English words and expressions used in Ireland only

Gyalist · 12-02-2010 02:28PM

Dudess wrote: »

Burke is another one. This ties in with the Haiti thread on Irish slave-owners.

Yes, I forgot that one. Burke is actually one of the more common Irish surnames in the Caribbean.

podgemonster · 12-02-2010 02:42PM

One thing that seems to confuse foreigners is the expression...

'i will yeah'

In any other language it means of course but here its like No way!

Also know some Cork ones, but they probly apply in other counties
here la (Here have this)
There la (it is over there)

Pedro K · 12-02-2010 02:49PM

Saying something is "deadly". I had to explain to a group of english friends on a holiday that when something is deadly, I meant it's good, not it's going to kill you.

berri_satine · 12-02-2010 02:57PM

'Would ya go away outta that!'
My dad always says this

'Ill burst ya' = Im going to beat you up

'I swear to god'

'Whats the story?'

'spuds'

Red_Marauder · 12-02-2010 03:33PM

"He wouldn't give you the steam off his piss"

Do I want it?

The Face Kicker · 12-02-2010 03:33PM

I'll kick your ****ing face in!

Jason McCabe · 12-02-2010 04:04PM

give me a "lock" of them - normally around the number 3

I'm foundered

I'm starvin - when you mean I'm cold

Gone out to the scullery - kitchen

Listen to yer doll belltherin

Bonito · 12-02-2010 04:05PM

Jason McCabe wrote: »

I'm starvin - when you mean I'm cold

I say that when I'm hungry?

Jason McCabe · 12-02-2010 04:08PM

yeah people around here say it for both

Morlar · 12-02-2010 04:09PM

The BBC have a website to help english people figure out what the hell we are talking about;

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A3225106

Describing People

Irrespective of your social or geographical upbringing, there is probably a special name for you. Fellas4 is used to denote males, while wans5 refer to females. The mot or the aul' doll is your girlfriend, and a good-looking person of the opposite sex might be a regarded as a fine half. A culchie or a muck savage is a term of endearment reserved by townspeople for country folk. Dubliners are called Jackeens. Irish people with an affinity for the island across the water are called West Brits. A real lawdy daw is someone with a posh accent. An overtly religious person is in danger of being called a Holy Joe. A father is often referred affectionately by his children as de aul' fella. The moniker hoor is often used in many different contexts. A 'right hoor' is a deeply dislikeable character, whereas a 'cute hoor' is the type of person who displays a strong degree of craftiness - these people often end up running the country. People who perform remarkable acts of idiocy might be called eejits or gob****es.

AKA pat sheen · 12-02-2010 04:13PM

'c'mere to me, let's burn dat headshop down'

admiralofthefleet · 12-02-2010 04:24PM

is it a nudey film father?

sure i might wander in

dicky82 · 12-02-2010 04:24PM

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

One of my pet hates!

'Cheers' is such a retarded phrase but a significant section of society seem to think it's acceptable a a form of 'thank you'.

cheers is far better than them not saying anything at all:rolleyes:

Bodhisopha · 12-02-2010 04:44PM

"him what's off the television".

Is that us or the English?

imasmeasmecanbe · 12-02-2010 04:53PM

"noice wan", and do be....

i do always be saying nice one insteand of cheers

Shivers26 · 12-02-2010 05:02PM

The aul lad - father

My sister routinely says 'who hit ye horse' and she means hello.

Rapi, bleedin rapid, muppa etc etc

We are a law unto ourselves when it comes to language abuse

HalloweenJack · 12-02-2010 05:11PM

Getting your hole.

That one cracks up some American friends of mine.

messrs · 12-02-2010 05:21PM

Doc wrote: »

"I'm going out but I'm not going out, out."

Quality!!! I used to use that one my self!!

messrs · 12-02-2010 05:28PM

If i watching tv and someone is blocking it i say "your in my light"
my bf didnt understand me the first time i said that,
or people asking if you understand something - "do you standunder me?"

