For example, Did you see what she posted on Facebook?! Thanks a million means Thank you very much. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. Did you go to Trinners to do your degree? It stems from the English noun grudgeand as you can hear from Irish conversations, the persons who use this term usually hold a grudge towards the persons they are referring to, or, they just simply are complaining about their rough situation in life. Suzanne Ridgeway (author) from Dublin, Ireland on June 22, 2012: Cheers chef-de-jour! From "bajanxed" to "bogger", Niall takes us through some of Ireland's best slang phrases. Well wait until dusk. I also lived in 3 continents from the Caribbean, South East Asia to Africa. Many are used without us even realizing we must sound odd to foreign visitors! It could also denote a place where cheap entertainment can be availed. You'll hear this word in Ireland and Scotland, and slinte 's meaning is "health" in both countries. For example, Yer man was caught last week stealing from the till in Superquinn. or my darling a term of endearment youll never forget. If someone told me they were shattered, I'd think they were drunk not tired! If you ever get lost in a familiar neighborhood in Ireland, dont be too offended when your Irish friend calls you an, Commonly used in the UK and Ireland, a gaffer is colloquially termed as ones boss, your old man, or a foreman. - common prostitute, Means sorry and also excuse me, pardon me, Now you're talking, now you're doing well. You would be lead to believe us Irish speak the English but don't be fooled!! It's for a poem and I can just see the look on people's faces in the workshop. Over the course of my time there, I received my fair share of strange looks when I said certain things. No idea how to describe this one. Ireland Travel Guides aims to help travelers to find their way for the first time in Ireland. "What's the craic" can also be used to say hello to someone meaning "hi, any gossip/how is it going". Great page! Yet, still, it is used in a mocking mannerwith a hint of affection. and as you can hear from Irish conversations, the persons who use this term usually hold a grudge towards the persons they are referring to, or, they just simply are complaining about their rough situation in life. This Irish expression gets more than its fair share of use and isnt specific to any particular county. It is a term most commonly used by angry Irishmen for the current state of their lives, caused by another Irishmans fortune. Hi, Im Christine a full-time traveler and career woman. You might befriend an Irish local or a tourist who is a. and he or she will take you to the wildest places you could imagine. These meanings portray left-hand people as weird outcasts of or Irish society. Addressing your darling or Irish sweetheart from Ireland will never be as soft and endearing as the Irish term acushla. The word 'gas' is Irish slang for funny. "Top of the morning to you." I spent a lot of time nodding and smiling, and then admitting I had no idea what they were talking about. Chancers like you and your friends wont have a hard time finding the perfect wave. Know more? Translation: Someone thats lazy. For example, He had a bag of skittles and three bottles of Coke an hour ago hes been up to high doh ever since. The pubs right in front of our gaff! Some instruments commonly used for trad music are the fiddle, the flute and the whistle, Uilleann pipes, harp, accordion, banjo, mandolin, and harmonica. 1. you might befriend a couple of colleens studying horticulture. Translation: Face. You could actually use lash here as well, for example, Give me a lash of that. Quare. I WILL I'D SAY. Teresa Kennedy Harris on August 19, 2018: Very helpful for my book that is based out of Dingle Ireland, and I am a California girl! Appreciate your votes! .OMG, how did that one escape me? Like a pulled piece of cloth from a tenterhook, one can imagine the stretched agitation of a person on tenterhooks. Its a handy conversation starter and its generally the topic of debate in shops and pubs alike. Were stuck here. Deadly doesnt mean dangerous and Class isnt always used to describe a lesson. For example, WHY did I have the second bottle of wine. meaning loud, bragging conversation. Glad you found it interesting and came upon words you recognised. The origin of banjaxed, which was first used in 1939 in the Irish novel At Swim-Two-Birds, is unclearthe Oxford English Dictionary posits it may have been Dublin slangbut it means damaged, ruined, or broken.. That said at speed, did not sound like English. Today, the term is commonly used for hidden bars that provide good music and a variety of drinks. If he was mine Id give him a good kick up the hole!. Acting the maggot. I have a question: what does sleane mean in closing a letter? For the first day or so, I thought I might be coming down with something. But a chancer is a person who pushes their luck, They are commonly risk-takers or, sometimes, daredevils. 