Tithe Éireannacha (Irish Homes)

Understanding home vocabulary helps us describe where we live and talk about our daily environments. These words and phrases will help you discuss your home, its rooms, and the items within it in Irish.

Types of Homes

• Teach (chakh) = House
• Árasán (aw-ra-sawn) = Apartment
• Teachín (chakh-een) = Cottage
• Bungaló (bung-ga-low) = Bungalow
• Teach sraithe (chakh sra-ha) = Terraced house/Townhouse
• Teach leathscoite (chakh lah-skut-cha) = Semi-detached house
• Teach scoite (chakh skut-cha) = Detached house
• Teach feirme (chakh fer-ma) = Farmhouse

Rooms in the Home

• Cistin (kish-tin) = Kitchen
• Seomra suí (shom-ra see) = Living room/Sitting room
• Seomra codlata (shom-ra kud-la-ta) = Bedroom
• Seomra folctha (shom-ra ful-ka) = Bathroom
• Seomra bia (shom-ra bee-a) = Dining room
• Halla (ha-la) = Hall
• Garáiste (ga-raw-shta) = Garage
• Áiléar (aw-lair) = Attic
• Íoslach (ee-slakh) = Basement

Furniture and Household Items

• Cathaoir (ka-heer) = Chair
• Bord (bord) = Table
• Tolg (tol-ug) = Couch/Sofa
• Leaba (la-ba) = Bed
• Cófra (koe-fra) = Cupboard
• Sorn (sorn) = Stove
• Cuisneoir (kish-nyoar) = Refrigerator
• Teilifís (tel-i-feesh) = Television
• Ríomhaire (ree-var-a) = Computer
• Lampa (lamp-a) = Lamp

Parts of a House

• Díon (dee-un) = Roof
• Balla (ba-la) = Wall
• Fuinneog (fin-yogue) = Window
• Doras (dur-as) = Door
• Urlár (oor-lawr) = Floor
• Staighre (stay-ra) = Stairs
• Gairdín (gar-deen) = Garden
• Balcóin (bal-kone) = Balcony

Useful Phrases for Describing Your Home

• Tá mé i mo chónaí i... (Taw may i muh khoe-nee i...) = I live in...
  • Tá mé i mo chónaí i dteach = I live in a house
  • Tá mé i mo chónaí in árasán = I live in an apartment
• Tá ___ sa teach (Taw ___ sa chakh) = There is ___ in the house
  • Tá trí sheomra codlata sa teach = There are three bedrooms in the house
  • Tá gairdín sa teach = There is a garden in the house
• Is maith liom mo... (Iss mah lum muh...) = I like my...
  • Is maith liom mo chistin = I like my kitchen
  • Is maith liom mo sheomra codlata = I like my bedroom
• Tá mo theach... (Taw muh hakh...) = My house is...
  • Tá mo theach mór/beag = My house is big/small
  • Tá mo theach compordach = My house is comfortable

Sample Conversation

A: Cá bhfuil tú i do chónaí? (Kaw will too i duh khoe-nee?) = Where do you live?

B: Tá mé i mo chónaí i dteach scoite i mBaile Átha Cliath. (Taw may i muh khoe-nee i dakh skut-cha i mah-la aw-ha klee-a.) = I live in a detached house in Dublin.

A: Cé mhéad seomra atá sa teach? (Kay vade shom-ra a-taw sa chakh?) = How many rooms are in the house?

B: Tá cistin, seomra suí, agus trí sheomra codlata sa teach. Is maith liom mo ghairdín go háirithe. (Taw kish-tin, shom-ra see, ah-gus tree hom-ra kud-la-ta sa chakh. Iss mah lum muh gar-deen guh hawr-i-ha.) = There's a kitchen, living room, and three bedrooms in the house. I especially like my garden.

Exercise: Describe Your Home

Tell us about your home by:

1. Telling us what type of home you live in
2. Naming three rooms in your home in Irish
3. Using "Tá ... sa teach" to describe something in your house
4. Completing the sentence "Is maith liom mo..."

Example answer:

1. Tá mé i mo chónaí in árasán i lár na cathrach.
2. Tá cistin, seomra codlata, agus seomra folctha san árasán.
3. Tá fuinneog mhór sa chistin agus is breá liom an radharc.
4. Is maith liom mo sheomra suí mar tá sé compordach agus geal.

(1. I live in an apartment in the city center. 2. There is a kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom in the apartment. 3. There is a big window in the kitchen and I love the view. 4. I like my living room because it's comfortable and bright.)