Editing Irish orthography (section)

=== Vowels ===
[[Vowel]] sequences are common in Irish spelling due to the "{{lang|ga|caol le caol agus leathan le leathan}}" ("slender with slender and broad with broad") rule, i.e. that the vowels on either side of any consonant (or [[consonant cluster]]) must be both slender ({{vr|e, é, i, í}}) or both broad ({{vr|a, á, o, ó, u, ú}}), to unambiguously determine if the consonant(s) are broad or slender.
An apparent exception is {{vr|ae}}, which is followed by a broad consonant despite the {{vr|e}}.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Pronunciation Key |url=https://daltai.com/grammar/pronunciation-key/ |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=Daltaí na Gaeilge |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1" />

The pronunciation of vowels in Irish is mostly predictable from the following rules:

* Unstressed short vowels are generally reduced to {{IPA|/ə/}}.
* {{vr|e}} is silent before a broad vowel.
* {{vr|i}} is silent before {{vr|u, ú}} and after a vowel (except sometimes in {{vr|ei, oi, ui}}).
* {{vr|io, oi, ui}} have multiple pronunciations that depend on adjacent consonants.
* [[Diacritic|Accented]] vowels ({{vr|á, é, í, ó, ú}}) represent [[Vowel length|long vowels]] and in [[digraph (orthography)|digraph]]s and [[trigraph (orthography)|trigraph]]s containing them, surrounding unaccented vowels are silent, but there are several exceptions, e.g. when preceded by two unaccented vowels.
* Accented vowels in succession are both pronounced, e.g. {{lang|ga|séú}} {{IPA|/ˈʃeːuː/}} "sixth", {{lang|ga|ríúil}} {{IPA|/ˈɾˠiːuːlʲ/}} "royal, kingly, majestic", {{lang|ga|báíocht}} {{IPA|/ˈbˠaːiːxt̪ˠ/}} "sympathy", etc.
* {{vr|i}} and {{vr|u}} are long before {{vr|á, ó}}, e.g. {{lang|ga|fiáin}} {{IPA|/ˈfʲiːaːnʲ/}} "wild", {{lang|ga|ruóg}} {{IPA|/ˈɾˠuːoːɡ/}} "twine"
* A following {{vr|rd, rl, rn, rr}} lengthens some vowels and in Munster and Connacht a following syllable-final {{vr|ll, nn}} or word-final {{vr|m, ng}} may lengthen or diphthongise some vowels depending on dialect.
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="3" rowspan="2" |Letter(s)
! colspan="3" |Phoneme(s)
! rowspan="2" |Example(s)
|-
![[Ulster Irish|U]]
!'''[[Connacht Irish|C]]'''
![[Munster Irish|M]]
|-
| rowspan="5" |'''a'''
| rowspan="3" |stressed
|usually
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/a/}}
|{{lang|ga|fan}} {{IPA|/fˠanˠ/}} "stay" (imper.)
|-
|before {{vr|rd, rl, rn, rr}}
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/aː/}}
|{{lang|ga|garda}} {{IPA|/ˈɡaːɾˠd̪ˠə/}} "policeman", {{lang|ga|tarlú}} {{IPA|/ˈt̪ˠaːɾˠl̪ˠuː/}} "happening", {{lang|ga|carnán}} {{IPA|/ˈkaːɾˠn̪ˠaːnˠ/}} "(small) heap", {{lang|ga|barr}} {{IPA|/bˠaːɾˠ/}} "tip, point"
|-
|before syllable-final {{vr|ll, nn}} and -{{vr|m}}
|{{IPA|/a/}}
|{{IPA|/aː/}}
|{{IPA|/əu/}}
|{{lang|ga|mall}} {{IPA|/mˠaːl̪ˠ/}} "slow, late", {{lang|ga|ann}} {{IPA|/aːn̪ˠ/}} "there", {{lang|ga|am}} {{IPA|/aːmˠ/}} "time"
|-
| rowspan="2" |unstressed
|usually
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/ə/}}
