Irish Slang and Expressions: Essential Guide for Newcomers

13 December 2024

languageculturecommunicationirish-english

Ireland speaks English, but Irish English contains unique vocabulary, expressions, and slang that can perplex newcomers. Understanding Irish slang helps you navigate conversations, avoid misunderstandings, and participate more naturally in Irish social life. This guide covers essential Irish expressions, their meanings, and appropriate contexts for use.

Essential Irish Slang Terms

Craic (pronounced “crack”): Fun, entertainment, news, or gossip. “What’s the craic?” means “What’s happening?” or “How are you?” “It was great craic” means something was fun. “The craic was ninety” describes particularly good fun. This represents perhaps the most essential Irish slang term.

Grand: Fine, okay, acceptable. Irish people use “grand” constantly, often understating situations. “How are you?” “Grand” means okay rather than spectacular. “That’s grand” indicates something is acceptable, not necessarily excellent. Understanding that “grand” represents baseline satisfaction rather than enthusiasm prevents misreading Irish responses.

Gas: Funny or entertaining. “He’s gas” means he’s funny. “That’s gas” means that’s hilarious. Irish people frequently use “gas” to describe humorous situations or people.

Deadly: Excellent, amazing, really good. Despite sounding negative, “deadly” expresses enthusiasm and approval. “That concert was deadly” means it was excellent. Usage is primarily among younger Irish people.

Savage: Similar to deadly—means excellent or impressive. “That goal was savage” expresses admiration. Again, younger generations use this more than older Irish people.

Sound: Good person, reliable, or agreement. “He’s sound” means he’s a good guy, trustworthy. “Sound out” means okay or agreed. This versatile term appears constantly in Irish conversation.

Fair play: Well done, good job. Expresses approval or congratulations. “Fair play to you” means good work or congratulations. Irish people use this to acknowledge achievements or positive actions.

Massive: Great, excellent. “That’s massive” expresses enthusiasm or approval. Younger speakers use this more frequently.

Describing People and Situations

Eejit: Idiot or fool, but softer than English usage. Often used affectionately—“Don’t mind him, he’s an eejit” might be said fondly. Context determines whether this is playful or genuinely insulting.

Gobshite: Idiot, fool, or annoying person. Stronger than eejit but not the harshest Irish insult. Generally indicates someone talks too much nonsense or acts foolishly.

Thick: Stupid or dense. “He’s as thick as two short planks” describes someone particularly unintelligent. Also can mean stubborn—“thick as a ditch” means very stubborn.

Chancer: Someone who takes risks or chances, often pushing boundaries. Can be admiring (“He’s some chancer, always finding opportunities”) or critical (“Don’t trust him, he’s a chancer”).

Culchie: Rural person, particularly from perspective of urban Irish people. Sometimes affectionate, sometimes derogatory depending on context and tone. Culchies themselves often wear the label proudly.

Jackeen: Dublin person, from perspective of people outside Dublin. Similar dynamic to culchie—can be affectionate or insulting depending on usage.

Langer: Cork insult meaning idiot or fool. Cork-specific slang that puzzles people from other Irish regions.

Wagon/Yoke: “Wagon” describes an unpleasant or difficult woman (derogatory). “Yoke” means thing or object when you don’t know or can’t remember the name. “Pass me that yoke” means pass me that thing.

Physical States and Feelings

Knackered: Exhausted, extremely tired. “I’m absolutely knackered” expresses profound tiredness. Very commonly used.

Bolloxed: Similar to knackered—exhausted or broken. “My car is bolloxed” means it’s broken. “I’m bolloxed” means exhausted. Note the spelling differs from similar-sounding profanity.

Banjaxed: Broken or ruined. “The washing machine is banjaxed” means it’s broken beyond easy repair. Can also describe personal exhaustion.

Langers/Locked/Plastered: Drunk, intoxicated. Irish has numerous expressions for drunkenness—langers, locked, plastered, ossified, and many more. Usage varies by region.

Manky: Dirty, disgusting, unpleasant. “That pub toilet was manky” expresses disgust. “I feel manky” means feeling unwell or unclean.

Brutal: Terrible, awful. Despite the spelling, pronunciation shifts slightly to “broo-tal.” “The weather is brutal” means it’s terrible weather. Younger Irish people sometimes use it ironically to mean good, creating confusion.

Desperate: Bad or terrible, more intense than British English usage. “The traffic was desperate” means it was really bad, not that traffic was feeling desperation.

Weather and Environment

Lashing: Raining heavily. “It’s lashing out there” means it’s pouring rain. Given Irish weather, you’ll use this frequently.

Soft day: Misty, damp day with light rain. Traditional Irish expression treating constant drizzle as merely “soft” rather than unpleasant rain.

