Irish Slang

Irish Slang

It's often remarked that the best English in the world is spoken by the Irish, but that is patently untrue. The language spoken by the Irish is barely comprehensible to English speakers from other parts of the world.
So full of colloquialisms obscurities is our version of the language that an outsider would probably need a degree in linguistics before they would understand what the hell we're trying to say.
In the absence of that, let us be of some assistance to you. Here is the IrishAbroad guide to Irish slang.

A
Acting the maggot	playing around
Ages	long time
Any Use?	any good?
Arse	backside
Arseways	complete mess (I did it all arseways)
Artist	person getting social security (drawing the dole)
B
Babby	little child - baby
Bad dose	bad  illness
Bag of Taytos	packet of potato chips/crisps
Bags	bad, messy job (see hames)
Banjaxed	broken, useless, tired
Barn  brack	Halloween cake
Belt	hit, assault
Be wide	be careful
Bird	girl, girlfriend
Black	crowded
Blackguard	person that is doing no good
Black Stuff	Guinness
Blather	talk
Bloody	used mostly for strengthening an adjective
Bog	toilet, restroom
Bog	country area/ piece of land that once was a lake
Bogey	snot
Bogtrotter	country person
Bold	naughty
Bollocks	stupid/somebody one doesn't like
Bolloxed	very drunk
Bolt	run fast
Boozer	pub
Bothrin	narrow lane or road
Bouzzie, Bowsie	young good-for-nothing person
Boxin' the fox	robbing an orchard
Boyo	a young person
Brasser	prostitute
Brutal	terrible
Bucketing	raining heavily
Bushed	very tired
Business	excrete
C
Carry-on	argument/noise
Cake-hole	mouth
Cha	tea
Chancer	dodgy/risky character
Cheek	disrespect/talk back
Cheesed Off	angry/annoyed
Chinwag	a chat
Chipper	fish and chip shop
Chiseller	young child
Class	great
Clatter	slap
Cod	(to) joke
Colcannon	Mashed potatoes & cabbage/ kale
Cop on!	don't be so stupid!
Cooker	stove
Covers	blankets
Craic (pronounced crack)	fun time
Crisps	potato chips
Culchie	a city dweller's name for a country person
Cute hoor	Untrustworthy/sly  person
D
Da	father
Deadly	cool, great
Dear	expensive
Delph	crockery, cups, saucers etc
Desperate	terrible
Diabolical	really terrible
Diddies	breasts
Divil	devil
Dodder	waste time
Dodgy	suspect/mechanically impaired
Donkey's Years	a long time
Dope	idiot
On the Doss	playing truant
Dosser	lazy person
Dote	cute person, usually a baby
Drawers	underwear, usually ladies
Dry Shite	boring person
Dummy	pacifier
Dump (taking a)	excrete
E
Eat the head off	Attack verbally
Eejit	idiot
F
F-word	used freely, mostly for strengthening an adjective
Fag	cigarette
Fair play!	well done!
Feck	used instead of the other F word
Fella	Male person, also used for boyfriend
Fib	a lie
Fifty	stood-up (I got a fifty)
Fine thing/fine bit of stuff	Attractive/good looking person
Fla/Flah	Attractive/good looking person
Flah'ed out	very tired
Flicks	movies
Flitters	in tatters, shabby
Fluthered	very drunk
Follier-upper	a serial
Foostering	wasting time
Fry	fried breakfast (sausage, bacon, eggs and black & white pudding)
Full shilling	mentally competent (He's not the full shilling)
G
Gaff	house
Gas	funny
Gawk	stare
Gee-Eyed	very drunk
Get off with (someone)	make out, kiss
Gift	superb
Git	horrible person
Give Out	scold
Gob	mouth (Shut you gob!)
Gobdaw	idiot
Gobshite	idiot
Gobsmacked	very surprised
Go-car	baby's pushchair
Gollier	a big, fat spit of phlegm
Gone in the head	mad, crazy
Go way outta that!	indicating scepticism
Gowl	idiot
Grand	fine, lovely
Guard	policeman
Gurrier	hooligan
Gut	stomach
H
Hames	mess
Hammererd	very drunk
Hard Neck	lack of respect
Hardchaw, Hardman	rough, tough person
Header	mad, crazy person
Head the ball	idiotic person
Heel	the first or last slice of a loaf of bread
Hickey	a love bite
High babies	senior infants' school
Holliers	holidays/vacations
