Peil Mheiriceánach – Irish Phrases for the NFL Season
The Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony took place recently, in Canton, Ohio. This event is the surest sign that the season of ‘Peil Mheiriceánach’ (American football) is on its way!
This got me thinking – how can I use my own Irish language skills during the upcoming NFL season? If you’re a football fan, as I am, you might want to bust out your ‘cúpla focal’ when game days come around, and let folks know that you can can speak some Irish! With this in mind, I’ve compiled a list of football vocabulary and phrases, in Irish, that you can use to cheer on your NFL players and teams…ádh mór, a chairde (good luck)!
Foclóir / Vocabulary
American football – Peil Mheiriceánach
Catch the ball – Beir ar an liathróid
Dead ball – Liathróid mharbh
Defensive end – Ceannchosantóir
Field goal – Cúl ón imirt
I love the Cleveland Browns – Is breá liom na Cleveland Browns
Linebacker – Tacadóir líne
Offensive line – Líne ionsaithe
Pigskin – Scrathóg
Quarterback – Ceathrúchúlaí
Referee – Réiteoir
Run, Run, Run! – Rith, Rith, Rith!
Scoring zone – Talmhú scórála
Running back – Cúlaí reatha
Shoulder pad – Cosaint gualainne
The ball was in play – Bhí an liathróid san imirt
The ball was out of play – Bhí an liathróid as an imirt
The half-time show – An seó leath ama
The Superbowl- An Sárbhabhla
They lost – Chaill siad
Thigh pad – Cosaint leise
Throw the ball (Throw it) – Caith an liathróid (Caith é)
To block the ball – An liathróid a stopadh
To fumble the ball – Breith breallach ar an liathróid
Touchdown – Talmhú
We won – Bhuaigh muid
What players do they have? – Cé na himreoirí atá acu?
What’s the latest score? – Cad é an scór is déanaí?
You can find more vocabulary and phrases in our Foclóir section here!
Join the online Irish community for cúrsaí, comhrá & ceardlanna, and follow along on social media @LetsLearnIrish – beidh fáilte romhat!
