Famous Irish Sayings in Gaelic and English

1

Gaelic Saying
Pronunciation
Meaning

Another Famous Irish Saying
Wall mural in Belfast
-photo courtesy of AnnieGreenSprings

Is fearr Gaeilge briste, ná Béarla clíste.
Iss faar Gay-el-geh brish-teh naw Bay-er-lah clish-teh.
Broken Irish is better than clever English.

In Obama's Ireland Visit this May 2011, he spoke Gaelic and used this Irish saying 'Broken Irish is better than clever English.' This saying's message is 'Use whatever Gaelic you have, doesn't matter how poor.' You can see Obama's speech on Youtube

An té a luíonn le madaí, eiroidh sé le dearnaid.
On tay a lee-on le maw-dee aye-rogue shay le dar-nid.
He who lies down with dogs, gets up with fleas.(If you mix with the wrong company, you'll pay for it.)

Is minic a bhris béal duine a shrón.
Iss min-ick a vrish bay-al din-eh a hrone.
Many a time a man's mouth broke his nose.

Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine.
Err scawh a ch(k)ale-ah a wir-enn na dee-neh..
Under the shelter of each other, people survive.

Níl saoi gan locht.
Neel see gon luch(k)t
There's not a wise man without fault.(We have all got our weaknesses)

Filleann an feall ar an bhfeallaire.
Fill-an on fyal err on vyal-er-eh.
The bad deed returns on the bad-deed doer.

Is ait an mac an saol.
Iss att on moc an say-ol.
Life is strange.

Gaelic Saying
Pronunciation
Meaning

Aithníonn ciaróg ciaróg eile.
One of the most
Famous Irish Sayings
-photo courtesy of Jim Epler

Aithníonn ciaróg ciaróg eile.
Ah-hneen kee-rogue kee-rogue el-eh.
It takes one to know one.

Níl aon tóin tinn mar do thóin tinn féin.
Neel ane tone-tine mor duh hone-tine fayne.
There's no sore ass like your own sore ass.
(Really just a funny word play on the famous Irish saying immediately above)

Is treise an dúchas ná an oiliúint.
Iss tre-shah on doo-ch(k)ass naw an ill-oonch
Nature is stronger than nurture.

Is fearr rith maith ná drochsheasamh.
Iss fahr rih mawh naw druch(k)-hyah-sav.
A good run is better than a bad stand.=He who runs away, lives to fight another day.

Is maith an t-anlann an t-ocras.
Iss maw on tan-lan on tuc-rass.
Hunger is a good sauce. (When you're hungry, you'll eat anything!)

Is binn béal ina thost.
Iss bin bayl in-ah hust.
It's a sweet mouth that is quiet.= Silence is golden.

Is giorra cabhair Dé ná an doras.
Iss gyur-rah cow-er Day naw an dur-ass.
God's help is nearer than the door. (you only have to ask for it)

Bíonn blas ar an mbeagán.
Bee-on bloss err on myah-gon
Though a small amount, it's tasty.

Níor bhris focal maith fiacal riamh.
Neer vrish fuck-al maw fee-kal reeve.
A good word never broke a tooth. (A kind/encouraging word never did any harm)

Gaelic Saying
Pronunciation
Meaning

Is fada an bóthar nach mbíonn casadh ann.
Iss faw-dah on boh-har noch(k) me-on caw-sah ann.
It's a long road that has no turning. (Things never go completely smoothly or badly)

Irish Proverb
"It's a long road that has no turning"
-photo courtesy of The Welsh Poppy

41

Gaelic Saying
Pronunciation
Meaning

Ní heolas go haontíos.
Nee ho-lass guh hay-on-tee-os.
You must live with a person to know a person.

42

Gaelic Saying
Pronunciation
Meaning

Is minic a rinne bromach gioblach capall
Iss min-ick ah rin-neh brum-ach(k) cah-pawl kum-oss-ach(k)
A raggy colt often made a powerful horse.

Tá onóir ag an aois agus uaisle ag an óige
Tah on-ower egg on eesh ogg-uss ush-le egg on owe-egg-eh
Age is honorable and youth is noble

Ní mhaireann rith maith ag an each i gcónaí
Nee wir-enn rih mah egg an ahch(k) ih go-nee
The steed does not keep his speed forever.

Maireann an chraobh ar an bhfál ach ní mhaireann an lámh do chuir
Mir-enn on ch(k)ray-ov er on vol och(k) nee mwir-enn on lawve duh ch(k)wir.
The branch lives on the hedge but the hand that planted it be dead.

An old Irish saying reminding us of our mortality and that our work can live on despite it.

Súil le cúiteamh a mhilleas an cearrbhach.
Su-ell leh koo-it-av ah vill-ass on ky-ar-vaw-ch
Hoping to recoup is what ruins the cardplayer.

Another old Irish saying warning us of the danger and foolishness of gambling

Drochubh, drochéan
Druch(k)-uv, druch(K)-ay-an
A bad egg, a bad bird.

If the child is bad, blame the parent!

Ní thuigeann an sách an seang.
Nee hig-ann on sawch(k) on shang
The well-fed does not understand the lean.

A Irish proverb in Gaelic that I love for its succintness. Those who have have no understanding of those who have not.

An té a thabharfas scéal chugat tabharfaidh sé dhá scéal uait.
On tay a hoo-rass skay-al ch(k)oo-at too-rig shay gaw skay-al oo-at
The person who comes with a story to you will bring two away from you.

One of many Gaelic sayings reminding us of the dangers of gossip.