Irish Slang

A

A dose

Meaning: A difficult, troublesome, or annoying person or thing.

Calling someone or something a dose means they're a bit of a nuisance or a source of trouble. It can be affectionate when used about someone you know well, especially if they're being particularly difficult.

Example: He's a terrible dose when he's in a bad mood.

Acting the fool

Meaning: Behaving foolishly; messing around.

Acting the fool is used when someone is behaving silly or deliberately making a spectacle of themselves. It's often said with affection or mild exasperation rather than genuine anger.

Example: The children were acting the fool all afternoon.

Acting the maggot

Meaning: Fooling around; behaving mischievously.

If someone in Ireland is acting the maggot, they're making a nuisance of themselves, fooling around, or generally not behaving themselves. It's usually playful rather than serious.

Example: Will you stop acting the maggot and come inside?

Ah here

Meaning: An expression of disbelief, protest, annoyance, or surprise.

Ah here is remarkably useful because its meaning depends almost entirely on tone. It can mean “Come on,” “Oh, for goodness' sake,” “You're having a laugh,” or simply “Wait a minute.”

Example: Ah here, you can't be serious.

Away with the fairies

Meaning: Distracted; daydreaming; not quite paying attention.

Someone who's away with the fairies has their head somewhere else. It can describe someone who's daydreaming, distracted, or simply not keeping up with what's happening around them.

Example: Sorry, I wasn't listening—I was away with the fairies.

B

Banjaxed

Meaning: Broken, exhausted, worn out, or in a bad state.

Something that's banjaxed is no longer working properly—or, when referring to a person, they're completely worn out. It's one of those wonderfully useful Irish words that can apply equally well to a washing machine or a tired person.

Example: The old car is completely banjaxed.

C

Craic

Meaning: Fun, enjoyment, good times

A uniquely Irish word that can mean fun, entertainment, or lively conversation. When someone asks, “What’s the craic?” they’re essentially asking, “What’s happening?” or “How are things?”

Example: We had great craic last night.

D

Deadly

Meaning: Excellent; brilliant; fantastic.

In Irish conversation, deadly can mean the complete opposite of dangerous. It's an enthusiastic way of saying that something is excellent or that you're very pleased with it.

Example: That's deadly altogether.

E

Eejit

Meaning: An idiot; a foolish person.

A playful Irish pronunciation of idiot. While it can certainly be insulting, eejit is often used affectionately, particularly when someone has done something silly rather than genuinely foolish.

Example: You left your keys in the door again, you eejit.

F

Fair play to you

Meaning: Well done; good for you; I respect that.

Fair play to you is a wonderfully Irish way of expressing approval or admiration. It can be sincere, encouraging, or even a little teasing, depending on the tone. Someone might say it after hearing about something you've accomplished or a choice you've made.

Example: You walked all the way home in that rain? Fair play to you.

G

Gas

Meaning: Funny; amusing; entertaining.

If something is gas in Ireland, it's funny or entertaining. You might describe a person as gas if they're naturally amusing or a situation as gas if it made everyone laugh.

Example: He's great craic—he's absolutely gas.

Giving out

Meaning: Scolding; complaining; telling someone off.

To give out is to complain or scold, often at considerable length. An Irish parent might be particularly gifted at it. You can also say someone is giving out about something when they're complaining about it.

Example: Mam was giving out to me for leaving the door open.

Go on out of that

Meaning: Oh, stop; I don't believe you; you're having me on.

Usually playful rather than angry, this is a classic response to something surprising, flattering, or hard to believe. The tone does most of the work.

Example: “I won the whole thing!” — “Go on out of that!”

Gobshite

Meaning: A foolish, annoying, or outspoken person.

A wonderfully Irish insult, though often used affectionately among friends. A gobshite is someone who talks too much, says foolish things, or generally makes a bit of a nuisance of themselves.

Example: Don't mind him. He's only a gobshite.

Grand

Meaning: Fine; good; great; perfectly okay.

One of the most versatile words in Irish conversation. Grand can mean that something is good, that everything is okay, or simply that there is no problem. “How are you?” — “Grand.” “Will six o’clock suit?” — “Grand.” It doesn't necessarily mean magnificent; often it simply means that's perfectly fine.

Example: Sure, that's grand. I'll see you tomorrow.

