1 - Introduction
2 - Languages Around Us
Languages are all around us every day. People use language to communicate, share ideas, and connect with others.
In Ireland, many people speak English, but there are also many other languages spoken in our communities. Some people speak Irish (Gaeilge), while others may speak languages they learned from their families or countries they came from.
You might hear different languages:
- At school
- In shops
- On the bus
- At sports clubs
- In your neighbourhood
Our communities are full of languages that help people communicate and share their cultures.
Ireland has over 200 languages spoken across the country! This mix comes from people moving here from all over the world, making our communities rich and diverse.
3 - The Irish Language in Our Community
The Irish language, or Gaeilge, is an important part of Ireland’s culture and history.
Even if people speak English most of the time, Irish can still be seen and heard in many places.
- Road signs often include Irish place names.
- Schools teach Irish to students.
- Irish is spoken in Gaeltacht areas.
- You might hear Irish greetings like “Dia dhuit”.
Learning Irish helps people connect with Ireland’s history and traditions.
The Irish language has its own unique alphabet with 18 letters. Some letters have special marks called accents that change how words are pronounced.
4 - Languages Spoken in Ireland Today
Ireland has become a country where many languages are spoken. People move to Ireland from different parts of the world, bringing their languages and cultures with them.
Some of the languages you might hear in Ireland today include:
- Polish
- Spanish
- French
- Arabic
- Mandarin Chinese
- Portuguese
When different languages are spoken in the same community, people can learn from each other and share their cultures.
5 - Languages in Our Community
📘 Learn the Greetings
Here are five languages that are spoken by some people living in Ireland today. Try to learn how to say hello and thank you in each one.
| Language | Hello | Thank You | Helpful Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polish | Cześć (cheshch) |
Dziękuję (jen-KOO-yeh) |
A language spoken by many families in Ireland. |
| Romanian | Bună (BOO-nuh) |
Mulțumesc (mool-tsoo-MESK) |
Another important community language in Ireland. |
| French | Bonjour (bon-ZHOOR) |
Merci (mehr-SEE) |
A language many children also learn in school. |
| Spanish | Hola (OH-la) |
Gracias (GRAH-see-as) |
A very widely spoken language around the world. |
| Portuguese | Olá (oh-LAH) |
Obrigado / Obrigada (oh-bree-GAH-do / oh-bree-GAH-da) |
Spoken in Portugal, Brazil, and other places too. |
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