton>phoneme_0061.mp3</AudioButton> |
father, spa
|
| á |
/ɑ:/ |
AO |
<AudioButton>phoneme_0061-02D0.mp3</AudioButton> |
call, far
|
| e |
/ɛ/ |
EH |
<AudioButton>phoneme_025B.mp3</AudioButton> |
tell, get
|
| é |
/e:/ |
EY |
<AudioButton>phoneme_0065-02D0.mp3</AudioButton> |
bait, pay
|
| i |
/ɪ/ |
IH |
<AudioButton>phoneme_026A.mp3</AudioButton> |
in, hit
|
| í |
/i:/ |
IY |
<AudioButton>phoneme_0069-02D0.mp3</AudioButton> |
tree, mean, he
|
| o |
/ɔ/ |
AH |
<AudioButton>phoneme_0254.mp3</AudioButton> |
tug, wonder
|
| ó |
/o:/ |
OW |
<AudioButton>phoneme_006F-02D0.mp3</AudioButton> |
roll, toe, road
|
| u |
/ʌ/ |
UH |
<AudioButton>phoneme_028C.mp3</AudioButton> |
gut, fun
|
| ú |
/u:/ |
UW |
<AudioButton>phoneme_0075-02D0.mp3</AudioButton> |
too, rude
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Vowel Combinations
Note that some combinations are not consistent, and vary in pronunciation based on the word.
| Letters
|
IPA
|
Valve Phoneme
|
EX
|
Phonetic Example
|
Notes
|
| ae |
/e/ |
EY |
<AudioButton>phoneme_0065.mp3</AudioButton> |
bait, pay |
|
| ao |
/i/ |
IY |
<AudioButton>phoneme_0069.mp3</AudioButton> |
tree, mean, he |
|
| aoi |
/i/ |
IY |
<AudioButton>phoneme_0069.mp3</AudioButton> |
tree, mean, he |
|
| ea |
/ᴂ/ |
?? |
<AudioButton>phoneme_.mp3</AudioButton> |
?? |
|
| /a/ |
AA |
<AudioButton>phoneme_0061.mp3</AudioButton> |
father, spa |
|
| /ja/ |
?? |
<AudioButton>phoneme_.mp3</AudioButton> |
?? |
|
| /iɑ:/ |
?? |
<AudioButton>phoneme_.mp3</AudioButton> |
?? |
|
| ei |
/ɛ/ |
EH |
<AudioButton>phoneme_025B.mp3</AudioButton> |
tell, get |
|
| eo |
/o/ |
OW |
<AudioButton>phoneme_006F.mp3</AudioButton> |
roll, toe, road |
|
| ia |
/iə/ |
?? |
<AudioButton>phoneme_.mp3</AudioButton> |
idea |
|
| io |
/ɪ/ |
IH |
<AudioButton>phoneme_026A.mp3</AudioButton> |
in, hit |
|
| oi |
/ɪ/ |
IH |
<AudioButton>phoneme_026A.mp3</AudioButton> |
in, hit |
|
| ua |
/uə/ |
?? |
<AudioButton>phoneme_.mp3</AudioButton> |
truant |
|
| ui |
/ɪ/ |
IH |
<AudioButton>phoneme_026A.mp3</AudioButton> |
in, hit |
|
| -(e)adh |
/u/ |
UW |
<AudioButton>phoneme_0075.mp3</AudioButton> |
too, rude |
|
| -faidh |
/i/ |
IY |
<AudioButton>phoneme_0069.mp3</AudioButton> |
tree, mean, he |
|
| /ɪ/ |
IH |
<AudioButton>phoneme_026A.mp3</AudioButton> |
in, hit |
|
| -fidh |
/i/ |
IY |
<AudioButton>phoneme_0069.mp3</AudioButton> |
tree, mean, he |
|
| /ɪ/ |
IH |
<AudioButton>phoneme_026A.mp3</AudioButton> |
in, hit |
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Standard Consonants
Broad
| Letter
|
IPA
|
Valve Phoneme
|
EX
|
Phonetic Example
|
Notes
|
| b |
/bˠ/ |
B |
<AudioButton>phoneme_0062-02E0.mp3</AudioButton> |
broom, boy |
|
| c |
/k/ |
K |
<AudioButton>phoneme_006B.mp3</AudioButton> |
cut, key |
|
| d |
/d̪ˠ/ |
D |
<AudioButton>phoneme_0064-032A-02E0.mp3</AudioButton> |
do, under |
|
| f |
/fˠ/ |
F |
<AudioButton>phoneme_0066-02E0.mp3</AudioButton> |
elf, fool |
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| g |
/ɡ/ |
G |
<AudioButton>phoneme_0261.mp3</AudioButton> |
goo, egg |
|
| h |
/h/ |
HH |