Holy show	embarrassing exhibition
Hooley	party/celebration
Hoor	prostitute
Hop	playing truant from school
Horse's hoof	embellished story
Hot Press	drying cupboard
Howya	hello- salutation
Hump, the	sulking
Hump off	go away, leave me alone
I
I will in me ring	I will  not!
I am in me wick	I am not!
J
Jackeen	a country person's name for somebody that lives in Dublin
Jacks	toilet, restroom
Jaded	fatigued/very tired
Jammers	very crowded, busy
Jammy	lucky
Janey Mack!	Gosh
Jar	A pint
Jaysus!	Jesus
Juicy	pretty
K
Kip, to have a	short siesta, rest
Knackered	fatiguedvery tired
Knick-knacking	ringing a doorbell and running away
Knobs	breasts
Knockers	breasts
L
Langers/langered	drunk
Lashing	raining heavily
Lay off!	leave me alone, stop it!
Legging (it)	running fast
Letting on	pretending
Local, the	the nearest pub
Locked	very drunk
Lolly/ice lolly	Popsicle
Low babies	junior infants' school
M
Ma	mother
Maggot(Stop acting the maggot)	Stop playing around!
Manky	very dirty
Mary Hick	old-fashioned female
Mentaller	crazy person
Me ould segotia,  me ould flower	Terms of endearment
Messages	shopping, groceries
Messing	playing around
Milling	fighting
Mitch	bunk school
Mortified	embarrassed
Mot	girlfriend
Motherless	drunk
Mouldy	drunk/ rotten
Murder	difficult
Mushies	magic mushrooms
N
Nappy	Diaper
Nickser, Nixer	a job done with no tax paid on wages
Nip	nude
O
Odds	loose change
Off the drink	abstaining from drinking alcohol
Off your nut	mad, crazy
Ole Lady/ole wan	mother
Ole Man/ole fella	father
On the never never	On Hire purchase
Ossified	drunk
P
Paralytic	very drunk
Perishing	freezing
Pictures	movies
Piss in the Beds	dandelions
Pissed off	angry/annoyed
Piss up	a night of big drinking
Plastered	very drunk
Plonker	idiot
Polluted	very drunk
Poteen/Poitin	illegal Irish spirit/drink
Pram	stroller/pushchair
Press	closet, cupboard
Puck	slap in the face
Pull your socks up	Get to work/get busy
Puss Face	bad-tempered person
Q
Queer hawk	peculiar person
R
Rapid	amazing
Rashers	bacon slices
Reddener	blush
Red neck	a country person
Reef	beat up
Ride	an attractive person, to have intercourse
Root	look for
Rosie Lee	tea
Rubber	eraser
Ructions	Loud arguing or commotion
Runners	trainers, everyday sports shoes
Runs	diarrhoea
S
Sap	weak/fragile person
Scab	a person who constantly borrows
Scab	the hard outer part of a healed wound
Scallion	spring onion
Scalped	to get a short haircut
Scanger	ignorant female
Scarlet	blushing
Scatter	run away from something
Scram!	go away!
Scratch	social security, dole
Scratcher	bed
Scrawbed	Scratched by fingernails
Scrubber	female of low morals
Scutters	diarrhoea
Shag, to	to have intercourse with
Shagged	fatigued/ very tired
Shattered	fatigued/ very tired
Shenanagans	different things going on
Shlossed	very drunk
Shook	Pale, ill, scared
Shorts	liquor drinks (spirits) - shots
Shower of savages	a riotous crowd
Slagging	making fun of someone
Slapper	female of low morals
Slash	urinate
Sleeveen	sly person
Snapper	child, baby
Snobby Weather!	Ignoring me?
Snog, Shift	to make out, kiss
Snug	pub booth (usually fitting only 3/4 people)
Sound	really nice
Specky Four-Eyes	person who wears glasses (child's nickname)
Spuds	potatoes
Squealer	a person who tells stories to get another in trouble
Stop the lights!	Really?!
Stocious	very drunk
Strand	beach
Suckin' diesel	having a good time
Sweets	candy
T
Thick	stupid /unintelligent
Throwing Shapes	Showing off
Tip	unclean, messy place
Tool	idiot
Trap	mouth
Twisted	very drunk
Twistin' hay	means you're starting trouble, usually in a playful way
U
Up the pole	pregnant
Up the yard!	Go away!
Up to ninety	near boiling point, ready to explode
W
Wagon	ugly female
Wanker	a person you don't like
Wet the tea	make tea
Whist	keep quiet
Wrecked	tired
Y
Y-Fronts	Men's briefs
Yonks	a long time
Your hole (to get)	to have sexual intercourse

