DIA DUIT gach duine, it’s time to practice your cúpla focail!
Halloween began in Ancient Ireland as Samhain (sow-win), a celebration of the end of the harvest and the beginning of the winter season—but these days it's more recognisable as a celebration of spirits, spooky stories and eating sweets until you’re sick.
The holiday is still huge in Ireland and massive in America, thanks to Irish migrants arriving in America to escape the Great Hunger, and for the descendants of those immigrants looking to learn some more about the teanga of their ancestors—or Irish people looking for a refresher course—we’ve put together a list of common Halloween words in Irish.
So without further a-boo…
Halloween – Oíche Shamhna – Ee-ha How-nah
October -- Deireadh Fómhair -- Derra For
Witch -- Cailleach -- Ky-lock
Ghost -- Púca -- Pooka
Skeleton -- Cnámharlach -- Knawv-arlak
Devil -- Diabhal -- Dia-vol
Pumpkin -- Puimpcín -- Pump-keen
Trick or Treat -- Bob nó bia -- Bob noo bee-a
Sweets/ Candy -- Milseáin -- Mil-shawn
Scary movie -- Scannán Scanrúil -- Skan-awn skan-rool
Halloween party -- Cóisir Oíche Shamhna -- Kosher Ee-ha how-nah
Games -- Cluichí -- Kli-hee
Apples -- Úlla -- Oo-la
Nuts -- Cnónna -- Kuh-no-nah
Ring -- Fáinne -- Faw-nyah
Haunted -- Cráite -- Kraw-ta
See More: Gaeilge, Halloween, Irish
