Customer Reviews

Focloir Poca: English-Irish Irish-English Dictionary

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Foclóir Póca (pocket dictionary) is an English - Irish / Irish - English dictionary with verb tables, phonetic pronunciations for each word and pretty thorough examples for word usage. The back cover says it lists more than 30,000 words, and I've only very rarely not found a word that I was looking for in it. It's published by an gúm, Ireland's national publisher for Irish language material. It's compact but thick enough that it'd really take a lot of work to stuff it into your pocket. It's the only beginner's dictionary I've seen that has pronunciations.

All in all, this is a no brainer if you're looking to buy a beginner's Irish dictionary. 5 stars, as I really can't think of anything to deduct for.

If you're looking for a good pocket Irish dictionary, without a doubt, this is it!

As a beginner in Irish I have had some problems with other dictionaries, but not with this one. One of the biggest things I like about this dictionary is that it actually lists all relevant forms of the nouns. If the genitive or plural form of a noun are different then the singular, it's there! This is a huge help to learning Irish. Any one learning Irish seriously should know that Irish plurals are not very predictable, and really should be learned along with their singular forms.

secondly, this dictionary has pronunciations for each individual word (as said in other reviews). Now the phonetic pronunciation is a mixed blessing anyway, but it does help. I say 'mixed blessing' because the pronunciation represented may not be the pronunciation used it the area. There is no single standard pronunciation for Irish.

Also, as stated in other reviews, there are quite a few words in this dictionary. Thus you should be able to use it for most everyday things, like reading a book or newspaper.

If you need something more technical, or just want a more comprehensive dictionary, go for the following two. I highly recommend them as well.
Focloir Gaeilge-Bearla/Irish-English Dictionary
English-Irish Dictionary

A ggod dictionary for intermediate course of irish language. There are many words, the pronunciation and well explanation of the use of lexicon.

I have been studying Irish for some months now and have made good progress. Since I have received this Irish Dictionary three weeks ago I am getting a much better sense of the construction of the sentences in Irish and a better feel for the alternate spelling of certain words. I also spent two weeks in Co Kerry shortly after receiving the book and it was a great aid as a reference to the many signs and notices that I encountered in this area where Irish is considered the offical language. Each entry has a wealth of information attached to it so with a little practice it is not difficult to determine the most precise meaning of the word in the context of the sentence. If you are serious about learning Irish you must have this book.

I was looking for a good pocket sized Irish-English dictionary for ages and this is it. Product as described and arrived promptly. Thanks.

I just love this little dictionary, and especially the pronunciations. Why other Irish dictionaries don't have pronunciations is beyond me.

My only complaint is that the print is too small. And you can buy it more cheaply from Ireland than from here, even with shipping.

You want a dictionary of Irish language but don't want to lug around two thick volumes? Then get yourself a copy of the Focloir Poca. It has a large vocabulary and a good guide to pronunciation that other similar dictionaries do not provide. This is the dictionary you need when you're a learner of the Irish language or anyone who uses Irish but is not a native speaker. This was my second time buying it and I always got good use from it. Focloir Poca English - Irish / Irish - English Dictionary - Gaeilge / Bearla (English and Irish Edition)