PHONETICS

Here you will find the words of Amrhán Na BhFiann written out phonetically (how they sound) in different accents. They are spelt differently because we want you to be able to read the words in YOUR OWN ACCENT and produce the same sound as a native speaker. Just find the accent nearest your own, print it out and sing along. feel free to tweak the spellings.

Irish Accent… There is only one set for ALL Irish Accents. This means your own accent (whether from Cork, Dundalk, Gortahork or Glenamaddy) will shine through in all it’s glory. So you will always sound like you come from your hometown when singing in Irish.

Other Accents… No offence, but if your accent is English, Scottish, Welsh, American, Australian, Lithuanian, Polish, Latvian, French or whatever… we don’t actually want that to be obvious when you sing in Irish. We want you to sound Irish.  Now it is important that you read these words in YOUR OWN accent (there is nothing more embarrassing than a put-on ‘Oirish’ accent, is there?) These phonetics are written so that – no matter where you are actually from – when you sing them you will sound like a native Irish speaker. Hope that makes sense. If not, the simple genius of this method will soon become clear when you start.

PLEASE NOTE: If you have an accent that is not yet covered on the list below and you have gone through the video, listened carefully and written out the phonetics to suit your accent – why not share them? Just e-mail them to liam@chilo.org and I will post them up.

PHONETICS FOR AMRHÁN NA BHFIANN

IRISH ACCENT

(For those with an Irish accent, just use these words. Tweak them if you have to. Your own accent will shine through beautifully)

Sheena Feena Fall

Ataw fwee yall ag eireann

Bween daw sloo-uh

Harteen duh rawnig hoo-un

Fay vorge vess air

Shantir ar shinsha farsta

Nee ogfur fen teer-on na fen trarl

a-knocked a heem-sa varna weel

lay gan a gwale cun vosh no sale

lay gunny skrake

fwee larvach na bilear

sha- liv connig

our-ron na veen

GLASGOW/WEST OF SCOTLAND

Reading these words aloud – in your own accent – should produce sounds that match those on the video ie. you will sound like a native Irish speaker from Mayo. Tweak the spellings if you need to. Ask a friend to listen and check your sounds match. Please note: If you read the wrong phonetics… ie those written for an accent very different from your own… you will sound awful!

Sheena Feena Fall

Ataw fay yall egg eireann

Bween daw sloo-uh

Harteen duh rawnig hoo-un

Fay vorge vess air

Shantir ar shinsha farsta

Nee ogfur fen teer-on na fen trarl

anocht a heam-sa varna weel

lay gan a gwale cun vosh no sale

lay gunny skrake fwee larvach na bee-lare

sha- liv connig our-ron na veen

LONDON/SOUTH EAST ENGLISH ACCENT

Reading these words aloud – in your own accent – should produce sounds that match those on the video ie. you will sound like a native Irish speaker from Mayo. Tweak the spellings if you need to. Ask a friend to listen and check your sounds match. Please note: If you read the wrong phonetics… ie those written for an accent very different from your own… you will sound awful!

Shearna Fearna Farl

Ataw fwee yarl egg ear-run

Bween daw sloo-uh

Hah-er-teen duh rawnig hoo-un

Fear varge vess ear

Shan-tir ar shinsha farsta

Nee ogfur fen teer-on nar fen trarl

a-knocked a heem-sa varna weel

lee gan a gweel kun vorsh nor seel

lee gonny skree-uck

fwee larvach na beeleer

shar-liv carnnig ow-rorn na veen

ENGLISH MIDLANDS ACCENT

Reading these words aloud – in your own accent – should produce sounds that match those on the video ie. you will sound like a native Irish speaker from Mayo. Tweak the spellings if you need to. Ask a friend to listen and check your sounds match. Please note: If you read the wrong phonetics… ie those written for an accent very different from your own… you will sound awful!

Sheer-na  Feer-na Farl

Atar fear gall egg ear-run

Bween dar sloo-uh

Hah-er-teen duh rarnig hoo-un

Fear varge vess ear

Shantir ar shinsha farsta

Nee og-fur fen-teer-on nar fen trarl

a-knocked a heem-sa varna weel

leer gan a gwee-rl cun varsh nor seel

leer gunny skree-uck fwee larvuck na bee-leer

shar-liv connig our-ron na veen

US ACCENT

Reading these words aloud – in your own accent – should produce sounds that match those on the video ie. you will sound like a native Irish speaker from Mayo. Tweak the spellings if you need to. Ask a friend to listen and check your sounds match. Please note: If you read the wrong phonetics… ie those written for an accent very different from your own… you will sound awful!

Sheena Feena Fall

Atar fay yall egg erin

Bween daw sloo-uh

Harteen duh rarnig hoo-un

Fee vorge vess air

Sharntir err shinsha farsta

Nee ogfur fen-teer-on nar fen trarl

a-knocked a heem-sa varna weel

lay gan ar gwale cun varsh nor seal

lay gunny skree-uck fwee larvack na bee-lear

shar-liv connig our-ron na veen

AUSTRALIAN ACCENT

Reading these words aloud – in your own accent – should produce sounds that match those on the video ie. you will sound like a native Irish speaker from Mayo. Tweak the spellings if you need to. Ask a friend to listen and check your sounds match. Please note: If you read the wrong phonetics… ie those written for an accent very different from your own… you will sound awful!

Sheena Feena Farl

Atawfay yall ag eireann

Bween daw sloo-uh

Hah-er-teen duh rawnig hoo-un

Fear varge vess ear

Shan-tir ar shinsha farsta

Nee ogfur fen teer-on nar fen trarl

a-knocked a heem-sa varna weel

lee gan a gweel kun vorsh nor seel

leer gonny skree-uck

fwee larvach na beeleer

shah-liv carnnig ow-rorn na veen

LITHUANIAN ACCENT

Reading these words aloud – in your own accent – should produce sounds that match those on the video ie. you will sound like a native Irish speaker from Mayo. Tweak the spellings if you need to. Ask a friend to listen and check your sounds match. Please note: If you read the wrong phonetics… ie those written for an accent very different from your own… you will sound awful!

These are from my friend Arūnas Vladička http://www.themusclespecialist.ie/

Sheena   Feena   Fall,

Atha   Wee   Yall  Eg   Eirun

Buween   Dah   Sloo-h

Harteen   Duh   Rowing  Hooam,

Faey   Vodz   Vess   Ear

Shant-Tear   Ear   Shinsha   Farsta,

Nee  Agfar – Fen   Fear-oon   Na Fen Traall,

A  Nokht   a   Heams-sa   Varna    Weel,

Le   Gunna   Gwale   Cun   Vosh   Nor   Seal,

Le   Gunny   Skreak   Fwee   Larvak   Na   Bilear,

Sha-liv   Conig    Our-ron   Na   Veen.