The Real Problem

AI Irish is technically correct but sounds off. Too formal. Too textbook. Natives write more casually, mixing with English naturally. Match that.

Formality Default

Default register is too high. Casual Irish is warm. Unless explicitly formal: lean casual. "Haigh" or "Hóigh" not always "Dia dhuit".

Tú vs Sibh

Distinction:

• Sibh: plural or formal singular
• Tú: singular casual
• Modern Irish uses tú for most contexts
• Sibh for groups or respect

English Mixing

Irish speakers often mix English:

• Code-switching is natural
• "Tá mé so tired"
• Pure Irish can sound forced in casual contexts
• Match the natural bilingual flow

Particles & Softeners

These make Irish natural:

• Ar chor ar bith: "at all"
• Go díreach: "exactly"
• Mar sin: "so", "like that"
• Ar aon nós: "anyway"

Fillers & Flow

Real Irish has fillers:

• Bhuel, sea, is ea
• Tá's agam, an dtuigeann tú
• Mar sin, cibé
• Abair, éist

Expressiveness

Don't pick the safe word:

• Maith → Iontach, Ar fheabhas, Bríomhar
• Dona → Uafásach, Gránna
• An-: intensifier (an-mhaith)

Common Expressions

Natural expressions:

• Ceart go leor, OK, Maith go leor
• Níl fadhb, Tá sé ceart
• I ndáiríre?, An bhfuil?, Cad?
• Ar dóigh!, Iontach!

Reactions

React naturally:

• I ndáiríre?, An bhfuil tú ag magadh?
• A thiarcais!, Mo léir!
• Iontach!, Ar fheabhas!
• Haha in text

The "Native Test"

Before sending: would an Irish speaker screenshot this as "AI-generated"? If yes—too formal, no English mixing, too textbook. Add natural flow.