If there’s one group of people that’s been blessed with the gift of gab, it’s the Irish. If you’ve ever been to the Emerald Isle – or at least spent some time hanging out with Irish folks, ideally over a couple of pints – then you’ll understand why we’re jealous of their ability to not only carry on a conversation with just about anybody, but to do so with some serious panache. A big part of that panache? The use of certain slang terms that are distinctly and uniquely Irish.
Language is a living, constantly evolving thing, and just about every culture has their own slang. There are plenty of reasons why slang comes into being. Social groups can develop their own vocabulary, terms are coined to describe something new, funny words are invented and catch on as a joke, older terms acquire new meanings over time, and words and phrases are adapted from other languages.
In the case of Irish slang, the vast majority comes from Irish Gaelic, the native language of Ireland. Though Irish Gaelic is taught in schools throughout the country, it doesn’t have as many fluent speakers as English. That said, Gaelic has made its way into everyday Irish conversation by way of countless slang terms, and some of the most common Irish slang terms are English, as well. These are 20 slang terms that you should probably brush up on a wee bit before heading to the Emerald Isle, and these are more old words that have gotten completely new meanings over the years.
Craic
Pronounced “crack,” this is used as a term for fun and entertainment.
Feck
This is a mild expletive, about the equivalent of “heck” or “damn.” It’s usually shouted when someone is surprised or annoyed.
Eejit
A term for a foolish person, “eejit” is basically “idiot” with an Irish accent.
Gobshite
If you encounter an eejit who’s talking nonsense and acting foolishly, then he’s also a gobshite.
Grand
If something is fine or pretty good, it’s grand.
Banjaxed
If something is broken beyond repair, might as well throw it away; it’s banjaxed.
Yoke
“Yoke” is just another name for “thing,” similar to how Philadelphians use the word “jawn.” If you can’t remember the name of something, just call it a yoke.
Sláinte
The Irish equivalent of “Cheers!,” Sláinte (pronounced “slawn-cha”) is said while clinking glasses.
Bleedin’ Deadly
Similar to the Brisish “bloody good,” “bleedin’ deadly” is a way to describe something as being amazing.
Langers
Group of male friends taking shots together on their night out.
If you’ve had a few drinks too many, you’re completely langers. Other slang terms for drunk include locked, buckled, ossified, and scuttered. The term “langer” is also popular in Cork, where it can refer to any eejit.
Gaff
Another word for “house,” gaff is a good term to know in case you get invited to a gaff party.
Manky
If something is disgusting, rotten, or dirty, it’s a wee bit manky. Unsurprisingly, it’s most commonly used to describe the weather in Ireland.
Gas
If someone or something is incredibly entertaining, it’s a real gas.
Header
If someone’s foolish or eccentric, they’re a header.
Savage
Saying something is “savage” is just another way of saying it’s great or fantastic.
G’wan
Derived from a popular phrase on the beloved Irish TV show “Father Ted,” “g’wan” just means “go on,” and is used to express encouragement.
Coddin’ Ya
If someone tells you that they’re only coddin’ ya, it means that they’re just joking around and shouldn’t be taken too seriously.
The Jacks
When someone needs to visit the jacks, it means they need to use the bathroom; it’s used most often to refer to public restrooms, like in a pub.
I Will Yeah
If you ask someone to do something in Ireland and they reply “I will, yeah” in a sarcastic tone, they’re most definitely not going to do it.
Gammy
If something’s not quite broken but not exactly working perfectly, it’s a bit gammy. “That dog don’t hunt,” if put in Southern slang terms.