Fierce: Very, extremely. “Fierce cold” means very cold. “Fierce wind” means extremely windy. Older speakers use this more than younger generations.

Baltic: Extremely cold. “It’s baltic today” means it’s freezing. This term references the Baltic Sea region’s cold climate.

Close: Humid, muggy weather. “It’s very close today” doesn’t mean weather is nearby—it means the air feels thick and humid.

Common Irish Phrases and Expressions

“How’s she cuttin’?”: How are things going? Informal greeting asking how life is treating you. Appropriate response: “Grand” or “Not too bad.”

“Story?”: Short for “What’s your story?” or “What’s the story?” Means “How are you?” or “What’s happening?” Extremely casual greeting.

“Well?”: Casual greeting meaning “How are you?” Pronunciation emphasis matters—drawn out slightly with questioning intonation.

“What’s the story?”: Similar to “Story?” but slightly less abbreviated. Asking what’s happening or seeking explanation.

“How’s things?”: How are things? How’s life? Informal greeting requiring response about your general state.

“Safe home”: Said when someone is leaving, wishing them safe journey home. Polite Irish farewell particularly common outside cities.

“Goodbye now” or “Bye-bye now”: Standard Irish farewell, sometimes repeated multiple times. Irish goodbyes often extend through several “byes” and “bye-byes” before actually departing.

Agreement, Acknowledgment, and Response

“Sure look”: Expression of resignation or acceptance. “Sure look, that’s the way it is” acknowledges unfortunate situations philosophically. Incredibly versatile phrase appearing constantly in conversation.

“Sure I know”: I know, I understand. Sometimes used to show sympathy—“Sure I know you’re trying your best.”

“To be sure”: Indeed, certainly. Stereotypically Irish expression less commonly used by modern Irish people but still appears occasionally.

“Fair enough”: Okay, I understand, that’s reasonable. Acknowledges another person’s point or situation without necessarily agreeing.

“Ah here”: Expression of frustration, disbelief, or protest. “Ah here, that’s not fair” protests unfair treatment. Versatile expression used frequently.

“Go on out of that”: Expression of disbelief or playful dismissal. “I won the lottery!” “Go on out of that!” (I don’t believe you).

“G’wan”: Go on, continue. Encourages someone to proceed with story or action. Also expresses mild disbelief—“G’wan, really?”

“Will you give over”: Stop it, quit it. Usually playful rather than aggressive. “Will you give over with that nonsense.”

Emphasis and Intensifiers

“At all, at all”: Emphasizes negation. “I don’t like it at all, at all” intensifies the negative. Considered somewhat old-fashioned but still used.

“A bit”: Understatement meaning quite or very. “I’m a bit tired” might mean exhausted. “It’s a bit cold” might mean freezing. Understanding Irish understatement prevents misreading situations.

“Pure”: Very, completely. “That’s pure brilliant” means that’s very brilliant. Predominantly younger speaker usage.

“Clean”: Completely, entirely. “I clean forgot” means I completely forgot. Somewhat rural or older usage.

“Rake of”: Lots of, many. “There’s a rake of people there” means there are many people. “I’ve a rake of work to do” means lots of work.

Common Conversational Fillers

“Like”: Filler word appearing constantly in Irish speech, particularly among younger speakers. “I was like going to the shop, like, and like…” While grammatically unnecessary, “like” peppers Irish conversation naturally.

“Anyway”: Another filler, often used to transition topics or fill pauses. Irish people use “anyway” frequently in conversation.

“You know yourself”: Implies shared understanding or common knowledge. “Sure you know yourself how it is” assumes the listener understands the situation from experience.

“Do you know what I mean?”: Seeking confirmation listener understands. Often shortened to “D’you know what I mean?” or even “Y’know?” Appears frequently in Irish conversation, sometimes after nearly every sentence.

Food and Drink Vocabulary

Drinks

Pint: Beer, specifically draft beer. “Going for pints” means going to pub. Pints represent central Irish social currency.

Minerals: Soft drinks, soda. “Do you want tea or minerals?” offers choice between tea and soft drinks. Older usage but still heard, particularly rurally.

Sup: Drink, sip. “Take a sup of that” means have a drink of that. “What are you having for your sup?” asks what you’re drinking.

Drop: Small amount of liquid, particularly milk in tea. “Just a drop of milk” means small amount. “Drop of rain” means light rain.

Naggin: Small bottle (200ml) of spirits. “I brought a naggin” means I brought a small bottle of alcohol, often for drinking before going out (pre-drinking).

Food

Rashers: Bacon strips. Irish breakfast includes rashers rather than just “bacon.”

Sausages: Called “sausages” never “bangers” (British term). Irish breakfast always includes sausages.