|{{lang|ga|ólann}} {{IPA|/ˈoːlˠən̪ˠ/}} "drink" (present), {{lang|ga|mála}} {{IPA|/ˈmˠaːlˠə/}} "bag"
|-
|before {{vr|ch}}
|{{IPA|/a/}}
| colspan="2" |{{IPA|/ə/}}
|{{lang|ga|Domhnach}} {{IPA|/ˈd̪ˠoːnˠəx/}} "Sunday"
|-
| colspan="3" |'''á''', '''ái'''
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/aː/}}
|{{lang|ga|bán}} {{IPA|/bˠaːnˠ/}} "white", {{lang|ga|dáil}} {{IPA|/d̪ˠaːlʲ/}} "assembly", {{lang|ga|gabháil}} {{IPA|/ˈɡawaːlʲ/}} "taking"
|-
| colspan="3" |'''ae''', '''aei'''
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/eː/}}
|{{lang|ga|Gaelach}} {{IPA|/ˈɡeːlˠəx/}} "Gaelic", {{lang|ga|Gaeilge}} {{IPA|/ˈɡeːlʲɟə/}} "Irish (language)"
|-
| rowspan="4" |'''ai'''
| rowspan="3" |stressed
|usually
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/a/}}
|{{lang|ga|baile}} {{IPA|/ˈbˠalʲə/}} "home"
|-
|before {{vr|rd, rl, rn, rr}}
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/aː/}}
|{{lang|ga|airne}} {{IPA|/aːɾˠn̠ʲə/}} "sloe", {{lang|ga|airde}} {{IPA|/aːɾˠdʲə/}} "height"
|-
|before syllable-final {{Vr|ll, nn}}
|{{IPA|/a/}}
|{{IPA|/aː/}}
|{{IPA|/əi/}}
|{{lang|ga|caillte}} {{IPA|/ˈkaːl̠ʲtʲə/}} "lost, ruined", {{lang|ga|crainn}} {{IPA|/kɾˠaːn̠ʲ/}} "trees"
|-
| colspan="2" |unstressed
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/ə/}}
|{{lang|ga|eolais}} {{IPA|/ˈoːlˠəʃ/}} "knowledge" (genitive)
|-
| colspan="3" |'''aí''', '''aío'''
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/iː/}}
|{{lang|ga|maígh}} {{IPA|/mˠiːj/}} "claim" (imper.), {{lang|ga|gutaí}} {{IPA|/ˈɡʊt̪ˠiː/}} "vowels", {{lang|ga|naíonán}} {{IPA|/ˈn̪ˠiːnˠaːnˠ/}} "infant", {{lang|ga|beannaíonn}} {{IPA|/ˈbʲan̪ˠiːnˠ/}} "blesses"
|-
| colspan="3" |'''ao'''
| colspan="2" |{{IPA|/iː/}}
|{{IPA|/eː/}}
|{{lang|ga|saol}} {{IPA|/sˠiːlˠ/}} "life"
|-
| colspan="3" |'''aoi'''
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/iː/}}
|{{lang|ga|gaois}} {{IPA|/ɡiːʃ/}} "shrewdness", {{lang|ga|naoi}} {{IPA|/ˈn̪ˠiː/}} "nine"
|-
| rowspan="5" |'''e''', '''ei'''
| rowspan="4" |stressed
|usually
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/ɛ/}}
|{{lang|ga|te}} {{IPA|/tʲɛ/}} "hot", {{lang|ga|ceist}} {{IPA|/cɛʃtʲ/}} "question"
|-
|before {{vr|rd, rl, rn}}
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/eː/}}
|{{lang|ga|eirleach}} {{IPA|/ˈeːɾˠl̠ʲəx/}} "destruction", {{lang|ga|ceirnín}} {{IPA|/ˈceːɾˠnʲiːnʲ/}} "record album", {{lang|ga|ceird}} {{IPA|/ceːɾˠdʲ/}} "trade, craft"
|-
|before {{vr|m, mh, n}}
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/ɪ/}}
|{{lang|ga|creimeadh}} {{IPA|/ˈcɾʲɪmʲə/}} "corrosion, erosion", {{lang|ga|sceimhle}} {{IPA|/ˈʃcɪvʲlʲə/}} "eroded", {{lang|ga|seinm}} {{IPA|/ˈʃɪnʲəmʲ/}} "playing"
|-
|before syllable-final {{Vr|nn}} and -{{Vr|m}}
|{{IPA|/ɪ/}}
|{{IPA|/iː/}}
|{{IPA|/əi/}}
|{{lang|ga|greim}} {{IPA|/ɟɾʲiːmʲ/}} "grip"
|-
| colspan="2" |unstressed
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/ə/}}
|{{lang|ga|míle}} {{IPA|/ˈmʲiːlʲə/}} "thousand"
|-
| colspan="3" |'''é''', '''éa''', '''éi'''
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/eː/}}
