Ireland is famous for its rich cultural heritage, which extends into the language. Whether in the streets of Dublin, chatting with locals, or in a more rural part of the country, you may hear some words and phrases you've never heard before.
Irish slang is more than just words; it's how the country's humour, warmth, and storytelling tradition are reflected in people's speech.
Irish people have added their own twist to English, with expressions and terms that aren't always straightforward. Here, we'll look at our favourite Irish slang expressions.
Common Irish Slang Words and Phrases
Irish slang features plenty of fun, colourful, and confusing expressions. These phrases regularly appear in conversations.
Many Irish slang words come from Hiberno-English, a unique version of English spoken in Ireland that blends Gaelic words, British influences, and local expressions. Some slang even dates back to Old Irish and Viking settlements!
Here are some of the most common expressions used:
Grand – Means "fine" or "okay." It can be used in many contexts:
- "How are you?" – "Ah sure, I’m grand." (I’m doing fine.)
- "The food was grand." (It was okay, nothing special.)
Yer man / Yer one – A way of referring to a guy or a girl in conversation.
- "Did you see yer man over there?" (Did you see that guy over there?)
- "Yer one behind the counter is lovely." (The girl behind the counter is nice.)
Deadly – Surprisingly, this means "brilliant" or "amazing" in Ireland.
- "That concert was deadly!" (The concert was amazing!)
In Irish slang, “deadly” doesn’t mean dangerous—it means amazing! If someone says, “That gig was deadly!”, they mean it was brilliant or fantastic. Other words with unexpected meanings include "grand" (fine), "scarlet" (embarrassed), and "banjaxed" (broken).
Gaff – A slang word for house or apartment.
- "We’re having a party at my gaff tonight." (We’re having a party at my house.)
Feck – A milder version of a swear word, commonly used in frustration or surprise.
- "Ah feck it, I forgot my phone!"
Yoke – Used when you don’t know the name of something.
- "Pass me that yoke over there." (Pass me that thing.)
Sound – Means someone is nice or reliable.
- "He’s a sound fella, always willing to help."
Don’t be acting the maggot – A playful way of saying "Stop messing around" or "Stop being silly."
Gas – Means something is funny or entertaining.
- "She’s gas altogether!" (She’s really funny!)
Meaning of Craic
This is probably one of the most iconic Irish terms. However, most non-Irish people have difficulty understanding it.
Its meaning depends on the situation, but the loosest translation is that the word “craic” means “fun”.
- “The craic was mighty.” – The night was great fun.
- “Any craic?” – Asking if there’s any news or gossip.
- “He’s great craic.” – That person is fun to be around.
- “The craic was ninety!” – The party or atmosphere was fantastic.
While "craic" is synonymous with Irish slang, it originated in Middle English before being re-adopted into Irish culture.
Nowadays, it's easily one of the most recognisable and beloved Irish slang terms, though given its widespread and almost universal use in Ireland, can we really call it slang?
This means “What’s up?”, “How’s it going?”, or “Any news?”.
It’s a phrase used in casual conversation all over Ireland, and it can mean different things depending on the context. While “craic” (pronounced ‘crack’) often refers to fun and entertainment, in this case, it’s simply a friendly greeting.
How Irish People Use Slang in Everyday Conversation
Irish slang extends beyond the words used. It includes how people speak, the tone of voice they use, and the context within which slang is used.
Many Irish slang phrases typically blend humour, sarcasm, and warmth (though not always).
Here are some examples of the terms in conversations.
At the Pub
- Bartender: “What’s the craic?” (What’s up?)
- You: “Ah, not much, just here for a pint.”
- Bartender: “Grand, enjoy yourself.” (Okay, have a good time.)
Describing Someone
- "Yer man over there is acting the maggot again."
- (That guy is messing around and being silly.)
- "She's gas altogether!"
- (She's really funny!)
Talking About a Fun Night Out
- "Last night was class! The music was deadly, and the craic was ninety!"
- (The night was amazing, and the atmosphere was fun.)
Reacting to Something Surprising
- "Go way outta that!"
- (No way! I don't believe you!)
- "Feck sake, not again!"
- (Oh no, not this again!)
Everyday Expressions
- "I'm knackered after work."
- (I'm exhausted after work.)
- "Sure look, it'll be grand."
- (Don't worry, it'll be fine.)
- "He's a sound lad."
- (He's a good guy.)
Essential Irish Slang You Need to Know
Certain slang words are used daily. Here are some expressions, whether you're greeting someone, describing a situation, or reacting to news.
Just remember that this slang is native to Irish people and not something that non-Irish people should adopt insincerely.
Greetings and General Chat
- “How’s the form?” – How are you? / How have you been?
- “C’mere to me.” – Listen to me / Come here, I have something to tell you.
- “Ah, sure, look…” – A phrase used when explaining something or brushing it off.
- “You’re grand.” – You’re fine / No problem.
- “Aye” – Yes (Common in Northern Ireland).
Describing People and Things
- “Chancer” – Someone who takes risks or pushes their luck.
- “He’s a right chancer, always trying to get free drinks.”
- “Banjaxed” – Broken or ruined.
- “My phone is banjaxed.”
- “Scarlet” – Embarrassed.
- “I tripped in front of everyone, I was scarlet.”
- “Eejit” – A fool, idiot (often playful).
- “Ah, ya big eejit!”
Expressions for Different Situations
- “Fluthered” – Very drunk.
- “We were fluthered last night.”
- “Knackered” – Exhausted.
- “I’m knackered after work.”
