* Alphabet: The Irish alphabet includes the standard English alphabet plus three additional letters:
* á: pronounced like the "a" in "father"
* é: pronounced like the "a" in "fate"
* ó: pronounced like the "o" in "go"
* ú: pronounced like the "oo" in "moon"
* í: pronounced like the "ee" in "see"
Also note that some letters have different sounds depending on their position in a word (lenition, eclipsis).
* Pronunciation: Irish pronunciation is quite different from English. There are sounds that don't exist in English, and the same letter can have multiple pronunciations depending on context. This is why simply knowing the alphabet isn't sufficient.
* Learning Resources: To learn to spell correctly, you need to learn the rules of Irish pronunciation and grammar. This is best done through formal study with textbooks, language courses (online or in person), and immersion.
* Aspiration and Lenition: Irish consonants can be aspirated (pronounced with a puff of air) or lenited (softened). These changes affect spelling and pronunciation significantly.
* Fada (Long Mark): The fada (a long mark above a vowel) changes the vowel's pronunciation, making it long. It's a crucial part of spelling.
* Grammar: Irish grammar is very different from English, influencing how words are formed and therefore spelled. For instance, noun cases and verb conjugations will affect the spelling of words within a sentence.
In short, learning to spell in Irish Gaelic requires dedicated study and practice of its unique phonetic and grammatical structures. Simply looking up individual words in a dictionary is a starting point, but understanding the underlying principles is essential for correct spelling.