Jobs and Occupations in Irish
Irish words for common jobs, how to say what you do, and how to ask other people about their work.
"What do you do?" is one of the first questions in any conversation. Here's how to answer in Irish.
Common jobs
| English | Irish |
|---|---|
| teacher | múinteoir |
| doctor | dochtúir |
| nurse | banaltra |
| farmer | feirmeoir |
| fisherman | iascaire |
| police officer | garda |
| chef / cook | cócaire |
| engineer | innealtóir |
| driver | tiománaí |
| shopkeeper | siopadóir |
| manager | bainisteoir |
| worker | oibrí |
Saying what you do
Use is followed by the job, then the pronoun:
- Is múinteoir mé. — I'm a teacher.
- Is dochtúir í. — She's a doctor.
- Is feirmeoir é. — He's a farmer.
- Is banaltra mé. — I'm a nurse.
Do not use tá for jobs: Tá mé múinteoir is incorrect.
Talking about your work
- Tá post nua agam. — I have a new job.
- Tá mé ag obair i mbanc. — I'm working in a bank.
Asking about work
- Cad é do phost? — What's your job?
- Cá bhfuil tú ag obair? — Where are you working?
Workplaces
| English | Irish |
|---|---|
| office | oifig |
| shop | siopa |
| hospital | ospidéal |
| school | scoil |
| farm | feirm |
| bank | banc |
Notes
The word garda comes from Garda Síochána, meaning "Guardians of the Peace", the name of the Irish police force.
Tips
- Learn the word for your own job first.
- Practise "is ... mé" with several jobs.
- Use the dictionary to look up specialist words.
English Irish Dictionary
Offline English–Irish (Gaeilge) dictionary with clear, accurate meanings
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