My brothers wife is from NYC and the first time she was over , after nite out we were taking bout going to the Chipper - she had no idea what a chipper was.

im just getting me bearings!

if my brother wants tea, he asks for a cup of scald

12-02-2010 05:48PM

Jason McCabe wrote: »

give me a "lock" of them - normally around the number 3

We would use a "lock" for various different amounts. Like a lock of stones could mean a trailer full or a what you could carry depending on the situation.

This reminds me of another one we use thats a "Blast", pronounced "Blashht". Again for use with quantity like, will you get a "blast" of cans from the shop etc.

irishh_bob · 13-02-2010 09:16PM

changes wrote: »

People in donegal who put the word wild into any sentance at all.

Wild hard, wild fast, i'm wild sick etc

Some of my scottish friends found it strange when i would end a phone call with - 'right good luck' meaning goodbye.

another variation of that is the word queer ( pronounced quare ) , thats a quare job , meaning , thats a quare anything from a cool car to a fine house , baschically anything but an occupation of some kind

another irish word not used abroad is jumper , as in sweater

happyoutscan · 13-02-2010 09:19PM

'Well scan, hows the craic?'

Cjoe · 13-02-2010 09:24PM

"She nearly had a conniption!" Hear mothers using that alot.

Flake is another one. "She gave me a flake (Loads) of money"
It also can be used in reference to hitting someone of course.

"This ghowl came bowlin down the road and was hawking at me so i hit him a flake!"

annie87 · 13-02-2010 11:03PM

There has been a book written on wexford slang, with 'quare,' 'bagel' and ''taken' being just some of the words used regularly.

In wexford 'taken' is used for embarrassed(Ah jaysis, I'm taken!) and bagel is used to describe someone ugly or an eejit.(look at the state of him; what a bagel.' And "Lads tonight" is used to convey exasperation. "Ah lads tonight, look at the traffic!"

Gyalist · 13-02-2010 11:21PM

"Given the day that's in it."

That's an expression that I've never heard anywhere else but Ireland.

Closed ac · 13-02-2010 11:24PM

Scarleh for ya!

kumate_champ07 · 13-02-2010 11:28PM

"savage tits on your wan"
"yiz are bleedin wreckin me buzz"
"will ye stall it there horse"
"he mister, give us a shot of your bike"

breadandjam · 13-02-2010 11:55PM

The one that nearly everyone in Ireland uses incorrectly is "I'm after doing something".

I do be frequently saying "I'm on'y after eating me dinner" when I visit someone and they offer me food.

Just because we use a phrase to mean something different than the English do doesn't make it incorrect.

South American Spanish is different to Castilian Spanish
American English is different in usage and spelling

That doesn't mean either is incorrect.

"Gicknah" originally meaning a useless feral pigeon not worth catching is a great word used only in Dublin I think to mean a totally useless person.

"Folly" as in "Folly me up the road" is a good word not heard outside of Ireland.

brummytom · 14-02-2010 12:13AM

Dudess wrote: »

My British/Aussie/American/kiwi friends think it's hilarious when I say "giving out". :pac:

Doc wrote: »

"You're man" or "You're one" meaning that guy or that girl. I’ve gotten some funny looks saying that in England and Australia.

bluto63 wrote: »

Whenever I'm talkin about some person and I say 'you know yer one' no one over here understands what I'm talking about.

Doc wrote: »

"I'm going out but I'm not going out, out."

BluesBerry wrote: »

Are ya going for a Jar? (drink)

no1beemerfan wrote: »

tracksuit bottoms/legs (jogging trousers)

All of these (and probably a few I've missed) are commonly used/understood here.

frobisher wrote: »

In Ireland when someone says, "Grab a couple of *insert object*" they usually mean you are to grab several. In England the same expression would always be taken to mean only 2.

No, it won't

christina_x · 14-02-2010 12:18AM

changes wrote: »

People in donegal who put the word wild into any sentance at all.

Wild hard, wild fast, i'm wild sick etc

no no no... its "wile"
its wile cold - its very cold
im wile hungry - im starving
it was wile funny - it was hysterical

you get the picture...

English words and expressions used in Ireland only

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