Whether to deepen your knowledge of Irish phrases, or simply to shock some locals upon arriving in Ireland, then you have come to the right place.
Happy Irish Wanderers are proud Irish folk who are passionate about sharing all things Irish and Irish phrases are pretty high on that list.
Learning Irish phrases can enhance your connection to Irish culture and heritage, whether you’re traveling in Ireland, exploring your ancestry, or simply interested in languages.
Using Irish phrases helps foster deeper interactions with the Irish people, supports the preservation of the language, and let’s face it, it’s a bit of craic too!
Express Yourself the Irish Way
Given the poetic and charismatic nature of the Irish people, as you can imagine the list of Irish phrases is endless.
But we have picked out our favorite few, first some Irish phrases in our local tongue to get you started, and to impress the taxi driver collecting you at the airport.
Then, we move on to some “entertaining” phrases to knock people’s socks off and have you the certain of attention in the pub!
Are you ready to delve into the world of Irish phrases? Let’s go!
Irish Phrases in the Irish Language
The following Irish phrases cover basic greetings, expressions of gratitude, and common conversational needs, making them useful for interacting in Irish.
“Dia dhuit” (dee-ah gwitch) – Hello (literally “God be with you”)
“Go raibh maith agat” (guh rev mah ah-gut) – Thank you (literally “May you have goodness”)
“Slán” (slawn) – Goodbye (literally “safe”)
“Conas atá tú?” (kun-uhs uh-taw too?) – How are you?
“Tá mé go maith, go raibh maith agat.” (taw may guh mah, guh rev mah ah-gut) – I’m fine, thank you.
“Le do thoil” (leh duh hull) – Please (literally “with your will”)
“Gabh mo leithscéal” (gav mo lehs-kayl) – Excuse me (literally “take my apology”)
“Is maith liom” (iss mah lum) – I like (literally “is good with me”)
“Céad míle fáilte” (kayd mee-lah fawl-cha) – A hundred thousand welcomes
“An bhfuil Gaeilge agat?” (on wil gweil-gyuh ah-gut?) – Do you speak Irish? (literally “Is Irish with you?”)
“Tá sé go hálainn” (taw shay guh haw-lin) – It’s beautiful (literally “It’s lovely”)
“Sláinte” (slawn-chuh) – Cheers (literally “health”)
“Go n-éirí an bóthar leat” (guh nyree on bo-har lat) – Good luck (literally “May the road rise with you”)
“Craic agus ceol” (crack ah-gus kyole) Fun and music
Making a small effort to use such Irish phrases will mean a lot to Irish people, it is nice to be nice after all.
Plan your perfect 2-week Ireland road trip
Oh There’s More!
The following Irish phrases truly portray the poetic expression in our language and we absolutely love them:
“Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine.”
People live in each other’s shadow.
Meaning: We depend on each other.
“Giorraíonn beirt bóthar.”
Two shorten the road.
Meaning: Two heads are better than one.
“Is fearr Gaeilge briste ná Béarla clíste.”
Broken Irish is better than clever English.
Meaning: It’s better to attempt speaking Irish than to speak English perfectly.
“Níl aon tinteán mar do thinteán féin.”
There’s no place like home.
Literally: “There is no hearth like your own hearth.”
“Míle buíochas.”
A thousand thanks.
A way to express deep gratitude.
“Tá sé ar an mbóthar maith.”
He/She is on the right track.
Meaning: Someone is doing something well.
“Tóg go bog é.”
Take it easy.
Meaning: Take things gently or don’t stress.
“Is é sin a dúirt an cat.”
That’s what the cat said.
Meaning: Used to express disbelief or to imply that something is nonsensical.
“Bíonn siúlach scéalach.”
Travelers have stories.
Meaning: Those who travel have interesting tales to tell.
“Níl aon mhaith ann.”
There’s no good in it.
Meaning: It’s useless or doesn’t serve a purpose.
“Éist le do chroí.”
Listen to your heart.
Meaning: Follow your instincts or emotions.
“Tá sé ag cur báistí.”
It’s raining.
Literally: “It’s putting rain.”
“Is aoibhinn crónán.”
Sweet is the sound.
Meaning: Refers to something that is pleasant or delightful to hear.
“Tá ocras an domhan orm.”
(taw o-kras on do-wan orm)
Literally: The hunger of the world is upon me.
Now that you have gathered some knowledge of the Irish language to set you up, let’s check out some Irish phrases that are a little different.
Very Much Irish Phrases (even though in English!)
The following list of Irish phrases and words are not necessarily in the Irish language, however, they are so Irish that they may as well be!