|{{lang|ga|sé}} {{IPA|/ʃeː/}} "he", {{lang|ga|déanamh}} {{IPA|/ˈdʲeːnˠəw/}} "doing", {{lang|ga|buidéal}} {{IPA|/ˈbˠɪdʲeːlˠ/}} "bottle", {{lang|ga|scéimh}} {{IPA|/ʃceːvʲ/}} "beauty", {{lang|ga|páipéir}} {{IPA|/ˈpˠaːpʲeːɾʲ/}} "papers"
|-
| rowspan="5" |'''ea''', '''eai'''
| rowspan="3" |stressed
|usually
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/a/}}
|{{lang|ga|bean}} {{IPA|/bʲanˠ/}} "woman", {{lang|ga|veain}} {{IPA|/vʲanʲ/}} "van"
|-
|before {{vr|rd, rl, rn, rr}}
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/aː/}}
|{{Lang|ga|ceardaí}} {{IPA|/caːɾˠd̪ˠiː/}} "craftsman", {{lang|ga|bearna}} {{IPA|/ˈbʲaːɾˠn̪ˠə/}} "gap", {{Lang|ga|fearr}} {{IPA|/fʲaːɾˠ/}} "better"
|-
|before syllable-final {{Vr|ll, nn}}
|{{IPA|/a/}}
|{{IPA|/aː/}}
|{{IPA|/əu/}}
|{{lang|ga|feall}} {{IPA|/fʲaːl̪ˠ/}} "treachery", {{lang|ga|feanntach}} {{IPA|/ˈfʲaːn̪ˠt̪ˠəx/}} "severe"
|-
| rowspan="2" |unstressed
|usually
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/ə/}}
|{{lang|ga|seisean}} {{IPA|/ˈʃɛʃənˠ/}} "he" (emphatic)
|-
|before {{vr|ch}}
|{{IPA|/a/}}
| colspan="2" |{{IPA|/ə/}}
|{{lang|ga|taoiseach}} {{IPA|/ˈt̪ˠiːʃəx/}} "chieftain"
|-
| colspan="3" |'''eá''', '''eái'''
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/aː/}}
|{{lang|ga|Seán}} {{IPA|/ʃaːnˠ/}} "John", {{lang|ga|caisleán}} {{IPA|/ˈkaʃl̠ʲaːnˠ/}} "castle", {{lang|ga|meáin}} {{IPA|/mʲaːnʲ/}} "middles", {{lang|ga|caisleáin}} {{IPA|/ˈkaʃl̠ʲaːnʲ/}} "castles"
|-
| colspan="2" rowspan="2" |'''eo''', '''eoi'''
|usually
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/oː/}}
|{{lang|ga|ceol}} {{IPA|/coːlˠ/}} "music", {{lang|ga|dreoilín}} {{IPA|/ˈdʲɾʲoːlʲiːnʲ/}} "wren"
|-
|in four words
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/ɔ/}}
|anseo {{IPA|/ənʲˈʃɔ/}} "here", deoch {{IPA|/dʲɔx/}} "drink", eochair {{IPA|/ˈɔxəɾʲ/}} "key", seo {{IPA|/ˈʃɔ/}} "this"
|-
| rowspan="3" |'''i'''
| rowspan="2" |stressed
|usually
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/ɪ/}}
|{{lang|ga|pic}} {{IPA|/pʲɪc/}} "pitch", {{lang|ga|ifreann}} {{IPA|/ˈɪfʲɾʲən̪ˠ/}} "hell"
|-
|before syllable-final {{vr|ll, nn}} and -{{vr|m}}
|{{IPA|/ɪ/}}
| colspan="2" |{{IPA|/iː/}}
|{{lang|ga|cill}} {{IPA|/ciːl̠ʲ/}} "church", {{lang|ga|cinnte}} {{IPA|/ˈciːn̠ʲtʲə/}} "sure", {{lang|ga|im}} {{IPA|/iːmʲ/}} "butter"
|-
| colspan="2" |unstressed
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/ə/}}
|{{lang|ga|faoistin}} {{IPA|/ˈfˠiːʃtʲənʲ/}} "confession"
|-
| colspan="3" |'''í''', '''ío'''
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/iː/}}
|{{lang|ga|gnímh}} {{IPA|/ɟnʲiːvʲ/}} "act, deed" (gen.), {{lang|ga|cailín}} {{IPA|/ˈkalʲiːnʲ/}} "girl", {{lang|ga|síol}} {{IPA|/ʃiːlˠ/}} "seed"
|-
| colspan="3" |'''ia''', '''iai'''
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/iə/}}
|{{lang|ga|Diarmaid}} {{IPA|/dʲiərmədʲ/}} "Dermot", {{lang|ga|bliain}} {{IPA|/bʲlʲiənʲ/}} "year"
|-
| colspan="3" |'''iá''', '''iái'''
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/iː.aː/}}
|{{lang|ga|bián}} {{IPA|/ˈbʲiːaːnˠ/}} "size", {{lang|ga|liáin}} {{IPA|/ˈl̠ʲiːaːnʲ/}} "trowel" (gen.)
