Ireland
Irish English · Irish English · Hiberno-English · English in Ireland
Ireland
A source-aware guide to Irish English words, regional slang, grammar, and everyday expressions—built for context, not caricature. Usage differs across counties, cities, rural communities, generations, Irish-language contact settings, and individual speakers.
- Coverage scale
- Island-wide Irish English with regional distinctions retained in individual entries
- Language tag
en-IE- Dataset status
- Editorial record
- Revised
- July 21, 2026
What the current records claim.
Currentness and breadth are editorial signals, not population statistics. They expose uncertainty instead of hiding it.
acting the maggot
Behaving foolishly, messing around, causing trouble, or refusing to take something seriously.
- Currentness
- Reviewed 2026-07-21
- Breadth
- Contemporary Irish English, with regional and generational variation.
- Confidence
- Source-backed regional starter
after doing
A construction meaning that an action has just happened or has recently been completed.
- Currentness
- Reviewed 2026-07-21
- Breadth
- Contemporary Irish English, with regional and generational variation.
- Confidence
- Source-backed regional starter
amn’t I?
The Irish English first-person negative question corresponding to standard “aren’t I?”
- Currentness
- Reviewed 2026-07-21
- Breadth
- Contemporary Irish English, with regional and generational variation.
- Confidence
- Source-backed regional starter
arseways
Wrongly arranged, badly handled, reversed, confused, or in a complete mess.
- Currentness
- Reviewed 2026-07-21
- Breadth
- Contemporary Irish English, with regional and generational variation.
- Confidence
- Source-backed regional starter
banjaxed
Broken, ruined, exhausted, or no longer functioning properly.
- Currentness
- Reviewed 2026-07-21
- Breadth
- Contemporary Irish English, with regional and generational variation.
- Confidence
- Source-backed regional starter
blaa
A soft, floury white bread roll strongly associated with Waterford.
- Currentness
- Reviewed 2026-07-21
- Breadth
- Contemporary Irish English, with regional and generational variation.
- Confidence
- Source-backed regional starter
bold
Naughty, badly behaved, or disobedient, especially of a child.
- Currentness
- Reviewed 2026-07-21
- Breadth
- Contemporary Irish English, with regional and generational variation.
- Confidence
- Source-backed regional starter
class
Excellent, very good, stylish, or impressive.
- Currentness
- Reviewed 2026-07-21
- Breadth
- Contemporary Irish English, with regional and generational variation.
- Confidence
- Source-backed regional starter
craic
Fun, enjoyable conversation, social atmosphere, or news about what is happening.
- Currentness
- Reviewed 2026-07-21
- Breadth
- Contemporary Irish English, with regional and generational variation.
- Confidence
- Source-backed regional starter
culchie
A person from rural Ireland or from outside Dublin, often framed through a city-versus-country stereotype.
- Currentness
- Reviewed 2026-07-21
- Breadth
- Contemporary Irish English, with regional and generational variation.
- Confidence
- Source-backed regional starter
cute hoor
A shrewd, crafty, or politically slippery person who gets results through charm, calculation, or manipulation.
- Currentness
- Reviewed 2026-07-21
- Breadth
- Contemporary Irish English, with regional and generational variation.
- Confidence
- Source-backed regional starter
deadly
Excellent, impressive, exciting, or highly enjoyable.
- Currentness
- Reviewed 2026-07-21
- Breadth
- Contemporary Irish English, with regional and generational variation.
- Confidence
- Source-backed regional starter
debs
A formal social event or dance for students near the end of secondary school.
- Currentness
- Reviewed 2026-07-21
- Breadth
- Contemporary Irish English, with regional and generational variation.
- Confidence
- Source-backed regional starter
do be
A habitual construction describing what regularly or characteristically happens.
- Currentness
- Reviewed 2026-07-21
- Breadth
- Contemporary Irish English, with regional and generational variation.
- Confidence
- Source-backed regional starter
eejit
A foolish person; a humorous or mildly insulting form of idiot.
- Currentness
- Reviewed 2026-07-21
- Breadth
- Contemporary Irish English, with regional and generational variation.
- Confidence
- Source-backed regional starter
fáilte
Welcome; an Irish-language word seen in greetings, signs, institutions, and hospitality.
- Currentness
- Reviewed 2026-07-21
- Breadth
- Contemporary Irish English, with regional and generational variation.
- Confidence
- Source-backed regional starter
feck
A mild-to-strong exclamation or verb used in place of a more explicit swear word.
- Currentness
- Reviewed 2026-07-21
- Breadth
- Contemporary Irish English, with regional and generational variation.
- Confidence
- Source-backed regional starter
gas
Funny, amusing, ridiculous in an entertaining way, or full of comic energy.
- Currentness
- Reviewed 2026-07-21
- Breadth
- Contemporary Irish English, with regional and generational variation.
- Confidence
- Source-backed regional starter
giving out
Complaining, scolding, criticizing, or telling someone off.
- Currentness
- Reviewed 2026-07-21
- Breadth
- Contemporary Irish English, with regional and generational variation.
- Confidence
- Source-backed regional starter
gob
Mouth; also speech, chatter, or the act of speaking too much.
- Currentness
- Reviewed 2026-07-21
- Breadth
- Contemporary Irish English, with regional and generational variation.
- Confidence
- Source-backed regional starter
gobshite
A stupid, unpleasant, boastful, or irritating person.
- Currentness
- Reviewed 2026-07-21
- Breadth
- Contemporary Irish English, with regional and generational variation.