- “I’m after…” – Used to describe something you just did.
- “I’m after losing my keys!” (I just lost my keys.)
- “The state of ya!” – A way of saying someone looks messy or tired.
Funny Irish Sayings
- “I will yeah.” – Means I definitely won’t! (Irish sarcasm at its best).
- “Sure, it’ll be grand.” – Everything will be fine / Don’t worry about it.
- “The craic was ninety.” – The atmosphere was amazing.
- “Would ya stop!” – A way of saying You’re joking! or I don’t believe you!
You should learn these essential phrases (as well as numbers) before using them in your conversations. Understand them first and use them when appropriate with people you know well. Using them with strangers, especially if you're not Irish, may sound like you're making fun of them rather than appreciating their wonderful and unique slang.
Hilarious Irish Slang and Their Meanings
Beyond being unique, Irish slang is also quite humorous, especially to those not used to it. At first, these expressions and sayings won't make much sense, but they're mostly charming and witty and, at the very least, enough to make the corners of your mouth turn up slightly.
Funny Irish Slang Words
- Aul fella / Aul wan – Your dad or mum.
- “Me aul fella is always giving out.” (My dad is always complaining.)
- Go way outta that! – An expression of disbelief or surprise.
- “I won the lottery!” – “Go way outta that!”
- Manky – Dirty, disgusting.
- “That sandwich looks manky.”
- Ragin’ – Extremely annoyed.
- “I missed the bus, I’m ragin’!”
- Gom / Gombeen – A fool or someone who’s acting silly.
- “Don’t be such a gom.”
- On the lash – Going out for a big drinking session.
- “We were on the lash all weekend.”
- Leg it! – Run away quickly.
- “The teacher’s coming! Leg it!”
- Sure, you know yourself. – A way of saying You understand what I mean.
- “How was the weekend?” – “Ah, sure, you know yourself.”
It's also worthwhile learning how to say the days of the week, months, and seasons.
Funny Phrases and Expressions
- “I wouldn’t be seen dead in that.” – Means you would never wear or do something.
- “You’re acting the maggot.” – Stop messing around.
- “He hasn’t a baldy notion.” – He has absolutely no idea.
- “Away with the fairies.” – Someone who is daydreaming or a bit eccentric.
Irish Slang Table: Words and Meanings
As a reminder of all the terms and words we've covered today, here's a useful quick-reference table with the words, their meanings, and an example usage.
| Slang Word/Phrase | Meaning | Example Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Craic | Fun, gossip, or news | “What’s the craic?” |
| Grand | Fine, okay | “I’m grand, thanks.” |
| Yer man / Yer one | That guy/girl | “Did you see yer man?” |
| Deadly | Amazing, fantastic | “That gig was deadly!” |
| Feck | Mild curse word | “Ah feck it!” |
| Yoke | Any object | “Pass me that yoke.” |
| Sound | Nice, reliable | “He’s a sound lad.” |
| Gas | Funny, entertaining | “She’s gas altogether!” |
| Fluthered | Very drunk | “We were fluthered last night.” |
| Knackered | Exhausted | “I’m knackered after work.” |
| Eejit | Fool, idiot (playful) | “Ah, ya big eejit!” |
| Banjaxed | Broken, ruined | “My phone is banjaxed.” |
| Chancer | Someone who pushes their luck | “He’s a right chancer.” |
| C’mere to me | Listen to me / Come here | “C’mere to me, I’ve something to tell ya.” |
| Scarlet | Embarrassed | “I was scarlet when I tripped.” |
| Gom / Gombeen | Fool, idiot | “Don’t be such a gom.” |
| On the lash | Out drinking | “We were on the lash all night.” |
| Leg it! | Run away quickly | “The teacher’s coming! Leg it!” |
| Go way outta that! | Expression of disbelief | “I won the lottery!” – “Go way outta that!” |
| I’m after… | I just did something | “I’m after losing my keys.” |
| He hasn’t a baldy notion. | He has no idea | “Where are we going?” – “He hasn’t a baldy notion.” |
| Would ya stop! | Expression of shock or disbelief | “She said that?! Would ya stop!” |
| The craic was ninety. | It was great fun | “The night was brilliant, the craic was ninety!” |
| Sure look, it’ll be grand. | It’ll be fine | “Ah, sure look, it’ll be grand.” |
| Acting the maggot | Messing around, being silly | “Stop acting the maggot!” |
| Aul fella / Aul wan | Dad / Mum | “Me aul fella is always giving out.” |
| Manky | Dirty, disgusting | “That sandwich looks manky.” |
| Ragin’ | Extremely annoyed | “I missed the bus, I’m ragin’!” |
| Sure, you know yourself. | You understand what I mean | “How was the weekend?” – “Ah, sure, you know yourself.” |
| I wouldn’t be seen dead in that. | I would never wear/do that | “That jacket? I wouldn’t be seen dead in it.” |
| Away with the fairies. | Daydreaming, distracted | “She’s a bit away with the fairies today.” |
| A face like a slapped arse. | Looking miserable | “Cheer up! You’ve a face like a slapped arse.” |
| He’s full of shite. | He’s lying/exaggerating | “Don’t believe him, he’s full of shite.” |
If you'd like to study the Irish language further, there are plenty of tutors on the Superprof website. Just search for "Irish" and you can start browsing the profiles of potential tutors.
With many tutors offering a free first session, you can always try a few before choosing the one that's right for you, your budget, and how you like to learn.
Even if there aren't any local tutors, you can always learn online, which is just as effective as face-to-face tutoring when it comes to learning languages.
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