Irish English dictionary online

Traditionally, not many useful Irish dictionaries have existed, and those that have existed - while being of highest quality - may not have been updated in decades. The world of the Internet (an Idirlíon) has given a new place for the Irish language to exist. Learners and speakers of Irish who may have been once isolated can now communicate online. Online Irish tools have also been developed.

Below I list the big Irish word reference sites that you can use for translations.

1. EnglishIrishDictionary.com

EnglishIrishDictionary.com is probably the most popular Irish English dictionary online. It’s quick to use, and contains most common-day entries. It seems to be based on the database of Collin’s Irish dictionaries. You can search quickly in both Irish and English.

2. Irish Dictionary Collaborative Dictionary Blatant self promotion

Irish Dictionary is a new collaborative dictionary, which is grown by its users. It’s quite empty right now, but is building up over time.

3. Focal.ie

Focal.ie is lead by Dublin City University, probably arising from their Irish-language entrepeneurship centre called Fiontar. Focal.ie is quite extensive, and contains many everyday words, but brands itself as a “terminology database” rather than a full dictionary. It is great for science and technology terms. Focal.ie has a bi-lingual interface, and you can search for terms in both English or Irish.

4. An Foclóir Beag

An Foclóir Beag is a dictionary hosted by the University of Limerick, and has an Irish-only interface. It is an Irish-Irish dictionary, and is especially useful for its verb tables.

5. Acmhainn.ie

Acmhainn.ie is another searchable Irish terminology resource. It’s an Irish-only interface, and classifies terminology for subjects such as biology, health and media.

6. Pota Focal

Potal Focal is a personal project by a Czech couple. Its strength is in detailed grammatical information and usage samples. (Go raibh maith agat, a Pheadair.)

7. Print Dictionaries

21 Comments so far »

  1. Our top 3 articles so far (Irish Dictionary Advice) said

    am February 16 2008 @ 1:32 pm

    [...] Online Irish Dictionaries [...]

  2. billy hughes said

    am March 2 2008 @ 1:45 am

    what does croc/mor mean thankyou

  3. Peadar said

    am March 15 2008 @ 8:39 pm

    Also check out http://www.potafocal.com I stumbled across when I was studying

  4. Jelena Makojevic said

    am March 21 2008 @ 2:49 pm

    This is great, but if want to learn Irish, I need a dictionary containing transcription, too. Can you help me?
    Cheers!

  5. Eoin said

    am April 13 2008 @ 1:48 pm

    Billy Hughes: for translation requests I suggest IrishGaelicTranslator.com.

    Jelena: I would also be interested to find a dictionary with such phonetic guides.

  6. STEPcoach said

    am April 16 2008 @ 11:18 am

    what about pronunciation? I get lost in the translation, but the pronunciation is murder!

  7. Marie said

    am April 17 2008 @ 8:59 am

    I would love a site that would translate my essay into irish for me!!!

  8. Rayne Hanley said

    am May 10 2008 @ 11:26 pm

    “saigeadoir collac abu” is on our family crest. I want to know the english translation

  9. oplio said

    am May 19 2008 @ 9:31 pm

    i lernr irish in schol

  10. oplio said

    am May 25 2008 @ 8:59 pm

    how to say hi with irish

  11. Diane Fahey said

    am June 18 2008 @ 4:50 am

    Dear Friends,

    I’m remembering from my time in Ireland a word, ’smuran’, (an acute accent on the ‘a’), for very fine, almost invisible showers of rain. (This is the meaning I’m after.)

    The online dictionnaries I’ve consulted don’t help me.

    It’s for a poem about rain.

    Am I correct, and are there other possibilities?

    Many thanks,
    Diane

  12. james fitz said

    am June 18 2008 @ 11:04 pm

    hi just wondering if any1 can translate ‘face your fears, live your dreams’ into irish for me please, want to get tattoo of it and havin serious hassle to find a proper translation. much appreciated, jimmyfitzy@gmail.com

  13. stefan critchley said

    am July 2 2008 @ 7:26 pm

    ce he tusa eh mean

  14. Tom Smith said

    am July 5 2008 @ 3:06 am

    How do you pronounce Taoseach - I don’t know if I have spelled it correctly - the name for the political leader?

  15. Denise said

    am July 17 2008 @ 12:07 am

    I would like to name my house ” The Corner House” in Irish any ideas?

  16. Sean said

    am July 19 2008 @ 4:25 am

    looking for pronounciation for
    CÉIBHFHIONN

    Thanks

  17. daniel said

    am October 3 2008 @ 6:44 pm

    my housing estate is called “corran ard”. what does this mean . thank you

  18. Ciara Roche said

    am October 12 2008 @ 12:43 pm

    Can you put this into irish..
    As you know, I never went camping before.

  19. jess said

    am November 10 2008 @ 5:10 pm

    i luv my school

  20. jess said

    am November 10 2008 @ 5:11 pm

    hey sup ppl hope your havin a good time!!!!!:):):):):P:P:P

  21. jess said

    am November 10 2008 @ 5:14 pm

    wat is chloig in English it’s for my homework !!!!:(:( HELP PLZ :(:( THX XxXxXxXxX

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