Many English speakers assume that traveling to another English-speaking country means communication will be effortless. In reality, English varies widely around the world. Linguists estimate there are more than 150 English dialects globally, each shaped by regional history, culture, and local usage. Even within the United States, dozens of dialects exist, sometimes causing confusion without ever crossing a border.
Simple everyday words can change from country to country. What Americans call an “elevator” is known as a “lift” in the United Kingdom, while a “bathroom” may be referred to as a “water closet” elsewhere. These differences reflect how the English language evolved over centuries, branching into distinct regional forms long after its earliest dialects took shape.
Many Americans prefer traveling to countries where English is widely spoken, believing it makes navigating daily life easier. While that’s often true, unfamiliar slang, idioms, and expressions can still leave visitors guessing. Just as American figures of speech can puzzle foreign travelers, English speakers abroad often use phrases that don’t translate easily across borders.
Ireland offers a clear example. The country has two official languages — Irish, known locally as Gaeilge, and English, which is used by the vast majority of the population. Still, Irish English includes slang and expressions that can be confusing even for native English speakers from other countries.
To identify Irish words and phrases that often leave Americans puzzled, 24/7 Tempo reviewed Irish news sites, blogs, videos, and other language resources. Some expressions are shared across the United Kingdom and other English-speaking countries, while many are unique to Ireland or Northern Ireland, shaped by local culture and the influence of the Irish language itself.
A ride
- Definition: An attractive person
Be careful asking for a ride in a taxi when in Ireland. A ride is a racy term for someone hot enough to tangle with; for example, “That waiter is a total ride.” It can also refer to doing the deed.
Gaff
- Definition: A house
A gaff is another word for a house. Teenagers can often be heard saying they’ve got a “free gaff,” which means their parents aren’t home and they are having a party.
Chipper
- Definition: A fish and chips shop
After a long night out, a group of friends might hit up the local chipper – a fast food shop that sells deep-fried foods like fish and chips.
Stone
- Definition: A unit of measurement
Widely used for measuring body weight, the stone, equaling 14 pounds, is a unit of measure that dates back hundreds of years and was once common around Northern Europe. The actual weight varied, depending on the town, as the weight was originally associated with a literal stone and no two were identical.
Bold
- Definition: Naughty
While bold generally means courageous in the U.S., the term takes a more negative connotation in Ireland, where calling someone bold is an accusation of bad behavior.
Plaster
- Definition: Adhesive bandage
If you get a cut in Ireland, someone may offer you a plaster to stick on your wound. It’ll look just like a Band-Aid.
Till
- Definition: Cash register
A grocery store clerk will ring you up and place your money in the till.
Dear
- Definition: Expensive
If someone says that a car is dear, they don’t mean that it is beloved; they mean that it was too costly.
Manky
- Definition: Dirty, disgusting
Meaning rotten, disgusting, or just plain horrible, manky can be used to describe anything from the weather to the month-old leftovers in the back of the fridge.
Langered
- Definition: Extremely drunk
Considering that a langer is a fool or an idiot, it’s not surprising that being langered is being incredibly intoxicated.
Scarlet
- Definition: Embarrassed
Referring to the color of one’s cheeks when they are humiliated, scarlet means embarrassed. You can also be scarlet for a friend if they did something embarrassing and you’re feeling for them.
Savage
- Definition: Excellent
A catch-all for anything great, savage means something is awesome, amazing, etc.
Craic
- Definition: Fun
Craic roughly translates to fun or good times, as in, “Are you up for a bit of craic tonight?” Minus craic, on the other hand, is a popular phrase meaning “no fun.”
The messages
- Definition: Shopping
Getting the messages means running errands or shopping for groceries, hardware, or other sundries.
What’s the story?
- Definition: How is it going?
While we may say “What’s up?” or “How’s it going?” in the U.S., the Irish equivalent is “What’s the story?”
I’m after…
- Definition: I have just…
If someone in Ireland says, “I’m after eating breakfast,” they mean that they have just eaten breakfast.
I will in my hole
- Definition: I will absolutely not
As the word hole is an expletive for anus in Ireland, the phrase “I will in my hole,” is a snarky way of saying that you refuse to do something.