H

Himself / Herself

Meaning: A particular man or woman, often someone important or well known in the context.

In Ireland, himself and herself can be used almost like names. Depending on the context, they might refer to a spouse, a boss, a parent, or simply the person everyone knows you're talking about.

Example: Herself is out shopping at the moment.

I

I’m after…

Meaning: I have just…

A very Irish way of describing something that has just happened. Instead of saying “I just finished my dinner,” someone might say, “I’m after me dinner.” It comes from the Irish language and is one of those expressions that immediately gives a sentence an Irish character.

Example: I’m after making a cup of tea.

J

Jaysus

Meaning: An Irish pronunciation of “Jesus,” used as an expression of surprise, frustration, excitement, or disbelief.

Jaysus is heard throughout Ireland as an everyday exclamation. It can express almost anything from mild surprise to genuine shock, and its meaning is usually conveyed more by tone than by the word itself.

Example: Jaysus, that's some price for a cup of coffee.

N

Not a bother

Meaning: No problem; you're welcome; it's no trouble.

A very Irish way of putting someone at ease. It can be used when agreeing to help, accepting an apology, or responding to thanks.

Example: “Thanks for picking that up for me.” — “Ah, not a bother.”

Notions

Meaning: An overly high opinion of yourself; conceit.

If someone has “notions,” they think a bit too highly of themselves or are getting above their station. It can be serious or completely teasing.

Example: “He has notions about himself since he got that new job.”

S

Savage

Meaning: Excellent; brilliant; really good.

Another word that can mean something quite different in Irish conversation. When someone describes something as savage, they're often saying that it's particularly good or impressive.

Example: That was a savage match.

Soft day

Meaning: A mild, damp, drizzly day.

One of those wonderfully Irish descriptions of the weather. A soft day isn't necessarily miserable—just mild and wet, often with a gentle rain.

Example: “It's a soft day out there, but sure, it'll clear later.”

Sound

Meaning: Reliable; decent; trustworthy; good.

Calling someone sound is a genuine compliment in Ireland. A sound person is someone you can rely on, someone decent and good-hearted. It can also simply mean that something is good or acceptable.

Example: He's a sound lad. You can trust him.

Sure look

Meaning: Well, there you have it; what can you do?

One of those wonderfully flexible Irish expressions that can mean almost anything depending on how it is said. It might express resignation, acceptance, amusement, or simply signal that there isn't much more to say.

Example: Sure look, we’ll give it another try tomorrow.

Sure, look

Meaning: Well, you see; anyway; that's just how it is.

One of the great Irish conversational phrases. “Sure, look” can introduce an explanation, soften a disagreement, or simply signal that there's no point worrying about something.

Example: “We missed the bus.” — “Sure, look, there'll be another one along.”

T

The jacks

Meaning: The bathroom / restroom

A familiar Irish expression for the toilet or bathroom. Its origins are generally associated with “Jack” being used as a generic name for an ordinary person or servant, though the exact history is uncertain.

Example: Where’s the jacks?

W

What's the craic?

Meaning: What's happening? What's going on? How are things?

A common Irish greeting and one of the most recognizable uses of craic. It isn't really asking about trouble or mischief; it's simply a way of asking what is happening or how things are going.

Example: What's the craic? Anything happening tonight?

What's the story?

Meaning: What's happening? How are things?

Don't expect a bedtime tale. What's the story? is a casual Irish greeting, roughly equivalent to “What's going on?” or “How are you?” It's often followed by a quick catch-up rather than an actual story.

Example: Ah, John! What's the story?

Y

Yoke

Meaning: A thing or object whose name you don't know or don't need to mention.

Yoke is the great Irish catch-all noun. If you can't remember what something is called, or the name simply doesn't matter, it's a yoke. It can refer to almost anything.

Example: Hand me that yoke there beside you.

Your man / Your one

Meaning: That man / that woman; a particular person.

Your man and your one are wonderfully Irish ways of referring to someone without actually using their name. Depending on the context, everyone listening may know exactly who is meant.

Example: Your man in the shop said he'd have it ready tomorrow.

Your only man

Meaning: The right person for the job; the person to go to.

Calling someone your only man is a way of saying they're exactly the person you need. It doesn't necessarily mean they're the only person who can help—just that they're the one who can be relied upon.

Example: If you need the car fixed, Mick's your only man.