Irish Slang and Phrases

Irish Slang and Phrases explained. Irish Slang can have different meanings outside of Ireland so here are some Irish slang words and sayings and how to use them.
So if you ever want to travel and visit Ireland you'll know how to use some typical Irish Slang and Phrases!
#irishslang #irish #ireland
Irish words and sayings and how to pronounce them.

[@coffeelover5598]

"Whose yer man?" "I'm single"

[@flintflaunt7274]

My thoughts exactly!

[@casrosr3335]

My ex boyfriend once told me "the first thing a young Irishman must learn in America is to never ask a police officer "how's the craic?'"

[@elizabethsellors9046]

First thing my brother and I were taught was how to swear in Irish.

[@therobloxiangang3218]

@@elizabethsellors9046 focáil

[@therobloxiangang3218]

the crack is good

[@grahamfleming8139]

I was in the bru na boinne,brilliant area and I remember a local saying feck tha gardai tut tut

[@jamesfagan7823]

I know another meaning for crack from the 70s Dublin however spelling is different

[@gavindoyle692]

Nice one. Fair play. Some typical modern Irish expressions you missed were: Bleedin’ deadly! 👍🏼 It’s Baltic out. 🥶 Gobshite! 🙄 Banjacksed. 🚫 Yer wan. 👩🏼 Get ourra dat garden! 🪴 (Stop messing!) Flootered. 🍺🤪 I’m absolutely hangin’. 🤢 Now! (Next) I will in me hoop. (That’s not going to happen under any circumstances). Keep up the good work. Maith an cailín! 👏🏼

[@TheAngelahp]

I'm Scottish but have Irish father. I knew most of these sayings. I laughed as me and my siblings use them daily. Scottish by birth Irish by nature. Not a bad mixture in my opinion xx

[@nikgeo8690]

A true Celt

[@IndieRockerHippy]

The best!

[@grahamfleming8139]

Albannach Agus Erinnach gu brath, Scottish and Irish forever.

[@grahamfleming8139]

Mo Sean Athair bho Tir Conail ach tha mi fuireach ann Alba cuideach!

[@MunsterIreland1]

Class 😅😂❤

[@arielkalwasinski9784]

It is pretty funny for me because I'm polish native and "Eejit" means - "are you going?" In polish 😁

[@Ian-vq6lr]

Hahaha I must use that with my polish friends next time 🤣🤣

[@internetuser8922]

One thing that really stands out to me is the use of the word "like" as a hesitation or filler word. Americans use that word all the time like that, but it is usually at the beginning of a sentence: "like, what are you doing?" or the middle "what are you, like, doing?" - however, younger Irish folks put it at the end of the sentence "what are you doing, like?" I really like how that sounds. You can hear a ton of that type of usage in the show "Can't Cope, Won't Cope"

[@patriciaobrien3363]

I'm from Dublin, living in Canada, and I can't stop laughing at how crazy this sounds when you explain it all so seriously 🤣 Great video!

[@simonstuart3402]

it's so serious

[@ahmadkhalafallaomar6316]

Invite me to enjoy

[@Bm_williamss]

my grandpa is from Dublin I've never been whats it like

[@edenpuppyland3835]

Same but I'm in the UK because of the 🌠 you know what 🌠

[@overcaffeinated.coffee2703]

Hey hey, Canada land!

[@username_126]

From Scotland here and we use a lot of these too :) I had an Irish friend in Australia who always said ‘yer man’ or ‘yer one’ and I loved it!

[@Kilkeny1976]

So well done. As a French living in Ireland for the last 15 years, I had not realised how many of them I use. Must mean I am starting to be Irish now 🤣😂

[@seanogallchoir3237]

Brittany in France is Celtic as is Galicia, Cornwall, Wales, Isle of Man, Scotland and Erin. Celtic people when they speak the bland boring Anglo language use slang to make it their own, The Celtic language is non linear and is earthed in the Ecology. Go raibh mhaith agat alig as Tir Celtica Erin.

