Meet the Letter Combos That Make Irish Unique

The Irish language isn’t just about new words it’s about new sounds! Kids love discovering how certain letter combos like bh, mh, and fh can change the way words are spoken.

Let’s Break Them Down

  • bh and mh often sound like “v” or “w” depending on where they are in the word.
  • fh is usually silent, which makes it a fun surprise!
  • Other combos like ch or dh have special deep or soft sounds that don’t exist in English.

These patterns help kids connect sounds to spelling in exciting new ways.

Try These Real Irish Words

  • Bhuail = (hit/knocked) sounds like “voo-il”
  • Mháthair = (mother) sounds like “wah-hir”
  • Fhios = (knowledge) sounds like “iss”

Once kids get used to them, these combos become second nature—and lots of fun!

Activities to Explore Irish Sounds

Combo Bingo

Make a bingo card of Irish letter combos. Say words out loud and let kids match the sound to the combo.

Sound Hunt

Hide cards around the room with letter combos. Kids have to find and say a word using each combo correctly.

Dinolingo’s videos, songs, and games give kids the chance to hear and say Irish words naturally. For learners ages 2–14, it’s all about having fun while picking up the rhythm and sounds of Irish. Plus, offline printables help reinforce tricky combos.

You can explore Dinolingo on iOS, Android, or any browser—it’s a kid-friendly world of sounds!

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