Dia dhuit, and welcome to the Journal. From our studio in Co. Limerick, we spend our days surrounded by Irish words – sketching them, setting them in type and wondering at how much meaning can fit into a few letters. Irish (Gaeilge) is one of the oldest written languages in Europe, and many of its words carry a warmth that English struggles to match.
Here are 25 of our favourites. The pronunciation hints are simple approximations – Irish has three main dialects (Munster, Connacht and Ulster), so you will hear small differences around the country, and that is all part of the charm.
Words of love and friendship
1. Anam cara – soul friend
Say it: ON-um KAR-a. Literally "soul friend". An anam cara is the person who truly knows you – a best friend, a partner, someone you can be completely yourself with. The phrase became widely known through the late poet John O'Donohue's book of the same name.
It is one of our most-loved designs – see the Anam Cara Irish definition print.
2. Grá – love
Say it: graw. The everyday Irish word for love. You will meet it in phrases like mo ghrá (my love) and grá mo chroí (love of my heart). Simple, short and full of feeling – here it is as a Grá definition print.
3. Mo chroí – my heart
Say it: muh KHREE (the "ch" is soft, like in Scottish "loch"). A term of endearment for someone very dear – "my heart". Croí on its own simply means heart.
4. Cuisle – pulse
Say it: KUSH-la. Cuisle means pulse or vein, and lives on in the lovely phrase a chuisle mo chroí – "pulse of my heart", a way of saying someone is as vital to you as your own heartbeat.
5. Stór – treasure
Say it: store. Stór means treasure or store, and a stór is a tender way of calling someone "my darling". Its little sister, a stóirín, is often used for children.
6. Cairdeas – friendship
Say it: KAR-jus. From cara (friend), cairdeas is friendship itself – the kind that lasts decades and picks up exactly where it left off. A lovely gift for a best friend: the Cairdeas definition print.
7. Clann – children, family
Say it: klown (in Munster) or klann. Clann means children or family, and it gave English the word "clan".
Words of home and welcome
8. Fáilte – welcome
Say it: FAWL-cha. You will see fáilte on signs all over Ireland, and in the famous greeting céad míle fáilte – a hundred thousand welcomes. Perfect for a hallway: the Fáilte definition print.
9. Abhaile – homeward, home
Say it: uh-WAL-ya. Abhaile means "home" in the sense of going home – ag dul abhaile, going home. It carries a real sense of longing, which is why it means so much to anyone living away. Take a look at the Abhaile definition print.
10. Baile – home, town
Say it: BAL-ya. Baile means home or town, and it hides inside thousands of Irish place names as "Bally-" – Ballymun, Ballybunion, Ballymena.
11. Tír dhúchais – homeland
Say it: teer GHOO-khish. Your native land, the place you come from.
12. Dúchas – heritage
Say it: DOO-khus. A rich word meaning heritage, inherited nature and the place you belong to. It is something you carry with you wherever you go.
13. Geansaí – jumper
Say it: GAN-see. The Irish word for a jumper or sweater, borrowed from "Guernsey". Think of a cosy Aran geansaí on a wet November evening.
Words of courage and hope
14. Misneach – courage
Say it: MISH-nyukh. Courage, spirit, nerve. A wonderful word to hang where you will see it before a big day.
It makes a thoughtful gift before exams or a new job – the Misneach definition print.
15. Dóchas – hope
Say it: DOE-khus. Hope. Quiet, steady and always worth holding on to. See the Dóchas definition print.
16. Saoirse – freedom
Say it: SEER-sha. Saoirse means freedom, and it is also a much-loved girl's name in Ireland. Here it is as the Saoirse definition print.
17. Bua – victory, gift
Say it: BOO-uh. Bua means victory or success, and also a natural talent or gift. A good word for a graduate.
18. Meas – respect
Say it: mass. Respect and esteem. To have meas on someone is to hold them in high regard.
19. Eolas – knowledge
Say it: OH-lus. Knowledge or information. A natural fit for a study or a teacher's classroom.
Words of peace and happiness
20. Sonas – happiness
Say it: SUN-us. Happiness and good fortune. Short, bright and cheerful.
21. Síocháin – peace
Say it: SHEE-uh-khawn. Peace. A calm word for a bedroom or reading corner.
22. Ciúnas – silence, quiet
Say it: KYOO-nus. Silence and stillness – the hush of a country road at dusk.
23. Sliabh – mountain
Say it: SHLEE-uv. Mountain, and the "Slieve" in place names like Slieve Donard and Slieve League.
Words for the good times
24. Sláinte – health
Say it: SLAWN-cha. Literally "health", and the toast you will hear wherever glasses are raised. Ours is a favourite for a home bar: the Sláinte olive green word print.
25. Craic – fun
Say it: crack. Fun, chat and good company, as in "what's the craic?". Fun fact: it came into Irish from the English "crack" and then travelled back out with the Irish spelling.
Bring a bit of it to your kitchen with the Craic word print.
Choosing a word for your wall
A few questions can help you pick:
- Who is it for? Grá or anam cara for a partner, cairdeas for a friend, clann for a family home.
- Which room? Fáilte for a hallway, síocháin or ciúnas for a bedroom, sláinte or craic for the kitchen.
- What is the occasion? Misneach or bua for exams and new starts, abhaile for a new home or someone living abroad.
You will find many of these words in our Irish Definition Prints collection, and more designs in Irish Words & Sayings. Every print is made to order on premium semi-glossy 200 gsm paper and shipped unframed, ready for the frame of your choice.
Bring a little Irish home
We hope you found a word that speaks to you. Browse the collections, pick your favourite, and remember that 10% off everything is applied automatically at checkout.
Go raibh maith agat – Adam