About

Welcome to Foclóirí ár linne, Foras na Gaeilge’s dictionary website where you will find An Foclóir Nua Gaeilge [the new monolingual Irish Dictionary] (2025) and the New English-Irish Dictionary (2013-2017). Both dictionaries are available free of charge and have been adapted to work on both desktop computers and mobile devices. The universal search allows users to search both dictionaries at the same time.

The dictionaries also contain grammatical information, sound files and usage notes relating to words in Irish. For more information on how to access these items, and for instructional videos, see our FAQ section and our YouTube channel.

Latest News

December 2025: the new monolingual Irish dictionary was launched. The first tranche of material comprised 20,000 entries and 40,000 senses.

Project milestones

September 2020
The print edition of the New English-Irish Dictionary, Concise English-Irish Dictionary, was published. The printed dictionary contains 30,000 entries and 85,000 word senses. Click here for more information about the book.
January 2017
The online version of the New English-Irish Dictionary was completed. The total number of entries in the dictionary is 48,000 (140,000 senses).
October 2013
Online versions of de Bhaldraithe's English-Irish Dictionary (1959) and Ó Dónaill's Foclóir Gaeilge-Béarla (1977) launched, as well as a grammar database and a pronunciation database. Click here to access this website.
January 2013
The first version of the New English-Irish Dictionary launched, with over 7,000 headwords. This version covered approximately 70% of general English-language usage, and contained 30% of the eventual content in terms of word senses.

Feedback

We welcome feedback from the public at aiseolas [at] focloir.ie. If the feedback refers to a specific entry, please ensure you give the relevant headword and/or sense. We also advise users to refer to our FAQ pages as there may be pertinent information there relating to your feedback.

Staff and Acknowledgements

Lexicography work initially began in Foras na Gaeilge in 2003 and since that time numerous translation and editorial teams, contributors, advisors and organisations have worked on and been involved in projects at various stages. Foras na Gaeilge wish to acknowledge the following for their contributions to our work:

Stage 1 (2003-2017): New English-Irish Dictionary Project

Full-time staff

Cormac Breathnach, Cathal Convery, Colm Duffin, Aifric Mac Aodha, Eoghan Mac Mathúna, Máirín Mhic Giolla Chumhaill, Máire Ní Fhinneadha, Róisín Ní Mhianáin, Judy Ní Ógáin, Niamh Ní Thuama, Tadhg Ó Bric, Liam Ó Cuinneagáin, Joe Ó Labhraí, Tomás Ó Maolalaidh, Pádraig Ó Mianáin, Seosamh Ó Murchú, Muiris Ó Raghallaigh

Other roles

Sue Atkins, Julie Bernsden, Michal Boleslav Měchura, Gerry Breslin, Máirtín Coilféir, Rosalind Combley, Padraic de Bhaldraithe, Charles Dillon, Malachy Duffin, Valerie Grundy, Aidan Horan, Adam Kilgarriff, Éamonn Lawlor, John Lunney, Barra Mac Aodha Bhuí, Éanna Mac Cába, Pól Mac Fheilimidh, Séamus Mac Gairbheith, Liam Mac Mathúna, Gearóidín Nic Cárthaigh, Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill, Jó Ní Dhonnchadha, Fidelma Ní Ghallchobhair, Máirín Ní Mhárta, Síle Ní Mhurchú, Bairbre Ní Ógáin, Fionnuala Ní Ráinne, Sinéad Ní Ráinne, Dónall Ó Baoill, Máirtín Ó Cadhain, Áine Ó Ceallaigh, Seán Ó Coinn, Breandán Ó Cróinín, Máirtín Ó Curraoin, Cathal Ó Donnghaile, Aodh Ó Gallchóir, Mícheál Ó Gruagáin, Aonghus Ó hAirt, Éamonn Ó hÓgáin, Tadhg Ó Loingsigh, Pádraig Ó Maoilreannaigh, Mícheál John Ó Meachair, Aogán Ó Muircheartaigh, Tomás L Ó Murchú, Séamus Ó Murthaile, Colm Ó Neachtain, Mícheál Ó Sé, Kayla Reed, Helen Josephine Roche, Michael Rundell, Kevin Scannell, Donla uí Bhraonáin, Gobnait Uí Chonchubhair, Elaine Uí Dhonnchadha, Gráinne Uí Dhuifinn, Nóirín Uí Mhaolaoí, Carl Vogel, Christoph Wendler, Paul Williams, Wolfgang Worsch.