|-
| colspan="2" rowspan="3" |'''io'''
|before {{vr|{{wrap|d, n, r, s, t, th}}}}
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/ɪ/}}
|{{lang|ga|fios}} {{IPA|/fʲɪsˠ/}} "knowledge", {{lang|ga|bior}} {{IPA|/bʲɪɾˠ/}} "spit, spike", {{lang|ga|cion}} {{IPA|/cɪnˠ/}} "affection", {{lang|ga|giota}} {{IPA|/ˈɟɪt̪ˠə/}} "bit, piece", {{lang|ga|giodam}} {{IPA|/ˈɟɪd̪ˠəmˠ/}} "restlessness", {{lang|ga|friotháil}} {{IPA|/ˈfʲɾʲɪhaːlʲ/}} "attention"
|-
|before {{vr|{{wrap|b, c, g, m, ng, p}}}}
| rowspan="2" |{{IPA|/ɪ/}}
| colspan="2" |{{IPA|/ʊ/}}
|{{lang|ga|siopa}} {{IPA|/ˈʃʊpˠə/}} "shop", {{lang|ga|liom}} {{IPA|/lʲʊmˠ/}} "with me", {{lang|ga|tiocfaidh}} {{IPA|/ˈtʲʊkiː/}} "will come", {{lang|ga|Siobhán}} {{IPA|/ˈʃʊwaːnˠ/}} "Joan", {{lang|ga|briogáid}} {{IPA|/ˈbʲɾʲʊɡaːdʲ/}} "brigade", {{lang|ga|tiomáin}} {{IPA|/ˈtʲʊmaːnʲ/}} "drive" (imper.), {{lang|ga|ionga}} {{IPA|/ˈʊŋɡə/}} "(finger)nail"
|-
|before syllable-final {{Vr|nn}}
|{{IPA|/ʊ/}}
|{{IPA|/uː/}}
|{{lang|ga|fionn}} {{IPA|/fʲʊn̪ˠ/}} "light-haired"
|-
| colspan="3" |'''ió''', '''iói'''
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/iː.oː/}}
|{{lang|ga|sióg}} {{IPA|/ˈʃiːoːɡ/}} "fairy", {{lang|ga|pióg}} {{IPA|/ˈpʲiːoːɡ/}} "pie", {{lang|ga|grióir}} {{IPA|/ˈɟɾʲiːoːɾʲ/}} "weakling"
|-
| colspan="3" |'''iu'''
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/ʊ/}}
|{{lang|ga|fliuch}} {{IPA|/fʲlʲʊx/}} "wet"
|-
| colspan="3" |'''iú''', '''iúi'''
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/uː/}}
|{{lang|ga|siúl}} {{IPA|/ʃuːlˠ/}} "walk", {{lang|ga|bailiú}} {{IPA|/ˈbˠalʲuː/}} "gathering", {{lang|ga|ciúin}} {{IPA|/cuːnʲ/}} "quiet", {{lang|ga|inniúil}} {{IPA|/ˈɪn̠ʲuːlʲ/}} "able, fit"
|-
| rowspan="5" |'''o'''
| rowspan="4" |stressed
|usually
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/ɔ/}}
|{{lang|ga|post}} {{IPA|/pˠɔsˠt̪ˠ/}} "post"
|-
|before {{vr|rd, rl, rn}}
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/oː/}}
|{{lang|ga|bord}} {{IPA|/bˠoːɾˠd̪ˠ/}} "table", {{lang|ga|orlach}} {{IPA|/ˈoːɾˠl̪ˠəx/}} "inch"
|-
|before {{vr|n, m}}
| rowspan="2" |{{IPA|/ɔ/}}
| colspan="2" |{{IPA|/ʊ/}}
|{{lang|ga|conradh}} {{IPA|/ˈkʊnˠɾˠə/}} "agreement", {{lang|ga|cromóg}} {{IPA|/ˈkɾˠʊmˠoːɡ/}} "hooked nose"
