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Breaktime

30 Irish Words Canadians Don’t Quite Understand

by Steven Shehori

March 14, 2016

St. Patrick’s Day is nearly upon us! Which means it’s time we pay tribute to this esteemed high holiday by learning some genuine, card-carrying Irish slang. Trust us, lads and lassies, the gang at your local pub will be plenty impressed with your expanded vocabulary.

Irish words and phrases- bag of taytos

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Bag of Taytos

It's a bag of potato chips. Catchy, no?

Irish words and phrases - guiness

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Black Stuff

Guinness. The beer that is, not the book of world records.

Irish words and phrases - bogtrotter

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Bogtrotter

A country person. Not exactly a term of endearment.

Irish words and phrases - boozer

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Boozer

A pub. The perfect place to find the black stuff. (Or, on St. Patrick's Day, the green stuff.)

Irish words and phrases - - bucketing

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Bucketing

Raining heavily. "It's mad bucketing outside!"

Irish words and phrases - craid

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Craic

You may have heard this one before, but what does this Irish phrase actually mean? Pronounced 'crack.' It's a good ol' time.

Irish words and phrases - fair play

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Fair Play!

Well done! Something the Irish and non-Irish alike don't hear nearly enough at work.

Irish words and phrases - feck

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Feck

Used in lieu of the other F word. (60% less offensive!)

Irish words and phrases - fluthered

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Fluthered

Very drunk. "The black stuff got us right fluthered, mate!"

Irish words and phrases - - full shilling

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Full Shilling

Mentally competent. (i.e. "That lad's not the full shilling!")

Irish words and phrases - gob

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Gob

Mouth. As in, "Shut your blathering gob!"

Irish words and phrases - howya

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Howya

A salutation. It means "hello." But you know, more casual, mate.

Irish words and phrases - hump off

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Hump Off!

This man's body language pretty much explains it.

Irish words and phrases - jacks

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Jacks

The restroom. "Save my seat -- I'm off to the jacks!"

Irish words and phrases - jaded

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Jaded

Fatigued. "I'm jaded from kicking yer arse, mate!"

Irish words and phrases - jar

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Jar

A pint. "Barkeep, fetch me your best, cheapest jar of the black stuff!"

Irish words and phrases - kip

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Kip

A short siesta. Or rest. Okay, a nap. "Only two hours 'til my afternoon kip!"

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Mary Hick

An old-fashioned female. We'd suggest exercising caution when using this term.

Irish words and phrases - motherless

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Motherless

Drunk. Because clearly there aren't enough words for 'drunk' out there.

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Ole Wan

Slang for 'mother.' "Me ol' wan's come to visit from Belfast!"

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Ole Feller

Slang for 'father.' Used lovingly or angrily -- entirely your choice.

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Ossified

Drunk. "On St. Patrick's Day, the amateurs are already ossified by noon."

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Plonker

An idiot. A delightful word we can all get use out of.

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Rashers

Bacon slices. "Nothing gets the morning underway like a big plate o' rashers!"

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Ructions

Loud arguing or commotion. A common occurrence in Irish pubs worldwide.

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Slagging

Making fun of someone. "I'm just slagging ya, mate! Relax!"

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Stocious

Very drunk. Sounds almost Shakespearean, no?

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Suckin’ Diesel

Having a good time. It doesn't have to be at a pub, but hey, why not let it be at a pub?

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Wagon

Someone not particularly blessed with good looks. Brings a whole new meaning to "On the wagon."

Funny Irish words and phrase - y frontss -

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Y-Fronts

Men's briefs. Why are they called Y-fronts? Hey, Y-not? By the way, if you're hankering for more delightful definitions, check out 30 Canadian Words Our American Friends Don't Understand.

Written BySteven Shehori

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