Donkey’s years
- Definition: A long time
If someone says they haven’t seen their sister in donkey’s years, they mean they haven’t seen her ages.
The black stuff
- Definition: Guinness
Ask a bartender for a pint of the black stuff, and you’ll get a frothy mug of Guinness stout.
Shift
- Definition: Intense kiss
Getting a shift means making out or doing what some Americans might call French kissing.
Jammy
- Definition: Lucky
Jammy means incredibly lucky, maybe undeservedly so. If you find an envelope of money on the sidewalk, people may call you a jammy sod.
Crisps
- Definition: Potato chips
Ask for chips and you’ll get a serving of thick-cut fried potatoes that are not quite as crispy as American French fries. If what you want is potato chips, then ask for crisps.
Minted
- Definition: Rich
Minted means wealthy. For example, “Can’t your mum just pay for it? She’s minted!”
A chancer
- Definition: An opportunist
A chancer is a risk-taking person who may try to get away with something or fool others to get ahead.
Bad dose
- Definition: Severe illness
Having a bad dose generally means having a severe bout of the flu or a stomach bug.
Runners
- Definition: Sneakers
Sneakers are often called runners in Ireland, but they are also referred to as tackies in certain areas.
Cheers
- Definition: Thank you
From riders departing from the bus to bar patrons receiving their pint from the bartender, you’ll often hear people saying “cheers” in place of “thanks.”
Yoke
- Definition: That thing
Like a thingamajig, a yoke is an item a person can’t remember the name of.
That’s class
- Definition: That’s cool
Class is a word used to compliment someone or something, or express a favorable opinion about it.
Gas
- Definition: Funny
“A gas” can refer to a person or a funny situation. It is also used to express amazement or disbelief, as in, “You got struck by lightning? That’s gas!”
Garda
- Definition: The police
The Irish police force is called “An Garda Síochána,” which means “Guardians of the Peace.” It is shortened to garda when people are referring to police officers.
Half three
- Definition: The time is 3:30
While we may say it’s half past three, Irish folks may just say it’s half three and mean the same thing.
The boot
- Definition: The trunk of a car
Irish parents may tell their children to go “pop the boot,” meaning to go open the trunk of the car.
Now we’re sucking diesel
- Definition: Things are going very well
Sucking diesel means things are going extraordinarily well, or are getting back on track after an obstacle.
Wrecked
- Definition: Tired
Usually after spending a long night out, if someone says they’re wrecked, they’re exhausted.
To give out
- Definition: To complain
While giving out means complaining or going off on a rant, giving out to someone means scolding them or telling them off.
Leg it
- Definition: Move quickly
Legging it means heading somewhere quickly, often on foot.
On the lash
- Definition: To go out drinking
While lash can refer to hard rain, going on the lash means heading out for a round of boozing.
Slagging
- Definition: To make fun of
Slagging someone is a way of teasing or poking fun at them that is considered affectionate rather than malicious.
Culchie
- Definition: Country person
Similar to the term hillbilly, a culchie can refer to a person who is from a rural area and is considered to be unsophisticated; in Dublin, it can mean anybody who isn’t from Dublin.
Jacks
- Definition: Toilet
If you overhear someone say, “Where’s the jacks?” they are referring to the toilet.
Banjaxed
- Definition: Broken
Banjaxed can be used to mean someone or something that is ruined, destroyed, tired, or drunk.
Like
- Definition: Used to end a sentence
Just as Americans may overuse the word “like” as a filler in the middle of sentences or thoughts, the Irish will often end sentences with “like” as a way to accentuate the story.
Quare
- Definition: Very
Quare can mean a range of things, from very, as in, “The kids were quare noisy today,” to terrific, to odd.
Up to 90
- Definition: Very busy
Up to 90 can mean flat out busy, as well as incredibly agitated, or having reached your limit.
Deadly
- Definition: Very cool, fantastic
Deadly can mean fantastic, brilliant, or just plain awesome, as in, “That cake was deadly!”
Stall the ball!
- Definition: Wait a second!
Someone might say, “Stall the ball,” when they mean, “Hold on a minute.”
Fair play
- Definition: Well done
Fair play is used as a congratulatory statement, as in, “I heard you graduated college. Fair play!”
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