Poke - (to poke - to prod) (a poke - a paper bag) Reek - Smell, emit smoke. Nice one is an Irish saying thats used to show approval of someones behaviour. Sure its only spitting. A long time ago I was serving a custodial sentence. It is my storeen. These meanings portray left-hand people as weird outcasts of or Irish society. Become a Lord or a Lady Now. For example, I havent seen Tony in donkeys years.. "Gas" in Irish slang means funny. The selected samples of fruit and vegetables . Translation: Embarrassed. Its worth noting that when someone says that theyre grand, they may not necessarily be so. This term is used for news, gossip, and fun conversations engaged by the locals. Thon simply means "the" or "those" in a sentence and can be used to describe pretty much anything. 1. It's an odd pronunciation of "queer," but it's used as a replacement for "very.". Shes an awful wagon. You've highlighted one phrase used quite a bit here! Looking forward to reading more of your work here! "Sleeven" A sleeven is a sly or underhanded person. Annie and Agatha took a gander at the glassed jar that contained thering of the late Pope John Paul II. Which words did the Irish invent for our own use, and which ones travelled around the globe? When to use these words will be up to your discretionand that makes learning and using Irish slang words more fun and exciting! Hope you get to visit here in the near future, you will then be up to speed fully armed with the lingo! For example, He was slagging me, so I gave him a kick in the bollox. Rich from Kentucky on September 14, 2012: And I thought the Irish spoke English! (no correlation to the collie, Lassie, on TV), just waited to say that word. According to Irish Central, the craic was 90 signifies the nirvana of craic, though it can also be used sarcastically when something that was supposed to be a good time ends up being the opposite. Ill chat to ye later, yea?!. This Irish expression gets more than its fair share of use and isnt specific to any particular county. In Irish slang words, if your parents are away for the night, or for a day or two, you go to someones, to have a party or a sleep-over. LOL. Black stuff. livingabroad from Wales, UK on June 19, 2012: What about "to be sure, to be sure"? Sample Usage: Whoo! Carrie Lee Night from Northeast United States on March 17, 2014: Great fun!! A more extreme way of saying awesome in Irish slang is deadly or savage. Go fetch me a mug, boyo. For example, He had a bag of skittles and three bottles of Coke an hour ago hes been up to high doh ever since. However, it can also be an indication that the person youre speaking to is either 1, uninterested in what youre saying, or 2, has no idea how to respond to what youve just said. For example, Declans been in there for the past hour faffin about the place.. Appreciate your support!! This one is usually used the morning after a heavy session when youre explaining why your heads is thumping. Vespa Woolf from Peru, South America on June 22, 2012: This is great!! For example, Ah stop, thats gas! or Emmas dog is gas. For example, Please tell me hes called off training. When you first hear the word "yonks" used in Ireland, you might be a little confused. May the blessings of St. Patrick behold you. For example, Shite, put the cans away. Welcome To Malahide Castle: Walks, History, The Butterfly House + More, A Guide To Howth In Dublin: A Stunning Seaside Village That Packs A Punch. Now, theres another potential use for this Irish phrase, and thats when describing someone thats bull-thick (aka angry). Appreciate your votes! 10. Know more? Scrumptious! An Irish couple getting married. Yoke - A word used instead of saying "thing". The word crack came from the Middle English term crak, meaning loud, bragging conversation. For example, That chicken fillet roll was class. You're ready to book the Ireland trip of your dreams and talk like a local. Now if I can only save enough to go to Ireland so I can test out my nifty new words! 'Tis only a stepmother would blame you. The only way you got those types of correspondences was to get them from the post office which would normally be in your local shop (in rural areas anyway). Sassenach - From the Gaelic word sasunnach, meaning Saxon, and used to describe non-Gaelic speaking Scottish Lowlanders (and our English friends). Jeff Boettner from Tampa, FL on September 29, 2012: Glad I took a gander at this hub Suzie HQ :), I studied the words until I was completely knackered. !lol Appreciate your support and comments! A nasty ciotog he. you might befriend a couple of colleens studying horticulture. Irish Slang and Phrases explained. In the guide below, you'll find LOOOOOOOADS of Irish insults and Irish curse words (or 'cuss words', for ye Americans). Let me know in the comments section below! Weather type: Rainy. But dont be too proud when someone calls you by this term. You see that poor painter, begging for scraps? Pronounced as slawn-sha, if you and your friends have a couple of more rounds, the best Irish chant for cheers is Slinte! was, and a great painter, but filled with greed and self-loathing. Someone thats a waster. You have some neck on ya.' SKINNY MALINK Very Dublin phrase to describe a person of slender features. 