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HOW TO SAY

How To Say – Happy Christmas in Irish (VIDEO)

Irish people don’t really have a “white Christmas” since Ireland’s weather is a bit special, but even so, we really get into the holiday spirit and enjoy our traditional Irish Christmas. We like to think that the Happy Christmas in Ireland is a bit different than what you see in other parts of the world and believe it or not, people come to spend the holidays in Ireland with their relatives, despite the lack of snow.

The holiday season and Christmas especially describe a magical time in Ireland when people say thanks to their family and friends by giving them gifts and choosing to spend quality time with them, making the holidays have a real Irish traditional spirit.

We’re very happy to share with you a ‘bitesize’ part of the traditional Irish Christmas and offer the following pronunciation video. If you have any Irish friends or relatives and you want to surprise them this December, why not learn how to wish them a Happy Christmas in Irish with the help of the following pronunciation video.

How To Say – Happy Christmas in Irish (VIDEO)

How to say Happy Christmas in Irish:

Nollaig Shona dhuit!
Happy Christmas! Merry Christmas!

Pronounce it like:
/Null-eg hunna gwitch/

To multiple people

Nollaig Shona dhuit is used when addressing one person, Nollaig Shona dhaoibh /Null-eg hunna gweev/ is used when addressing more than one person.

Did you enjoy this how-to-say Irish language video? Our “Aistear” online lessons feature thousands of audio recordings and phonetic pronunciations, to practice in your own time. Learn at your own pace. Get a taster of those courses for free:

6 thoughts on “How To Say – Happy Christmas in Irish (VIDEO)”

  1. To All at “GBI” – Nollaig Shona dhaoibh from Sydney Australia
    It seems this year we do really “have old Ireland over here” as we are experiencing snow on our Southern Alps and temperatures are well below average summer temps.
    go raibh maith agat – for all you help and interesting commentary during 2022 and I look forward to participating to an even greater degree in 2023.
    Slan

  2. You forgot to mention the “Wren Boys”, or the “Wren People” as we should say in these more enlightened and inclusive times.
    They were masked when they came (in 1946) but I remember being able to identify Dinnisheen Duckegg because when he danced, he always stood with his back to a wall, and would leave heelprints behind him. The Nureyev of the village, he was!
    Happy Christmas to you all.
    ML

  3. I really like the recordings, they help a lot. I do have a question, though. You transcribe Merry Christmas as “Null-eg hunna gwitch”. What I HEAR, though, is “Null-eg hunna (almost “honna”) hoit.” If I were just reading, I’d think “gwitch” was pronounced like “guhwitch” (the two sounds run together). I don’t understand how “gwitch” equals “hoit” (with no gutteral or w sound) or maybe I just need hearing aids?

  4. These short videos are amazing. I really like how you say the phrase or word and then say it very slowly. It really helps! Thanks you!

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