Ever wondered why there’s no Irish on Mondly? You’re not alone. Mondly teaches 41 languages, but Irish, the native tongue of the Emerald Isle, is not one of them.
This guide explains why Irish is missing from Mondly, what makes the language worth learning, and which apps you can use to learn Irish instead.
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Irish: A Language Steeped In History
Irish, better known in its native lands as Gaeilge, is the first official language of Ireland. Its written roots trace back to the 4th century, which makes it one of the oldest written languages in Europe.
About 1.87 million people in the Republic of Ireland said they could speak Irish in the 2022 census, yet only about 72,000 use it daily outside the education system. Linguists consider it definitely endangered, which is why the government’s 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010–2030 aims to boost the number of daily Irish speakers in Ireland to 250,000 by 2030.
What Makes Irish Grammar And Pronunciation Unique?
Irish is an Indo-European language, falling under the Gaelic branch of the Celtic languages. Its distinctive writing system, phonetics, syntax and grammar often feel unfamiliar to speakers of Romance and Germanic languages:
- Word order: Irish is a VSO (verb-subject-object) language. ‘I love you’ translates to Gráim thú, which is literally ‘Love-I-you’.
- Mutations: the first letters of some words change in different contexts.
- Slender and broad vowels: the same letters can be pronounced differently depending on their position in a word, which gives Irish its melodic sound.
Where Is Irish Spoken?
The Irish language is primarily spoken in Gaeltacht areas in the western regions of Ireland. Here, you’ll find tightly-knit communities cherishing and nurturing the language like a prized possession. Beyond the Emerald Isle, you’ll hear the lilt of Irish in parts of the UK, the US, Canada, and Australia, thanks to Irish emigrants carrying the torch of their mother tongue across the seas.
Is Irish Difficult To Learn?
“Difficult” is a relative term. How hard Irish feels depends largely on your native language, your previous language learning experience and, perhaps most importantly, your mindset. Its unique structure, mutations and vowel combinations can feel like a linguistic workout at first.
The climb gets easier the more you do it. A good order to start in:
- Understand the fundamentals of Irish.
- Get a grip on the Irish alphabet and pronunciation rules.
- Learn basic words and phrases.
So, is Irish difficult to learn? It’s not a cakewalk, but with the right mindset, dedication and resources, it’s absolutely doable, and a rewarding adventure at that.
Language Learning With Mondly App
Mondly launched in 2014 and has carved a space for itself in language learning with a conversational approach that helps learners improve their speaking and listening skills while building vocabulary. Its standout features include:
- Augmented and virtual reality: lifelike scenarios to practice conversations in.
- A broad language portfolio: courses for 41 languages, from widely spoken ones like English, Spanish and Chinese to less common ones like Finnish and Bulgarian.
One glaring omission remains: there is no course for learning Irish. Given the language’s rich history and cultural significance, that is surprising, and a tad disappointing for anyone keen to learn it.
Why Is There No Irish On Mondly?
The reasons behind the lack of an Irish language course on Mondly can be quite multifaceted. Here are some potential explanations:
- Demand and Supply: One major factor could be the low demand for Irish compared to other languages. With English being the primary language of Ireland, many people might not see the necessity to learn Irish, making it less commercially viable for a language learning app.
- Limited Resources: Providing a high-quality language course requires considerable resources, including expert linguists, voice artists, and course developers. It could be possible that Mondly has yet to allocate the necessary resources to develop an Irish language course.
- Complexity of the Language: Irish, with its unique grammar and pronunciation rules, can be quite challenging to teach, especially in an app format. This complexity could contribute to the delay in including Irish in Mondly’s language offerings.
- Overlooking Minor Languages: As with many language learning platforms, there might be a focus on widely spoken languages due to their broad appeal and marketability. This focus often leads to overlooking less commonly spoken or minority languages like Irish.
These reasons are understandable from a business perspective, but they still leave a gap for anyone eager to learn Irish. Fortunately, other apps have stepped in to fill it.
Which Apps Can You Use To Learn Irish Instead Of Mondly?
Ling: Best For A Full, Game-Based Irish Course
Ling is a language-learning app that does teach Irish, and it uses interactive tools to make learning feel like more than a chore:
- Fun mini-games like word puzzles and fill-in-the-blank quizzes.
- Dialog, which lets you practice real-life conversations.
- Lessons sorted into skill levels, so you can start from scratch or brush up on your Irish where you left off.
You can read more about how it works in our Ling app review.
Duolingo: Best For Gamified Basics
Duolingo offers an Irish course for English speakers, with more than 1.5 million learners. Our guide to the best Irish learning apps rates it for its visual, gamified, self-paced lessons and its supply of basic vocabulary and phrases.
Frequently Asked Questions About Irish And Mondly
Does Mondly Have Irish?
No. Mondly teaches 41 languages, but Irish is not one of them. To learn Irish on your phone, use an app that has a course for it, such as Ling or Duolingo.
Is Irish Hard To Learn For English Speakers?
Irish can feel challenging at first because of its verb-subject-object word order, its mutations and its broad and slender vowels. With the right mindset, dedication and resources, it’s absolutely doable.
Where Is Irish Spoken?
Irish is mainly spoken in the Gaeltacht areas in the west of Ireland. You’ll also hear it in parts of the UK, the US, Canada and Australia, thanks to Irish emigrants.
How Many People Speak Irish?
In the 2022 census, about 1.87 million people in the Republic of Ireland said they could speak Irish, but only about 72,000 use it daily outside the education system.
Learn Irish With Ling
Irish remains a cornerstone of Ireland’s cultural identity, linking you to the country’s rich folklore, impressive literature and history. Now that you know why it is missing from Mondly, you are ready to start learning it somewhere that teaches it!
With flashcards, native speaker audio and Dialog for real conversation practice, Ling keeps learning simple and fun. Plans start at $16.99, with $64.99 and $89.99 options.
Start learning Irish today and bring a living piece of Ireland’s history into your daily routine!
