How to say Merry Christmas in Irish

Learn how to say Merry Christmas in Irish, spell it, pronounce it, plus more festive words in Irish perfect for the holiday season.

Christmas is a big deal in Ireland.

During the holidays, families come together, carols fill the air, gifts get exchanged and wishes for a happy Christmas fill phone conversations and Christmas cards.

In many cases, the Christmas greetings you hear in Ireland are in English. However, it is very common to also see messages for a Merry Christmas in Irish.

You see them around Irish towns, merry Christmas in Irish often being spelled with pretty lights; you see the greetings on Christmas cards and you can hear it said during Christmas gatherings.

If you are in Ireland at Christmas or if you want to wish a merry Christmas to an Irish friend or relative, learning how to wish someone a happy Christmas in Gaelic, and how to respond if someone’s saying it to you, can be useful.

Today we are learning how to say Merry Christmas in Irish!

Need to know! Irish has three dialects: Munster, Connacht and Ulster Irish. The pronunciation of words differs widely between one and the other: in this post, I am using the form my kids are learning in school here in Dublin. What you hear in other parts of Ireland may be different: all forms are correct!

How to say Merry Christmas in Irish

In Irish, Merry Christmas is Nollaig Shona – pronounced a little like Null-eg hunna

(An) Nollaig = Christmas in Irish Gaelic

Shona = Happy, fortunate

Fun fact! Christmas in Irish is feminine! This is why you use the word shona, with a silent ‘s’, which is the feminine of sona= happy.

The expression Nollaig Shona is the one you find on Christmas Cards; however, when you wish Happy Christmas to someone in Irish, you don’t usually just say merry Christmas: you actually say Merry Christmas TO YOU.

And this is where things get a little harder!

Since you can be singular or plural, when you are learning this greeting you need to learn two expressions: how to wish merry Christmas to one person and how to wish a Merry Christmas to a group.

To wish someone a Merry Christmas in Irish Gaelic, you say:

Merry Christmas to you (one person) = Nollaig Shona Dhuit (pronounced a little like Null-eg hunna ditch)

Merry Christmas to you (multiple people) = Nollaig Shona Daoibh (pronounced a little like Null-eg Hunna Deev)

You can hear how to pronounce Nollaig Shona Dhuit here (it’s a short podcast episode teaching festive phrases in Gaelic)

How to wish someone a merry Christmas in Irish: Pin this!

Before we move on to more Christmas words and expressions, you may want to pin this post so you can come back to it again!

How to respond if someone says Merry Christmas to you in Irish

If someone wishes you a happy Chrismas says Nollaig Shona Dhuit, you can respond in several ways:

Nollaig Mhaith Chugat (pron. Null-eg Mah HU-gut)= a Good Christmas to you. This is the most common way to respond when someone says Nollaig Shona Dhuit

Go mba hé duit (Pron approx. Gom ah hey ditch) = the same to you

Nollaig Shona Dhuit! Like in English, you can simply say ‘Merry Christmas to you’ back.

Go raibh maith agat (Pron. Gur Ev Mah Agat): thank you.

Other useful Christmas Expressions in Irish Gaelic

Crann Nollag (Crann Null-eg): Christmas Tree

Oíche Nollag (Each-ha Null-eg): Christmas Eve

Lá Nollag / Lá Nollag Mór (Loh Null-eg Mor): Christmas Day

Cárta Nollag (Kar-tah Null-eg) = Christmas Card

Daidí na Nollag (Dahi-dee Null-eg) = Father Christmas

Bronntanas / Bronntanais = Christmas present / Christmas presents

Coinneal = Candles

See also>>> how to wish someone a happy new year in Irish

Do you need to learn Happy Christmas in Irish if spending Christmas in Ireland?

Irish Gaelic is not an easy language and seeing all these expressions, references to grammar genders and alternative pronunciation may just want to make you give up.

The good news is: you do not need to learn how to say Happy Christmas in Irish unless you are meeting someone who speaks exclusively Irish or who has strong connections with the language.

In the vast majority of situations, you are perfectly ok to wish someone a Merry Christmas in Ireland in English.

The extra effort is, however, often appreciated, especially if you are speaking with older generations, you are in parts of Ireland where Gaelic is still dominant or very widespread or you are with someone who has emotional ties with the language.

My father-in-law, for instance, even if not a strong Irish speaker, loves to greet us in Gaelic and always lights up when he hears we make an effort with it!

That reaction alone makes the work worthwhile!

I hope this quick overview about Irish Christmas greetings and expressions was handy. Happy studying and Nollaig Shona Dhuit!

New for 2024! Merry Christmas in Irish coloring page

If you have kids who love coloring, they may enjoy our Ireland Christmas coloring pages (free)