Irish English Words and Slang A–Z (44 Meanings)

Filter 44 entries

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N P S W Y

44 entries

A

acting the maggot

Irish English · common search form

Behaving foolishly, messing around, causing trouble, or refusing to take something seriously.

Verb phraseRead entry

after doing

Irish English · common search form

A construction meaning that an action has just happened or has recently been completed.

Grammar construction / recent perfectRead entry

amn’t I?

Irish English · common search form

The Irish English first-person negative question corresponding to standard “aren’t I?”

Negative question formRead entry

arseways

Irish English · common search form

Wrongly arranged, badly handled, reversed, confused, or in a complete mess.

Adverb / adjectiveRead entry

B

banjaxed

Irish English · common search form

Broken, ruined, exhausted, or no longer functioning properly.

Adjective / past participleRead entry

blaa

Irish English · common search form

A soft, floury white bread roll strongly associated with Waterford.

Noun / regional food wordRead entry

bold

Irish English · common search form

Naughty, badly behaved, or disobedient, especially of a child.

AdjectiveRead entry

C

class

Irish English · common search form

Excellent, very good, stylish, or impressive.

Adjective / noun used as praiseRead entry

craic

Irish English · common search form

Fun, enjoyable conversation, social atmosphere, or news about what is happening.

Noun / social expressionRead entry

culchie

Irish English · common search form

A person from rural Ireland or from outside Dublin, often framed through a city-versus-country stereotype.

Noun / identity labelRead entry

cute hoor

Irish English · common search form

A shrewd, crafty, or politically slippery person who gets results through charm, calculation, or manipulation.

Noun phrase / political labelRead entry

D

deadly

Irish English · common search form

Excellent, impressive, exciting, or highly enjoyable.

Adjective / intensifierRead entry

debs

Irish English · common search form

A formal social event or dance for students near the end of secondary school.

Plural noun / event nameRead entry

do be

Irish English · common search form

A habitual construction describing what regularly or characteristically happens.

Grammar construction / habitual aspectRead entry

E

eejit

Irish English · common search form

A foolish person; a humorous or mildly insulting form of idiot.

Noun / insultRead entry

F

fáilte

Irish-language expression

Welcome; an Irish-language word seen in greetings, signs, institutions, and hospitality.

Irish-language nounRead entry

feck

Irish English · common search form

A mild-to-strong exclamation or verb used in place of a more explicit swear word.

Exclamation / verb / intensifierRead entry

G

gas

Irish English · common search form

Funny, amusing, ridiculous in an entertaining way, or full of comic energy.

Adjective / nounRead entry

giving out

Irish English · common search form

Complaining, scolding, criticizing, or telling someone off.

Phrasal verbRead entry

gob

Irish English · common search form

Mouth; also speech, chatter, or the act of speaking too much.

Noun / verb elementRead entry

gobshite

Irish English · common search form

A stupid, unpleasant, boastful, or irritating person.

Noun / offensive insultRead entry

gombeen

Irish English · common search form

A self-serving, exploitative dealer or local operator; historically linked with usury and unfair profiteering.

Noun / political insultRead entry

grand

Irish English · common search form

Fine, okay, acceptable, settled, or not worth making a fuss about.

Adjective / responseRead entry

H

how’s she cutting?

Irish English · common search form

How are things going, how is the work progressing, or how is life treating you?

Greeting / progress questionRead entry

I

I will, yeah

Irish English · common search form

Often a sarcastic refusal meaning that the speaker probably will not do the requested thing.

Sarcastic responseRead entry

J

jackeen

Irish English · common search form

A Dubliner, often used from outside Dublin with a teasing or hostile regional stereotype.

Noun / regional labelRead entry

K

knackered

Irish English · common search form

Very tired, worn out, or exhausted.

AdjectiveRead entry

L

lash

Irish English · common search form

To rain heavily, move quickly, strike, pour generously, or proceed with energetic force.

Verb / nounRead entry

M

messages

Irish English · common search form

Groceries, shopping, or small errands to be collected.

Plural nounRead entry

mineral

Irish English · common search form

A soft drink or fizzy drink, especially in older, regional, or hospitality-related usage.

NounRead entry

morto

Irish English · common search form

Extremely embarrassed; shortened from mortified.

Adjective / slang abbreviationRead entry

N

now in a minute

Irish English · common search form

Very soon, after a brief delay, or once the current task is finished.

Time expressionRead entry

P

press

Irish English · common search form

A cupboard, cabinet, or enclosed storage space.

NounRead entry

S

scarlet

Irish English · common search form

Extremely embarrassed, ashamed, or red-faced about something.

Adjective / embarrassment expressionRead entry

sláinte

Irish-language expression

Health; commonly used as a toast meaning roughly “to your health” or “cheers.”

Irish-language noun / toastRead entry

slán

Irish-language expression

Safe or well; widely used in Irish farewell expressions.

Irish-language adjective / farewell elementRead entry

sleeveen

Irish English · common search form

A sly, untrustworthy, smooth-talking, or underhand person.

Noun / insultRead entry

sound

Irish English · common search form

Good, decent, trustworthy, kind, or agreeable.

Adjective / approvalRead entry

spice bag

Irish English · common search form

An Irish takeaway dish typically combining chips, seasoned fried chicken, vegetables, chilli, and spice mix.

Noun / food termRead entry

sure look

Irish English · common search form

A flexible phrase that acknowledges reality, softens a conclusion, or signals that little more can be done.

Discourse markerRead entry

W

what’s the story?

Irish English · common search form

What is happening, how are you, or what is the latest news or plan?

Greeting / questionRead entry

Y

yer man

Irish English · common search form

That man being referred to, whether or not the listener knows his name.

Noun phrase / reference expressionRead entry

yer one

Irish English · common search form

That woman being referred to, whether or not the listener knows her name.

Noun phrase / reference expressionRead entry

yoke

Irish English · common search form

A thing, object, device, or person whose exact name is unknown, forgotten, or unnecessary.

Noun / placeholder wordRead entry