Craic - A word with a few meanings. Mot is an Irish slang word for 'girlfriend'. But no need to get too intellectual! Suzanne Ridgeway (author) from Dublin, Ireland on September 14, 2012: What quick work you are! Speaking of minus craic, "Dryshite" is a term used to refer to someone who is boring and no fun. Youll often hear Irish people refer to a person or a situation as Gas. Havent seen you in about ten years. For example, Got food from that Indian place. "Sure look" fits practically everywhere because of its meaning. Banjaxed - Not working or broken. Down the Swanee : - Down the drain. Be sure not to let anyone tell you that youre a, A more endearing term for the word idiot or fool is the Irish slang, Yet, still, it is used in a mocking mannerwith a hint of affection. I would have ever guessed the meaning of some of these words and phrases! For example, He used cooking oil on the lettuce thinking it was salad dressing what an eejit. The most comprehensive online dictionary of Irish Slang. Sleeveen = Sly, calculating person. No, we don't mean the fuel. But much stronger. the neck of you irish slang Layered Jello Salad With Cream Cheese , Repo Mobile Homes In Hattiesburg, Ms , Glendy Vanderah Age , How To Complete A Wotc Screening , Jurassic Park Lexile Level , Example Of Transform Boundary , Best Choice Jeep 18v Conversion , Anglo Saxon Burial Mounds , Thanks vespawoolf! Or mor ya or mauryah in Irish English, it is a derisive interjection that can be properly translated as Yeah, right in the US English language slang or bullocks in the UK. A great fun hub, really well put together, great stuff, well done, thanks for sharing, voted up, Lee. I heard off Noley that you were in getting the haemorrhoids sorted?! Whenever somebody feels embarrassed or flustered, some peoples cheeks turn red or scarlet. I have never been to Ireland but if I am lucky enough to get the chance to visit, your hub here will come in quite useful! 3. Kenneth Avery from Hamilton, Alabama on June 28, 2012: @ Susie Q . Youre lookin fine, lad! Way back, uncut liquor and alcoholic beverages were sold in Ireland in unlicensed bars and clubs in Ireland. Hi, Im Christine a full-time traveler and career woman. For example, Bout ye, chief! On your next Irish trip, you might hear quite a few locals complaining about their state of begrudgery. The most popular and widespread modern use of the term is as a slang expletive in Irish English, employed as a less serious alternative to the expletive "fuck" to express disbelief, surprise, pain, anger, or contempt.It notably lacks the sexual connotations that "fuck" has,. In Ireland, many of us use slang words so often that we forget theyre actually slang, for example, Thanks a million makes absolutely zero sense to non-Irish people (or so my non-Irish friends tell me!). You can also say Give me a go. Drain da snake : - To take a leak. When you feel scarlet in Ireland, you feel embarrassed or mortified over something. (p.s., we never say Beantown) I could care less (int. Details Parent Category: Irish Slang Phrases Slang: Fighting Talk. Hope this helps! 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. If you think you can't, you won't be able to accomplish something, but if you think you can, you'll succeed. Seriouslynever met one that I didn't take to immediately! Its been ages since I last seen ye, boyo. Doing a line : - Courting, seeing someone. Its okay to feel scarlet if you ever accidentally pour an ale over a handsome, young lad in a pub. I heard the waves are great at Inchydoney Beach, honey. Voted Up and Sharing, then I'm off to the Jacks! lol Thanks for your comments and votes, much appreciated!! Or yer woman a saying that is heard all over Ireland, sometimes because they simply can't remember the person's name or then again just because. 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. If you're easily offended, you may want to click the little 'x' now you dope . 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. Theyll tell you the secrets to creating the best garden in the world. Another way to say youre feeling delighted. Mary Wickison from USA on April 25, 2013: Wonderful. But dont be too proud when someone calls you by this term. You made a hames in and out of our hotel room! Here, I have highlighted the most commonly heard words, their meanings, and provided examples of how they are used in everyday speech. For example "Susie's phone got nicked at the party!" meaning Susie's phone was stolen at the party. See, if someone's crazy, they're a nutter. Did you lob the gob?. Scrumptious! For example, Ah man, my heads in bits. Donkeys years is used to describe a long passing of time. For example, Im going to go in there now and eat the head off of him!, Cmere to me can mean two things: the first is to literally come here, for example, Cmere to me and tell me what happened?. Can you help? For example, Shes after being f****d out of the nightclub. There are two peelers coming up the road there. Translation: Dirty. Must be interesting teaching our slang abroad! I cant reach my coworkers, and the other tourist guides trailing behind us wont be able to hear us outside the Cave of Maghera. In his great dictionary of slang, Eric Partridge traced the origins of "hard neck" - meaning "extreme impudence" - to about 1870, and attributed it to two groups of people: "Anglo-Irish" and . Were stuck here. Andrew Spacey from Sheffield, UK on June 22, 2012: Lovely hub. If youre from Dublin, you tend to refer to anyone that lives outside of Dublin as A culchie. Definition of a farmer a man how is outstanding in his own field. Developed "straight from the horse's mouth". Can you give it a lash with your jump cables? or Ive never tried that before, but sure Ill give it a lash. 