Have you ever heard someone speaking a different language near your school or in a shop? Ireland is home to many languages spoken by people from all over the world.

• Find out where you might hear different languages around you.
• Learn about Irish (Gaeilge) and its place in our communities.
• Discover some of the most spoken languages in Ireland today.
• Find out why learning a few words in other languages is helpful.
• Rank the most spoken languages and match greetings to their languages.
• Learn how to say hello and thank you in five different languages.

Languages are all around us every day. People use language to communicate, share ideas, and connect with others.

In Ireland, many people speak English, but there are also many other languages spoken in our communities. Some people speak Irish (Gaeilge), while others may speak languages they learned from their families or countries they came from.

You might hear different languages:

• At school
• In shops
• On the bus
• At sports clubs
• In your neighbourhood

Our communities are full of languages that help people communicate and share their cultures.

The Irish language, or Gaeilge, is an important part of Ireland’s culture and history.

Even if people speak English most of the time, Irish can still be seen and heard in many places.

• Road signs often include Irish place names.
• Schools teach Irish to students.
• Irish is spoken in Gaeltacht areas.
• You might hear Irish greetings like “Dia dhuit”.

Learning Irish helps people connect with Ireland’s history and traditions.

Ireland has become a country where many languages are spoken. People move to Ireland from different parts of the world, bringing their languages and cultures with them.

Some of the languages you might hear in Ireland today include:

• Polish
• Spanish
• French
• Arabic
• Mandarin Chinese
• Portuguese

When different languages are spoken in the same community, people can learn from each other and share their cultures.