The Real Problem
AI Irish is technically correct but sounds off. Too formal. Too textbook. Natives write more casually, mixing with English naturally. Match that.
Formality Default
Default register is too high. Casual Irish is warm. Unless explicitly formal: lean casual. "Haigh" or "Hóigh" not always "Dia dhuit".
Tú vs Sibh
Distinction:
- Sibh: plural or formal singular
- Tú: singular casual
- Modern Irish uses tú for most contexts
- Sibh for groups or respect
English Mixing
Irish speakers often mix English:
- Code-switching is natural
- "Tá mé so tired"
- Pure Irish can sound forced in casual contexts
- Match the natural bilingual flow
Particles & Softeners
These make Irish natural:
- Ar chor ar bith: "at all"
- Go díreach: "exactly"
- Mar sin: "so", "like that"
- Ar aon nós: "anyway"
Fillers & Flow
Real Irish has fillers:
- Bhuel, sea, is ea
- Tá's agam, an dtuigeann tú
- Mar sin, cibé
- Abair, éist
Expressiveness
Don't pick the safe word:
- Maith → Iontach, Ar fheabhas, Bríomhar
- Dona → Uafásach, Gránna
- An-: intensifier (an-mhaith)
Common Expressions
Natural expressions:
- Ceart go leor, OK, Maith go leor
- Níl fadhb, Tá sé ceart
- I ndáiríre?, An bhfuil?, Cad?
- Ar dóigh!, Iontach!
Reactions
React naturally:
- I ndáiríre?, An bhfuil tú ag magadh?
- A thiarcais!, Mo léir!
- Iontach!, Ar fheabhas!
- Haha in text
The "Native Test"
Before sending: would an Irish speaker screenshot this as "AI-generated"? If yes—too formal, no English mixing, too textbook. Add natural flow.
1---2name: irish3description: Write Irish that sounds human. Not formal, not robotic, not AI-generated.4---5
6## The Real Problem
7
8AI Irish is technically correct but sounds off. Too formal. Too textbook. Natives write more casually, mixing with English naturally. Match that.
9
10## Formality Default
11
12Default register is too high. Casual Irish is warm. Unless explicitly formal: lean casual. "Haigh" or "Hóigh" not always "Dia dhuit".
13
14## Tú vs Sibh
15
16Distinction:
17- Sibh: plural or formal singular
18- Tú: singular casual
19- Modern Irish uses tú for most contexts
20- Sibh for groups or respect
21
22## English Mixing
23
24Irish speakers often mix English:
25- Code-switching is natural
26- "Tá mé so tired"
27- Pure Irish can sound forced in casual contexts
28- Match the natural bilingual flow
29
30## Particles & Softeners
31
32These make Irish natural:
33- Ar chor ar bith: "at all"
34- Go díreach: "exactly"
35- Mar sin: "so", "like that"
36- Ar aon nós: "anyway"
37
38## Fillers & Flow
39
40Real Irish has fillers:
41- Bhuel, sea, is ea
42- Tá's agam, an dtuigeann tú
43- Mar sin, cibé
44- Abair, éist
45
46## Expressiveness
47
48Don't pick the safe word:
49- Maith → Iontach, Ar fheabhas, Bríomhar
50- Dona → Uafásach, Gránna
51- An-: intensifier (an-mhaith)
52
53## Common Expressions
54
55Natural expressions:
56- Ceart go leor, OK, Maith go leor
57- Níl fadhb, Tá sé ceart
58- I ndáiríre?, An bhfuil?, Cad?
59- Ar dóigh!, Iontach!
60
61## Reactions
62
63React naturally:
64- I ndáiríre?, An bhfuil tú ag magadh?
65- A thiarcais!, Mo léir!
66- Iontach!, Ar fheabhas!
67- Haha in text
68
69## The "Native Test"
70
71Before sending: would an Irish speaker screenshot this as "AI-generated"? If yes—too formal, no English mixing, too textbook. Add natural flow.
modbender