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distinguish between them and words in which the letters have the ordinary value.
Diphthongs being the union of simple vowel sounds, are provided for in the direct. manner by the use of vowels, and not by the round-about way of using combinations of vowels and consonants at present employed in writing Irish. Illustrations of the diphthongs are given in the table, which is as follows:—
ALPHABET.
B, C, Ch, D, F, G, Gh, H, L, M, N, Ng, P, R, S, T, V, W.
| Simp. Spg. | Eng. Trans. | Old. Spg. | |
| B br. | Bá | Drowning | Báḋaḋ |
| B sl. | Bía | Food | Biaḋ |
| C br. | Cás | Trouble | Cás |
| C sl. | Cih | A shower | Cioṫ |
| Ch br. | Ach | But | Aċt |
| Ch sl. | Chím | I see | Ċím |
| D br. | Dá | Two | Dá |
| D sl. | Dí | Of drink | Diġe |
| F br. | Fáil | Getting | Faġáil |
| F sl. | Fear | A man | Fear |
| G br. | Gour | A goat | Gaḃar |
| G sl. | Geal | Bright | Geal |
| Gh br. | A ghrá | My love | A ġráḋ |
| Gh sl. | Ghíolas | I sold | Ḋíolas |
| H | Cahú | Regret | Caṫuġaḋ |
| L br. | Luí | Lying | Luiġe |
| L sl. | Leag | Knock down | Leag |
| M br. | Ma | If | Má |
| M sl. | Mil | Honey | Mil |
| N br. | Nós | Custom | Nós |
