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Aug 23, 2020 · While the Irish language still exists, with tens of thousands of people in the country able to speak it, the vast majority of Irish people use English. So why is this? When did English become the most used language in Ireland?
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Oct 21, 2021 · Updated: October 27, 2021. Although English is widely spoken across the Emerald Isle, there are plenty of variations that would make you believe it’s a different language. Here is how to speak the Irish version of English. In Ireland, two languages are prominent. Irish (or Gaelic) and English.
Oct 17, 2012 · This article talks a bit about how English came to be the majority language in Ireland and why there is still some resistance to speaking and learning Irish.
- Overview
- Irish Cadence & Lingo
- Irish Pronunciation
- Practicing Your Accent
Whether you’re trying out for an Irish play or simply trying to impress your friends, we’ll show you how to master the Irish English accent. The Irish accent is among one the easier accents to pick up if you speak American English, and we’ll show you how to bring real life to the accent. In this article, we’ll cover the pronunciation, grammar, and slang you’ll need to sound as Irish as any native speaker.
Soften up the vowel sounds in words so that words like “caught” sound more like “cot” than “cat.”
Emphasize the consonant sounds in words so that words like “any” sound more like “Annie.”
Irish English tends to be very melodic, so practice lightly singing your way through sentences to make the accent more realistic.
Speak quickly but be sure to pronounce each word.
An Irishman will not be caught saying, "coulda, woulda, shoulda" like they’re all one word, but they will rattle them off like they’re singing a song. Give each sound (unless dropped via a trick mentioned above) equal attention. Your tongue and lips will be getting a workout, but it’ll sound authentic.
This is why a lot of people have an easier time mastering an Irish accent compared to something like an Australian accent. You actually sound more authentic with Irish if you pronounce every sound, which makes things easier.
If you do have pauses, use "em" to fill them. Stay away from "uh" or "um," which are American filler sounds—just use "em." If you can throw this in naturally and without thinking, your Irishness will increase ten-fold.
Repeat the main verb in yes/no questions.
Often, yes/no questions are straightforward and to the point. In the US, people will answer "yes" or "no." Seems pretty logical, right? Nope. That's not how it works in the land of Saints and Scholars. When asked, repeat the noun and verb.
Soften the vowel sounds in each word.
Most English speakers outside of the UK harden their vowels. For example, Americans pronounce the letter A, "ay." Someone with an Irish accent would pronounce it "ahy" or "eye." Be very conscious of this in every word, but especially those vowels that come in the middle.
A question like, "How are you?" sounds like, "Ha-ware-ya?" The "au" (in "how") and "oo" (in "you") of the General American accent are not different.
The sound in "night," "like," and "I," is pronounced similar to "oi," as in "oil." Think of "Ireland" as "Oireland."
While very similar to "oi," it's not the exact same. Turn the 'o' into more of a "schwa." The sound the two vowels make (called a dipthong) is similar to a combo of, "Uh, I..."
The lazy vowel sound (called a schwa), as in "strut," varies from dialect to dialect. It could sound more like "foot," or more like "bit."
Listen to authentic Irish accents.
Look up Irish videos on YouTube and watch Irish movies. Check out Irish interviews. Try to emulate the phrases or words you hear. All of this will give you a much better sense for the real sound and cadence of an Irish accent.
You can also listen to popular Irish music in your spare time. It’s easy to hear clear Irish accents in Irish folk music, for example! Check out The Wolfe Tones or The Dubliners for some awesome Irish accents.
is an Oscar-nominated film that features some phenomenal Irish accents. You could also check out
if you’re looking for a hilarious TV series to binge-watch.
Visit Ireland to talk to some Irish speakers IRL.
Irish and English are official languages in Ireland; English is now spoken natively by over 99% of the Irish-born population. Before the arrival of Norman and English settlers in the late twelfth century, Ireland was entirely Irish-speaking.
Jul 11, 2023 · The Irish speak a dialect that's called Irish-English or Hiberno-English. The second one comes from the word "Hibernia," which is what the Romans called Ireland.