<AudioButton>phoneme_0068.mp3</AudioButton> |
honey, hello |
Neither broad nor slender
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| l |
/l̪ˠ/; /l/ |
L |
<AudioButton>phoneme_006C-032A-02E0.mp3</AudioButton> |
filth, will |
occasionally /l/, which is considered neither broad nor slender
|
| ll |
/l̪ˠ/ |
?? |
<AudioButton>phoneme_006C-032A-02E0.mp3</AudioButton> |
?? |
|
| m |
/mˠ/ |
M |
<AudioButton>phoneme_006D-02E0.mp3</AudioButton> |
moo, woman |
|
| n |
/n̪ˠ/; /n/ |
N |
<AudioButton>phoneme_006E-032A-02E0.mp3</AudioButton> |
not, under |
occasionally /n/, which is considered neither broad nor slender
|
| p |
/pˠ/ |
P |
<AudioButton>phoneme_0070-02E0.mp3</AudioButton> |
span, stop |
|
| r |
/ɾˠ/ |
R |
<AudioButton>phoneme_027E-02E0.mp3</AudioButton> |
rule (but tapped) |
always broad word-initially; always broad in rd, rl, rn, rr, rs, rt, rth, sr
|
| s |
/sˠ/ |
S |
<AudioButton>phoneme_0073-02E0.mp3</AudioButton> |
soon, east |
|
| t |
/t̪ˠ/ |
T |
<AudioButton>phoneme_0074-032A-02E0.mp3</AudioButton> |
stand (but dental) |
|
| v |
/w/ |
W |
<AudioButton>phoneme_0077.mp3</AudioButton> |
wood, water |
loan consonant; /vˠ/ in other dialects*
|
| z |
/zˠ/ |
?? |
<AudioButton>phoneme_007A-02E0.mp3</AudioButton> |
?? |
loan consonant
|
Slender
| Letter
|
IPA
|
Valve Phoneme
|
EX
|
Phonetic Example
|
Notes
|
| b |
/bʲ/ |
B Y |
<AudioButton>phoneme_0062-02B2.mp3</AudioButton> |
beautiful |
|
| c |
/c/ |
K Y |
<AudioButton>phoneme_0063.mp3</AudioButton> |
skew, cucumber |
|
| d |
/dʲ/ |
?? |
<AudioButton>phoneme_0064-02B2.mp3</AudioButton> |
dear |
/dʑ/ in other dialects*
|
| f |
/fʲ/ |
F Y |
<AudioButton>phoneme_0066-02B2.mp3</AudioButton> |
fuel, futile |
|
| g |
/ɟ/ |
G Y |
<AudioButton>phoneme_025F.mp3</AudioButton> |
argue |
|
| h |
/h/ |
HH |
<AudioButton>phoneme_0068.mp3</AudioButton> |
honey, hello |
Neither broad nor slender
|
| l |
/lʲ/ |
L Y |
<AudioButton>phoneme_006C-02B2.mp3</AudioButton> |
million, will you |
|
| ll |
/lʲ/; /l̪ʲ/ |
?? |
<AudioButton>phoneme_006C-02B2.mp3</AudioButton> |
?? |
occasionally /l̪ʲ/
|
| m |
/mʲ/ |
M Y |
<AudioButton>phoneme_006D-02B2.mp3</AudioButton> |
mute |
|
| n |
/nʲ/ |
N Y |
<AudioButton>phoneme_006E-02B2.mp3</AudioButton> |
sinew, minion |
|
| p |
/pʲ/ |
P Y |
<AudioButton>phoneme_0070-02B2.mp3</AudioButton> |
spew |
|
| r |
/ɾʲ/ |
R IY? |
<AudioButton>phoneme_027E-02B2.mp3</AudioButton> |
real (but tapped) |
always broad word-initially; always broad in rd, rl, rn, rr, rs, rt, rth, sr
|
| s |
/ɕ/ |
SH |
<AudioButton>phoneme_0283.mp3</AudioButton> |
ship, wish |
/ʃ/ in other dialects*
|
| t |
/tʲ/ |
T |
<AudioButton>phoneme_0074-02B2.mp3</AudioButton> |
stew |
|
| v |
/vʲ/ |
V Y |
<AudioButton>phoneme_0076-02B2.mp3</AudioButton> |
view |
loan consonant
|
| z |
/ʑ/ |
ZH |
<AudioButton>phoneme_0292.mp3</AudioButton> |
vision |
loan consonant; /ʒ/ in other dialects*
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Lenited Consonants
Lenition changes the sound of a letter by adding the letter "h". The consonant sound is then regarded as "softened".
