50 Essential Irish English Slang Terms to Know: A Complete Guide

Irish English slang offers a vibrant and colorful way of expressing oneself, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and unique character of Ireland. This blog post delves into 50 popular Irish English slang terms, providing clear definitions, phonetic transcriptions, and practical examples.

50 Essential Irish English Slang Terms to Know

Whether you’re an Irish native or someone interested in the nuances of the English language as spoken in Ireland, understanding these slang terms can enhance your appreciation of Irish culture.

From “craic” to “gobshite,” these terms are integral to everyday conversations and capture the essence of Irish humor and wit. By familiarizing yourself with these expressions, you’ll gain insights into Irish social dynamics and language play.

So, if you’re ready to explore the lively world of Irish slang, read on and enrich your vocabulary with these quintessentially Irish expressions!

#1. Craic 🎉

Definition: Fun or entertainment; often used to describe the enjoyment of an event or situation.

Phonetic Transcription: kræk

Examples:

• “The party last night was great craic!”
• “What’s the craic at the pub tonight?”

#2. Gobshite 🤪

Definition: A foolish or annoying person; someone who talks nonsense.

Phonetic Transcription: ˈɡɑːbʃaɪt

Examples:

• “Don’t listen to him; he’s a real gobshite.”
• “She’s always going on about that gobshite at work.”

#3. Eejit 🤦‍♂️

Definition: A term for an idiot or a foolish person.

Phonetic Transcription: ˈiːdʒɪt

Examples:

• “Stop being an eejit and listen to me!”
• “He’s such an eejit for forgetting the tickets.”

#4. Langer 🍺

Definition: A term for a fool or an idiot; can also refer to a drunk person.

Phonetic Transcription: ˈlæŋɡər

Examples:

• “You’re acting like a total langer.”
• “He’s had too much to drink and is a bit of a langer now.”

#5. Banjaxed 🔧

Definition: Completely broken or exhausted; worn out.

Phonetic Transcription: ˈbændʒæks

Examples:

• “My old car is banjaxed; I need a new one.”
• “I’m banjaxed after that long hike.”

#6. Deadly 👌

Definition: Excellent or impressive; can also mean someone who is very good at something.

Phonetic Transcription: ˈdɛdli

Examples:

• “That gig was deadly!”
• “She’s deadly at playing the guitar.”

#7. Knackered 😩

Definition: Extremely tired or worn out.

Phonetic Transcription: ˈnækərd

Examples:

• “I’m absolutely knackered after that marathon.”
• “He looks knackered after working late.”

#8. Yoke 🍴

Definition: A general term for an object or thing; often used to refer to something whose name is forgotten or unknown.

Phonetic Transcription: joʊk

Examples:

• “Pass me that yoke over there.”
• “What’s the name of that yoke you bought?”

#9. Gas 🤣

Definition: Hilarious or very funny.

Phonetic Transcription: ɡæs

Examples:

• “That movie was gas; I couldn’t stop laughing.”
• “You’re a gas man, always making us laugh.”

#10. Slagging 🗣️

Definition: Making fun of someone or jokingly criticizing.

Phonetic Transcription: ˈslæɡɪŋ

Examples:

• “They spent the whole evening slagging each other.”
• “Don’t take it seriously; we’re just slagging.”

#11. Skint 💸

Definition: Lacking money; broke.

Phonetic Transcription: skɪnt

Examples:

• “I’m skint until payday.”
• “He’s always skint after going out.”

#12. Wrecked 🚧

Definition: Extremely tired or drunk; also used to describe something that is broken or in poor condition.

Phonetic Transcription: rɛkt

Examples:

• “I’m wrecked from the long trip.”
• The car is completely wrecked after the accident.”

#13. Ride 💃

Definition: A term used to describe an attractive person.

Phonetic Transcription: raɪd

Examples:

• “She’s a total ride.”
• “He thinks he’s a ride, but he’s not.”

#14. Chancer 🎲

Definition: A person who takes risks or tries to exploit a situation.

Phonetic Transcription: ˈtʃɑːnsər

Examples:

• “He’s a right chancer, always pushing his luck.”
• “Don’t be a chancer; play it safe.”

#15. Fecked 💥

Definition: Ruined or in a bad state; also used to mean exhausted.

Phonetic Transcription: fɛkt

Examples:

• “The old phone is fecked; I need a new one.”
• “I’m fecked after that workout.”

