Pronunciation Guide

(From Joseph Dunn, The Ancient Irish Epic Tale Táin Bó Cúalnge, 1914.)

 

It will simplify matters for the English reader if the following points respecting the pronunciation of proper names in medieval Irish, are borne in mind: Each simple word is accented on the first syllable.

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Pronounce:
á (long), as in "aught;" a (short), as in "hot."
c with slender vowels (e, i), as in "king;" never as s.
c with broad vowels (a, o, u), as in "car;" never as s.
ch with slender vowels (e, i), as in German "Ich;" never as in "church."
ch with broad vowels (a, o, u), as in German "Buch;" never as in "church."
d with slender vowels (e, i), as in French "dieu."
d with broad vowels (a, o, u), as in "thy."
é (long), as in ale; e (short), as in "bet."
g with slender vowels (e, i), as in "give;" never as j.
g with broad vowels (a, o, u), as in "go;" never as j.
gh with slender vowels (e, i) is slender ch voiced.
gh with broad vowels (a, o, u) is broad ch voiced.
í (long), as in "feel;" i (short), as in it.
mh and bh intervocalic with slender vowels, as v.
mh and bh intervocalic with broad vowels, as w.
ó (long), as in "note;" o (short), as in "done."
s with slender vowels (e, i), as in "shine," never as z.
s with broad vowels (a, o, u), as s.
t with slender vowels (e, i), as in "tin."
t with broad vowels (a, o, u), as in "threw."
th, like h.
ú (long), as in "pool;" u (short), as in "full."

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The remaining consonants are pronounced almost as in English.