The days of the week and the months of the year in the Irish language (Gaeilge) are worth learning for anyone starting to learn the language.
Even if you're not learning the Irish language, understanding how these work can help you connect with Irish culture and tradition. After all, many of the Irish names for the days and months have roots in Latin and early Christian traditions, while others are tied to the seasons, Gaelic festivals, and historical events.
Here, we'll explore how to say the days of the week in Irish, what they mean, the months of the year, and how to use these terms in everyday Irish conversation.
The Days of the Week in Irish
Irish days of the week use Latin, Gaelic traditions, and religious influences at their origin. Some names resemble their English counterparts (having shared similar origins), while others are uniquely Irish, like Irish slang.
Here are the days of the week in Irish and their pronunciations.
| English | Irish (Gaeilge) | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Luan | Loo-an | Derived from Luna (Latin for "moon") |
| Tuesday | Máirt | Maw-irt | From Martis, referring to Mars, the Roman god of war |
| Wednesday | Céadaoin | Kay-deen | Meaning "first fast", a reference to early Christian fasting |
| Thursday | Déardaoin | Dare-deen | Meaning "day between fasts" (between Wednesday and Friday fasts) |
| Friday | Aoine | Een-yeh | Meaning "fasting day", tied to Christian traditions |
| Saturday | Satharn | Sah-harn | Comes from Saturn's Day, similar to English |
| Sunday | Domhnach | Doh-nakh | Meaning "the Lord’s day", from Latin Dominica |
The names of the days of the week in Irish have both pagan and Christian influences. Some, like Luan (Monday) and Máirt (Tuesday), come from the Latin words for celestial bodies and gods, while others, like Aoine (Friday) and Céadaoin (Wednesday), reflect Christian fasting traditions.
How to Use the Days of the Week in Conversation
It's certainly useful learning how to say the days of the week in Irish in isolation, but let's see how they're used in everyday conversation, which you should always start with the appropriate Irish greeting.
Irish has a specific structure when talking about days. Here are some key phrases that will help you say the days of the week naturally in Irish.
Saying “On” a Specific Day
In Irish, when talking about something happening on a specific day, you use Dé before the day:
- Dé Luain – On Monday
- Dé Máirt – On Tuesday
- Dé Céadaoin – On Wednesday
Example Sentences:
- Tá an rang Gaeilge ar siúl Dé Máirt. – The Irish class is on Tuesday.
- Beidh an cluiche ar siúl Dé hAoine. – The game will take place on Friday.
The Irish word for week is Seachtain, which comes from the word seacht (meaning "seven"). Unlike in English, the phrase "next week" in Irish is "an tseachtain seo chugainn" (literally, "the week that is coming").
Talking About Last Week, This Week, and Next Week
- An tseachtain seo caite – Last week
- An tseachtain seo – This week
- An tseachtain seo chugainn – Next week
✅ Example Sentences:
- Chuaigh mé go Baile Átha Cliath an tseachtain seo caite. – I went to Dublin last week.
- Beidh lá saor agam an tseachtain seo chugainn. – I’ll have a day off next week.
The Months of the Year in Irish
Just like the days of the week, the months of the year in Irish have unique names linked to nature, Gaelic festivals, and historical traditions.
Here is a list of the Irish months, their pronunciations, and their meanings.
Months of the Year in Irish
| English | Irish (Gaeilge) | Pronunciation | Meaning/Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Eanáir | An-awr | From Latin Ianuarius (January) |
| February | Feabhra | Fyow-rah | From Latin Februarius |
| March | Márta | Mar-tah | From Latin Martius (March) |
| April | Aibreán | Ab-rawn | From Latin Aprilis |
| May | Bealtaine | Byowl-tin-eh | Named after the Bealtaine festival marking the start of summer |
| June | Meitheamh | Meh-hiv | Linked to "mid-summer" |
| July | Iúil | Ool | From Latin Julius (Julius Caesar) |
| August | Lúnasa | Loo-nah-sa | Named after the Lughnasadh festival, a Gaelic harvest festival |
| September | Meán Fómhair | Mawn foh-war | Means "middle of autumn" |
| October | Deireadh Fómhair | Djer-ah foh-war | Means "end of autumn" |
| November | Samhain | Sow-in | Named after the Samhain festival, marking the start of winter |
| December | Nollaig | Nul-ig | Means "Christmas" in Irish |
Some Irish month names, like Bealtaine (May), Lúnasa (August), and Samhain (November), come from ancient Gaelic festivals. These festivals marked key points in the Celtic calendar and were linked to seasons, farming, and cultural traditions.
Using Months in Conversation
Just like with days of the week, Irish has a unique structure when talking about months:
- "in" a specific month → i + [month] (before vowels, use "in" instead of "i")
- i mí Eanáir – In January
- in Aibreán – In April
- "last" and "next" month:
- An mhí seo caite – Last month
- An mhí seo chugainn – Next month
Example Sentences:
- Rugadh mé i mí Iúil. – I was born in July.
- Beidh an saoire againn an mhí seo chugainn. – We will have the holiday next month.
Seasons in Irish and How They Relate to the Calendar
The seasons in Irish are deeply rooted in Gaelic traditions and the natural world. Unlike in English, where seasons are based on fixed calendar months, the seasons in Irish align more closely with ancient festivals and the Celtic agricultural cycle.
