Visiting Ireland? Over 80 slangs & phrases you might want to know

14 Jun 2024

4 mins read

Written by Team Instarem

This article covers:

New to Ireland? If you constantly feel lost in the middle of a conversation, we’re here to help with the lingo.

Famous for Guinness, black pudding and green hills, the beautiful country of Ireland is known for the amazing countryside, stunning cities and – sometimes – its gregarious natives.

So, if you’re trying to pick up accents and Irish slangs from television shows or movies, just a little reminder that the accent varies from region to region.

So, stall the ball, guys, a hape of common Irish slangs are coming your way.

Food & Beverage Terms

Irish Terms	Meanings
Afters	Dessert
Blackers	Blackberries
Chipper	Fish and chip shop
Fluthered	Very drunk
Gargle	Beer or alcohol
Jar	Beer
Locked	Very drunk
Messages	Shopping or groceries
On the tear	Going drinking
Pan	Bread
Pandy	Mashed potatoes
Poppy	Potatoes
Scald	Tea
Scoops	Alcoholic drink
Scuttered, Ossified, Mouldy, Buckled	To be drunk

Human Description

Irish Terms	Meanings
Chancer	A dodgy or risky character
Chiseler	Young child (Dublin slang)
Ciotóg	Left-handed
Culchie	A person from a rural/agricultural area
Dosser	Someone not working or messing about, up to no good
Earwiging	Listening in on a private conversation
Fella	Used for your guy, as in ‘Me Fella’ partner/husband/boyfriend
Fine thing	Good looking man or woman
Flahulach	Flamboyant; also, very generous
Holy Joe	A self-righteous person
Jibber	A person afraid to try new things
Melter	A person who is very annoying
Oul‘ Dear / Oul‘ Wan	Mother, Mom
Oul’ Fella	Father
Rugger Bugger	Someone who is posh, loud and loves Rugby
Throw shapes	Show off, sometimes aggressively

Weather, Location & Vehicles

Irish Terms	Meanings
Bucketing down	Raining hard
Gaff	Home, to have a ‘free gaff’ means you are home alone
Jacks	Toilet
Jo Maxi	Taxi, cab
Kip	Used to refer to sleep; a dirty or unpleasant place
Lash	The word has the following meanings:
	1. To rain hard
	1. To make an attempt at something
	1. To go out drinking
Nixer	An extra or irregular job, the income from which is not declared for taxation purposes
Pictures	Movies, film
The Pale	Anywhere in the region of Dublin
Trinners	Trinity College Dublin
Yonks	A long time
Black Mariah	Police van
Bombardier	A type of Irish bus
Bonnet	Car hood
Boreen	Narrow lane
Yoyo	Euro
Zonk	One-pound coin

Common Irish Phrases

Phrases	Meanings
A whale of a time	If someone says they are having a whale of a time they mean they’re enjoying themselves very much
Cheese on your chin	A chat
Do the washing	Wash clothes
Doing (or speaking) nineteen to the dozen	Going (or speaking) very fast
Donkey’s years	A very, very long time
Down the swanie	Down the drain
Eat the head off	Annoyed or to scold someone
Fierce weather	Threatening weather
Go way outta that	Has several meanings including exclamation of disbelief or don’t be silly or it’s no trouble
Happy out	It simply means to be happy
Haven’t a baldies	When you are unsure of an answer to a question
Holy show	Disgraceful scene
How’s he / she cuttin’?	Used to ask ‘How are you?’ or ‘What’s the news?’
I will yea	A sarcastic way of saying that someone will definitely not do something
I’m gonna head on	Going to leave
Like hen’s teeth	Extremely rare or impossible to obtain
Put the heart crossways	To give someone a fright
Sell ya the eye out of your head	Acon man who will sell anything
Stall the ball	Slow down or stop.
Sure, look it	It is what it is, whatever happens, happens
That’s a fret	An exclamation used to react to something unbelievable yet not completely impossible
The dose is goin‘ round	Used to refer to a viral illness
Wet the tea	Put teabags in boiling water
You couldn’t hit a cow’s arse with a banjo	An uncoordinated person
Your head’s a marley	One is foolish or stupid

Well, that was quite a list, but we don’t claim to have covered every phrase and slang from the vast Irish treasure trove. You may have come across a few that are not on our list. So, do let us know in the comments if we have missed out on any Irish phrases, words or slang. We will surely put them on our list.

You Might Also Want To Read: Moving To Canada? Here Are 75 Canadian English Slangs & Phrases You Must Know

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*Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational purposes only. All details are accurate at the time of publishing. Instarem has no affiliation or relationship with products or vendors mentioned.