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. Irish Gaelic Collaborative Dictionary Blatant self promotion
Irish Dictionary.org is a collaborative dictionary, which is grown by its users. It’s quite empty right now, but is building up over time.
2. 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.
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
Our top 3 articles so far (Irish Dictionary Advice) said
am February 16 2008 @ 1:32 pm
[...] Online Irish Dictionaries [...]
billy hughes said
am March 2 2008 @ 1:45 am
what does croc/mor mean thankyou
Peadar said
am March 15 2008 @ 8:39 pm
Also check out http://www.potafocal.com I stumbled across when I was studying
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!
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.
STEPcoach said
am April 16 2008 @ 11:18 am
what about pronunciation? I get lost in the translation, but the pronunciation is murder!
Marie said
am April 17 2008 @ 8:59 am
I would love a site that would translate my essay into irish for me!!!
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
oplio said
am May 19 2008 @ 9:31 pm
i lernr irish in schol
oplio said
am May 25 2008 @ 8:59 pm
how to say hi with irish
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
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
stefan critchley said
am July 2 2008 @ 7:26 pm
ce he tusa eh mean
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?
Denise said
am July 17 2008 @ 12:07 am
I would like to name my house ” The Corner House” in Irish any ideas?
Sean said
am July 19 2008 @ 4:25 am
looking for pronounciation for
CÉIBHFHIONN
Thanks
daniel said
am October 3 2008 @ 6:44 pm
my housing estate is called “corran ard”. what does this mean . thank you
Ciara Roche said
am October 12 2008 @ 12:43 pm
Can you put this into irish..
As you know, I never went camping before.
jess said
am November 10 2008 @ 5:10 pm
i luv my school
jess said
am November 10 2008 @ 5:11 pm
hey sup ppl hope your havin a good time!!!!!:):):):):P:P:P
jess said
am November 10 2008 @ 5:14 pm
wat is chloig in English it’s for my homework !!!!:(:( HELP PLZ
:( THX XxXxXxXxX
killian said
am November 20 2008 @ 10:12 am
its pronounced tee-shock , or tee-shek
and spelt taoiseach
Amy said
am November 28 2008 @ 4:28 pm
what is favourite in irish
Amy said
am November 28 2008 @ 4:29 pm
i rock
Amy said
am November 28 2008 @ 4:29 pm
i need 2 no 4 my project????????
Jessica said
am December 7 2008 @ 6:23 pm
What is this in irish?===
“mac-dara i wasnt kissin him.. We were lookin 4 tennis-balls!!”
mary Jones said
am March 2 2009 @ 7:18 pm
Im dojng my homework…im da best!
Aoife Doyle said
am March 5 2009 @ 9:00 pm
yea im with Marie, i have a irish essay and i have it in english…i would love if there was something that would translate the whole thing for me….anyone know of such a website??
Eoin said
am April 15 2009 @ 8:59 pm
Aoife Doyle, mo náire thú! Maybe after a few year you will appreciate what you’re now trying to avoid learning
amyxx said
am June 2 2009 @ 6:51 pm
hi if anyone can translate this i would be so greatful ‘Tús maith- leath na hoibre a deir an seanfhocal agus má bhí seanfhocal fíor riamh, is féidir bheith cinnte dearfa go bhfuil sé fíor i gcás an Choláiste.Níl aon amhras ach go raibh bliain iontach againn. Is iomaí buaicphointí a bhí againn le linn na bliana. Ó thus na bliana ar aghaidh thug na daltaí faoin obair le díogras agus le dúthracht. Chomh maith le sin ghlac said páirt in imeachtaí de gach saghas- clubanna spóirt, club gnó, club eolaíochta,an club paisean faisean, club garraíodóireachta,an tionscnamh cruthaíochta, club drámaíochta agus díospóireachtaí ina measc. Is iomaí turasanna a rinne muid chomh maith agus seasann an turas go Dún na nGall agus an turas go dtí an Dáil amach in ár gcuimhne. Thug na daltaí faoin obair agus na heachtraí seo uile le dearcadh dearfach, cuma gealgháireach aghaidheanna. “Scoil gan dearcadh, Scoil gan anam” mar a deir ár bPríomhoide’ (its off my school website) if you could translate it email me the translation on amybartley@hotmail.com thanks, amy
Eoin said
am July 5 2009 @ 8:23 am
Hi Amy, if that’s homework, you should have a stab at it yourself first. Anyway, please ask over at http://www.irishgaelictranslator.com
gary mangan said
am August 10 2009 @ 10:56 am
hello i have a q.
Im in Oz and was snorkelling at the great barrier reef when one of the dive team found a gold ring on the reef. It had the words “Tha gaol agam ort” engraved on it and looked very old. Can anyone give me some info on this what does it mean and where the ring could be from.
Please email above address.
Tnx
Eoin said
am October 21 2009 @ 11:28 am
Gary, that looks like Scots Gaelic. You could ask over at http://www.irishgaelictranslator.com
niamh said
am November 2 2009 @ 5:51 pm
what are these in irish??
liam finished his bok and he watched television last night??
daddy burned his hand and his leg on the fire last night??
we went to the shop and we bought our parents sweets????
my parents repaired our car when it was broken??
i began my homework after the dinner??
he told his parents about the story??
thanks x