'Mate'- used when conversing with any human being at all, whether you like them or not; it is totally appropriate to use this term even if you don't know them. This is an Irish phrase thats used to ask someone to wait for you or to stop what youre saying. Appreciate your reading,votes and sharing! A shorter and a fancier way of asking for an Irish local to have a cup of tea with you at your local tea shop is by asking them, Care for a cup of cha? Howve ye been? Thanks for stopping by! 18. Fancy a pint?. to use these words will be up to your discretionand that makes learning and using Irish slang words more fun and exciting! Example: 'Thon shoes would look . And actually this is one that was made famous by the fantastic Father Ted series. I said like alllllllllll of these to people I know and they were soooooooooo confused. It can refer to a person, "He's gas!" or a situation "That's gas!". Its not literally black, but you guessed it righta strong pint of this famous Irish dry stout might knock-out the light-hearted. Dad, weve only climbed less than a hundred feet. Donkeys years is a phrase Irish people use meaning a long time (as in, Ive known him for donkeys years, an example given in the video above), as is yonks. Perfect combinations for an Irish jig! A nasty ciotog he was, and a great painter, but filled with greed and self-loathing. Weather type: Rainey. We got back from the pub at half 2 but we were up until 7 having the craic. For example, Shamey Brannagin was caught stealing from Kerrigans again. I cant hear the radio!. For example, His sister told his Mam about what happened. It can also be used to describe a person. Making a hames in Irish slang is equivalent to making a mess in US English slang. In slang nick N-I-C-K is a verb meaning to steal. You could actually use lash here as well, for example, Give me a lash of that. Suzanne Ridgeway (author) from Dublin, Ireland on August 24, 2012: Thanks Relationshipc, Appreciate your comments and visit! 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'. Brutal. Check out these 10 Irish slang phrases you'll definitely hear while you're there. This isnt slang find out what it means here. Giving out literally means to complain. Its been ages since I last seen ye, boyo. Youll generally hear people use this when describing how long its been since theyve seen someone, or how long its been since theyve done something. Listen to Niall's n. Ill never forget my stay in Ireland. This is a popular blessing oftentimes used in Catholic weddings or cross-stitched pillows. OTool gave us about 7 weeks worth of maths homework. There are two pronunciations of 'bold', each with a different meaning. Speaking of minus craic, "Dryshite" is a term used to refer to someone who is boring and no fun. Thanks vespawoolf! I wish I'd had your list before we traveled to Ireland in 2010. Suzanne Ridgeway (author) from Dublin, Ireland on September 14, 2012: What quick work you are! Hang on there for a second and Ill leg it over to you now!. Savage, mate. For example, I called over yesterday and he was going on about his new tractor for an hour. Like a pulled piece of cloth from a tenterhook, one can imagine the stretched agitation of a person on tenterhooks. I have a friend called Mayo Declan thats a master at this. Craic is a versatile word that can be used in a number of situations. We do use many weird and wonderful words don't we!! Madeleine Salin from Finland on June 21, 2012: Very interesting and it's always nice to learn new words. It's for a poem and I can just see the look on people's faces in the workshop. 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. Heres a handful of slang words that are used to describe a girl/woman. Irish English. I'll have to re-read this to get the full effect of all the phrases! 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. For example, Cmon. (Especially after enjoying an evening in a . 2. performing good trade at the old marketplace. Do you know these British insults, slangs and phrases? A useless scut if Ive ever seen one. Youre looking well!, For example, Ah, Kayla. For example: "Let's meet after the lecture for a few jars.". Fair play to her. Southern grandmothers are a national treasure. Hes a bleedin melter.. It might sound derogatory to some, or might be a term of endearment for others. This is another for describing someone thats heavily intoxicated. Update: weve had around 50 emails since this guide was published asking about the term the luck of the Irish. If Americans have fries, and English people from the UK have chips, in Ireland, you might want to order a. as a side dish. Some I know already so I guess they've been taken on as British or slid over the Irish Sea. But be wary if a stranger addresses you with this term at the middle of the night. I can sense that. Often used in a derogatory context. Posted on Published: January 25, 2021- Last updated: June 2, 2022, 30+ Irish Landmarks Famous Landmarks In Ireland, Glamping In