Irish Slang
The Irish Slang Dictionary for all 32 Counties
Irish slang, phrases and sayings from all 32 counties, with meanings, real examples and a Posh English translation.
Slang of the day, National Breadstick Day!
Hang-blaa WaterfordA distinctive Waterford bread roll filled with ham.
Gis a hang-blaa with plenty buttor boy.
What is Irish slang?
Irish slang is the English we speak in Ireland, with a good dose of the Irish language, a bit of mischief and a different word in every parish. It's the way we talk at the bus stop, in the pub and around the kitchen table, and it changes from county to county. slang.ie has over 7,800 Irish slang words and phrases from all 32 counties, sent in by the people who actually say them. Every one comes with what it means, a real example and a Posh English translation for anyone who needs it spelled out.
Common Irish slang words
Start with the Irish slang words you'll hear in every corner of the country. If something is grand, it's fine. If it's deadly, class or savage, it's brilliant, and if it's pure savage, it's brilliant altogether. A thing that's broken is banjaxed, a fool is an eejit and something funny is gas. Tired after a long day? You're knackered. Filthy? That's manky. A sound person is someone you can rely on, the toilet is the jacks, and when the rain comes down in sheets, it's bucketing.
Irish slang phrases you'll hear every day
Irish slang phrases do a lot of the heavy lifting in a conversation. What's the craic is hello and what's the news, all in one. Fair play means well done, stall the ball means hang on a minute, and giving out is complaining, which we're very good at. Someone acting the maggot is messing and annoying everyone, and when you tell a story nobody believes, you'll hear go away outta that. Ask a favour and the answer is no bother. And when things finally start going your way, you're suckin diesel.
What does craic mean?
Craic is the most famous Irish slang word of them all, and it's said just like crack. It means fun, chat, gossip and news, sometimes all at once. Good craic is a great time, any craic? means have you any news, and if the craic was 90, the night was mighty. In Cork you'll be greeted with s'craic?, short for what's the craic. You'll still see the older spelling, crack, but craic is the one that stuck. Ask anyone here what makes a good night out and they'll give you the one word answer: the craic.
Funny Irish slang
Some Irish slang is funny on purpose. In Waterford, a ham sandwich is a hang sangwich, and in Longford anything awful is cat malogen. Someone messing is acting the maggot, a poor unfortunate is a crathur, and when you hear something shocking, the only answer is bejayzus. Slagging is how we show love here, so if someone says you've a head on ye like a half chewed chip, you're probably friends.
Irish slang by county
Every county has its own slang, and half the fun is hearing the difference. In Cork, something brilliant is daycent and your old pal is me aul flower. In Waterford, lunch might be a hang sangwich. Monaghan and Cavan say hello with how's she cuttin'?, Offaly men call each other horse and in Sligo it's sham. Up in Derry it's bout ye?, while in Antrim you'd be scundered for someone else. Limerick will ask d'ya know what I mean like? and Longford will tell you the weather is cat malogen. Find your own county's words on the Cork slang, Dublin slang, Galway slang and Northern Irish slang pages, or pick any of the 32 counties below.
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