Common Irish words and phrases you’ll hear in everyday conversations.
Acting the maggot – Fooling around
Banjaxed – Broken
Bang on – Accurate
Boyo – Male/juvenile
Black stuff – Guinness
Bad dose – Severe illness
Brutal – Awful
Bucketing down – Raining heavy
Bunk off – Skip school/work
Chancer – Takes a risk
Chiseller – Child
Codding ya – Joking
Crack on – Get going, continue
Culchie – Person from the countryside/rural areas
Delira and Excira – Delighted and Excited
Deadly – Brilliant
Donkeys years – A very long time
Dosser – Not working/messing
Eat the head off – To give out to
Earwigging – Listening in
Fair play – Well done
Fella – Man, boy
Fierce – Very good
Gaff – Home
Gammy – Crooked
Gander – Quick glance
Gas – Funny/amusing
Grand – Ok, alright
Hames – Complete mess
Holy show – Disgraceful scenes
How’s she cutting? – How are you?
How ya – Hi/hello
Jacks – Toilet
Jar – Beer
Kip – Dump of a place, a sleep
Knackered – Exhausted
Lash – Rain hard, attempt something
Manky/Mank – Dirty/ gross
Oul fella – Father
Oul dear – Mother
Puss – Sulky face
Savage – Excellent/unreal
Scarlet – Embarrassed
Sorry – Excuse me
Story – What’s happening?
Throw shapes – To show off
Trinners – Trinity College Dublin
Whist – Be quiet
