FREENOW, Ireland’s No.1 Taxi App, is encouraging passengers to use a cúpla focal in their taxi during Seachtain na Gaeilge, Ireland’s annual celebration of the Irish language.
Seachtain na Gaeilge runs from March 1 until St Patrick’s Day on March 17, and is the biggest Irish language festival in the world, with events happening across the country.
The festival is a great opportunity for both locals and tourists to embrace the Irish language and use a few words in their everyday conversations. To get passengers in the spirit, FREENOW has put together ten useful phrases to use in a taxi.
10 Irish phrases to use in a taxi
- Dia duit. – Hello.
Pronounced: Dee-ah gwit - Conas atá tú? – How are you?
Pronounced: Cun-us a-taw too - An bhfuil tú gnóthach anocht? – Are you busy tonight?
Pronounced: On will too guh-no-hawk ah-nukt - Ba mhaith liom dul go dtí (lár na cathrach) – I would like to go to (the city centre)
Pronounced: Ba wah lum dull go dee (lor na cah-rack) - Cá bhfuil na pubanna is fearr? – Where are the best pubs?
Pronounced: Caw will na pub-ana iss far - Lá breá grianmhar atá ann – It’s a fine sunny day.
Pronounced: Law bra green-ver a-taw awn - Tá sé ag stealladh báistí – It’s raining heavily.
Pronounced: Taw shay egg st-al-a baw-sh-tea - Stop anseo, le do thoil – Stop here please
Pronounced: St-up on-sh-uh, leh duh hull - Go raibh maith agat. – Thank you.
Pronounced: Guh rev mah ah-gut - Slán. – Goodbye.
Pronounced: Slawn
The Irish ‘Gift of the Gab’ is alive and well in taxis, according to research from FREENOW. Ireland has been crowned the chattiest country in Europe, with 56% of passengers saying they always chat with their taxi driver, and 70% of those enjoying the experience.
The most popular topics of taxi conversation in Ireland are trivial small talk (50%) and the weather (45%), so these phrases should help keep the comhrá (conversation) going until your destination.
March is a busy time with many tourists travelling to Ireland for St Patrick’s Day festivities. Last year over 2.6 million passengers passed through Dublin Airport during the month.