Dublin Slang
Dublin is the capital of Ireland, and has been home to some of the finest writers in the English Language. But the locals often speak in a dialect of their own, and a visitor may well be confused by what they hear.

Dubliners are often heard playfully berating each other!

"Don't be acting the maggot," one might say to another.

To which the witty Dublin retort would be:
"You're goin' around like a constipated greyhound. Shut your bleedin' cakehole."

"I will in me arse" Our friend may well reply.

"You talking to me or chewin' a brick? Either way you're going to end up in a dentist chair!" might come the response.

"If bull-shit was music, you'd be a be a brass bleedin' band."

"And if brains were dynamite, you wouldn't have enough to blow your nose."

A concerned passerby might be engaged in the interaction by one of the participants asking:
"What are you gawking at?"

"I don't know," the passerby might answer, "But it looks like a pair of banjaxed pox bottles."

Hostilities over, the men would quench their thirsts with a pint of stout in the local pub.
"Come on and we'll go on the piss," one of the locals would suggest.

If one appeared over anxious to indulge in alcoholic beverages, it might be observed of him that:
"He'd suck a wet beermat", or that perhaps "he lick it off a scabby leg."

If he was particularly fond of the beer, it might be said of him that: "He'd drink it out of a hooer's boot."

Should their conversation turn to discussing mutual acquaintances, it may well be said of somebody that was full of their own importance that
"She thinks he's the cat's pyjamas

If the same person was not terribly good looking, it might be said of her that
"She has a face like the Earl of Hell's arse"

If a person is mean, or tight-fisted, the local Dubliners may well observe
"He'd live in your ear and sublet your ear-drum," which may well turn out to be a good deal more spacious than much of the property currently available in the city.
Cork Slang

For some reason unclear to the rest of the country, Cork people refer to their city as the real capital. A more colourful and idiosyncratic bunch of folk you're unlikely to encounter, and this is reflected in their language.

You will survive in Cork unnoticed by placing either the word "boy" or the meaningless word "la" at the end of each sentence. Peppering sentences with "like" or "Like eh" can also help.

For example, two locals might be overheard saying:
"Like eh, did you see the match on the telly last night boy?"
To which the reply would come:
"I did la."

A word of caution. Take care not to use all of these linguistic devices together, as this will mark you forever as an outsider. The outsider is a rare breed in Cork however, and the locals are known for their cosmopolitan outlook on the world.

A Cork local will attempt to attract attention of a visitor by saying:
"Cmereawantcha."

A workable response to this would be:
"Like eh, how's it hanging boy?"

Corkonian can be a very confusing language, and they very often say the complete opposite to what they mean. For example if you ask a local to do something distasteful or unpalatable, such as make a comment that could be remotely construed as a positive endorsement of Dublin, you are likely to be met with the response

"I will, yeah!"

On the other hand if a Cork man is met with a set of very positive circumstances his immediate response is likely to be:
"How bad!"

Linguists and sociologists had been studying Corkonian for decades, but nobody has quite figured out the source of this confusion.

At this stage they've simply given up.