#16. Dote 🥰

Definition: A term of endearment; a lovable or foolish person.

Phonetic Transcription: doʊt

Examples:

• “You’re such a dote for doing that.”
• “She’s a dote, always so kind.”

#17. Gaff 🏠

Definition: A house or home; also used to describe a party.

Phonetic Transcription: ɡæf

Examples:

• We’re having a party at my gaff.
• “He just bought a new gaff in the city.”

#18. Tidy 👍

Definition: Neat or attractive; also used to describe something impressive.

Phonetic Transcription: ˈtaɪdi

Examples:

• “That new car is tidy.”
• “Your room looks really tidy.”

#19. Chuffed 😁

Definition: Very pleased or delighted.

Phonetic Transcription: tʃʌft

Examples:

• “I’m chuffed with my exam results.”
• “She was chuffed to win the award.”

#20. Scundered 😠

Definition: Annoyed or embarrassed.

Phonetic Transcription: ˈskʌndərd

Examples:

• “I was scundered by his comments.”
• “She felt scundered after making the mistake.”

#21. Nixer 💼

Definition: A side job or additional work; also used to describe something unofficial or informal.

Phonetic Transcription: ˈnɪksər

Examples:

• “He’s doing a nixer to make some extra cash.”
• “I picked up a nixer last weekend.”

#22. Quare 😲

Definition: Very or extremely; used for emphasis.

Phonetic Transcription: kwɛə

Examples:

• “That was a quare good meal.”
• “She’s quare mad for that band.”

#23. Blag 🕵️‍♂️

Definition: To deceive or trick someone; also used to describe a daring or audacious act.

Phonetic Transcription: blæɡ

Examples:

• “He managed to blag his way into the concert.”
• “She tried to blag her way out of trouble.”

#24. Yoke 🍽️

Definition: A general term for an object or thing; often used when the exact name is unknown.

Phonetic Transcription: joʊk

Examples:

• “Hand me that yoke over there.”
• “What’s the name of that yoke again?”

#25. Hooligan 🤪

Definition: A person who is rowdy or causes trouble; often used for someone who is mischievous.

Phonetic Transcription: ˈhuːlɪɡən

Examples:

• “The hooligans caused a scene at the match.”
• “Stop acting like a hooligan.”

#26. Blatter 💬

Definition: To talk excessively; chatter.

Phonetic Transcription: ˈblætər

Examples:

• “She just blattered on about her holiday.”
• “He’s always blattering on about sports.”

#27. Bucko 🧔

Definition: A term used to address a person, often a male; similar to “mate” or “buddy.”

Phonetic Transcription: ˈbʌkəʊ

Examples:

• “How’s it going, bucko?
• “He’s a good bucko, always helpful.”

#28. Fella 👨

Definition: Informal term for a man or guy.

Phonetic Transcription: ˈfɛlə

Examples:

• “That fella over there is my cousin.”
• “He’s a

decent fella, always friendly.”

#29. Bubbly 🍾

Definition: A lively and cheerful person.

Phonetic Transcription: ˈbʌbli

Examples:

• “She’s always so bubbly and full of energy.”
• “The party was full of bubbly people.”

#30. Spanner 🛠️

Definition: A foolish person; someone who is clumsy or makes mistakes.

Phonetic Transcription: ˈspænər

Examples:

• “Stop acting like a spanner and get it right.”
• He’s a bit of a spanner with those tools.

#31. Gaff 🏡

Definition: A term for a house or home; also refers to a party.

Phonetic Transcription: ɡæf

Examples:

• “We’re having a gaff this weekend.”
• “He’s just bought a new gaff.”

#32. Ripped 💪

Definition: To describe someone who is very fit or muscular; also used to describe being very drunk.

Phonetic Transcription: rɪpt

Examples:

• “He’s ripped after all that gym work.”
• “We were all ripped by the end of the night.”

#33. Mooch 🏃

Definition: To wander around aimlessly or to beg for something.

Phonetic Transcription: muːtʃ

Examples:

• “Stop mooching around and get something done.”
• “He was mooching for a free meal.”

#34. Pony 🐴

Definition: To describe something that is of poor quality; also used to refer to a five-pound note.

Phonetic Transcription: ˈpoʊni

Examples:

• “That movie was a bit of a pony.”
• “I gave him a pony for the ticket.”