- Confidence
- Source-backed regional starter
gombeen
A self-serving, exploitative dealer or local operator; historically linked with usury and unfair profiteering.
- Currentness
- Reviewed 2026-07-21
- Breadth
- Contemporary Irish English, with regional and generational variation.
- Confidence
- Source-backed regional starter
grand
Fine, okay, acceptable, settled, or not worth making a fuss about.
- Currentness
- Reviewed 2026-07-21
- Breadth
- Contemporary Irish English, with regional and generational variation.
- Confidence
- Source-backed regional starter
how’s she cutting?
How are things going, how is the work progressing, or how is life treating you?
- Currentness
- Reviewed 2026-07-21
- Breadth
- Contemporary Irish English, with regional and generational variation.
- Confidence
- Source-backed regional starter
I will, yeah
Often a sarcastic refusal meaning that the speaker probably will not do the requested thing.
- Currentness
- Reviewed 2026-07-21
- Breadth
- Contemporary Irish English, with regional and generational variation.
- Confidence
- Source-backed regional starter
jackeen
A Dubliner, often used from outside Dublin with a teasing or hostile regional stereotype.
- Currentness
- Reviewed 2026-07-21
- Breadth
- Contemporary Irish English, with regional and generational variation.
- Confidence
- Source-backed regional starter
knackered
Very tired, worn out, or exhausted.
- Currentness
- Reviewed 2026-07-21
- Breadth
- Contemporary Irish English, with regional and generational variation.
- Confidence
- Source-backed regional starter
lash
To rain heavily, move quickly, strike, pour generously, or proceed with energetic force.
- Currentness
- Reviewed 2026-07-21
- Breadth
- Contemporary Irish English, with regional and generational variation.
- Confidence
- Source-backed regional starter
messages
Groceries, shopping, or small errands to be collected.
- Currentness
- Reviewed 2026-07-21
- Breadth
- Contemporary Irish English, with regional and generational variation.
- Confidence
- Source-backed regional starter
mineral
A soft drink or fizzy drink, especially in older, regional, or hospitality-related usage.
- Currentness
- Reviewed 2026-07-21
- Breadth
- Contemporary Irish English, with regional and generational variation.
- Confidence
- Source-backed regional starter
morto
Extremely embarrassed; shortened from mortified.
- Currentness
- Reviewed 2026-07-21
- Breadth
- Contemporary Irish English, with regional and generational variation.
- Confidence
- Source-backed regional starter
now in a minute
Very soon, after a brief delay, or once the current task is finished.
- Currentness
- Reviewed 2026-07-21
- Breadth
- Contemporary Irish English, with regional and generational variation.
- Confidence
- Source-backed regional starter
press
A cupboard, cabinet, or enclosed storage space.
- Currentness
- Reviewed 2026-07-21
- Breadth
- Contemporary Irish English, with regional and generational variation.
- Confidence
- Source-backed regional starter
scarlet
Extremely embarrassed, ashamed, or red-faced about something.
- Currentness
- Reviewed 2026-07-21
- Breadth
- Contemporary Irish English, with regional and generational variation.
- Confidence
- Source-backed regional starter
sláinte
Health; commonly used as a toast meaning roughly “to your health” or “cheers.”
- Currentness
- Reviewed 2026-07-21
- Breadth
- Contemporary Irish English, with regional and generational variation.
- Confidence
- Source-backed regional starter
slán
Safe or well; widely used in Irish farewell expressions.
- Currentness
- Reviewed 2026-07-21
- Breadth
- Contemporary Irish English, with regional and generational variation.
- Confidence
- Source-backed regional starter
sleeveen
A sly, untrustworthy, smooth-talking, or underhand person.
- Currentness
- Reviewed 2026-07-21
- Breadth
- Contemporary Irish English, with regional and generational variation.
- Confidence
- Source-backed regional starter
sound
Good, decent, trustworthy, kind, or agreeable.
- Currentness
- Reviewed 2026-07-21
- Breadth
- Contemporary Irish English, with regional and generational variation.
- Confidence
- Source-backed regional starter
spice bag
An Irish takeaway dish typically combining chips, seasoned fried chicken, vegetables, chilli, and spice mix.
- Currentness
- Reviewed 2026-07-21
- Breadth
- Contemporary Irish English, with regional and generational variation.
- Confidence
- Source-backed regional starter
sure look
A flexible phrase that acknowledges reality, softens a conclusion, or signals that little more can be done.
- Currentness
- Reviewed 2026-07-21
- Breadth
- Contemporary Irish English, with regional and generational variation.
- Confidence
- Source-backed regional starter
what’s the story?
What is happening, how are you, or what is the latest news or plan?
- Currentness
- Reviewed 2026-07-21
- Breadth
- Contemporary Irish English, with regional and generational variation.
- Confidence
- Source-backed regional starter
yer man
That man being referred to, whether or not the listener knows his name.
- Currentness
- Reviewed 2026-07-21
- Breadth
- Contemporary Irish English, with regional and generational variation.
- Confidence
- Source-backed regional starter
yer one
That woman being referred to, whether or not the listener knows her name.
- Currentness
- Reviewed 2026-07-21
- Breadth
- Contemporary Irish English, with regional and generational variation.
- Confidence
- Source-backed regional starter
yoke
A thing, object, device, or person whose exact name is unknown, forgotten, or unnecessary.
- Currentness
- Reviewed 2026-07-21
- Breadth
- Contemporary Irish English, with regional and generational variation.
- Confidence
- Source-backed regional starter