Black and white pudding: Blood sausage (black) and pork and oatmeal sausage (white). Traditional Irish breakfast components that puzzle newcomers.

Tayto: Brand name of crisps (potato chips) so dominant it’s often used generically. “Want some Tayto?” might mean any crisps brand.

Chipper: Fish and chips shop. “I’m going to the chipper” means getting fish and chips (takeaway).

Messages: Groceries, shopping. “I’m going for the messages” means going grocery shopping. Somewhat old-fashioned but still used.

Press: Cupboard or closet. “It’s in the press” means it’s in the cupboard. “Hot press” specifically means airing cupboard.

Irish-Specific Actions and Activities

Craic/Having the craic: Having fun, socializing, enjoying yourself. Already covered as noun, but also used as activity.

Shift: Kiss, make out with someone. “Did you shift him?” asks if you kissed someone. Predominantly younger speaker usage.

Meeting: Dating someone. “Are you meeting anyone?” asks if you’re in a relationship or dating. “I’m meeting someone” means I’m dating someone.

Gawk: Stare, look at something. “Stop gawking” means stop staring. Can also mean vomit—context determines meaning.

Slag/Slagging: Teasing, making fun of someone playfully. “Just slagging you” means just teasing. Slagging represents important Irish social interaction—friends slag each other constantly.

Mitch: Skip school or work. “I’m mitching today” means I’m skipping school/work without permission. Also “doss” means similar.

Scarlet: Embarrassed. “I was scarlet” means I was mortified. “Scarlet for you” means that’s embarrassing for you.

Practical Activities

Do the job: Will work, will suffice. “That’ll do the job” means that will work fine.

Sort you out: Fix, arrange, or provide something. “I’ll sort you out with tickets” means I’ll get you tickets. Can also imply violence—“I’ll sort him out” might mean physical confrontation. Context matters.

Give out: Scold, complain to someone. “My mother gave out to me” means she scolded me. “Stop giving out” means stop complaining.

Take the piss: Mock or make fun of someone/something. “Are you taking the piss?” asks if you’re mocking them. British origin but widely used in Ireland.

Hop off: Go away, leave. “Would you ever hop off” tells someone to leave. Can be playful or aggressive depending on tone.

Regional Variations

Dublin Slang

Gaff: House, home. “Come back to my gaff” means come to my house. Widely used beyond Dublin now.

Mot/Bird: Girlfriend. Somewhat dated and potentially offensive to women, but still heard.

Fella/Chap: Boyfriend. “Is he your fella?” asks if he’s your boyfriend.

Wan: Girl or woman, pronounced “won.” “She’s a nice wan” means she’s a nice girl/woman. Can be neutral or slightly dismissive depending on tone.

Bleeding: Intensifier similar to “bloody.” “That’s bleeding brilliant” means that’s really brilliant. Dublin-specific usage.

Cork Slang

Boy/Girl: Added to end of sentences. “How are you, boy?” or “It’s cold today, girl.” Very Cork-specific, sounds strange to non-Cork Irish people.

Langers: Drunk (mentioned earlier, but particularly Cork usage). “He was langers last night” means he was very drunk.

Boi: Variation of boy, particularly in written form. Cork young people’s slang.

Limerick and Regional Expressions

Savage: Mentioned earlier, but particularly strong Limerick usage.

Gawk: Look or stare, strongest in Limerick/mid-west usage.

Acting the maggot: Messing around, acting silly. Used more widely but strong in certain regions.

Understanding Irish Communication Style

Understatement and Indirectness

Irish people frequently understate situations. “Not too bad” might mean excellent. “Could be worse” often means things are quite good. This understated communication style contrasts with more effusive cultures where positive experiences receive enthusiastic description.

Understanding this pattern prevents misreading Irish people’s feelings or situations. If an Irish person says something is “grand,” they’re not being lukewarm—grand represents acceptable satisfaction. If they say something was “not too bad,” they likely enjoyed it quite a bit.

Sarcasm and Humor

Irish conversation heavily features sarcasm, irony, and dry humor. Statements might mean their opposite, and jokes occur constantly. Taking everything literally results in misunderstanding. Learning to detect ironic tone, raised eyebrows, or slight smirks that indicate non-literal meaning takes time but significantly improves communication.

Irish people often say outrageously false things in deadpan fashion to see if you’ll believe them. If something sounds absurd, it probably is—they’re testing your ability to distinguish truth from wind-up (teasing).

Directness and Conflict Avoidance

Despite stereotype about Irish bluntness, Irish communication often avoids direct confrontation. Criticism comes wrapped in humor or hedged with qualifiers. “That’s interesting” might mean “I disagree but won’t say so directly.” “I’ll think about it” often means “no” delivered politely.

