Irish→English

Translate Irish to English the way locals mean it.

Irish speakers often rely on idioms, discourse particles, and possession or copula constructions that a textbook reader can mistake for something more literal or more abrupt.

Going the other way? English to Irish

474 local dialects

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What locals actually say

Ná habair é!

No problem!

The imperative literally means “don't say it,” but as a reply to thanks it conventionally dismisses the favour and means “you're welcome” or “no problem.”

Bhí mé ar bís é a fheiceáil.

I couldn't wait to see it.

Ar bís is an idiom for being thrilled or eager, so it expresses anticipation rather than anything literally being on a physical object.

Is cuma liom, déan mar is mian leat.

I don't mind, do whatever you like.

Is cuma liom literally frames the matter as being of no difference with me, and the idiomatic meaning is “I don't mind,” though the tone can sound dismissive depending on context.

Níl agam ach cúpla euro fágtha don bhus.

I've only got a few euro left for the bus.

The tá ... agam possession construction, here in its negative form níl agam, is the characteristic Irish way to express having something.

Téigh suas an bóthar agus cas ar dheis ag an gcrosaire.

Go up the road and turn right at the crossroads.

The imperative cas ar dheis is an Irish directional construction meaning 'turn right', with ar dheis signaling the direction.

An bhfuil aon rud le hithe agat?

Have you got anything to eat?

The phrase le hithe uses the verbal noun to mean 'for eating', while agat is part of the Irish possession construction.

Is as Dún na nGall do mo sheanathair.

My grandfather is from Donegal.

The is as ... do construction expresses a person's place of origin in Irish, rather than using a direct 'to be from' structure.

Tá sé ag stealladh báistí.

It's bucketing rain.

The idiom ag stealladh báistí literally describes rain pouring or spilling, and signals very heavy rain in colloquial Irish.

Notes like these come with every AIRTranslate translation, so you learn why locals phrase it that way as you go.

How Irish differs

Irish (An Caighdeán Oifigiúil). Tú informal, sibh plural; idiomatic Irish constructions (tá ... agam possession, copula for classification) over anglicised calques.

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Localization Notes explaining why locals say it that way