Part 1: Expressions
C'mere	Excuse me
I will, yeah	no
What's the story fella?	How are you?
how's the form?	How are you?
how's it hanging?	How are you?
You would yeah	You wouldn't dare
Here la	here you are
there la	it's over there/look over there
State a him la	He looks bad
Ah/awe) now sham	thats good
I claim ya	I would really like to engage in a fight with you.
Pure	very
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Like	this word is used at least once in every Cork sentence.
Like eh	Used as a hesitation at the start of a sentence.
Nawful	terrible
Bate	beat up
have a lash off	have a go
Lash into hash	Smoke cannibas
Be wide	be careful
Be dog wide	be extra careful
How bad bhoy	good
Bhoy	man/person. Not necesserily a Celt
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Part 2: Nouns & verbs
Brasser/stella/tramp/trollup	prostitute
Jammy Rag	tampon
Wan/bure	female
Young wan	female child
Fella/fein/ feeno/your man	male
Small fella	Male child
Mam, ole laid, ole wan	mother
Ole fella	joyrider
Apache	a young person up to no good
Salk	stolen car
Sham-feen	macho or hard-man
Snout/gonker/snoz	nose
Gowl(Ghoul)	Stupid person
Gimp	idiot
Fifty	Stood up
Poppies/tatties	Potatoes
Shades/law/blue bottles/pigs/5-0	Garda
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Two-bulb/shade mobile	squad car
Pig stie	Garda station
Gatch	walk
Gammy	deformed
Jag/doing a line/jaggin/meetin a wan/with/	going out with
Gatt/gattin/on the tear/on the piss	drink/drinking
Reef/reefin/mangle	beat up/beating up
Lamp/skanse/la	look
Droppin/Waz	need to go to the toilet/restroom
Wah /Whacker	not a nice person
Norrie	Person from Northside of the Cork City.
back to top
Part 3 :Place Names
Grawn	Gurranabraher
Knocka	Knocknaheeney
Mahn	Mahon
da Han	Ballyphehane
Toker	Togher
da Glen	The Glen
Pana	St. Patrick Street
Flying bottle	The HolyHill Inn
da Peace Park	Bishop Lucey Park
Clon	Clonakilty
Crosser	Crosshaven
da Cross	Turners Cross Football Ground

Galway Slang
Galway is known as the city of the tribes, and is one of the oldest cities in the country. It stands at the gateway to Connemara, an Irish-speaking region of then country. Many of the slang words in use are derived from the Irish language.

Galway is certainly one of the liveliest spots in Ireland, and people there are always up for a bit of fun. At this stage you are aware that admitting to enjoying a bit of crack, (spelt craic) is unlikely to land you in the local clinker, but a word of caution. If a woman in a bar in Galway sits on your jacket, asking if you can shift her for a minute could get you in a bit of trouble.

If you find her attractive, you'll probably want to chat her up or plamás her. You may need a "neck like a camel jockey's arse", but you can break the ice by telling her she's a "fine thing". She may respond by saying:
"You're a desperate man!" which in this context does not mean that she regards herself as the only port in your stormy love life, but rather that she's flattered by your advances. Confusing - I know.

As things move along, you may start acting the maggot and she may tell you that she's going to eat the head off you. Your lucky night? 'Fraid not. It simply means she intends verbally abusing you. So cop yourself on!

Unless you make a complete "hames" of the night, or unless you're a complete "head the ball" you'll be "away on a hack", or maybe even "on a pig's back," and you might even "get off" with the woman in question.

If you're drinking, watch out that you don't get locked, langered or mouldy, otherwise there'll be "ructions", and she'll see you for the "bowsie" that you are.
Midlands Slang
People from the midlands of Ireland have their own quaint way of conversing. Phrases that may appear aggressive to the outsider are in fact just local witticisms and colloquialisms.

A local affray might be sparked off by a man asking his neighbour:

"Whot'er you lukin ah?", to which a typical retort might be:

"Ya big suckie calf. I'll puh ya up agin de wall an box de head off ya. De curse a ten tousand tinkers on ya"

An account of the resulting disturbance might go as follows:

"He kicked him so hard up d'arse his lacers cem out yer mans mout and the both of them had to go to Hostiple."

Doubtless those involved wouldn't take long to make up afterwards, and they would, in all likelihood repair to the corner shop for soft drinks and potato snacks. In requesting these from the shopkeeper, they might well say:

"Tin o' minerdel an' a packa' o' Tay'O. I'm soo hungry I'd ate the arse of a farmer tru a tennis racket"

One portion of potato crisps may well be insufficient to satisfy the hunger brought on by the exchange of blows, in which case, the assailants may well say: "Give us a nuther Tay'O."