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. For example, Sure, yer one was caught shifting yer man last week!. 3. Black stuff. Irish Slang Word #22: Deadly or Savage What it means: A more extreme way of saying awesome in Irish slang is deadly or savage. I'll have to re-read this to get the full effect of all the phrases! Wind yer neck in . I wish more people write hubs with slangs used in their countries as well. Bookmarked it. Would you like to come with me? And now, it is an official slang in the modern Irish scenes. Glad you have been getting some mileage out of the jacks at work!! With the United Kingdom (UK) falling behind second, and a percentage of 94.45% native English language speakers. OTool gave us about 7 weeks worth of maths homework. Someone thats a nuisance. Born in New Ross, County Wexford but we most commonly used the word craic. I can sense that. . From words emerging from the Irish language via Hiberno-English classics to unexpected words coined by . Sorry, cant stop. Have you heard of the new band from across the block? (Cassells Dictionary of Slang says the phrase means crazy.). 19. livingabroad from Wales, UK on June 19, 2012: What about "to be sure, to be sure"? Southern grandmothers are a national treasure. Wow, what a journey Swords to Peru, my bucket list no.1 stop! Mainly when Im speaking to a non-Irish person and I forget that the words Im using actually areslang. Learn something new or share one or two that we . Topper; He's a topper = A term of praise usually reserved for the young; He's a great lad. For example, Ross, ya pox! For example, Hes an awful latchio. Although Im from the Philippines, my location independent career took me to over 40 countries for the past 8 years. 24 of 30. Weve an almost endless number of ways to describe a person that we dont like in Ireland. Now. Tame. I heard theyre performing good trade at the old marketplace. Like very sorry? I did not realise it until I read your list. I havent heard this one used much lately. Glad you enjoyed it was fun putting together! Howve ye been? In an attempt to discover more Irish expressions, lingo, and slang that may be causing people trouble, I asked the 250,000+ Irish Road Trip community what their favourite bit of Irish slang was. Translation: Embarrassed. Ah, another Irish phrase that uses a word thats actually meant to describe something hazardous to describe something brilliant. Have fun, you will be talking like a seasoned pro in no time! Very very drunk! (Term of endearment), A state of discontentment, envy, or sometimes, wishing of ill will for those who achieve success on a friend or a person of higher power or authority. Need to collect the messages first.. One day I will get over there and look up my ancestors, the O'Dowds.greatly enjoyed this hub! No idea how to describe this one. Cailln maith meaning 'good girl' became a way of refering to your girl friend. Gamers actually use this term quite a lot, with the same meaning and context. For example, Dye see me new runners. With all the different slang and the different accents going on it makes for a very crazy world of language! Commonly used in the UK and Ireland, a gaffer is colloquially termed as ones boss, your old man, or a foreman. We compiled a list of the cutest nicknames that will inspire you and give grandma some well-deserved recognition. Great hub and I enjoyed reading it. For example, I got tickets to the Aslan gig. Great page! Gas. 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. A two-day short trip around the. If someone says "the craic was 90" it means the fun, laughter and joviality was amazing. It is a term most commonly used by angry Irishmen for the current state of their lives, caused by another Irishmans fortune. 