Greetings! If you’re interested in learning how to say your date of birth in Irish, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we will explore the formal and informal ways to express your date of birth in Irish, focusing on standard usage. While there may be regional variations in Ireland, we will primarily stick to the universally accepted terms. So, let’s dive right in and discover how to express your date of birth in Irish!
Table of Contents
Formal Expressions
When it comes to formal situations or a more official setting, it’s essential to use appropriate language. Here are some common phrases and tips:
1. “Is é mo dháta breithe” – My date of birth
One formal way to express your date of birth is by saying, “Is é mo dháta breithe” (pronounced: Iss ay muh gaw-tuh breh-hey-thuh), which means “My date of birth” in Irish.
Example: Is é mo dháta breithe an ochtú lá déag de Márta, a dó mhíle a hochtó is sé (My date of birth is the 18th of March, 2006).
2. “Rugadh mé ar” – I was born on
Another way to express your date of birth is by using the phrase “Rugadh mé ar” (pronounced: Roo-gah may er), followed by the day and month.
Example: Rugadh mé ar an seachtú lá de Meán Fómhair (I was born on the 7th of September).
3. Specific dates
For specific dates, you can simply state the day, month, and year. Keep in mind that in Irish, the day usually comes before the month!
Example: Rugadh mé ar an triú lá déag de Nollaig, míle naoi gcéad ochtó is a hapthó (I was born on the 13th of December, 1987).
Informal Expressions
When in informal settings or talking with friends and family, you can use a more casual approach to express your date of birth. Here are some less formal phrases and tips:
1. “Mo dháta breithe” – My date of birth
A simple and widely used phrase among friends and family is “Mo dháta breithe” (pronounced: Muh gaw-tuh breh-hey-thuh), meaning “My date of birth.”
Example: Mo dháta breithe an ceathrú lá is fiche de Dheireadh Fómhair, a hochtó is a trí (My date of birth is the 24th of October, 1983).
2. “Rugadh mé ar” – I was born on
Similar to the formal expressions, you can use “Rugadh mé ar” (pronounced: Roo-gah may er) to indicate your date of birth, especially among friends and peers.
Example: Rugadh mé ar an chéad lá de Lúnasa (I was born on the 1st of August).
3. Ages in Irish
When it comes to talking about your age, you can use the phrase “Tá mé…” (pronounced: Taw may), followed by your age number.
Example: Tá mé naoi mbliana déag d’aois (I am nineteen years old).
Common Tips and Phrases:
Here are some additional tips and common phrases that might be useful when discussing your date of birth:
- Always mention the day before the month in Irish, unlike the format used in some other countries.
- When stating the year, you can express it as “míle” (thousand) followed by the number, such as “míle nocha sé” for 1966.
- If you are unsure about how to pronounce specific dates or numbers, don’t hesitate to ask someone for help or refer to an Irish language audio resource.
- Keep in mind that each ordinal number in Irish can change depending on the grammatical case. For instance, “an seachtú” (the seventh) changes to “ar an seachtú” (on the seventh).
With these tips and examples, you are now equipped to express your date of birth in Irish, both formally and informally. Remember to practice, pronounce the words correctly, and enjoy the process of learning the Irish language.
Slán go fóill! (Goodbye for now!)
