How to Count to 100 in Irish

Last Updated: December 4, 2022

If you are learning Irish, the original language of Ireland,^{[1]
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Steps

1
Count from 1-10:^{[2]
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- 1 = a haon (ah hain)
- 2 = a dó (ah dough)
- 3 = a trí (ah tree)
- 4 = a ceathair (ah cah-her)
- 5 = a cúig (ah coo-ig)
- 6 = a sé (ah shay)
- 7 = a seacht (ah shocked)
- 8 = a hocht (ah huck-t)
- 9 = a naoi (ah nay)
- 10 = a deich (ah deh)
2
Count from 11-20:^{[3]
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- 11 = a haon déag (ah hain dayg)
- 12 = a dó dhéag (ah dough yayg)
- 13 = a trí déag (ah tree dayg)
- 14 = a ceathair déag (ah cah-her dayg)
- 15 = a cúig déag (ah coo-ig dayg)
- 16 = a sé déag (ah shay dayg)
- 17 = a seacht déag (ah shocked dayg)
- 18 = a hocht déag (ah huck-t dayg)
- 19 = a naoi déag (ah nay dayg)
- 20 = fiche (fih-ha)
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3
Notice the pattern. 21-100 is quite easy. All you have to do, is learn the tens first and then adding the units is a piece of cake!^{[4]
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- 20 = fiche (fih-ha)
- 30 = triocha (truck-ah)
- 40 = daichead (dah-hid)
- 50 = caoga (cway-gah)
- 60 = seasca (shahs-kah)
- 70 = seachtó (shock toe)
- 80 = ochtó (uck toe)
- 90 = nócha (noe-kah)
- 100 = céad (cay-d)
4
So, now you know the tens, you'll want to add the units! Numbers like, 75, 63, 28 or 46 and so on. You say the ten, and then add the unit. Example: Number = 67. Sixty = seasca Seven = seacht, so 67 in Irish = Seasca seacht. 24 would be fiche ceathair, 39 would be triocha naoi and 93 would be nócha trí, so it's really quite simple.^{[5]
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Community Q&A

Question

What one thousand in Irish?

Community Answer

"Míle" is "thousand" in Irish, according to Google Translation.
Question

Can I purchase a DVD to learn numbers?

Community Answer

Of course. But there are plenty of YouTube videos you can put on a playlist and listen to instead (for free).
Question

Why is 12's format different than 11, 13, and all the other teens when counting to 100 in Irish?

Community Answer

The Irish alphabet doesn't actually contain the letter H, the H you're seeing is the modern depiction of the "séimhiú" or lenition. It used to be depicted by a dot over the consonant, but more commonly now the letter "h" is used directly following the consonant. Its purpose is to make the word easier and more natural to say, basically. Saying "a dó déag" with the two harsh "d" sounds right after one another is a little awkward, so the séimhiú helps the speaker out by softening the second "d" sound into something that'll flow more naturally from the tongue. If you're interested in learning more, google séimhiú (lenition) and urú (eclipsis).