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). We all went back to Sharons after. If youre looking for a new way to say I have no idea, try this phrase on for size. . Or, it could also mean that something is not working properly, like a tourist van or a cellular device. Craic is pronounced crack, and it means general banter or fun. Translation: Keep quiet. Bang on is generally used as a response and is another bit of Irish slang for good. No worries. Bags (to make a bags of something) Bang on. Cuisle was sometimes paired with ma, giving us macushla, or my darling a term of endearment youll never forget. I thought this Irish saying made perfect sense, but apparently not. Actually, it's used to describe anything. E's . Sassenach - From the Gaelic word sasunnach, meaning Saxon, and used to describe non-Gaelic speaking Scottish Lowlanders (and our English friends). The slang is much similar to the Irish word ciotach, meaning clumsy. Translation: I did not. Culchie is the term people who live in Dublin use to refer to someone who lives in the rural areas outside the city. A nasty ciotog he. Pronounced Flue-tered, this one describes a person thats on the wrong side of 9 pints. Thanks so much for your great comments! You can describe a person or a situation as bang on. This is another Irish expression for describing kissing. For example, Dye see yer wan over there with the red hat? An Irish blessing - "May the road rise to meet you." From the Gaelic "Go n-iri an bthar leat," which means "may success be with you". There you have it. Haven't got a baldy no . Our Nature Reserves . Suzanne Ridgeway (author) from Dublin, Ireland on September 23, 2013: Thanks for the comment! If ever there was a Gobdaw its that lad. Craic - a good time. Wise up ill set . It might sound derogatory to some, or might be a term of endearment for others. Person who quietly engineers things to their own advantage. Thanks again for commenting, it is much appreciated! Suzanne Ridgeway (author) from Dublin, Ireland on June 19, 2012: Thanks anginwu, your a good student of Irish slang then!!! Translation: The name given to dung heaps/dirty people. The only people that I know who use these words to describe drunkenness are friends from Drogheda. I had a wonderful laugh to begin my day withthank you! 2. Common Irish Phrases. on June 23, 2012: A great idea to put together a hub on slangs. Derived from the Irish word gaeilge, meaning beak, gob often refers to as mouth in English. Aye . " You're an awful snake (pronounced shnaake) " - Translation: you're a sneaky person, but I like you. The people from Northern England and Scotland borrowed the word that denoted a meaning for conversation or news. The term whats the crack essentially means, how are you, or have you any news? Interestingly, crack was borrowed from the Irish term craic, and was re-borrowed! It is my storeen. Eighteenth- and 19th-century Scottish and English schoolboy slang ("sapskull", "saphead") that the Irish took and shortened. It was minus craic altogether. A more extreme way of saying awesome in Irish slang is deadly or savage. Standard English: 'That was a great score'; 'He's a great guy'. Gaelic has been all but wiped out of existence in Ireland. . Aye - Yes. Im glad I came across your site. The term Paddy Wagon derives from the idea that the Irish were all criminals, and when the police came to quell a brawl or something of the like, they would just be rounding up a bunch of "paddys." Plastic Paddy: Irish: Term used by the Irish describing those who grew up in the a foreign country (specifically the UK) and still identify as being . 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. For example, Shane, hows the form?! Conservation. (Especially after enjoying an evening in a . 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? Their accent didn't help one bit - especially after a few drinks. During your trip, if an Irish local or your best friend calls you their acushla, dont be too flattered! Us Irish are a canny lot! to use these words will be up to your discretionand that makes learning and using Irish slang words more fun and exciting! 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. Can we stop by a nearby cave, laddie? 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. However, youll also hear people describing someone as Sound when theyre giving that person their approval, for example, That chap from around the corner fixed the engine. Stop being a dosser, man! Weather type: Fine. !lol Appreciate your support and comments! This is another one for describing someone thats stupid. Appreciate your interest and comments Elle Bee! When rendered as 'bold' (as in 'gold') it means 'naughty', even 'bad' or 'reprehensible'. "Gas" in Irish slang means funny. It shows on your cheeks. That young lad was in here last night acting the maggot. Looking forward to reading more. Thanks so much! So, the next time your Irish friend cancels your much-needed Irish vacation plans because of a stomach-ache, you can say, it is an Irish slang that usually refers to a left-handed person. Ah, QUALITY. 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. 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. 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. Had no idea those words were common in Australia. Irishmen and women, with shamrock and four-clover leaves, are fans of good luck. Dive on in below! Savage, man, I thought they were sold out. 