'So you were out until all hours last night, show up late for work, took two hours for lunch and now you're leaving early! OTool gave us about 7 weeks worth of maths homework. Dec. Free burgers. Talk about a dope. For example, Dye see yer wan over there with the red hat? Suzanne Ridgeway (author) from Dublin, Ireland on September 14, 2012: What quick work you are! For example, It was a serious night last night, but I was off my head and ordered 7 bags of chips on the way home. What are some words youd use to describe different scents? If you hear someone refer to a person as a Fine thing, it generally means they find that person attractive. 100%! Some of these words are familiar to native English speakers from the USA and UK but used in a different Irish context. You can leg it to the shops, or you can leg it around the corner to meet one of the lads. 'Our kid'- strictly reserved for close family, or friends who are like family, age does not come into it. Here's to you and here's to me, I pray that friends we'll always be, but if by chance we disagree, the heck with you and here's to me. The locals like their slang more than most, and deciphering it requires expert supervision. A way to describe a person who is a bit stupid, or at least very annoying. Common Irish Slang Words. . Thanks. When you feel scarlet in Ireland, you feel embarrassed or mortified over something. I know. This is another one for describing someone thats stupid. Thanks for sharing and passing this on. Youre lookin fine, lad! Lina, please order a chicken salad with some Tayto for me. This is a popular blessing oftentimes used in Catholic weddings or cross-stitched pillows. Translation: I did not. Or is that just a clich?! Have fun, you will be talking like a seasoned pro in no time! To Lob the gob means to kiss someone. Have you heard of the new band from across the block? Boyo. Madeleine Salin from Finland on June 21, 2012: Very interesting and it's always nice to learn new words. Lol appreciate you commenting! The vulgar use of this Irish saying is often heard when someone has an iffy tummy, for example, Ive had a bad dose of the shits all day. I for years always dated foreign men and then met an Irishman on a blind date and that was 5 yrs ago, still going strong!! Im glad I came across your site. on June 23, 2012: A great idea to put together a hub on slangs. Glad you enjoyed and i appreciate your votes and sharing! Example, "Tara, I'm going to the shop", and . 23. Congrats. As each generation comes of age, it adds new and creative slang to the culture. Nice work :). Example: 'Stop faffin' and do some work.'. You are destined for success in writing. Mor ya, you dont have a brother, Eddie! Hes a miserable little pox. when meaning "may I help you?" Mot is an Irish slang word for 'girlfriend'. But dont be too proud when someone calls you by this term. Cailln maith meaning 'good girl' became a way of refering to your girl friend. Dad, weve only climbed less than a hundred feet. Likely to be severely hungover the following morning. Boxin' the fox : - Robbing an orchard. No one is quite sure where the phrase originated, but theories abound: One has it that the phrase originated with the Christy Moore song The Craic Is Ninety in the Isle of Man, while others believe the 90 represents speed. There's no need to be embarrassed or feel badly about . 26 counties in Republic of Ireland and 6 counties in Northern Ireland. Perhaps unsurprisingly given the drunken Irish stereotype, there are several different words in Irish slang that all mean drunk. For example, All them lads do is sit in and play the Xbox. Its used to describe a bad case of something, for example, Ive been lashing in the tablets all week. He does be flying around the garden like hes possessed.. 7. Thanks for stopping by! nb: Use a verb to mean make fun of someone in a nice way or else it has the same meaning as elsewhere i.e. The word originates in from the Irish 'maith' which means good. (Cassells Dictionary of Slang says the phrase means crazy.). !lol Appreciate your support and comments! lol. The word lethal is mainly used in northwestern Ireland and means great. You can also abbreviate lethal into leefs. For example, busted can mean "broken" or "ugly," sick can mean "ill" or "very cool," and hip can mean "trendy" or "fashionably un-trendy.". Riddy - A red face, embarrassed. I recently went to Newfoundland, and they have a lot of different slang words also. I'm from Cork and this quiz if fairly accurate