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10 Fun Facts About Ireland

10 FUN FACTS ABOUT IRELAND Author | Raphael Adewusi The Republic of Ireland, also known as Éire in Irish, is a small but vibrant country located in the northwestern part of Europe. It is a land of stunning natural beauty, rich culture, and fascinating history. Here are some fun facts about the Republic of Ireland that you might not know. Ireland is the only country in the world with a musical instrument as its national symbol. The harp, which has been played in Ireland for over 1,000 years, is a symbol of Irish culture and is also featured on the country's official coat of arms.  Image source: My Irish Jeweler The Cliffs of Moher are one of Ireland's most popular tourist attractions, with over one million visitors each year. These stunning cliffs rise over 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean and offer breathtaking views of the surrounding coastline.  Image source: Cliffs of Moher The world-famous Guinness Brewery in Dublin produces over 10 million pints of beer each day. The bre...

COMMON IRISH SLANG WORDS AND WHAT THEY MEAN

Author | Raphael Adewusi

Craic? Banjaxed? Yoke? - Irish Slang You Need To Know

Irish slang is an essential part of the culture in Ireland. It is an unique and colorful aspect of the Irish language that has evolved over time. Although the national language here is technically Irish (Or Gaeilge although everyone speaks English), the real language here is slang. The slang terms are used in everyday conversation, and if you don't understand them, you might feel a little lost. Here are some of the most popular Irish slang terms and their meanings.

1. Craic

If you hear an Irish person say "What's the Craic?" they're not asking about drugs or anything illegal. In Ireland, craic (pronounced 'crack') is slang for 'fun'. It's a word that's used to describe a good time or a fun atmosphere.

group of people posing for picture using green and shamrock clothes
Image Source: Meanwhile in Ireland


2. Gobshite

Gobshite is slang used to describe someone who talks nonsense or is full of themselves. It's a harsh term that's often used in a joking manner.

3. Feck

Feck is a word that's used to express surprise or annoyance. It's a polite way of saying the f-word. If someone says "Ah feck it", they're expressing frustration or disappointment.

man with gray hair looking shocked with hair up
Image Source: Independent.ie


4. Deadly

In Ireland, deadly doesn't mean what you think it means. It's a slang term that's used to describe something that's amazing or impressive. For example, if someone says "That concert was deadly", they mean it was fantastic. 

5. Yoke

Yoke is a term that's used to describe an object when you can't remember its name. For example, if someone says "Pass me that yoke over there", they're referring to an object whose name they can't remember.

egg cracked open onto pan with oil
Image Source: NPR

6. Banjaxed

Banjaxed is a slang word that's used to describe something that's broken or not working correctly. For example, if someone says "My phone is banjaxed", they mean it's not working correctly.

7. Bold

Bold is a term that's used to describe someone who's misbehaving or being naughty. For example, if someone says "Don't be bold" they're telling you not to misbehave.

8. Press

Press is a term that's used to describe a cupboard or a cabinet. For example, if someone says, "I left the cups in the press", they mean they left the cups in the cupboard.

9. Cans

Cans is slang for beer or drinking beer, not necessarily just cans, it refers to all types of alcohol being drank outside of a drinking/eating establishment. For example, if someone says "Let's grab some cans", they mean let's buy some drinks and go drink them at the park.

three lined up cans of dutch gold beer
Image Source: Marketing Network

10. Shift

Shift is a sweet one: slang for kiss. For example, if someone says "Did you get the shift?" They mean, did you kiss anyone?

women kissing with blue background
Image Source: PeopleImages / Getty Images


Irish slang is an essential part of the culture in Ireland. It's an unique and colorful aspect of the Irish language that has evolved over time. The slang terms are used in everyday conversartion, and if you don't understand them, you might feel a little lost. These are just a few of the many Irish slang terms that exist, and if you're planning a trip to Ireland, it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with them. You'll have a better understanding of the language and culture, and you might even impress some of the locals with your newfound knowledge of Irish slang.

#irishslang #funnyirishslang #irishslangwords #craic #whatsthecraic #theshift #banjaxed #deadly #yoke #gobshite

Comments

  1. So funny 🤣 sure we’re gas!!!

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  2. I love this post ☺️

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  3. Lool we need a second edition of these to continue, so much Irish slang hahaha

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  4. Raphael Adewusi22 March 2023 at 10:35

    Now someone explain “a wet day” to me please 😂

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  5. Wow, I've learned a lot today! Thanks, Raphael for the post!

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  6. It's great! I laughed a lot!

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  7. Oh God! Ireland should have its own dictionary at this point! 🤣🤣 When I came here I had a bit of a hard time understanding English in general and with Irish people it was even worse. Now that I have finally came around it there're still so many slangs my friends teach me. 'Grand' has become my favorite one, I always use it at the coffee shop I work in and on a daily basis - Julio Costa

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  8. The first slang that I heard in Ireland was “what’s the craic” and as you mentioned in this post, I was completely lost and had no idea what to say 🤣 .
    The number 8 in this post is a surprise for me because I didn’t know it was slang. I’ve been hearing this word almost daily in my work, so I might have internalized it as part of an official vocabulary hahaha.
    What I like the most about slang for us, non-native English speakers, is that learning and using common slang and expressions in everyday life helps us to feel more confident speaking the language, and allow us to communicate more naturally with native speakers. – Dayane Torres

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