'Will you look at the state of her over there, theres more meat on a hamster, the skinny malink.' If he was mine Id give him a good kick up the hole!. Niall Horan tests his knowledge of Irish slang. 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. Youll hear the word fine used in a variety of different ways: If you hear someone say Its fine, it means Its OK. You have no idea how much of this I recognised and I've never been to Ireland! Cheers Brett.Tesol!! Banjaxed is another lovely Irish expression. This term is used to describe something that is very small. One you might want to include is Guards. 1 The press. The second use of this Irish phrase is used when you want someone to listen to you, for example, Cmere to me for a minute and Ill tell ya. You can use give it a lash in a heap of different ways. Solomon's Knot Symbol - History And Meaning, In terms of direction, this term is not a bit offensive and is actually quite useful. A phrase used when a good time goes bad and no fun is had at all. Thanks so much for input! It would make you jump up and never come down again! Dressed to the nines : - Don in your Sunday best. BANJAXED. Im giving the word craic its own section, as there are heaps of different ways that it can be used. meaning beak, gob often refers to as mouth in English. May her lakes and rivers bless you. 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%. You have some neck on ya.' SKINNY MALINK Very Dublin phrase to describe a person of slender features. Looking forward to reading more of your work here! You are destined for success in writing. When you hear an Irish local saying that you are going in arseways, it means you are going in the wrong direction (A persons arse can be found behind). 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. Weather type: Light rain. Giving out literally means to complain. Irish slang can differ depending on what part of the island a person is from, but most of these phrases can be found throughout. Mike Licht NotionsCapital.com,CC-BY-2.0, via flickr. I heard the shebeens in Dublin at night are great places to enjoy good jazzand fresh drinks. 100%! I would only really use "to be sure, to be sure" as a form of emphasizing Irishness, and in a funny way. Thats what some might call being wired to the moon. Slinte! I was mouldy drunk last night. For example, Hes a cute hoor that fella, always manages to get a free ticket to the concerts in the Phoenix Park. For example, Do you remember the time Micky got caught moving the cow in the back of his Ford Focus? Oh, I do. 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 . It's an odd pronunciation of "queer," but it's used as a replacement for "very.". This is a pretty big insult in Ireland, nobody wants to be a dryshite. This is one of the most typical Irish slang phrases you can hear from any Irish person. , meaning illegal whiskey. Drinking Age In Ireland: Drinking Laws And Tips. Locked is just one such term - others include mouldy, ossified, polluted, twisted and langers. Why? Example: 'Stop faffin' and do some work.'. you might befriend a couple of colleens studying horticulture. Specially something rancid, What would be the slang for "let's get drunk?". For example, He spends his day going between the bookies and the pub. Rich from Kentucky on September 14, 2012: And I thought the Irish spoke English! But dont be too proud when someone calls you by this term. Now, theres another potential use for this Irish phrase, and thats when describing someone thats bull-thick (aka angry). Gypsy Rose Lee from Daytona Beach, Florida on June 23, 2012: Voted up and funny. For example, Stall the ball chief, Ill be there in 20 or Stall the ball a minute what did he say?. Then again I live in Massachusetts, and it sometimes seems we have as many Irish people as Ireland does :) Certainly interesting - esepcially how some of these phrases we also use, but for entirely different purpose. This word is pronounced as "slaan-sha". Looking for a slang or colloquial term for farmer. For example, Im going to call in sick. This is fantastic!! or perhaps, touched by the Devil himself. With this knowledge at hand, youll find a good way to empathize with their current situation. When to use these words will be up to your discretionand that makes learning and using Irish slang words more fun and exciting! Thon simply means "the" or "those" in a sentence and can be used to describe pretty much anything. You are now a graduate of the Authentic Vacations school of Irish slang. 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. Your man that I bought the car off is a serious Gombeen. It might sound derogatory to some, or might be a term of endearment for others. You tend to hear a lot of mad Irish slang words when people greet each other. For example, He got a taxi home with us and hopped out without giving us any money towards it. Joshua Zerbini from Pennsylvania on June 29, 2012: Suzie, this was a hilarious hub! Youll often hear the word Class paired with Pure, for example, That new full-back theyve brought on is pure class.. The word manky is used to describe something thats dirty. A lot of it seems to be similar to Essex slang but, then I'm not sure that's necessarily a good thing lol. The word 'gas' is Irish slang for funny. The slang is much similar to the Irish word, meaning clumsy. Scundered/scunnered - different meanings depending on your location. 