but theirs 4 meanings for lash as the creator said "raining heavy "give it a go" and go drinking" but theres lash to hit example: "If you dont cop on you'll get a lash!". But much stronger. (Term of endearment). lol Glad you enjoyed! Voted Up and Sharing, then I'm off to the Jacks! For example, I got tickets to the Aslan gig. !, Youll often hear people refer to a young lad as a youngfella and a woman as a youngwan. It is a term most commonly used by angry Irishmen for the current state of their lives, caused by another Irishmans fortune. We compiled a list of the cutest nicknames that will inspire you and give grandma some well-deserved recognition. And now, it is an official slang in the modern Irish scenes. How ya getting on? Act the maggot is a verb that means "to mess around," by behaving foolishly, for example, or by avoiding work. Hope that helps! The slang is much similar to the Irish word, meaning clumsy. It, again, is Irish slang for good. :) If only I could find some vacation time :). LMAO! !LOL what an idea!! Hardchaw, Hardman rough person. Theyll tell you the secrets to creating the best garden in the world. Glad you enjoyed and found fun.Appreciate your comments as always :-). The only people that I know who use these words to describe drunkenness are friends from Drogheda. Joshua Zerbini from Pennsylvania on June 29, 2012: Suzie, this was a hilarious hub! Mike Licht NotionsCapital.com,CC-BY-2.0, via flickr. Niall Horan tests his knowledge of Irish slang. Suzanne Ridgeway (author) from Dublin, Ireland on March 30, 2013: Suzanne Ridgeway (author) from Dublin, Ireland on March 28, 2013: Appreciate you dropping in! Here's a list of redneck words and their meanings to help you understand exactly what is being said. Now, you have sparked within me an interest and desire to go to Ireland! Example: 'Thon shoes would look . And a new book offers those who aren't . because I love the IRISH. Tame. It commonly refers to chips or other potato-based finger foods. It can also be used to describe a person. Jar - is slang for a pint of beer. You've highlighted one phrase used quite a bit here! 19. Tenterhooks are hooks used to fasten cloth, either on a wall or a frame, for drying. We talk about the weather a lot in Ireland. If youve read our detailed guide to Irish insults, youll have an idea of the types of slags that Irish people throw at each other. For example, Hes an awful latchio. 1. Slinte! Bookmarked it. I cant reach my coworkers, and the other tourist guides trailing behind us wont be able to hear us outside the Cave of Maghera. Lets watch? A lesser-known, archaic, but still used term of endearment in some literary referencesit literally means little treasure. The suffix een denotes something diminutive or little in size. It stems from the English noun. Still smiling over some of the expressions! Here, I have highlighted the most commonly heard words, their meanings, and provided examples of how they are used in everyday speech. You certainly wouldnt want to hear this from your Irish tour guide at the start of his or her tour! I met a local once at a pub during our extended trip in County Donegal, and he kept complaining about his lifes begrudgery, and how he never has luck wherever he goes. was, and a great painter, but filled with greed and self-loathing. A good destination for your Irish escapade. Interesting! Can't Never Could. Appreciate your input and votes!! Our list of 101 words and phrases that will have you speaking the lingo as if you were born in England . Arriving in Ireland, you may be forgiven for thinking you have been hoodwinked, cajoled, led up the garden path, or just plain misinformed as to the language widely spoken here. Suzanne Ridgeway (author) from Dublin, Ireland on April 25, 2013: Many thanks hope it made some sense to you! Now. Craic generallymeans fun but, as is the case with many bits of Irish slang, theres multiple ways of using it. For example, Theres your change. It's a term that is used to describe the good vibes and atmosphere of a party, night out, or gathering. 4. Voted up and across. 