Stage 2 (2017-2020): Concise English-Irish Dictionary Project

Full-time staff

Cormac Breathnach, Cathal Convery, Conor O’Dowd, Joe Ó Labhraí, Pádraig Ó Mianáin, Seosamh Ó Murchú

Part-time staff

Pól Mac Fheilimidh, Eoghan Mac Mathúna, Róisín Ní Mhianáin, Tadhg Ó Bric

Other roles

Michal Boleslav Měchura, Gerry Breslin, Rosalind Combley, John Dixon, Ronan Doherty, Valerie Grundy, Aifric Mac Aodha, Darragh Mac Giolla Phádraig, Antain Mac Lochlainn, Cáit Nic Fhionnlaoich, Bairbre Ní Chonchúir, Edel Ní Chorráin, Aisling Ní Churraighín, Ciara Ní É, Lorna Ní Fhaogáin, Jenny Ní Mhaoileoin, Fionnuala Ní Ráinne, Donncha Ó Cróinín, Liam Ó Cuinneagáin, Pádraic Ó Farachtáin, Mícheál John Ó Meachair, Muiris Ó Raghallaigh, Caomhán Ó Scolaí, Kayla Reed, Kevin Scannell, Thomas Widmann

Stage 3 (2020-2025): An Foclóir Nua Gaeilge [new monolingual Irish dictionary] and the New Irish-English Dictionary project

Full-time staff

Cormac Breathnach, Alison Ní Bhriain, Caitríona Ní Chatháin, Aisling Ní Churraighín, Derek Ó Briain, Tadhg Ó Bric, Pádraig Ó Mianáin, Lee Vahey

Part-time staff

Pól Mac Fheilimidh, Eoghan Mac Mathúna, Joe Ó Labhraí, Seosamh Ó Murchú

Other roles

Michal Boleslav Měchura, Gerry Breslin, Oilibhéar de Búrca, Antain Mac Lochlainn, Seán Mac Nia, Darren Mag Aoidh, Edel Ní Chorráin, Máire Nic Mhaoláin, Máirín Ní Mhárta, Sinéad Ní Ráinne, Éamonn Ó Dónaill, Kevin Scannell

Acknowledgements

Foras na Gaeilge would like to acknowledge and thank the external partners and suppliers who supported our lexicography projects, particularly:

Ingénerie Diffusion Multimédia (IDM), who provide the software and hosting for the site, as well as supplying other lexicographic tools and services to the project. We are particularly grateful to Philippe Climent, Holger Hvelplund and Allan Orsnes who have been involved in the inception of the first project.

  • Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, University of Galway
  • An Coiste Téarmaíochta (The National Terminology Committee)
  • An Gúm
  • Fiontar & Scoil na Gaeilge, Dublin City University
  • Lexical Computing
  • Lexicography Masterclass
  • Macalla Teoranta
  • PB Print Solutions

Foras na Gaeilge also wish to acknowledge the contribution of the following people and institutions to our lexicography projects:

  • the various boards and advisory committees of Foras na Gaeilge
  • past and present staff of Foras na Gaeilge
  • the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht
  • the Department for Communities
  • the Department of Education in Dublin
  • the North/South Ministerial Council
  • the members of the public who have shared invaluable feedback with us since the publication of the English-Irish dictionary online in 2013.
New English-Irish Dictionary from Foras na Gaeilge