This indirect communication prevents offense and maintains social harmony. However, foreigners from more direct cultures sometimes miss Irish people’s actual messages. Pay attention to what’s not said, to hesitations, and to overly elaborate positive statements that might contain implicit criticism.

For more information on Irish communication patterns, see our guide on Irish Culture and Social Norms.

Using Irish Slang Appropriately

When to Use Slang

Matching your language to context prevents social awkwardness. Use slang in:

Casual Social Settings: Pubs, social gatherings, informal conversations with friends.

Among Peers: Particularly with people your own age or younger. Slang usage varies by generation.

Relaxed Workplace Interactions: Casual conversations with colleagues you know well. However, gauge workplace culture first.

Avoid slang in:

Formal Situations: Job interviews, formal meetings, interactions with professors or authority figures.

Written Professional Communication: Emails to bosses, formal documents, professional correspondence.

Initial Interactions: Until you understand someone’s communication style, stick to more standard English.

Authenticity vs. Appropriation

As newcomer learning Irish slang, balance between participating in Irish communication patterns and respecting that you’re not Irish. Irish people generally appreciate foreigners learning Irish expressions and participating in Irish communication style. However, overdoing it or adopting exaggerated “stage Irish” speech seems inauthentic and potentially offensive.

Tips for authentic usage:

Learn Gradually: Incorporate Irish expressions slowly as they become natural rather than suddenly speaking entirely in slang.

Follow Irish Speakers’ Lead: Use expressions you hear Irish people actually using rather than stereotypical phrases from movies or tourism marketing.

Don’t Force It: If an expression doesn’t feel natural to you, don’t use it. Forced slang sounds worse than standard English.

Accept Corrections: If Irish people correct your usage or laugh at how you said something, accept the feedback graciously.

Stay Yourself: Your accent and manner of speaking remain yours. You don’t need to develop Irish accent or completely change speech patterns.

Common Misunderstandings to Avoid

False Friends

Some Irish expressions sound like English you know but mean different things:

“Giving out”: Doesn’t mean giving something away—means scolding or complaining.

“Press”: Not a news conference—means cupboard.

“Bold”: Doesn’t mean brave or courageous—means naughty or badly behaved, particularly describing children.

“Minerals”: Not vitamins or mining products—means soft drinks.

“Ride”: Can mean sexual intercourse or attractive person. “She’s a ride” means she’s attractive (crude but common). “Can I give you a ride?” might create unintended implications—say “lift” instead.

Regional Accent Challenges

Irish accents vary dramatically by region and can create comprehension challenges even when vocabulary is familiar. Dublin accents differ from Cork accents, which differ from rural Donegal accents. Some speakers are easier for newcomers to understand than others.

Don’t pretend to understand when you don’t. Asking for repetition or clarification is acceptable and expected. Irish people generally accommodate non-native speakers or people from other English-speaking countries by speaking more clearly.

Offensive Terms to Avoid

While Irish slang includes many casual terms, some carry offensive weight. Be aware that:

Knacker/Tinker: Highly offensive terms for Irish Travellers (Irish ethnic minority). Never use these terms.

Certain Swearing: Irish people swear frequently, but some profanity remains genuinely offensive depending on context, audience, and delivery. As newcomer, err on the side of caution with profanity until you understand local norms.

Political Terms: Terms related to Northern Ireland, the Troubles, or sectarian divisions require careful handling. Don’t casually reference these historically charged topics without understanding their weight.

Moving Forward

Irish slang and expressions represent just one layer of Ireland’s rich linguistic culture. Understanding these terms helps you navigate Irish conversation, participate more fully in Irish social life, and appreciate Irish humor and communication patterns. However, language learning never truly completes—new expressions emerge, regional variations appear, and context always matters.

Approach Irish slang with curiosity, humility, and willingness to occasionally misunderstand. Irish people generally appreciate foreigners’ efforts to understand Irish English and patiently explain expressions you don’t know. Your attempts to learn Irish slang demonstrate respect for Irish culture and interest in genuine integration rather than simply working in Ireland while remaining culturally separate.

Remember that Irish slang exists within broader Irish communication patterns including understatement, indirect expression, self-deprecating humor, and complex relationships with both sincerity and irony. Learning individual words helps, but understanding how Irish people actually communicate requires observation, interaction, and time.

Most importantly, don’t let concern about proper slang usage prevent you from conversing with Irish people. Standard English works fine, and most Irish people adapt their language when speaking with foreigners. As you hear expressions repeatedly in context, you’ll naturally absorb their meanings and eventually incorporate them into your own speech at appropriate pace.

For more information on integrating into Irish social life, see our guides on Building a Social Life and Making Friends and Dating and Relationships in Ireland.