It would be wise not to over indulge in these foodstuffs, as a bout of indigestion or even nausea might result.

"Jesas, I'm as sick as a lorry load a mars bars," our off-colour friend might comment.

Hostilities over, the neighbours would return to one dwelling or another, where the host would say to the guest,

"Like the fella says, pu da turf on da fire."

The reconciled friends may well begin to converse about some of their fellow locals.

"Is he your cousind?" one might ask of the other, the answer to which, in the midlands of Ireland is invariably:

"Yes."
Limerick Slang
Despite what Frank McCourt would have us all believe, Limerick is in fact pretty darned good. The people are know for their openness and wit, and they have a unique way of conversing.

If for example a new family, members of the travelling community, moves into a neighbourhood, a local might say to his wife:
"Good news! A new family of Latchees has just parked their caravan in our locality!"

The wife, seeing an opportunity for celebration would, in all likelihood suggest making themselves known to their new neighbours by inviting them out for a drink.

"A new family of scobes in the area? Lets go on the batter?" the wife would say.

Once settled into one of the many local pubs, doubtless the company would end up talking about their own family members.

"Great news!" one father would say to the other.

"It turns out our eldest son is a steamer!" referring to his son's membership of the local gay community.

At the end of the evening, one couple may excuse themselves and return home.
"Gonna up home," they might say.

"Great time for dem latchees," the wife would doubtless say to the husband on the way home.

The following morning, feeling somewhat the worse for wear, the revellers would likely have a severe thirst. Describing the sensation, the local may well compare the sensation to an item of footwear found in the North Africa.
"My mouth is as dry as an Arab's tackie," he might say.

If the over indulgence caused an upset stomach, the wife may well respond
"Yes, and I'm as sick as a small hospital."

"I'm starvin'," the husband would reply.

"I'm so hungry could eat a scabby baby," the Limerickman might say, which according to evidence admissable in a court of law, is nothing more than a turn of phrase.
GAA Slang

It has been said that rugby is a thug's game played by gentlemen, soccer is a gentleman's game played by thugs and Gaelic games are thug's games played by thugs. Irish national sports, Hurling and Gaelic Football are fairly full-bodied in nature, and the accompanying language can be equally robust.
Bollix - Pat Spillane or Colm O'Rourke Bull thick - very angry - e.g. "the centre half back was bull thick when I lamped him again" Bullin` - angry - e.g. "the centre half back was bullin` after I lamped him" Burst the Bollix - Instruction to tackle your player Bushted - an undefined soreness e.g. "Jayz me arm is bushted" Comm-a-teeee - Local GAA bullshitters in general Crowd - A gathering of people that watch a match and hope for random acts of violence e.g. "that crowd from Meath are a right shower of shites" Hames - a right shite - e.g. "he made a hames of that clearance" Hang sangwidge - consumed with tay on the sides of roads after matches in Croker or Thurles, usually contains half a pound of butter. Hatchet Man - Mountainy type, uses hunter/gatherer instincts. Holly - eg "I gave it holly" - I put a fair bit of effort into it Joult - a push - e.g. "I gave him a joult and he has to wear a neck brace Lamp - a good thump - e.g. "I swung for the sliotar, missed by 3 feet andlamped their fullback" Leh-it-in-ta-feck-would-ya - Full forward`s appeal to a midfielder for a more timely delivery of the pass Massive Row - Disagreement involving both teams, including goalies, substitutes and supporters jumping fences Mighty - very good Mullocker - untidy or awkward player released for matches Namajaysus - What was that for, referee? Rake - A great amount of anything, usually pints of Guinness the night before an important match Row - Disagreement involving four or more players Running Row - A massive row that continues out in the parking area and or dressing room areas usually resolved by the Gardai. Schkelp - To remove living tissue in the absence of surgical procedures e.g. "That shite from Tipp took a schkelp out of my leg" The Bomber - a very popular nickname for a fat, hairy GAA player Timber - intimidation of a hurling opponent - e.g. "show him some timber"! Ya-bollix-ya - Corner back`s formal recognition of a score by his opponent White c**t - Graham Geraghty