Getting Around in Irish: Directions and Transport
Irish words for transport, roads and directions, with the phrases you need to ask the way and understand bilingual road signs.
Road signs in Ireland are bilingual, so even non-speakers meet Irish every day. These words help you read signs and ask for directions.
Transport
| English | Irish |
|---|---|
| bus | bus |
| train | traein |
| car | carr |
| bicycle | rothar |
| boat | bád |
| aeroplane | eitleán |
| airport | aerfort |
| station | stáisiún |
| ticket | ticéad |
| road | bóthar |
| street | sráid |
| bridge | droichead |
Directions
| English | Irish |
|---|---|
| left | ar chlé |
| right | ar dheis |
| straight ahead | díreach ar aghaidh |
| near | gar |
| far | i bhfad |
| here | anseo |
| there | ansin |
Asking the way
- Cá bhfuil an stáisiún? — Where is the station?
- An bhfuil sé i bhfad? — Is it far?
Giving directions
- Téigh díreach ar aghaidh. — Go straight ahead.
- Cas ar chlé. — Turn left.
- Cas ar dheis. — Turn right.
Bilingual road signs
On road signs, Irish names of places appear alongside English ones:
- Baile Átha Cliath — Dublin
- Corcaigh — Cork
- Gaillimh — Galway
- Luimneach — Limerick
In Gaeltacht areas, the signs are in Irish, so knowing a few words is useful.
Common sign words
| Irish | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Fáilte | Welcome |
| Go mall | Slow |
| Stad | Stop |
Tips
- Learn left, right and straight first.
- Study city names in Irish.
- Use the dictionary to decode unfamiliar road signs.
English Irish Dictionary
Offline English–Irish (Gaeilge) dictionary with clear, accurate meanings
More about English Irish Dictionary
Animals and Nature in Irish
Irish words for farm animals, wildlife, plants and landscape features such as mountains, lakes and the sea.
Read article →GAA Words in Irish: Peil, Iomáint and Camógaíocht
The Irish names for Gaelic football, hurling and camogie, key match terms such as cúl and pointe, and the story of the Cumann Lúthchleas Gael.
Read article →Irish Music Words: Ceol, Amhrán, Damhsa and Seisiún
Irish words for traditional music, instruments, songs and dance, including bodhrán, fidil, sean-nós and céilí.
Read article →Irish Names: Ó, Ní, Mac and What They Mean
How Irish surnames work, the meaning of Ó, Mac and Ní, common first names in Irish, and how to say English surnames in Irish.
Read article →