|-
|before syllable-final {{Vr|nn}} and -{{Vr|m, ng}}
|{{IPA|/uː/}}
|{{IPA|/əu/}}
|{{lang|ga|fonn}} {{IPA|/fˠuːn̪ˠ/}} "desire, inclination", {{lang|ga|trom}} {{IPA|/t̪ˠɾˠuːmˠ/}} "heavy", {{lang|ga|long}} {{IPA|/l̪ˠuːŋɡ/}} "ship"
|-
| colspan="2" |unstressed
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/ə/}}
|{{lang|ga|mo}} {{IPA|/mˠə/}} "my", {{lang|ga|cothrom}} {{IPA|/ˈkɔɾˠəmˠ/}} "equal"
|-
| colspan="3" |'''ó''', '''ói'''
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/oː/}}
|{{lang|ga|póg}} {{IPA|/pˠoːɡ/}} "kiss", {{lang|ga|armónach}} {{IPA|/ˈaɾˠəmˠoːnəx/}} "harmonic", {{lang|ga|móin}} {{IPA|/mˠoːnʲ/}} "sod, turf", {{lang|ga|bádóir}} {{IPA|/ˈbˠaːd̪ˠoːɾʲ/}} "boatman"
|-
| rowspan="7" |'''oi'''
| rowspan="6" |stressed
|usually
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/ɛ/}}
|{{lang|ga|scoil}} {{IPA|/sˠkɛlʲ/}} "school", {{lang|ga|troid}} {{IPA|/t̪ˠɾˠɛdʲ/}} "fight" (imper.), {{lang|ga|toitín}} {{IPA|/ˈt̪ˠɛtʲiːnʲ/}} "cigarette", {{lang|ga|oibre}} {{IPA|/ˈɛbʲɾʲə/}} "work" (gen.), {{lang|ga|thoir}} {{IPA|/hɛɾʲ/}} "in the east", {{lang|ga|cloiche}} {{IPA|/ˈklˠɛçə/}} "stone" (gen.)
|-
|before {{vr|{{wrap|cht, rs, rt, rth, s}}}}
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/ɔ/}}
|{{lang|ga|cois}} {{IPA|/kɔʃ/}} "foot" (dat.), {{lang|ga|cloisfidh}} {{IPA|/ˈkl̪ˠɔʃiː/}} "will hear", {{lang|ga|boicht}} {{IPA|/bˠɔxtʲ/}} "poor" (gen. sg. masc.), {{lang|ga|doirse}} {{IPA|/ˈd̪ɔɾˠʃə/}} "doors", {{lang|ga|goirt}} {{IPA|/ɡɔɾˠtʲ/}} "salty", {{lang|ga|oirthear}} {{IPA|/ˈɔɾˠhəɾˠ/}} "east"
|-
|before {{vr|rd, rl, rn}}
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/oː/}}
|{{lang|ga|coirnéal}} {{IPA|/ˈkoːɾˠn̠ʲeːlˠ/}} "corner", {{lang|ga|oird}} {{IPA|/oːɾˠdʲ/}} "sledgehammers"
|-
|next to {{vr|n, m, mh}}
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/ɪ/}}
|{{lang|ga|anois}} {{IPA|/əˈnˠɪʃ/}} "now", {{lang|ga|gloine}} {{IPA|/ˈɡlˠɪnʲə/}} "glass", {{lang|ga|cnoic}} {{IPA|/knˠɪc/}} "hills", {{lang|ga|roimh}} {{IPA|/ɾˠɪvʲ/}} "before", {{lang|ga|coimeád}} {{IPA|/ˈkɪmʲaːd̪ˠ/}} "keep" (imper.), {{lang|ga|loinge}} {{IPA|/ˈl̪ˠɪɲɟə/}} "ship" (gen.)