[@Vrider-dg5mb]

Good man yourself , we must have exchanged places , I left Dublin and moved to Gironde 15 yrs ago , I know spend some of my time with locals 'bestowing' some of our Irish phrases to them. I have a number of them saying 'Pog mo thoin' regularly.

[@stephenmaguire1822]

Thank you. I am a 74 year old man of Irish heritage born and raised in Boston MA. So many of those terms were commonly used when I was growing up , that it was common speech. I really enjoyed your presentation. You speak very well and make it plain and simple, and yes, I’m a retired Cop/ Garda

[@bethclemmer6471]

Just want to say thank you to my employees have been sick fighting covid and they have held my job and they are older and his family is old McDonough

[@marybarry2230]

Good on ya!

[@psmaureen]

I am 82 American born with Irish born parents. Some of these were used back inthe day.

[@simplyshama]

Yer man is similar to 'my man' in London slang, which we borrowed from Jamaican patois. Even eejit sounds like eediat in patois. Given Jamaica's history with Ireland, the similarities make sense.

[@rubybrady7051]

💷that is where the British sent irish to work on plantations as young as 8 years. If the brits wanted more workers they arrested them for nothing and the corrupt courts sent them to Jamaica. Like the corrupt judjes in Ireland today who would do the same thing today. Like they sold Irish children to American famalies for £ 10 a head. Irish judges💷💷💷💷💷💷💷💷💷

[@urseliusurgel4365]

Originally, 'feck' in Irish slang meant to 'steal' or 'pilfer'. James Joyce used it in this sense in 'Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man', when schoolboys discuss whether a group of fellow boys are in serious trouble for being out of bounds, drinking communion wine or 'fecking money' from a school fund. The similarity of the word to a well-known expletive probably caused its later change of meaning.

[@beaniesmalls1]

Being an American of Irish heritage (family "off the boat" as we say) its cool to hear slang we always said but didn't necessarily realize where it came from...its just how your family talks LOL.

[@Pinkrosesandagraveyard]

Robyn Messenger-Stafford eejit, especially, for me.

[@beaniesmalls1]

Mike Honcho me too!

[@fortheloveofgrey6045]

Same here!

[@katherinebolivar342]

Same some of these are not new to me...

[@DoreenBellDotan]

Exactly. Many of these have been adopted as American slang too.

[@petc8504]

'I will, yeah' is funny and must confuse a lot of people. We have a similar saying in Central Scotland, if someone tells you they did something and you respond with 'Did ye, aye?" it means you think they're lying to you!

[@ds2985]

Yea we say that too but we say did ye yea

[@ISeeItAsABlessing]

In America it’s “Oh did youuuu?” “Oh reallyyyyyyy?” It’s exaggerated to let a person know we know they’re lying 😂

[@wendywalsh-pardey9439]

I'm Australian and many of these sayings are so in my vernacular. From my Father and general working class conversations. Donkey's years in particular.

[@duhusker4383]

Some of these words and phrases are also used in England with the same meaning like 'thick, 'gaff', 'kip', 'wrecked', 'in bits', 'donkey's years'.

[@Leepaul-eg5hv]

No they are. Not

[@duhusker4383]

@@Leepaul-eg5hv Are you even English, you pillock?

[@mallorys.8066]

I loved hearing people say class when I was in Ireland as well as Craig. The Irish accent is so beautiful!

[@RCK24723]

Tell me that you're from Ireland without telling you're from Ireland. "What's the craic?" "I was bleedin gargled last night. Now I am feckin grand." Thank you for this video. It is really informative, especially for someone who is planning to stay in Ireland.

[@autumnof1992]

This content is helping me love and embrace the irish side of my ancestry ..

[@Holdit66]

6:28. "Bleedin' deadly" means terrific, fantastic, wonderful.

[@adam_williamk8280]

Shared this with some Italian colleagues as this is the best translation I've heard! In bits listening to it, we are mad! But that's why we conquered the world (by a Pub Invasion).