10. Hopefully you will get to visit us over this neck of the woods and have a head start in the speech! You eejit! For example, Do you remember the time Micky got caught moving the cow in the back of his Ford Focus? Oh, I do. We are your one-stop travel website for all things Ireland. Banter: banter is the backbone of Ireland's identity and it is all over Ireland, the banter, the craic, having a good chat and a laugh. Some instruments commonly used for trad music are the fiddle, the flute and the whistle, Uilleann pipes, Have you heard of the new band from across the block? In Irish slang, gander means to quickly look at someone, or take a glance at. Sure look. Fergus, my lad! Every time I went to buy something in a sandwich shop or get a bed at a hostel, the person behind the counter would ask me, "Are you okay?" Suzanne Ridgeway (author) from Dublin, Ireland on June 28, 2012: Thought there was a hint of the 'ol Irish charm there!! Which words did the Irish invent for our own use, and which ones travelled around the globe? Drain da snake : - To take a leak. Interesting on it being close to Essex slang, that's a new one . For example, Ross, ya pox! But dont be too proud when someone calls you by this term. Then I ended up third in line and heard the woman behind the counter ask everyone if they were okay, and I realized that "Are you okay?" Kenneth Avery from Hamilton, Alabama on June 28, 2012: @ Susie Q . In slang nick N-I-C-K is a verb meaning to steal. Our Nature Reserves . Listen, mates, we got ourselves on tenterhooks for a while. Kenneth. Rajan Singh Jolly from From Mumbai, presently in Jalandhar, INDIA. Here's hoping you will get to use here soon!! For example, Ah well! Slagging means to make fun of. We all went back to Sharons after. Confusing or what?! So many cultures adopt their own language as if in code it seems! Go fetch me a mug, boyo. Whats the craic? This is also a good hub if you want to go to Ireland. Thanks so much for your great comments! Donkeys years is used to describe a long passing of time. Appreciate your voting :-). "Gas" in Irish slang means funny. Howve ye been? You could refer to someone thats annoying you as That yoke over there or you could also say Here, pass me that yoke there on the counter. it might be a term of endearment. Another tame one. Aye . Actually they do exist although they are rare! For example, Ill see you in 20. Weather type: Rainey. I havent heard this one used much lately. Its pure shit out. It is a saying that is often known, as you rightly point out, thanks for the query!! This is an Irish phrase thats used to ask someone to wait for you or to stop what youre saying. Jim jams - is slang for pyjamas and as a student you'll hear "I think it's time to put on my jim jams and get into bed - I'm exhausted!" - a lot! Tory: Irish: Bandit, from the Irish Tory Island, a noted have for bandits and pirates. Its alternate meaning is of a foolish person or a simpleton. Locked. Jammy basically means lucky. Example: "I'd rather stay for another round, but I have to crack on.". performing good trade at the old marketplace. Bill Holland from Olympia, WA on June 24, 2012: What a great hub! Cheers for that.. Kristen Howe from Northeast Ohio on April 23, 2015: Suzanne, this was a real interesting read about the top Irish slang words and their meanings. Often used in a derogatory context. For example, Here. I enjoyed reading them. On your next, The term is derived from a teenage Irish entertainment show that commonly reported teenage issues. Topper; He's a topper = A term of praise usually reserved for the young; He's a great lad. Had fun compiling, thinking there really is soooo many, where did they all come from?!! As long as it didn't put you off visiting our wee Emerald Isle! Derived from the Irish Gaelic word brog, a shoe, or from Old Norse, broc, meaning leg covering. If you're easily offended, you may want to click the little 'x' now you dope . This is hands-down one of my most-used Irish sayings. The term roots from the Irish word sbn, meaning illegal whiskey. Loads of the below words were new to me as well, but Ive lashed them into a section dedicated to Belfast slang. :-). That was a . Tae: Tea. If ever there was a Gobdaw its that lad. This guide will help you understand how these words were formed, and how theyre used in your first or next visit to Ireland. Now is widely used to refer to all women of similar ages and not just girlfriends. Grand means OK. Youll hear it most commonly used as a response to, Hows it going/How are you feeling?/How are you today?. And so is the jacks. We use Unreal to describe something that so good its actually hard to believe. Wind yer neck in . For example, Youll be getting off your hole and emptying the bins in 5 minutes. And FYI, my ancestors came from Old Ireland. I met a local once at a pub during our extended trip in, This word is as pretty as it sounds. This is fantastic!! For example, Please tell me hes called off training. I loved this. Banjaxed drunk. These Irish slang words are commonly used in everyday Irish conversationssome might sound offensive, some might sound like it was pulled out of a literary textbook. If you value children for the, small that you value highly, then storeen might be an appropriate word to use. This was one of the most enjoyable posts that Ive written in a while. No, we don't mean the fuel. he can ask me bollix if he tinks