|-
|before syllable-final {{Vr|nn}} and -{{Vr|m}}
| rowspan="2" |{{IPA|/ɪ/}}
| colspan="2" |{{IPA|/iː/}}
|{{lang|ga|foinn}} {{IPA|/fˠiːnʲ/}} "wish" (gen.), {{lang|ga|droim}} {{IPA|/d̪ˠɾˠiːmʲ/}} "back"
|-
|before syllable-final {{Vr|ll}}
|{{IPA|/əi/}}
|{{IPA|/iː/}}
|{{lang|ga|goill}} {{IPA|/gəil̠ʲ/}} "grieve, hurt", {{lang|ga|coillte}} {{IPA|/ˈkəil̠ʲtʲə/}} "forests"
|-
| colspan="2" |unstressed
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/ə/}}
|{{lang|ga|éadroime}} {{IPA|/eːdˠɾˠəmʲə/}} "lightness"
|-
| colspan="3" |'''oí''', '''oío'''
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/iː/}}
|{{lang|ga|croíleacán}} {{IPA|/ˈkɾˠiːlʲəkaːnˠ/}} "core", {{lang|ga|croíonna}} {{IPA|/ˈkɾˠiːn̪ˠə/}} "hearts"
|-
| rowspan="4" |'''u'''
| rowspan="3" |stressed
|usually
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/ʊ/}}
|{{lang|ga|dubh}} {{IPA|/d̪ˠʊw/}} "black"
|-
|before {{vr|rd, rl, rn}}
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/uː/}}
|{{lang|ga|burla}} {{IPA|/ˈbˠuːɾˠl̪ˠə/}} "bundle", {{lang|ga|murnán}} {{IPA|/ˈmˠuːɾˠn̪ˠaːnˠ/}} "ankle"
|-
|in English loanwords
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/ɔ/}} or {{IPA|/ʊ/}}
|{{lang|ga|bus}} {{IPA|/bˠɔsˠ/}}, {{lang|ga|club}} {{IPA|/klˠɔbˠ/}}
|-
| colspan="2" |unstressed
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/ə/}}
|{{lang|ga|agus}} {{IPA|/ˈaɡəsˠ/}} "and"
|-
| colspan="3" |'''ú''', '''úi'''
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/uː/}}
|{{lang|ga|tús}} {{IPA|/t̪ˠuːsˠ/}} "beginning", {{lang|ga|súil}} {{IPA|/suːlʲ/}} "eye", {{lang|ga|cosúil}} {{IPA|/ˈkɔsˠuːlʲ/}} "like, resembling"
|-
| colspan="3" |'''ua''', '''uai'''
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/uə/}}
|{{lang|ga|fuar}} {{IPA|/fˠuəɾˠ/}} "cold", {{lang|ga|fuair}} {{IPA|/fˠuəɾʲ/}} "got"
|-
| colspan="3" |'''uá''', '''uái'''
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/uː.aː/}}
|{{lang|ga|ruán}} {{IPA|/ˈɾˠuːaːnˠ/}} "buckwheat", {{lang|ga|duán}} {{IPA|/ˈd̪ˠuːaːnˠ/}} "kidney, fishhook", {{lang|ga|fuáil}} {{IPA|/ˈfˠuːaːlʲ/}} "sewing, stitching"
|-
| rowspan="4" |'''ui'''
| rowspan="3" |stressed
|usually
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/ɪ/}}
|{{lang|ga|duine}} {{IPA|/ˈd̪ˠɪnʲə/}} "person"
|-
|before {{vr|rd, rl, rn}}
| rowspan="2" |{{IPA|/ɪ/}}
| colspan="2" |{{IPA|/uː/}}
|{{lang|ga|duirling}} {{IPA|/ˈd̪ˠuːɾˠlʲənʲ/}} "stony beach", {{lang|ga|tuirne}} {{IPA|/ˈt̪ˠuːɾˠn̠ʲə/}} "spinning wheel"
|-
|before syllable-final {{Vr|ll, nn}} and -{{Vr|m}}
| colspan="2" |{{IPA|/iː/}}
|{{lang|ga|tuillteanach}} /ˈt̪ˠiːl̠ʲtʲənˠəx/ "deserving", {{lang|ga|puinn}} /pˠiːn̠ʲ/ "much", {{lang|ga|suim}} /sˠiːmʲ/ "interest"
|-
| colspan="2" |unstressed
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/ə/}}
|{{lang|ga|aguisín}} {{IPA|/ˈaɡəʃiːnʲ/}} "addition"
|-
| colspan="3" |'''uí''', '''uío'''
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/iː/}}
|{{lang|ga|buígh}} {{IPA|/bˠiːj/}} "turn yellow" (imper.), {{lang|ga|buíon}} {{IPA|/bˠiːnˠ/}} "band, troop"
|-
| colspan="3" |'''uó''', '''uói'''
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/uː.oː/}}
|{{lang|ga|cruóg}} {{IPA|/ˈkɾˠuːoːɡ/}} "urgent need", {{lang|ga|luóige}} {{IPA|/ˈl̪ˠuːoːɟə/}} "pollock" (gen.)
|}

==== Followed by {{vr|bh, dh, gh, mh}} ====
When followed by {{vr|bh, dh, gh, mh}}, a short vowel usually forms a [[diphthong]] or lengthens. For {{vr|(e)adh, (a)idh, (a)igh}}, see -{{vr|dh, (a)igh}} in [[#Exceptions in verb forms|exceptions in verb forms]].