[@MexicoDigDoctor]

I am so fascinated with this young lady and the way she explains language! I was born in 1958 but only just recently had my DNA tested and found out that the person I thought was my father wasn’t, and that I’m actually a good part Irish, LOL. I speak a number of different languages; I was originally born in California but have lived in Mexico for the last 42 years. There is a movie from about 1963 or so called Bye-Bye Birdie, and it’s musical. In the lines of one of the songs, it says “What’s the story, morning glory? What’s the word hummingbird?” So that is a term I have definitely been familiar with all my life. There are other ones as well, but most of these I have never heard and it is just thrilling to me to hear all of this. Call me easily entertained, ha ha! Very enjoyable videos!

[@750drums]

Very interesting and enlightening. A had an experience years ago when I was in Co. Donegal (I'm from the US). I was out with a group of people, and I asked one of the girls who lived on the outskirts of the village who was there if she'd "like a ride home", which I meant as a lift back to her home. I was informed that it has a different meaning in Ireland. So, I guess it helps to know one's slang beforehand!

[@bittorrentsdownload]

Having lived in Co. Kerry for a number of years, I learnt all these words, which are used very frequently in Ireland. I love the Irish local slang and the beautiful accent. ☘☘☘☘☘☘

[@PierEscher]

Ooh, these are wonderful! "Stop the lights" is gorgeous. And "Sure look...": where has this phrase been all my life?!?!

[@mariagatt5442]

Sheer luck!!

[@roydelaney6462]

This phrase Originated from a tv quiz programme called Quicksilver (1965-‘81). The slang phrase is used to express amazement or exasperation in a humourous way.

[@austinpennington1842]

My great grandparents were Irish. We live on a family farm in the mountains of southwestern Virginia; and a lot of these phrases are used in my family and some even in our wee town. Never had a further thought about it. Cool video!

[@martindaly8683]

Coming from Cork I use Langer and Gopshitt a lot.

[@cpiper6338]

Oh, and I forgot "yer one." The female version of "yer man."

[@icemav5740]

It's more like yer wan

[@cpiper6338]

@@icemav5740, probably. Never seen it in writing, only spoken.

[@shanekilleenoreilly3265]

@@cpiper6338 It does indeed come from "wan"! The reason being - yer man = yer w(om)an.

[@PrincessNottingham]

Was gonna say the same. Ya wan means who’s the woman

[@keltiquewood]

This wan literally went to New York for a long weekend and came home with her new American accent!

[@monykasaso]

I'm from Mexico but I'll be traveling soon to Ireland... I'm sure these will be very useful. Thank you for sharing

[@elizabethgeorge9989]

I'm American but I'm gonna start using these saying cause theyre fun

[@Kittori]

As a Canadian with an Irish mother, it was confusing growing up and people not understanding what I was talking about lol.

[@wiicow]

Super interesting to see how much slang is similar but different to British slang

[@emermaughan2487]

Your man in Australia is old mate, I'm Irish born Australian since 4 years old - the similarities between Australia and Ireland is so similar ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@p1dru2art]

I need more of this..... nobody else makes video..... it's fun even listening to the pronunciation...... I love phrases and I love studying phrases

[@heilong79]

'Stop the lights' I have never heard in my life living in Dublin, all the rest I knew.

[@WolfeMomma]

I had never heard it either (living in Wicklow) until I met my husband. Then suddenly I was hearing it everywhere 😄

[@matthewcunningham8691]

That's a super expression, I'm going to use that in future!

[@ParnellJP1]

Stop the lights originated on a 1960/1970s RTE quiz show called Quicksilver. The contestant had 7 seconds to Answer a question. There was an board with lightbulbs that when out one by one as the time ran down. If the contestant did not know the answer they could call out Stop The Lights and the Quizmaster (Bunny Carr) would move on to the next question. The value of the cash won was dependent on how many bulbs were still lighting at the end of the contestants turn.

[@TheLionsDen..]

Living in cork never in my life did I hear peoplo say this

[@icemav5740]

@@WolfeMomma I've never heard it and I've lived in Dublin, Waterford, cork and galway

[@Werewolfoflondon1]

I live in southern Kentucky and we use these words constantly.

