Cártaí Imeartha - Playing Cards

Learn Irish while playing Cards

This Christmas we went on a 15 day cruise to Hawaii and learned how to play cards in Irish. My wife Vivian was a good sport and played along. I've listed the names of the cards and suits below in case you have a similar interest.

Background Music: Skibreen
English Jargon

do you have a deck of cards?
do you want to play?
how about poker?
shuffle the cards.
cut the cards.
deal the cards.
pick out a card.
pick up a card.
lay down a card.
it's your turn.
no cheating.
stop looking at my cards.
I'm not looking.
wait your turn.
I have three of a kind.
I have a pair of kings.
I have three Jacks.
do you have a Joker?
whose turn is it now?
how can that be?
Irish Jargon

an bhfuil paca cárta agat?
ar mhaith leat imirt?
cad faoi pócar?
suaith na cártí.
bris na cártí.
roinn na cártí.
pioc cárta amach.
pioc cárta suas
luí sios cárta.
is leatsa anois.
ná bí ag séitéireacht
stop ag féacaint ar mo chártí.
nílim ag féacaint.
fan le d'am.
tá trí den saghas agam.
tá dís na Ríthe agam.
tá trí Laochra agam.
an bhfuil Bard agat?
cé leis anois?
conas sin?
Irish Phonetics

uh will pack-uh court-uh ah-got?
air why lot (h)im-ert?
cod f-wee poker?
sue-uh nah court-ee
brish nah court-ee
rin nah court-ee
pick om-muck court-uh
pick sue-us court-uh
lee she-us court-uh
iss lot-suh uh-nish
knaw be egg say-tear-uckt
stop egg fay-kint air muh hoarti
knee-limb egg fay-uh-kint
fahn le dahm
t-awe tree den sighs ah-gam
t-awe deesh on ree ah-gam
t-awe tree lee-cra ah-gam
uh will bard ah-got?
cay lesh un-ish
conus shin

Cárta

Ace
King
Queen
Jack
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
Joker
Spéireata - Spades

an t-Aon Spéireata
an Rí Spéireata
an Bhanríon Spéireata
an Laoch Spéireata
an deich Spéireata
an naoi Spéireata
an t-ocht Spéireata
an seacht Spéireata
an sé Spéireata
an cúig Spéireata
an ceathair Spéireata
an trí Spéireata
an dhá Spéireata
an Bard
Hart - Hearts

an t-Aon Hart
an Rí Hart
an Bhanríon Hart
an Laoch Hart
an deich Hart
an naoi Hart
an t-ocht Hart
an seacht Hart
an sé Hart
an cúig Hart
an ceathair Hart
an trí Hart
an dhá Hart
Muileata - Diamonds

an t-Aon Muileata
an Rí Muileata
an Bhanríon Muileata
an Laoch Muileata
an deich Muileata
an naoi Muileata
an t-ocht Muileata
an seacht Muileata
an sé Muileata
an cúig Muileata
an ceathair
an trí Muileata
an dhá Muileata
Triuf - Clubs

an t-Aon Triuf
an Rí Triuf
an Bhanríon Triuf
an Laoch Triuf
an deich Triuf
an naoi Triuf
an t-ocht Triuf
an seacht Triuf
an sé Triuf
an cúig Triuf
an ceathair Triuf
an trí Triuf
an dhá Triuf

Cards

Ace
King
Queen
Jack
10
9
8
Irish

an t-Aon
an Rí
an Bhanríon *
an Laoch **
an deich
an naoi
an t-ocht
Phonetics

on tayn
on ree
on von-ree-on
on leak
on deh
on knee
on tock-t
Cards

7
6
5
4
3
2
Joker
Irish

an seacht
an sé
an cúig
an ceathair
an trí
an dhá
an Bard ***
Phonetics

on shocked
on shay
on coo-ig
on cah-her
on tree
on dah
on bard

* sometimes called just "Bean" pronounced "bonn" meaning woman.
** means warrior but originally called "Cuireata" pron. "keer-uh-tah".
*** means the Irish bard but originally called "Fear na gCrúb" (man of the hoof) pron. "far nah grew-b".

Suit
Spades
Hearts
Irish
Spéireata
Hart
Phonetics
spare-uh-tuh
hart
Suit
Diamonds
Clubs
Irish
Muileata
Triuf
Phonetics
mill-uh-tuh
t-ruff

Playing cards possibly originated in China. They were introduced to the Western world by the Gypsies traveling from India or by the Crusaders returning from the Middle East. They made their way to Europe, where they first arrived about the year 1370. Within a few years they spread from the south to north. Not a lot is known about the early history of playing cards in Ireland, but during the nineteenth century playing cards were being produced in Dublin, Cork and Limerick

This pack of unique Irish playing cards features some of the well known figures in the legends of Ireland. The four suits represent the four provinces of Ireland and the shield of each province is illustrated on the ace of each suit.
The picture cards above feature the Kings, Queens and Warriors of the province as in the Celtic legends. The Gaelic terms for these are used on the cards: Ri for King, Bean for the principal woman of the province and Laoch for the chief warrior. The Gaelic Bard takes the place of the original Joker.

This product is designed in Ireland by Rachel Arbuckle.

Courtesy of Vivian and Jack
IrishPage.com 2002
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