Cork: 8 Best Glamping Sites In Cork, Facts About Ireland - 25 Interesting Things About Ireland - Ireland Travel Guides, [] Read: 30 Irish Slangs That You Need To Know []. A few of these I actually wouldn't have even known were slang, because I have used/heard them so much (namely gawked, brutal and mortified). Father, buy me one of those brogue shoes! Suzanne Ridgeway (author) from Dublin, Ireland on June 23, 2012: rajan jolly, Thanks so much for your lovely comments! So, I thought giving out was something used globally genuinely. Drinking Age In Ireland: Drinking Laws And Tips. For example,Their kitchen is manky. For travelers, if your good friends call you. Craic Pronounced kware, this word can be used in a variety of ways to mean great, very, and terrific.. Craic: popular throughout Ireland - where's the craic, as in where's the fun at. For example, Ah well! She is in love with the countryside and the people. Voted up and across. Locked is just one such term - others include mouldy, ossified, polluted, twisted and langers. Need to collect the messages first.. Talk about a dope. Here, I have highlighted the most commonly heard words, their meanings, and provided examples of how they are used in everyday speech. 4. For example, Do you remember the time Micky got caught moving the cow in the back of his Ford Focus? Oh, I do. Cailln maith meaning 'good girl' became a way of refering to your girl friend. Glad you have been getting some mileage out of the jacks at work!! Congrats. Feck is a polite way of saying f*ck. For example, Ah, man, the heads bouncing off of me. My father has a brogue Yorkshire accent that he couldnt seem to get rid of; despite his three-decade stay in London, he sounds like a native York. You might befriend an Irish local or a tourist who is a chancer, and he or she will take you to the wildest places you could imagine. Thanks for dropping by and commenting. 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. Im glad I came across your site. The Middle English word "bigrucchen" meant "to grumble about"; the Irish made "begrudge" a noun. Ireland is the only European nation that has the highest percentage of citizens who speak English as their mother tongue or native language at 97.51%. Your "oul fella" and your "oul wan" These terms refer to your father and your mother respectively. The locals like their slang more than most, and deciphering it requires expert supervision. On your trip to a nearby pub in Ireland, you might hear most young Irishmen refer to their fathers as their, National Flag of Ireland: History and Symbolism, My gaffer and mums currently staying at Dromoland Castle Hotel in, Annie and Agatha took a gander at the glassed jar that contained the, Gamers actually use this term quite a lot, with the same meaning and context. I cant reach my coworkers, and the other tourist guides trailing behind us wont be able to hear us outside the Cave of Maghera. Example, "Tara, I'm going to the shop", and . Actually, it's used to describe anything. I recently went to Newfoundland, and they have a lot of different slang words also. That said at speed, did not sound like English. I have a question: what does sleane mean in closing a letter? To the Cockney, the phrase "steps and stairs" describes the idea of gradation. 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! 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. Glad you enjoyed and found fun.Appreciate your comments as always :-). (p.s., we never say Beantown) I could care less (int. Translation: The name given to dung heaps/dirty people. Down the Swanee : - Down the drain. Thank you for sharing those great Irish slang words with us :) Brilliant. No, we don't mean the fuel. For example, Ah for fu*k sake. Should be framed and in a pub. Contrary to popular belief this does not mean "great" or anything nearly as enthusiastic. Hi ya oh he from the Samui isle!! Yer man is used to describe a man Youll often hear this used when someones describing someone that they dont like, however it can also be used when you dont know someones name. You tend to hear a lot of mad Irish slang words when people greet each other. Commonly used in the UK and Ireland, a gaffer is colloquially termed as ones boss, your old man, or a foreman. I wish more people write hubs with slangs used in their countries as well. Pronounced Ban-jacks-d, this is another one for a person thats heavily overindulged. If its lashing rain, you may want to just stay inside. Translation: Dirty. neck: [noun] the part of an animal that connects the head with the body. (Cassells Dictionary of Slang says the phrase means crazy.). I turned scarlet when he saw me picking my nose, ugh! Arseways - To make a complete mess of. LOL Glad you enjoyed this insight into us Irish a wee bit!! Looking for a slang or colloquial term for farmer. Why? A way to describe a person who is a bit stupid, or at least very annoying. Quite possibly Irelands greatest linguistic achievement, this phrase is the perfect way to curse without technically cursing. Suzanne Ridgeway (author) from Dublin, Ireland on June 22, 2012: Cheers chef-de-jour!