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.