im gettin into a barney wit him over it the poxbottle, sure ur aulwan kno's wot he's like n all inanyways dya kno worimean pal. For example, Bout ye, chief! Would an Irish person use the word cheeky?. I lived in Britain for many years and when I first arrived, I couldn't understand a word they were saying, "You alright me duck?". But be wary if a stranger addresses you with this term at the middle of the night. For example, Shut your bake, you clown. Im giving the word craic its own section, as there are heaps of different ways that it can be used. Suzanne Ridgeway (author) from Dublin, Ireland on November 18, 2012: Afraid I am not familiar with bant except being short for banter, as in chat, talk. I lived in NZ for a year and did not hear any Aussies use them either. Savage, man, I thought they were sold out. The verb "nick" can be traced back to the late 16th century meaning trick or cheat. I use this about 20 times a day. 'Tis only a stepmother would blame you. With all the different slang and the different accents going on it makes for a very crazy world of language! This guide will help you understand how these words were formed, and how theyre used in your first or next visit to Ireland. The word slap means 'limp' in Afrikaans and is a perfect description for the oily potato chips which are larger than French fries. Its just right across the block, and they serve delightful, Irish Slang Word #30: Cup of scald, or Cha, I have read and agree to the terms & conditions. Like a pulled piece of cloth from a tenterhook, one can imagine the stretched agitation of a person, So, the next time your trip advisor mentions that your trip to a certain destination is, In Irish and UK slang, a dosser is someone who prefers to relax all day, a lazy person, in simpler terms. For example, Feck this, Im not listening to him shiting on for any longer, or That fecker was in here mooching about the place again this morning., Photo by Gardiner Mitchell via Tourism Ireland. Acting the maggot - Acting in a particularly foolish manner. " You're an awful snake (pronounced shnaake) " - Translation: you're a sneaky person, but I like you. Ill never forget my stay in Ireland. Replace the e with a u, and you have what this slang term means. @ !!!! Quite possibly Irelands greatest linguistic achievement, this phrase is the perfect way to curse without technically cursing. It means "May God remove obstacles in your journey through life". I heard theyre performing good trade at the old marketplace. Suzanne Ridgeway (author) from Dublin, Ireland on September 11, 2012: Thanks Daniel, Appreciate your comments! Hash to mess up. I dont use the word feck personally, but its a word that I associate with the magnificent Father Ted series, which is why its part of my favourites. HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. (no correlation to the collie, Lassie, on TV), just waited to say that word. Pronounced as ki-togue, it is an Irish slang that usually refers to a left-handed person. And who said Strine was an Australian invention? You can have "good craic" at the pub as well as hear the "latest craic". Yoke. Craic - a good time. As a nation we're all aware we have a language of our own. Common Irish Phrases. The selected samples of fruit and vegetables . Glad you found hilarious! So much of this looks like Australian slang to me. It generally means. Now, for our American readers when we say dope in Ireland, were not talking about anything dodgy. "Jaysis, it's quare warm today isn't it?". For example, It was definitely Colin. If no help comes to us, well move on. Irish slang can differ depending on what part of the island a person is from, but most of these phrases can be found throughout. If you think you can't, you won't be able to accomplish something, but if you think you can, you'll succeed. This has been a bad aul dose. For example, Shite, put the cans away. Here are some words I want to leave you that tell you how I describe this hub: AMAZING; THRILLING; PROFESSIONALLY-WRITTEN AND RESEARCHED; DELIGHTFUL; HYPNOTIC and FUN TO READ. If you're behaving foolishly, you'll be told to 'cop on', if you solve a difficult problem, you'll be praised for having good 'cop on'. On one hand, people say it, meaning "it is what it is". Weve an almost endless number of ways to describe a person that we dont like in Ireland. We like to read this as one of the greatest Southern encouragements, but, like most of these phrases, you can use it however you'd like. Suzanne Ridgeway (author) from Dublin, Ireland on July 03, 2012: Hi How-to-crafts, Appreciate your comments and sharing! The post on Instagram unearthed a good chunk of Irish slang words that Id never heard of. Craic No one is entirely sure of its origins, but its most probable origination is from the slang to doze-off, meaning to sleep for a short time, or take a nap. 30 Irish Slang Words Every Visitor Should Learn Before Visiting Ireland, , if you and your friends have a couple of more rounds, the best Irish chant for c, Its not literally black, but you guessed it righta strong pint of this famous, Addressing your darling or Irish sweetheart from Ireland will never be as soft and endearing as the Irish term. In many countries, the word Unreal means imaginary or illusory, but not in Ireland. Another word for eejit. 