[@andybaker2456]

Interesting. I'm a born and raised Londoner and have used many (but not all) of these expressions all my life. I wonder whether they started off in Ireland and came across with Irish immigrants, or whether they went the other way. Language is fascinating!

[@shinny4070]

I often wonder about that myself. Liverpudlian and Dublin accents have so much in common.

[@michaelpal7641]

Your channel is feckin great! I just learned that I work with a few feckin Eejits. 🤣🤣🤣

[@divyamkurmah7795]

Hi Wolfe, I'm from Mauritius and relocated to Ireland on March 2020, thank you so so much for making this video, I've noted down everything and every tiny details you said. It's really helping me in my daily life and at work. Initially I was struggling to understand the people here and taking time to think and response but after watching carefully to this video, I'm finding it easy now to integrate into Irish culture, it's really really helping me alot. Thank you so much.

[@culminate100]

As a paddy this is class

[@seanogallchoir3237]

It is worthwhile to learn the Celtic language as it will help you understand the Celtic culture. Celtic people when they speak the Anglo language use slang to make it their own, when they speak with each other they use the Celtic language, Gaeilge. Go raibh mhaith agat alig as Tir Celtica Erin.

[@TheRealVeev]

Can't wait to visit Ireland 🇮🇪 ☘️ 🇮🇪

[@barryellis1543]

That's an Ivory Coast flag haha

[@TheRealVeev]

@@barryellis1543 😂😂😂 I didn't even notice 😩😂

[@ericahyland1624]

For a brief time between the 60's and 70's "Gas" was used in that way in the US. Also, My family has a saying "If we didn't pick on you, how would you know we loved you?" I think that came from my Grandpa Hyland's side of the family

[@keysofperception4377]

Serbs are the same. The more they pick on you the more they like you. I understand that it's not bad but I still hate it when my family does it to me

[@user-gf1hu7qb6x]

Gonna be visiting soon, so good to the slang!

[@catflickscrystals8621]

Love this! Really funny too to see similar phrases used where I'm from in England. Like 'bleedin' where I am we'd say 'bloody' like 'he was a bloody idiot' instead of 'he was a bleedin eejit'

[@gingergolden2543]

Thanks! I grew up saying eejit, my family roots are from County Clare but we live in the US, family moved to Massachusetts and then across the country. I love getting some family history 🙈

[@matthewcunningham8691]

Great video really well done, thanks. My wife is a Londoner and when in Ireland, she found the word 'bold' unusual. For example, 'they're such a lovely family but the children are so bold....'. Meaning very naughty!

[@stephk5797]

I have a theory it's from the usage of "bold" meaning brave - because you have to be seriously brave to be "naughty" to an Irish Mammy x'D

[@sjnr1f]

Great collection of the drunk-related words! Funny but in Russian slang these Irish phrases mean absolutely the same and we have over 100 slang words to describe "drunk" as well. Thanks for this video!

[@ds2985]

I think us Irish and Russians are quite alike. We love our gargle 😁

[@patrickkozakiewicz6434]

I took my moms many ways of expressing these things for granted. Miss her saying them though. Thanks!

[@catherineenglish9542]

Yes me too

[@kurztyb]

Im from New Zealand and all of these are familiar to me. My mam is Scottish and she uses alot of these.

[@EdenJAM]

This is so cool and strange to me at the same time. I'm American, but my family is second generation Irish on one side and third gen on the other. My family and I say a lot of these, and I didn't even realize it was Irish slang! O_O

[@ArtyMars]

So much of this has worked its way Into Australian slang I love my Irish brethren 😂💖👏

[@gruntymchunchy1527]

Very true, I noticed in Australia they say "No worries" a lot, in Ireland the equivalent is "No bother".

[@finbarrdolan]

@@gruntymchunchy1527 or “no bodger “

[@mollyme123]

9

[@weswright7888]

In Canada where I’m from in New Brunswick, the word “dope” is the equivalent of “cool” but it’s more Lowkey. So if you said “you’re dope” then that’s like saying someone is really cool

[@chriscoates2399]

I'm from Australia and we use or know a few of these , So Happy to be on some par with the Irish , what a craic , . Bless you All

[@DawnCorleone]

LOVED this! 🙌

[@aroaortiga7877]

Lived in Ireland a while ago and loved hearing all this stuff again!