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |Letters
! colspan="3" |Phoneme(s)
! rowspan="2" |Example(s)
|-
![[Ulster Irish|U]]
!'''[[Connacht Irish|C]]'''
![[Munster Irish|M]]
|-
| colspan="2" |'''(e)abh''', '''(e)abha''', '''(e)abhai'''
|{{IPA|/oː/}} or {{IPA|/əu/}}
| colspan="2" |{{IPA|/əu/}}
|{{lang|ga|Feabhra}} {{IPA|/ˈfʲəuɾˠə/}} "February", {{lang|ga|leabhair}} {{IPA|/l̠ʲəuɾʲ/}} "books", {{lang|ga|sabhall}} {{IPA|/sˠəul̪ˠ/}} "barn"
|-
| rowspan="2" |'''(e)adh''', '''(e)adha''', '''(e)adhai''', '''(e)agh''', '''(e)agha''', '''(e)aghai'''
|stressed
|{{IPA|/eː/}} or {{IPA|/əi/}}
| colspan="2" |{{IPA|/əi/}}
|{{lang|ga|meadhg}} {{IPA|/mʲəiɡ/}} "whey", {{lang|ga|adharc}} {{IPA|/əiɾˠk/}} "horn", {{lang|ga|adhairt}} {{IPA|/əiɾˠtʲ/}} "pillow", {{lang|ga|saghsanna}} {{IPA|/ˈsˠəisˠən̪ˠə/}} "sorts, kinds", {{lang|ga|deagha}} {{IPA|/d̪ˠəi/}} "centaury", {{lang|ga|aghaidh}} {{IPA|/əij/}} "face"
|-
|unstressed
|{{IPA|/uː/}}
| colspan="2" |{{IPA|/ə/}}
|{{lang|ga|margadh}} {{IPA|/ˈmˠaɾˠəɡə/}} "market", {{lang|ga|briseadh}} {{IPA|/ˈbʲɾʲɪʃə/}} "breaking"
|-
| rowspan="2" |'''aidh''', '''aidhe''', '''aigh''', '''aighe''', '''aighea'''
|stressed
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/əi/}}
|{{lang|ga|aidhleann}} {{IPA|/ˈəilʲən̪ˠ/}} "rack", {{lang|ga|aidhe}} {{IPA|/əi/}} "aye!", {{lang|ga|aighneas}} {{IPA|/əinʲəsˠ/}} "argument, discussion", {{lang|ga|aighe}} {{IPA|/əi/}} "cow, ox" (gen.), {{lang|ga|caighean}} {{IPA|/kəinˠ/}} "cage"
|-
|unstressed
|{{IPA|/iː/}}
|{{IPA|/ə/}}
|{{IPA|/əɟ/}}
|cleachtaidh {{IPA|/ˈclʲaxt̪ˠiː/}} "practice" (gen.), {{lang|ga|bacaigh}} {{IPA|/ˈbˠakiː/}} "beggar" (gen.)
|-
| rowspan="2" |'''(e)amh''', '''(e)amha''', '''(e)amhai'''
|stressed
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/əu/}}
|{{lang|ga|ramhraigh}} {{IPA|/ˈɾˠəuɾˠiː/}} "fattened", {{lang|ga|amhantar}} {{IPA|/ˈəun̪ˠt̪ˠəɾˠ/}} "venture", {{lang|ga|[[Samhain]]}} {{IPA|/sˠəunʲ/}} "November"
|-
|unstressed
|{{IPA|/uː/}}
|{{IPA|/ə(w)/}}
|{{IPA|/əw/}}
|{{Lang|ga|acadamh}} {{IPA|/ˈakəd̪ˠəw/}} "academy", {{Lang|ga|creideamh}} {{IPA|/ˈcɾʲɛdʲəw/}} "belief, religion"
|-
| colspan="2" |'''eidh''', '''eidhea''', '''eidhi'''
| rowspan="2" |{{IPA|/eː/}}
| colspan="2" rowspan="2" |{{IPA|/əi/}}
|{{lang|ga|feidhm}} {{IPA|/fʲəimʲ/}} "function", {{lang|ga|eidheann}} {{IPA|/əin̪ˠ/}} "ivy", {{lang|ga|meidhir}} {{IPA|/mʲəiɾʲ/}} "mirth"
|-
| colspan="2" |'''eigh''', '''eighea''', '''eighi'''
|{{lang|ga|feighlí}} {{IPA|/ˈfʲəilʲiː/}} "overseer", {{lang|ga|leigheas}} {{IPA|/l̠ʲəisˠ/}} "healing", {{lang|ga|feighil}} {{IPA|/fʲəilʲ/}} "vigilance"
|-
| rowspan="2" |'''idh''', '''(u)igh'''
|stressed
| colspan="2" |{{IPA|/iː/}}
|{{IPA|/ɪɟ/}}
|{{lang|ga|ligh}} {{IPA|/l̠ʲiː/}} "sit", {{lang|ga|guigh}} {{IPA|/giː/}} "pray"
|-
|unstressed
|{{IPA|/iː/}}
|{{IPA|/ə/}}
|{{IPA|/əɟ/}}
|{{lang|ga|tuillidh}} {{IPA|/ˈt̪ˠɪl̠ʲiː/}} "addition" (gen.), {{lang|ga|coiligh}} {{IPA|/ˈkɛlʲiː/}} "rooster" (gen.)
