Language/Irish/Vocabulary/Numbers-1-20
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Learning how to count from 1 to 20 is an essential skill to master in any language. In Irish, like in many other languages, the numbers are used in a wide range of situations, from telling time and giving phone numbers to identifying the number of items in a store or market. In this lesson, we will learn how to count from 1 to 20 in Irish.
Numbers 1-10
Let's start with the first 10 numbers in Irish:
| Irish | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| a haon | [aː hɪnˠ] | one |
| a dó | [aː doː] | two |
| a trí | [aː t̪ˠɾʲiː] | three |
| a ceathair | [aː ca(h)ɾʲ] | four |
| a cúig | [aː kˠuːɟ] | five |
| a sé | [aː ʃeː] | six |
| a seacht | [aː ʃaxt̪ˠ] | seven |
| an t-ocht | [ən̪ˠ t̪ˠɔxt̪ˠ] | eight |
| an naoi | [ən̪ˠ n̪ˠiː] | nine |
| a deich | [aː dʲɛç] | ten |
As you can see, the pronunciation of some Irish numbers might seem tricky at first, but with practice, you will become more familiar with the sounds. Try repeating the numbers aloud and listen to the audio pronunciation which can be found online.
Note that in Irish, the words for one, two, and three can also act as indefinite articles (a/an). So, depending on the context, you might see the words "a haon", "a dó", and "a trí" used to mean "one", "two", and "three", respectively.
Numbers 11-20
Now, let's move on to the second set of ten numbers:
| Irish | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| an déag | [ən̪ˠ dʲeːɡ] | eleven |
| dó dhéag | [doː ɣeːɡ] | twelve |
| trí déag | [t̪ˠɾʲiː dʲeːɡ] | thirteen |
| ceathair déag | [ca(h)ɾʲ dʲeːɡ] | fourteen |
| cúig déag | [kˠuːɟ dʲeːɡ] | fifteen |
| sé déag | [ʃeː dʲeːɡ] | sixteen |
| seacht déag | [ʃaxt̪ˠ dʲeːɡ] | seventeen |
| ocht déag | [ɔxt̪ˠ dʲeːɡ] | eighteen |
| naoi déag | [n̪ˠiː dʲeːɡ] | nineteen |
| fiche | [fʲɪçə] | twenty |
You might have noticed that from 11 to 19, in Irish, the numbers are formed by adding the word "déag" after the corresponding number digit. For example, "an déag" is formed by adding "déag" (ten) after "an" (one).
It's important to note that in Irish, the word "fiche" (twenty) is typically used to express the number 20, and from this point on, numbers are formed by adding the numbers we learned previously to it. Here are a few examples of how to form numbers from 21 to 29:
- fiche a haon - twenty-one
- fiche a dó - twenty-two
- fiche a trí - twenty-three
- fiche a ceathair - twenty-four
- fiche a cúig - twenty-five
- fiche a sé - twenty-six
- fiche a seacht - twenty-seven
- fiche an t-ocht - twenty-eight
- fiche a naoi - twenty-nine
Try practicing by saying the numbers aloud and forming other combinations. Practice will make you more comfortable with these words and sounds.
Time expressions with Irish numbers
Knowing how to count from 1 to 20 in Irish comes in handy when expressing time. Unlike in English, the Irish language has its own unique way of telling time. Here are a few examples of how to express time using numbers in Irish:
- Tá sé a haon a chlog - It's one o'clock
- Tá sé a dó a chlog - It's two o'clock
- Tá sé a trí a chlog - It's three o'clock
- Thart ar a seacht a chlog - Around seven o'clock
- Ceithre chúig a chlog - Four-fifteen
- Deich tar éis a naoi a chlog - Ten past nine
- Cúig fiche tar éis a dó a chlog - Twenty-five past two
- Fiche chun a trí - Twenty to three
- Cúig tar éis a naoi a chlog - Five past nine
- Tríocha tar éis a deich a chlog - Thirty past ten
- Ceithre a chlog sa mhadraighean - Four o'clock in the morning
Remember that practice makes perfect, so keep practicing and familiarizing yourself with the Irish numbers, as they will be important in many situations.
Videos
Numbers 1 to 20 in Irish Sign Language (ISL) - YouTube
Numbers in Irish Sign Language Final - YouTube
Irish Numbers 1 - 20 - YouTube
Other Lessons
- At the post office
- Express Surprise
- Seasons
- House
- Directions
- Games and Toys
- Basic Greetings
- Food
- Clothes
- Transportation
Sources
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