Broad
| Letter
|
IPA
|
Valve Phoneme
|
EX
|
Phonetic Example
|
Notes
|
| bh |
/w/ |
W |
<AudioButton></AudioButton> |
wow, tower |
|
| ch |
/x/ |
?? |
<AudioButton></AudioButton> |
loch (Scottish), Nacht (German) |
|
| dh |
/ɣ/ |
— |
<AudioButton></AudioButton> |
(no equivalent) |
/ɣ/ word-initially; silent after a long vowel
|
| fh |
silent |
<SIL> |
— |
(silent) |
|
| gh |
/ɣ/ |
— |
<AudioButton></AudioButton> |
(no equivalent) |
/ɣ/ word-initially; silent after a long vowel
|
| mh |
/w/ |
W |
<AudioButton></AudioButton> |
wow, tower |
|
| ph |
/fˠ/ |
F |
<AudioButton></AudioButton> |
follow, telephone |
|
| sh |
/h/ |
HH |
<AudioButton></AudioButton> |
honey, hello |
|
| th |
/h/ |
HH |
<AudioButton></AudioButton> |
honey, hello |
Silent if at the end of a syllable
|
Slender
| Letter
|
IPA
|
Valve Phoneme
|
EX
|
Phonetic Example
|
Notes
|
| bh |
/vʲ/ |
V |
<AudioButton></AudioButton> |
village, eve |
|
| ch |
/ç/ |
?? |
<AudioButton></AudioButton> |
hue (pronounced strongly); ?? |
used unless between vowels
|
| /h/ |
HH |
<AudioButton></AudioButton> |
honey, hello |
only used between vowels
|
| dh |
/ʝ/ |
Y |
<AudioButton></AudioButton> |
yell, eye? |
|
| fh |
silent |
<SIL> |
— |
(silent) |
|
| gh |
/ʝ/ |
Y |
<AudioButton></AudioButton> |
yell, eye? |
|
| mh |
/vʲ/ |
V |
<AudioButton></AudioButton> |
village, eve |
|
| ph |
/fʲ/ |
F Y |
<AudioButton>phoneme_0066-02B2.mp3</AudioButton> |
fuel, futile |
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| sh |
/h/ |
HH |
<AudioButton></AudioButton> |
honey, hello |
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| th |
/h/ |
HH |
<AudioButton></AudioButton> |
honey, hello |
Silent if at the end of a syllable
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Eclipsed Consonants
Eclipsis inserts a letter at the beginning of a word. This letter "eclipses", or supresses the existing first letter, so that only the new letter is pronounced.
Broad
| Letter
|
Additive
|
Original
|
IPA
|
Valve Phoneme
|
EX
|
Phonetic Example
|
Notes
|
| bhf |
bh |
f |
/w/ |
W |
<AudioButton></AudioButton> |
wow, tower |
|
| bp |
b |
p |
/bˠ/ |
B |
<AudioButton></AudioButton> |
broom, boy |
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| dt |
d |
t |
/d̪ˠ/ |
D |
<AudioButton></AudioButton> |
do, under |
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| gc |
g |
c |
/ɡ/ |
G |
<AudioButton></AudioButton> |
goo, egg |
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| mb |
m |
b |
/mˠ/ |
M |
<AudioButton></AudioButton> |
moo, woman |
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| nd |
n |
d |
/n̪ˠ/ |
N |
<AudioButton></AudioButton> |
not, under |
occasionally /nˠ/
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| ng |
n |
g |
/ŋ/ |
NG |
<AudioButton></AudioButton> |
wing, thing |
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Slender
| Letter
|
Additive
|
Original
|
IPA
|
Valve Phoneme
|
EX
|
Phonetic Example
|
Notes
|
| bhf |
bh |
f |
/vʲ/ |
V |
<AudioButton></AudioButton> |
village, eve |
|
| bp |
b |
p |
/bʲ/ |
B Y |
<AudioButton>phoneme_0062-02B2.mp3</AudioButton> |
beautiful |
|
| dt |
d |
t |
/dʲ/ |
?? |
<AudioButton>phoneme_0064-02B2.mp3</AudioButton> |
dear |
/dʑ/ in other dialects*
|
| gc |
g |
c |
/ɟ/ |
G Y |
<AudioButton>phoneme_025F.mp3</AudioButton> |
argue |
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| mb |
m |
b |
/mʲ/ |
M Y |
<AudioButton>phoneme_006D-02B2.mp3</AudioButton> |
mute |
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| nd |
n |
d |
/nʲ/ |
N Y |
<AudioButton></AudioButton> |
sinew, minion |
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| ng |
n |
g |
/ŋ/ |
NG |
<AudioButton></AudioButton> |
wing, thing |
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Sources