|-
| colspan="2" |'''oidh''', '''oidhea''', '''oidhi'''
| colspan="3" rowspan="2" |{{IPA|/əi/}}
|{{lang|ga|oidhre}} {{IPA|/əiɾʲə/}} "heir", {{lang|ga|oidheanna}} {{IPA|/əin̪ˠə/}} "tragedies"
|-
| colspan="2" |'''oigh''', '''oighea''', '''oighi'''
|{{lang|ga|oighreach}} {{IPA|/ˈəiɾʲəx/}} "glacial", {{lang|ga|oigheann}} {{IPA|/əin̪ˠ/}} "oven", {{lang|ga|loighic}} {{IPA|/l̪ˠəic/}} "logic"
|-
| colspan="2" |'''(e)obh''', '''(e)obha''', '''(e)obhai'''
| rowspan="3" |{{IPA|/oː/}}
| colspan="2" rowspan="3" |{{IPA|/əu/}}
|{{lang|ga|lobhra}} {{IPA|/ˈl̪ˠəuɾˠə/}} "leprosy", {{lang|ga|lobhar}} {{IPA|/l̪ˠəuɾˠ/}} "leper", {{lang|ga|lobhair}} {{IPA|/l̪ˠəuɾʲ/}} "lepers"
|-
| colspan="2" |'''(e)odh''', '''(e)odha''', '''(e)odhai'''
|{{lang|ga|bodhrán}} {{IPA|/ˈbˠəuɾˠaːnˠ/}} "deaf person", {{lang|ga|bodhar}} {{IPA|/bˠəuɾˠ/}} "deaf", {{lang|ga|bodhair}} {{IPA|/bˠəuɾʲ/}} "deaf people"
|-
| colspan="2" |'''(e)ogh''', '''(e)ogha''', '''(e)oghai'''
|{{lang|ga|doghra}} {{IPA|/ˈd̪ˠəuɾˠə/}} "misery", {{lang|ga|bogha}} {{IPA|/bˠəu/}} "bow", {{lang|ga|broghais}} {{IPA|/bˠɾˠəuʃ/}} "afterbirth (of animal)"
|-
| colspan="2" |'''(e)omh''', '''(e)omha''', '''(e)omhai'''
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/oː/}}
|{{lang|ga|Domhnach}} {{IPA|/ˈd̪ˠoːnˠəx/}} "Sunday", {{lang|ga|comhar}} {{IPA|/koːɾˠ/}} "partnership", {{lang|ga|domhain}} {{IPA|/d̪ˠoːnʲ/}} "deep"
|-
| colspan="2" |'''(i)ubh'''
|{{IPA|/uː/}}
|{{IPA|/ʊ(w)/}}
|{{IPA|/ʊw/}}
|{{lang|ga|dubh}} {{IPA|/d̪ˠʊw/}} "black", {{lang|ga|tiubh}} {{IPA|/tʲʊw/}} "dense"
|-
| colspan="2" |'''(i)umh''', '''(i)umha''', '''(i)umhai'''
| colspan="3" |{{IPA|/uː/}}
|{{lang|ga|cumhra}} {{IPA|/ˈkuːɾˠə/}} "fragrant", {{lang|ga|Mumhan}} {{IPA|/ˈmˠuːnˠ/}} "Munster" (gen.), {{lang|ga|ciumhais}} {{IPA|/cuːʃ/}} "edge"
|}