18. The word gas is Irish slang for funny. A short or a clipped version of the word traditional, trad often refers to traditional Irish folk music. A cute hoor is used to describe someone thats relatively crafty and thats able to mould a situation to benefit themself. For example, Sure, yer one was caught shifting yer man last week!. For example, Declans been in there for the past hour faffin about the place.. Dooter. It's either called "the toilet," and the Irish slang word for that is "the jacks.". It's an odd pronunciation of "queer," but it's used as a replacement for "very.". When someone says "slinte," whether on St. Patrick's Day or not, they're . 2. Translation: A tricky situation. For each question, choose the best answer. Suzanne Ridgeway (author) from Dublin, Ireland on September 23, 2013: Thanks for the comment! For example, I saw you chatting to him for about 4 hours. Great, great job! In Irish slang words, if your parents are away for the night, or for a day or two, you go to someones gaff to have a party or a sleep-over. For example, We went to the new club last night. Translation: Excited. Glad you enjoyed it was fun putting together! You'll often hear Irish people refer to a person or a situation as 'Gas'. Jammy - if you are a lucky person you might be described as flukey or jammy. Hello, my name's Tom Hardy. I heard theyre. Look forward to catching more of your insightful writing!:). The press is the kitchen cupboard where food is stored. Havent seen you in about ten years. Dressed to the nines : - Don in your Sunday best. BANJAXED. It might sound derogatory to some, or might be a term of endearment for others. Translation: Embarrassed. On your next Irish trip, you might hear quite a few locals complaining about their state of begrudgery. This is another tame bit of Irish slang used to describe a man or woman that youre less than fond of. I was mouldy drunk last night. One you might want to include is Guards. Id never thought wed make it to the top! The etymology of this fun Irish word remains unknown until today, but when you say something is banjaxed, it means they have been shattered or were broken. I'm definitely gonna need this if I wanna go to Ireland! It's baltic - commonly heard in winter. Have a great week. I would only really use "to be sure, to be sure" as a form of emphasizing Irishness, and in a funny way. And now, it is an official slang in the modern Irish scenes. (p.s., we never say Beantown) I could care less (int. Commonly used in England where Irish immigrants did much of the manual labour. 2. That basically means that you did something EXTREMELY embarrassing and should probably be disowned. A more extreme way of saying awesome in Irish slang is deadly or savage. (Especially after enjoying an evening in a . Thanks vespawoolf! Im a pure irish woman, born and raised ,im surprised ,ive heard all of these but the most common ive heard are ,acting the maggot ,craic, ejit ,black stuff ,eff off ,feck off, and lots more . Pamela Oglesby from Sunny Florida on September 14, 2012: Great information Suzie HQ. Pronounced as slawn-sha, if you and your friends have a couple of more rounds, the best Irish chant for cheers is Slinte! Every good costermonger has skill in displaying the front of his stall. Now if I can only save enough to go to Ireland so I can test out my nifty new words! However, youll more commonly hear it used in a few different ways: This is another way of describing something thats dirty or thats in a bad way. They are commonly risk-takers or, sometimes, daredevils. ): how we like to say that we couldn't care less about something . Based on recent reports, about 99% of the Irish people actually use English than the Irish . But no need to get too intellectual! Thanks for sharing. Had fun reading all the slang words, some familiar, some not so. Ah, another Irish phrase that uses a word thats actually meant to describe something hazardous to describe something brilliant. of ourselves! Hows she cutting?! Faffing means to do something without actually doing anything. 4. Arseways - To make a complete mess of. When rendered as 'bold' (as in 'gold') it means 'naughty', even 'bad' or 'reprehensible'.