Although sometimes it may seem like the Irish speak another language, the official language in Ireland is English. Therefore, communicating on any level for native English speakers will be fairly straightforward. Some slang and other words/phrases may be different, in which case we recommend you look up commonly used Irish terms to avoid misunderstandings. However, if you are traveling to/studying in Ireland and are not fluent in English, there are a few basic words, phrases, and questions that you should be able to pronounce fluently in English. In addition, there are parts of rural Ireland where people only speak Gaelic, and you may find it interesting to learn a few Gaelic words and phrases to facilitate understanding. Fill out our Words To Know Sheet and take it with you for reference.

During your stay in Ireland, you will likely encounter words or phrases that differ slightly or significantly in meaning from the same phrases in American English. You may find it helpful to begin creating a list of words and meanings that are distinctly Irish, including words or phrases in Gaelic, with pronunciation guides. Use our list as a guide, or starting point; then add your own additional Ireland-specific phrases. You may find that in making a conscious effort to learn the Irish lingo, you will begin to understand other aspects of Irish culture more clearly. In addition, you should also know how to dial a country's 24-hour emergency phone number (equivalent to a 9-1-1 system).

If you do not speak English fluently or will be traveling in Gaelic-speaking areas, you may find it helpful to print and cut out our Service Icons Card that you can carry with you. The card contains a series of simple images that represent services you may require—services like a telephone, post-office, taxi, and hospital. If you don’t remember, or don’t know, how to say a certain word in English or Gaelic, you can point to the picture on the card that represents that word. For example, if you need to find a telephone, you can show someone the picture of a telephone on the card and they can assist you. It is better to already be able to comfortably communicate in English when studying in Ireland. However, you should keep this card with you just in case you forget how to say a certain word, or, in the case of injury, you become physically unable to verbally communicate.