Think you don't have a word of Irish? We bet you recognize more of these words than you'd think!

Aodhán O'Dea, Stiúrthóir Forbartha/ Director of Development with Conradh na Gaeilge, Glór na nGael and Comhluadar, is passionate about the Irish language.

He's come up with an interesting test for those who think they don't know a word of the Irish language that he's kindly given us permission to share.

Do you know the meaning of these 101 words as Gaeilge?

“Ah sure I don’t have a word of Irish” is one of those throwaway phrases we hear regularly about an Ghaeilge, O'Dea says.

My response to this is to challenge them to think about it and they normally have lots of Irish; hundreds of words in fact, and can put basic sentences together.

If you studied Irish through school and think you have forgotten it all you might just surprise yourself by having a read of the list below. I bet you will know most of them if not all:

  1. Níl
  2. Agus
  3. Isteach
  4. Amach
  5. Dia Duit
  6. Fáilte
  7. Beag
  8. Mór
  9. Nua
  10. Sásta
  11. Brón
  12. Grá
  13. Mná
  14. Fir
  15. Cailín
  16. Buachaill
  17. Bia
  18. Cóipleabhar
  19. Bainne
  20. Siúcra
  21. Uisce
  22. Tae
  23. Caifé
  24. Bricfeasta
  25. Cáca milis
  26. Cupán
  27. Milseán
  28. Conas atá tú?
  29. Go maith
  30. Go raibh maith agat
  31. Slán
  32. Abhaile
  33. Craic
  34. Sláinte
  35. Seachtain
  36. Lámh
  37. Bróg
  38. Súil
  39. Béal
  40. Croí
  41. Fiacla
  42. Hata
  43. Geansaí
  44. Aon
  45. Trí
  46. Ceathar
  47. Cúig
  48. Seacht
  49. Ocht
  50. Naoi
  51. Gaeilge
  52. Béarla
  53. Éire
  54. Raidió
  55. Teilifís
  56. Liathróid
  57. Bainisteoir
  58. Ticéad
  59. Dearg
  60. Bán
  61. Dubh
  62. Glas
  63. Gorm
  64. Oráiste
  65. Nuacht
  66. Aimsir
  67. Sneachta
  68. Fliuch
  69. Garda Síochána
  70. An Post
  71. Scoil
  72. Coláiste
  73. Taoiseach
  74. Tánaiste
  75. Dáil
  76. Pictiúrlann
  77. Snámh
  78. Rith
  79. Leaba
  80. Doras
  81. Fuinneog
  82. Leithreas
  83. Bosca
  84. Brúscar
  85. Ceol
  86. Leabhar
  87. Siopa
  88. Rothar
  89. Tacsaí
  90. Bóthar
  91. Cnoc
  92. Madra
  93. Capall

So how did you get on? Find out what each Irish word means in our answer list here.

Now all you need to do is start making sentences with them and you will be back speaking Irish in no time! Be positive about the language, and try out your “cúpla focal” – you will be surprised how fast it comes back to you!

For more Irish language information, visit CNAG.ie.

* Originally published in March 2014. Updated in 2023.