Your browser is not supported. We do our best to optimize our websites to the most current web browsers. Please try another browser.

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

Thinkstock

1 / 30

Bag of Taytos

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

Irish words and phrases - guiness

Thinkstock

2 / 30

Black Stuff

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

Irish words and phrases - bogtrotter

Thinkstock

3 / 30

Bogtrotter

A country person. Not exactly a term of endearment.

Irish words and phrases - boozer

Thinkstock

4 / 30

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

Thinkstock

5 / 30

Bucketing

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

Irish words and phrases - craid

Thinkstock

6 / 30

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

Thinkstock

7 / 30

Fair Play!

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

Irish words and phrases - feck

Thinkstock

8 / 30

Feck

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

Irish words and phrases - fluthered

Thinkstock

9 / 30

Fluthered

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

Irish words and phrases - - full shilling

Thinkstock

10 / 30

Full Shilling

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

Irish words and phrases - gob

Thinkstock

11 / 30

Gob

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

Irish words and phrases - howya

Thinkstock

12 / 30

Howya

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

Irish words and phrases - hump off

Thinkstock

13 / 30

Hump Off!

This man's body language pretty much explains it.

Irish words and phrases - jacks

Thinkstock

14 / 30

Jacks

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

Irish words and phrases - jaded

Thinkstock

15 / 30

Jaded

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

Irish words and phrases - jar

Thinkstock

16 / 30

Jar

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

Irish words and phrases - kip

Thinkstock

17 / 30

Kip

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

Thinkstock

18 / 30

Mary Hick

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

Irish words and phrases - motherless

Thinkstock

19 / 30

Motherless

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

Thinkstock

20 / 30

Ole Wan

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

Thinkstock

21 / 30

Ole Feller

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

Thinkstock

22 / 30

Ossified

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

Thinkstock

23 / 30

Plonker

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

Thinkstock

24 / 30

Rashers

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

Thinkstock

25 / 30

Ructions

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

Thinkstock

26 / 30

Slagging

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

Thinkstock

27 / 30

Stocious

Very drunk. Sounds almost Shakespearean, no?

Thinkstock

28 / 30

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?

Thinkstock

29 / 30

Wagon

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

Funny Irish words and phrase - y frontss -

Thinkstock

30 / 30

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

Watch Now:
Original Series

Latest News

StackTV and Slice swag goodies box

contest

Vanderpump Rules Screening Giveaway Rules

Enter for a chance to win tickets to the Vanderpump Rules Screening giveaway.

January 12, 2024

Woman with curly hair with eyes closed and hands on chest.

Health

The Ultimate Guide to Hosting a Self-Care Sunday

Because you deserve a day dedicated to your well-being.

September 25, 2023

Rhode skincare products on colourful background.

We Tried Rhode Skin — Here’s What We Really Think

We put Hailey Bieber's Rhode skincare products to the test.

May 3, 2023

The Super Tree Grove at Gardens by the Bay in Singapore

Travel

The 10 Best Places to Travel in May

If you needed an excuse to travel abroad this May 2023, here are 10.

April 21, 2023

'The Real Housewives of Miami' season 5 cast

RHOM

‘The Real Housewives of Miami’ Ranked by Net Worth

Luxury cars, penthouse suites, lavish mansions — here's how they can afford it all.

April 20, 2023

a young white woman with glasses sitting on the floor of her living room looking at her laptop

Ambition

The Pros and Cons of AI Writing Your Resume

Should you use AI to write your resume? We break it down.

April 20, 2023

A hand holding a polka dot plant in front of a pink background

Living

10 Pink Houseplants to Add a Pop of Colour to Your Apartment

Your apartment is about to look pretty in pink.

Chelsea Brimstin

April 19, 2023

Young woman on couch checks her phone

Self

What is an Ambivert? An Expert Reveals Signs That You are One

We break down the signs for those in a "personality limbo."

April 18, 2023

Collage of Beyonce, Rihanna, Shania Twain, Mariah Carey and Taylor Swift

20 Richest Singers of 2023, Ranked by Net Worth

Not only are they topping the charts, but they're also the world's wealthiest.

April 18, 2023