Seasons in Irish
| English | Irish (Gaeilge) | Pronunciation | Associated Festival |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | An tEarrach | An t-ar-akh | Imbolc (Feb 1st) |
| Summer | An Samhradh | An sow-rah | Bealtaine (May 1st) |
| Autumn | An Fómhar | An fo-war | Lughnasadh (Aug 1st) |
| Winter | An Geimhreadh | An gev-rah | Samhain (Nov 1st) |
How the Irish Calendar Differs from the Modern Calendar
The traditional Irish calendar is based on Gaelic festivals instead of the solstices and equinoxes. For example:
- Spring (Earrach) begins in February with Imbolc, celebrating the return of light.
- Summer (Samhradh) starts in May with Bealtaine, a fire festival marking the start of warm weather.
- Autumn (Fómhar) kicks off in August with Lughnasadh, the first harvest festival as the colours begin to change.
- Winter (Geimhreadh) begins in November with Samhain, the start of the Celtic New Year.
This means that Irish seasons start earlier than in English-speaking countries, where winter is usually considered to begin in December!
Using Seasons in Conversation
In Irish, seasons are typically used with the word "in" (sa or san):
- Sa tEarrach – In the spring
- San Fhómhar – In the autumn
✅ Example Sentences:
- Tá an aimsir go hálainn sa tEarrach. – The weather is beautiful in spring.
- Is maith liom an Geimhreadh mar is breá liom an sneachta. – I like winter because I love the snow.
Irish Calendar in Folklore and Culture
The Irish calendar has played a key role in the country's folklore, storytelling, and traditions. Since language and culture are inseparable, it's worthwhile learning about it all. The ancient Celtic year was divided into key festivals, which marked transitions in nature and Irish society. These traditions have influenced Irish culture and are still celebrated today.
Celtic Festivals and the Calendar
Many of the seasonal transitions in Ireland were marked by four major Gaelic festivals, which shaped how people viewed time and the passing of the year:
- Imbolc (February 1st) – The festival of early spring, celebrating fertility and renewal, associated with Brigid, a goddess and later a saint.
- Bealtaine (May 1st) – A fire festival marking the beginning of summer, traditionally celebrated with bonfires and rituals to protect cattle and crops.
- Lughnasadh (August 1st) – A harvest festival in honour of the god Lugh, marking the start of the reaping season.
- Samhain (November 1st) – The Celtic New Year, when the veil between the living and the dead was believed to be thinnest—this festival later influenced Halloween.
The festivals were linked to the Irish names for months and seasons and weren't seen as rigid dates, which you should learn Irish numbers for, but rather fluid transitions based on the annual changing of nature.
Superstitions and Weather Lore
The Irish also had many weather-related sayings connected to different times of the year. For example:
- "Aibreán—mí na gcuach" (April—the month of the cuckoo) references the arrival of migrating birds.
- "Samhain—tús na bliana" (Samhain—the start of the year) reflects the ancient belief that winter marked the true new year.
- "Maireann an aimsir i bhfad i ndiaidh na Féile" (The weather lasts long after the festival) suggests that seasonal changes happen gradually rather than instantly.
Keep Learning the Irish Calendar
Learning the days of the week and months of the year in Irish is essential to mastering Gaeilge. Whether for fun, connecting with Irish heritage, or developing professional Irish language skills, regular practice is key to remembering and using the words naturally.
Here are some of our tips:
1. Practice Using Irish in Your Daily Routine
- Start your morning by saying the day in Irish (e.g., Dé Luain – Monday).
- Write your appointments or notes in Irish using the correct day and month.
- Challenge yourself to think in Irish when planning your week.
2. Engage with Irish-Language Resources
- Apps like Duolingo and Anki offer flashcards and exercises for Irish vocabulary.
- Listen to RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta for real-world usage of days and months.
- Follow Irish-language social media pages that post content using the Irish calendar.
3. Read, Watch, and Listen to More Irish
- Read Irish calendars, posters, or children's books that teach the days and months.
- Watch Irish-language TV shows or TG4’s weather forecast, where days and months are frequently used.
- Listen to Irish-language podcasts to hear native speakers use these words in conversation.
4. Join an Irish-Language Community
- Sign up for an Irish newsletter to get regular language updates.
- Join an Irish language meetup or online forum to practice conversations.
- Try out Irish-learning Facebook groups or Discord servers where learners share tips.
Mastering the language won't happen overnight, but the more you use these terms daily, the more you'll naturally learn the days and months. Try to immerse yourself in the language.
Here's all the vocabulary that we've covered today.
| English | Irish (Gaeilge) | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Luan | Loo-an |
| Tuesday | Máirt | Maw-irt |
| Wednesday | Céadaoin | Kay-deen |
| Thursday | Déardaoin | Dare-deen |
| Friday | Aoine | Een-yeh |
| Saturday | Satharn | Sah-harn |
| Sunday | Domhnach | Doh-nakh |
| January | Eanáir | An-awr |
| February | Feabhra | Fyow-rah |
| March | Márta | Mar-tah |
| April | Aibreán | Ab-rawn |
| May | Bealtaine | Byowl-tin-eh |
| June | Meitheamh | Meh-hiv |
| July | Iúil | Ool |
| August | Lúnasa | Loo-nah-sa |
| September | Meán Fómhair | Mawn foh-war |
| October | Deireadh Fómhair | Djer-ah foh-war |
| November | Samhain | Sow-in |
| December | Nollaig | Nul-ig |
| Spring | An tEarrach | An t-ar-akh |
| Summer | An Samhradh | An sow-rah |
| Autumn | An Fómhar | An fo-war |
| Winter | An Geimhreadh | An gev-rah |
To learn more about the Irish language and culture, why not work with a private tutor on Superprof?
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