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15 November 2009
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St Patrick's Day

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If you're Irish through and through or a wannabe Irish citizen, there's no doubt that you'll be in a pub at some stage on March 17th. So, we have compiled a list of essential Irish phrases that you'll be saying when you're out and about. Use this as helpful chat up lines, to get someone to buy you a pint or simply to converse with friends or strangers on the night. Even if you're not up to speed with the Irish language, we've added the easy pronunciation guide so you can completely bluff your friends!!

Colour guide:
Irish translation
[how it's pronounced]

Happy St Patrick's Day Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig duit
  [Ban ack tee na fayla Pawd-rig ditch]
Kiss me, I'm Irish! Is Éireannach mé, ‘dom póg!
  [Is Air- an- ack may, do pogue]
I'm Irish, are you? Is Éireannach mé, carb as duit féin?
  [Is air-an- ack may, carr-ab ass ditch hane?]
The night is still young! Níl an oíche ach ina tachran!
  [Knee-ill an ee-ha ack inna tach-rann]
Will you come back for a night cap!? Beidh deoch deireannach agat sula dtéann tú a luí?
  [Bay juchk jer-ann-ach agat sulla jay-ann too a lee]
Sure you'll have one for the road! Ná himigh go n-ólaimid deoch an dorais!
  [Na himie gu knowl-am-widge juchk an dor-ish]
Irish eyes are smiling Is minic aoibh a ghaire ar Éireannaigh
  [Isss min-ic eave a guy-ra air Air-an-ee]
Mine's a pint Beidh pionta agamsa le do thoil!
  [Bay pin-ta agam- sa le do hill]

Do you have Irish roots? An bhfuil duine ar bith muinteartha duit atá ina Éireannach?
  [An will din- ye ar bee mwin-char-tha ditch ata ina Air-ean-ach]

How are you doin'?! Cad é mar atá tú?
  [Cad jay mar ata too?]

Do you come here often? An dtig tú anseo go minic?
  [An jig too an-shaw gu minn-ic?]
Get your coat, you've pulled! Imigh is faigh do chóta gasta, bhréag tú mé
  [Im-ee iss fwy do hoe-ta gasta , vreg too may!]
Did I tell you that I'm Bono's cousin! An bhfuil a fhios agat gur colcheathrar dom é Bono?
  [An will iss agat gur cul- hee-ath-rar do ay Bono?]
It's your round! Tá babhta deochanna agat orainn!
  [Ta bow-ta juchk-anna agat oreene ]
It can't be my round, I'm Scottish! Tá dul amú ort, is Albanach mé!
  [Ta dul amoo ort, iss Alab-anac may!]

 
 
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