Dictionaries and translation · Last reviewed 27 October 2026
Best Irish Dictionaries and English to Irish Translation Tools
We compared the main Irish dictionaries and a machine translator on the same nine criteria we use for everything else. All four are free. The difference is how accurate they are, and how much you can learn from them.
Never use machine translation for anything that matters
Google Translate and AI chatbots are fine for getting the gist, but not for producing Irish. Don’t use them for anything you’ll publish, submit for school or work, or get tattooed. Look words up in foclóir.ie or teanglann.ie, or ask a fluent speaker.
These rankings are provisional
The marks come from desk research against our published rubric. Our teachers will look up the same 20 words, including verbs, idioms and modern terms, in each tool and compare the results. Their marks will replace these.
Non-profit. No affiliate links. No sponsored rankings. How we review
Quick verdict
The four tools, ranked
Sorted by provisional score out of 100. Select a tool to jump to its review.
Picks by need
Which one to use
You’ll probably use more than one. Here’s when to reach for each.
Every learner
foclóir.ie
Your first stop for any English–Irish look-up, with example sentences and audio in all three dialects. Use the website rather than the app.
Reading real Irish
teanglann.ie
Look up Irish words you meet in books, news and the Gaeltacht, with grammar tables and pronunciation.
Also consider: foclóir.ie for English to Irish
Specialist and modern terms
téarma.ie
The official Irish for technical and modern terms, useful for teachers and exam work.
Reviews
Strengths and limitations
Each review shows the tool’s provisional score, what it covers, whether it has pronunciation audio, and the marks behind the score.
Ranked 1st of 4
foclóir.ie
Foras na Gaeilge
Best for every learner
85.5/100
Provisional score
- What it is
- The New English–Irish Dictionary, with example sentences and grammar
- Pronunciation
- All three main dialects
- Apps
- Web; iOS and Android app (last updated 2019)
- Price
- Free
Strengths
- The first dictionary any learner should use.
- A modern English–Irish dictionary from Foras na Gaeilge, with example sentences and grammar information.
- Pronunciation in all three main dialects.
- The website is excellent.
Limitations
- The phone app hasn’t been updated since 2019, and reviewers say its audio often fails. Use the website first.
See all nine marks for foclóir.ie
Checked 27 October 2026 · Read the full foclóir.ie review
Ranked 2nd of 4
teanglann.ie
Foras na Gaeilge
Best for returning learners, teachers and exam students
82/100
Provisional score
- What it is
- Irish–English (Ó Dónaill) and English–Irish (de Bhaldraithe) dictionaries, plus a grammar database
- Pronunciation
- All three main dialects, about 66,000 sound files
- Apps
- Web; iOS app (last updated 2018)
- Price
- Free
Strengths
- Brings together the major Irish dictionaries and a grammar database.
- Around 66,000 pronunciation files across the three main dialects.
- Essential once you’re reading real Irish.
Limitations
- The Ó Dónaill dictionary is dense for beginners.
- The iOS app dates from 2018.
See all nine marks for teanglann.ie
Checked 27 October 2026 · Read the full teanglann.ie review
Ranked 3rd of 4
téarma.ie
DCU and Foras na Gaeilge
Best for teachers and exam students
59.5/100
Provisional score
- What it is
- The national terminology database, with over 325,000 terms
- Pronunciation
- None
- Apps
- Web
- Price
- Free
Strengths
- The official place to find the Irish for specialist and modern terms.
- Over 325,000 entries.
Limitations
- Mainly used by translators and students: useful for teaching and exam work rather than everyday learning.
- No pronunciation audio.
See all nine marks for téarma.ie
Checked 27 October 2026 · Read the full téarma.ie review
Ranked 4th of 4
Google Translate
Best for getting the gist only
51.5/100
Provisional score
- What it is
- Machine translation
- Pronunciation
- Synthetic voice
- Apps
- Web, iOS and Android
- Price
- Free
Strengths
- Convenient, and fine for getting the gist of a piece of Irish.
Limitations
- Not reliable for producing Irish. A 2025 study by Irish language-technology researchers found Google Translate, Bing, eTranslation, ChatGPT and Llama all still struggle with harder features of Irish grammar.
- No control over dialect.
- Uses a synthetic voice.
See all nine marks for Google Translate
Checked 27 October 2026 · Read the full Google Translate review
How we chose
The same nine criteria, read for dictionaries
Dictionaries use the same nine criteria and weights, read for reference tools. The best Irish dictionaries are free and state-funded, so price doesn’t separate them. Accuracy is what separates a dictionary from machine translation.
- Teaching is how much you can learn from an entry, through example sentences, grammar tables and usage notes.
- Speaking and listening is pronunciation audio.
- Depth is coverage: how many words and senses are included.
Criterion and weight
Teaching quality 15% Accuracy of the Irish 15% Speaking and listening 15% Price and value 15% Beginner suitability 10% Dialect coverage 10% Depth 10% Ease of use 5% Engagement 5%
Sources
Facts on this page come from these sources. Opinions are marked as ours. Spotted an error? Report it and we’ll correct it, with the date shown.
- App Store: New English–Irish Dictionary (foclóir.ie)
- App Store: Teanglann
- Wikipedia: Téarma
- Clifford et al., “How Clever Are LLMs When Translating Irish Text?” (2025)