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'. Another one thats fairly tame. For example, Mrs. For example, How ya doing hey?! When you first hear the word "yonks" used in Ireland, you might be a little confused. neck: [noun] the part of an animal that connects the head with the body. Ann Carr from SW England on July 01, 2012: Voted up, funny and interesting. It is a saying that is often known, as you rightly point out, thanks for the query!! These were so fun to read! Cheers for that.. You'll often hear Irish people refer to a person or a situation as 'Gas'. For example, Shut your bake, you clown. Your "oul fella" and your "oul wan" These terms refer to your father and your mother respectively. Susan Zutautas from Ontario, Canada on August 23, 2012: What a gas :) Really enjoyed your hub. It can refer to a person, "He's gas!" or a situation "That's gas!". The Hub (n.): haven't you noticed; Boston is the center of the universe. It wasnt until a friend from the UK said he didnt know what I was on about the first time we met and I used it in a sentence. It stems from the Irish Gaelic word cuisle, which means darling, or more literally vein or pulse. Hard neck this means cheek. Quite possibly Irelands greatest linguistic achievement, this phrase is the perfect way to curse without technically cursing. Lets watch? But it's meaning is pretty simple. Ive heard this one a lot less in recent years. Funny reading that as I have taught Irish slang to students abroad :). I could understand words like Banjaxxed and Poxy causing hassle, but I couldnt get over that Giving out didnt make sense. you are very welcome to hear the truth about your amazing writing from me any day. Translation: Someone thats lazy. For example, Declans been in there for the past hour faffin about the place.. Weather type: Rainey. This comical Irish phrase basically just means "messing about". Here are top Irish sayings that you will love: 1. 4. In my last job, I worked in a building with around 250 people from 34 different countries. Here are 20 Northern Irish phrases and what they mean in plain English. In Ireland, for some bizarre reason, we describe the shopping or the groceries as the messages. The word originates in from the Irish 'maith' which means good. :P Reall fun and great craic ;). Details Parent Category: Irish Slang Phrases If you ever get lost in a familiar neighborhood in Ireland, dont be too offended when your Irish friend calls you an eejit. In Irish slang, gander means to quickly look at someone, or take a glance at. Dryshite. (no correlation to the collie, Lassie, on TV), just waited to say that word. It's funny, though: the thing that wrong-footed me when I first arrived in Ireland isn't on this list. 5. For example, I saw you chatting to him for about 4 hours. And it tends to cause a bit of confusion, at times. 4. You're ready to book the Ireland trip of your dreams and talk like a local. Loads of the below words were new to me as well, but Ive lashed them into a section dedicated to Belfast slang. For example, Ah well! You can also use this word to describe something thats bad. The locals like their slang more than most, and deciphering it requires expert supervision. :) If only I could find some vacation time :). To have a shot of something means to try it out. And we're gonna teach you some English slang. Sap. Shes flutered. Tory: Irish: Bandit, from the Irish Tory Island, a noted have for bandits and pirates. Wind yer neck in . So you would go to get your messages and pick up any shopping you might need. This is a well-written, fun hub. Meaning of Craic. Gas. May the road rise up to meet you. We are your one-stop travel website for all things Ireland. An old Irish slang word used to describe someone thats a chancer. Greetings tend to vary quite a bit, depending on the county. For example, Ah, nice one! said Karen, as she took the bag of chips from Kate. Appreciate greatly you reading and bringing your experience to light, great comment, i love it! Yet, still, it is used in a mocking mannerwith a hint of affection. I said like alllllllllll of these to people I know and they were soooooooooo confused. Nice one is an Irish saying thats used to show approval of someones behaviour. Funny you say you have never been here, you sound very Irish!! We use it all the time but foreigners would not know it is the slang for our police, Shared on Twitter and voted awesome and useful. 18. It was a fun hub to write and laughs all the way!! Craic is an Irish word that can be translated to mean "fun," "enjoyment," or "good times.". Positive thinking, Southern style. LOL. Look forward to catching more of your insightful writing!:).