#35. Scabby 🐕

Definition: Unpleasant or dirty; used to describe someone who is stingy or unkempt.

Phonetic Transcription: ˈskæbi

Examples:

• “The old sofa is looking scabby.”
• “He’s too scabby to buy a round.”

#36. Dose 💊

Definition: A lot of trouble or nonsense; can also refer to a dose of something.

Phonetic Transcription: dəʊs

Examples:

• “That’s a right dose of trouble.”
• “He’s always up to some dose.”

#37. Rasher 🥓

Definition: A slice of bacon.

Phonetic Transcription: ˈræʃər

Examples:

• “I’ll have a rasher of bacon with my breakfast.”
• “She cooked up some rashers for the fry.”

#38. Banter 🗣️

Definition: Friendly and playful conversation.

Phonetic Transcription: ˈbæntər

Examples:

• “They were having great banter at the pub.”
• “I love a bit of good-natured banter.”

#39. Bleedin’ 🤬

Definition: An intensifier used for emphasis; similar to “bloody.”

Phonetic Transcription: ˈbliːdɪn

Examples:

• “It’s bleedin’ freezing out there!”
• “I’m bleedin’ tired after that trip.”

#40. Yoke 🥄

Definition: A term for an object or thing, similar to “gizmo.”

Phonetic Transcription: joʊk

Examples:

• “Pass me that yoke from the kitchen.”
• “What’s that yoke you’ve got there?”

#41. Cheeky 😜

Definition: Impudent or impertinent in a playful way.

Phonetic Transcription: ˈtʃiːki

Examples:

• “He made a cheeky comment about my new dress.”
• “She’s got a cheeky smile.”

#42. Clatter 💥

Definition: A loud noise or crash; also used to describe a mess or confusion.

Phonetic Transcription: ˈklætər

Examples:

• “There was a clatter when the dishes fell.”
• “The place was a clatter after the party.”

#43. Plastered 🍻

Definition: Extremely drunk.

Phonetic Transcription: ˈplæstərd

Examples:

• “He was plastered after just a few drinks.”
• “We all got plastered at the wedding.”

#44. Softie 🧸

Definition: A person who is overly sentimental or emotional.

Phonetic Transcription: ˈsɔːfti

Examples:

• “He’s such a softie when it comes to animals.”
• “Don’t be a softie; toughen up.”

#45. Coddle 🥘

Definition: A traditional Irish dish; also used to describe someone who is pampered.

Phonetic Transcription: ˈkɒdl

Examples:

• “We had a lovely coddle for dinner.”
• “She’s always coddling her kids.”

#46. Gowl 😡

Definition: A derogatory term for an unpleasant person.

Phonetic Transcription: ɡoʊl

Examples:

• “That gowl at the counter was rude.”
• “Don’t be such a gowl.”

#47. Sussed 👀

Definition: Figured out or understood; resolved.

Phonetic Transcription: sʌst

Examples:

• “I’ve sussed out how to fix the problem.”
• “He’s sussed her intentions.”

#48. Togs 🏊

Definition: Clothes, especially sportswear; swimming gear.

Phonetic Transcription: tɒɡz

Examples:

• “I need to pack my togs for the pool.”
• “She bought new togs for her holiday.”

#49. Cúpla 🗣️

Definition: A few or several; often used to refer to a small number.

Phonetic Transcription: ˈkuːplə

Examples:

• “I have a cúpla questions for you.”
• “Just give me a cúpla minutes.”

#50. Divil 😈

Definition: A mischievous or troublesome person; also used to describe something as devilish.

Phonetic Transcription: ˈdɪvəl

Examples:

• “Stop being a divil and help out.”
• “That’s a divil of a problem to solve.”

Irish English Slang Terms Table

Conclusion

Exploring Irish English slang provides a window into the lively and humorous side of the Irish language. These 50 slang terms not only enrich your vocabulary but also offer a deeper understanding of Irish culture and social interactions. From “craic” to “divil,” each term reflects a unique aspect of Irish expression and personality.

Incorporating these slang words into your conversations can add color and authenticity to your language skills. Whether you’re planning a trip to Ireland, interacting with Irish friends, or simply interested in diverse English dialects, these terms are a great addition to your linguistic toolkit.

Embrace the charm of Irish slang and enjoy the playful and expressive nature of this vibrant language!

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