An Bhfuil Gaeilge Agat
An Bhfuil Gaeilge Agat means "Is there Irish with you?" or "Do you speak Irish?"
The exhibit currently on view in the O’Neill Library Lobby traces the movement to preserve, learn and promote speaking and writing in Irish since the late 19th century. The Irish Studies Program at Boston College offers classes in the Irish language and dictionaries, grammars, books, CDs and DVDs for practicing conversation or translation are available for borrowing, reading, listening or viewing. If you simply want to learn a witty Irish saying or two, or have some words and phrases to use if you visit a Gaeltacht area, here are some spoken phrases for you to see, hear and practice.
PHRASE: SlaintePRONOUNCED: Slawn-cheh
MEANING: Cheers / Health
PHRASE: O m’anam
PRONOUNCED: Oh muh anim
MEANING: From my heart / soul
PHRASE: A ghra mo chroi
PRONOUNCED: Ah graw muh kree
MEANING: Love of my heart
PHRASE: Saol fada chugat
PRONOUNCED: Seal faddah coogit
MEANING: Long life to you
PRONOUNCED: Cullah sovh
MEANING: Sleep well
PHRASE: Seachnaionn suil ni nach bhfeiceann
PRONOUNCED: Shacknean sool knee nach vechan
MEANING: An eye evades a thing it does not see
PHRASE: Molann an obair an fear
PRONOUNCED: Mullin an ubar an far
MEANING: The work praises the man
PHRASE: Ni fiu sceal gan udar
PRONOUNCED: Knee few scale gawn udjar
MEANING: There’s no worth to a story without an author
PHRASE: Níl aon tinteán mar do thinteán féin
PRONOUNCED: Kneel ane tinchawn mar do hintin fane
MEANING: There’s no place like home
PHRASE: Ni thagann ciall roimh aois
PRONOUNCED: Knee hugan keal riv aesh
MEANING: Sense does not come before age
PHRASE: Go bhfaga Dia do shlainte agat
PRONOUNCED: Go wagah Gia do slawn-cheh agat
MEANING: May God spare you your health