[@annajune2003]

So interesting, thanks for sharing for all of us foreigners ☺️

[@McGuigan21]

Thanks for posting, have some Irish heritage myself and neat to actually hear some of this. Oddly enough already use or understood a few of them

[@designedmind]

Many of these terms, or slight variations of, are used in Canada. In fact, I didn't even realize how strange sounding they were until watching this video. This makes sense since Canada is packed full of Irish descendants (including myself).

[@AlexHolland123]

Really? Where in Canada? I'm in BC and didn't know most of them

[@bananadiaz]

@@AlexHolland123 I imagine this person lives in eastern Canada, and just like the northeast in the US, there's probably a lot of Irish slang in the language. I'm from the Midwest in the US, and never heard any of this growing up.

[@laurenganz5615]

I'm moving to Ireland soon so I need to practise all this slang. Thanks for the lesson :)

[@tonyabible7982]

Always look forward to seeing your videos 😊❤️💕!!!!

[@adrienncsesznegi6747]

I've been living in Ireland for 4 years but there are slang words and phrases I am still struggling with...so I love this video, hope you'll do a part 2 soon :))

[@tonypate9174]

You need ...GAME OF MOBILE HOMES.....down the Tubes of You rabbit hole

[@annie-264]

why would you move to ireland

[@MichelleByrne]

Deadly video- I was laughing at the ridiculousness of some of these pheases. You also forgot deadly! I think you need a Part 2.

[@noeljmccarthy1692]

Just found your channel, been using. Most of your slang all my life in Manchester UK

[@sharonabbott9588]

As an Irish American who doesn't know much about my heritage, I am loving your videos! This was especially fun learning some colorful colloquialisms. I can't wait to share it with my siblings!

[@stevehammond9156]

All 4 of my grandparents immigrated from Ireland around the turn of the 20th century. I because well acquainted with the Irish accent and colloquiums at an early age. When I was in Britain in the 80's with the Army, I used to put on my Irish brogue and fool the lot of them!

[@michaljakistam136]

Thank you so much for this video. I learned something new.

[@flaskandpen]

This was delightful. Thanks!

[@jasnaskaria7697]

I realised I have so much to learn,thanks for ur presentation,tats really helpful

[@mariefepascuademiar2148]

Nice one! This will be useful for me as I’ll be moving to Ireland very soon...Thank you for sharing😇

[@oglachnaheireann752]

Go raibh maith agat! Ta tu go halainn! 🇨🇮🇨🇮🇨🇮🇨🇮🇨🇮🇨🇮🇨🇮🇨🇮🇨🇮🇨🇮❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@euro8029]

These are great! Thank you for making this video :) I really should've watched this before my trip to Derry!

[@gustavomarquizeppe1217]

IJust found your Chanel and I'm already learning a lot. Thank you

[@jeremyfrost2636]

Fun fact: the F-word is VERY heavily censored on American broadcast television, but recently on the comedy series Son Of A Critch (which follows an Irish immigrant family in Newfoundland) they let a feck through without censoring it at all. American audiences, not realizing that the change in pronunciation makes it a significantly milder curse, did a lot of pearl clutching. It was hilarious. 😂

[@stephaniequinn828]

It's so funny in the US people in more rural south will say "idgit" but I never realized it derived from Irish slang. We do say "bit my/his/her head off" or "don't bite my head off about it" as well.

[@Pinkrosesandagraveyard]

stephanie quinn a lot of Irish that came to America settled in the Appalachian’s, including my family. My boyfriend’s family started in New England and made their way down after almost 2 decades.

