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

Team Instarem

May 07, 2022


Ireland

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 in our list.

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

Sending money overseas?

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Cost-effective
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Easy and fast
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Trusted and secure
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Earn loyalty points
Get loyalty points for every transaction and referral you make. You then redeem your points as discounts for future transactions.

Transparency
Absolutely no hidden costs. You will be in the know of the exact rates and fees applied on your money transfer.

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You Might Also Want To Read:

job-interviewLooking To Work Abroad? Here Are In-Demand Jobs In Australia, Canada, USA, UK & More… airport-travelThe Airport Agony: Transit Flights & Tiresome Waits? 5 Ways To Break FREE! canadaMoving to Canada? Here Are 75 Canadian English slangs & phrases you must know singles day6 credit card tips that you should know
Categories
  • Expat Life

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

  • Post author By Team Instarem
  • Post date May 7, 2022

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 in our list.

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

Sending money overseas?

Let Instarem be a part of your journey. Here’s why:

Cost-effective
Low transfer fees that enable you to send money to multiple destinations without burning a hole in your pocket.

Easy and fast
Transferring money to other countries is typically an instant transaction.

Trusted and secure
Regulated by nine financial regulators across the globe with, licenses in Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, India, UK, US, EU, and Canada.

Earn loyalty points
Get loyalty points for every transaction and referral you make. You then redeem your points as discounts for future transactions.

Transparency
Absolutely no hidden costs. You will be in the know of the exact rates and fees applied on your money transfer.

Try Instarem for your next transfer.

You Might Also Want To Read:

job-interviewLooking To Work Abroad? Here Are In-Demand Jobs In Australia, Canada, USA, UK & More… airport-travelThe Airport Agony: Transit Flights & Tiresome Waits? 5 Ways To Break FREE! canadaMoving to Canada? Here Are 75 Canadian English slangs & phrases you must know singles day6 credit card tips that you should know
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