[@walterjjunior]

I'm addicted to your videos haha... love them! so many things I didn't know about Irish behaviour and cultural codes even though I have been living here for over seven years now and married to an Irish person. 😂🍀❤️

[@damianlopez7630]

I'm Irish In My Blessed Soul. Sláinte!!! Cheers!!! 🍀

[@jameslewis4059]

My Family use a couple of use. We had past relatives that lived in County Cork. Apparently the family name is still Alive over there. I love all things Irish, even if im speaking to someone with an Irish accent i always lilt into the accent after a while of talking to them and I don't even realise. You never lose it do you. Love the videos.

[@justinfeist1665]

Grand is my favorite. My Grandmother and her sisters always used this and I still do.

[@oisin8152]

Stop the lights was from a quiz show we all watched with Bunny Carr host in the 70s.

[@jarlissonmonteiro7641]

Greate! Enjoy It!

[@aarzooaggarwal7476]

You are so cool. The way you make such useful videos with small relevant details is very helpful for people moving in to Ireland and planning to settle here. Can you kindly do some more videos on clothing for the upcoming winters like what to wear if travelling and what to wear when inside and where can we buy those things. Like in a middle ground on affordability and quality

[@SarahJonestoo]

@12.04 Ha ha ha ha! Love it. Neat video.

[@arturpolanin8569]

Great video .I am here for 15 years ,and would love to learn and understand a bit of slang . Thnx for your help.

[@TheMacRiada]

Hello beautiful! I love to watch your videos. I went to Ireland during the 80s & 90s and enjoyed myself immensely. As someone who lives in the Deep South (Alabama), I encountered a lot of situations like you are talking about, but I learned to go with the flow which was fun. BTW, I use deck a lot lol.

[@edilbertosantana8307]

Thanks for the video..

[@MrPanchito62]

This is really helpful! Thanks!

[@lisalorenzo7451]

This is truly interesting.I took notes 👍🏼

[@HaydenRoberts08]

Yer Man = Old Mate in Australia, sort of. Like if you’re referring to someone and you don’t know his name then you just call him Old Mate, or can even be used if talking about someone like your boss at work to a co-worker: “What did old mate want us to do again?” “He wanted us to instal the security door”.

[@hdb80]

In America we use "story" the same way you guys do.

[@franciscopontesvelasco4315]

Useful slangs

[@jocapipi494]

We need more videos like this. I love languages practicability, especially being a teacher. I've loved your channel! Thank you for your sharing!

[@seanogallchoir3237]

Language and words are interesting, words create reality. There are linear languages and non linear, the Celtic language is non linear as are many more. The Ogham script is a ancient form of communication used in Ireland and may be similar to the ancient script in China. Go raibh mhaith agat alig as Tir Celtica Erin.

[@jeannieforbis1886]

I use quite a few of these terms, and I am from Texas. My Irish heritage is very apparent now 😉

[@paisleybrooks-hall2440]

AHHHH SAME!! IM FROM TEXAS BUT HAVE MOSTLY IRISH BLOOD!! and I use these all the time lol. Twins!!!

That video is class!

[@christianananji6474]

Great!

[@DogSLife_Hundeschule]

Thx, pretty cool!👍🏾This shows very plainly how Irish influenced the American language. Great! This is up my alley and really motivates me also to learn Irish/ Gaelic.

[@dR1923]

Love this type of training before my trip to Ireland :)))

[@Radiatingbeauty]

So fun to listen to your Irish slangs. My entire family is Irish from Dublin so I grew up with many of these phrases so I did really have a good laugh! I love your accent which is something we no longer have except when we go home.... lol Thanks again and hope you are having a great weekend! : )

[@ibrahimsulaiman9047]

I love the accent too, though hers sounds almost American to me. Wonder which part of Ireland she's from.

[@seanogallchoir3237]

It could make the Oscars !

[@haniehahmadi8086]

I'm not Irish at all and I was surprised how many of those I picked up from different places because they just stand out in every conversation .... Loved the video

[@jenskapmeyer2579]

I am German and I also loved the accent that I heared when I was in Dublin for a week.

[@TysonBowmanMusic]

The very first one was the answer I needed! Thanks!

[@marcinkolisko9]

Great stuff👍