“Craic” – Fun
Pronounced “crack,” this word is used to describe having a good time or enjoying oneself. For example, “What’s the craic?” means “What’s going on?” or “How’s the fun?”
“Gobshite” – Foolish person
A term for someone who talks nonsense or behaves foolishly. It’s a mix of “gob” (mouth) and “shite” (a more vulgar term for excrement).
“Gas” – Funny
Used to describe something that’s hilarious or entertaining. For example, “That was gas!” means “That was very funny!”
“Grand” – Fine
Used to indicate that something is okay or satisfactory. For instance, “I’m grand” means “I’m fine.”
“Eejit” – Idiot
A less harsh way of calling someone foolish. Derived from the Irish word “oide,” meaning “teacher,” and altered over time.
“Banter” – Playful conversation
Refers to light-hearted, friendly teasing or joking around. For example, “We had great banter last night” means “We had a lot of fun and joked around.”
“Jacks” – Toilet
A colloquial term for the bathroom. For example, “I need to use the jacks” means “I need to go to the toilet.”
“Knackered” – Exhausted
Means extremely tired or worn out. For instance, “I’m absolutely knackered after that run” means “I’m very tired after that run.”
“Langer” – Drunk
An informal term used to describe someone who is very drunk. For example, “He was a right langer last night” means “He was very drunk last night.”
“Slagging” – Teasing
Refers to making fun of someone in a light-hearted or joking manner. For example, “We were slagging each other all night” means “We were teasing each other all night.”
“Yoke” – Thing
A vague term used to refer to something whose name is forgotten or not known. For example, “Pass me that yoke over there” means “Pass me that thing over there.”
“Feck” – Expletive
A milder alternative to more vulgar expletives. Often used to express frustration or surprise. For example, “What the feck?” means “What the heck?”
“Wanker” – Idiot
A term for someone who is perceived as annoying or irritating. It’s somewhat vulgar but commonly used in casual speech.
Continue on your Irish learnings with our favorite Irish Blessings.
Can You Handle More Irish Phrases?!
Whether or not you master the art of the Irish language, having knowledge of these Irish phrases (in English!) will have you as Irish as can be, trust us!
“Gowl” – Fool
An informal term for someone who’s acting foolish or annoying. For example, “Stop being a gowl” means “Stop acting like a fool.”
“Culchie” – Country person
Used to describe someone from rural Ireland, often with a connotation of being unsophisticated compared to city dwellers. For example, “He’s a proper culchie.”
“Deadly” – Awesome
In this context, “deadly” means something is really great or impressive. For example, “That gig was deadly!”
“Muppet” – Foolish person
Similar to “eijit,” it describes someone who’s acting silly or foolish. For example, “Don’t be such a muppet.”
“Trolleyed” – Very drunk
A term for being extremely intoxicated. For example, “He got completely trolleyed at the party.”
“Rashers” – Bacon slices
Refers to slices of bacon, often used in the context of a traditional Irish breakfast. For example, “I’m making rashers for breakfast.”
“Gaff” – House or place
Informal term for someone’s home or a party. For example, “We’re heading to his gaff later.”
“Scuttered” – Drunk
Another term for being very drunk. For example, “She was scuttered after the wedding.”
“Bollocks” – Nonsense or mistake
Can be used to describe something that’s nonsense or a mistake. For example, “That’s a load of bollocks.”
“Hames” – Mess or disaster
Used to describe a situation that is poorly managed or chaotic. For example, “That project is a complete hames.”
“Kip” – A mess or bad place
Refers to a messy or unpleasant place. For example, “This place is a kip” means “This place is a dump.”
“Lush” – Nice or attractive
Used to describe something or someone that is very appealing or attractive. For example, “That dress is lush!”
“Manky” – Dirty or unpleasant
Used to describe something that is filthy or disgusting. For example, “The kitchen is manky.”
“Ride” – Attractive person
In slang, this term can refer to someone who is very attractive. For example, “She’s a right ride.”
“Wrecked” – Extremely tired
Can describe being very tired or exhausted. For example, “I’m wrecked after that trip.”
“Yoke” – Thing or object
A very versatile term used to refer to any object or item. For example, “Give me that yoke over there.”
These slang Irish phrases reflect the playful and expressive nature of Irish people, we are famous for our Irish wit and humor after all!
Before you plan a trip to Ireland, make sure you have a read of our guide to your first visit to Ireland below:
Enjoy all the Irishness!
We truly believe that learning some (if not all!) of these Irish phrases will make your Irish holiday even more memorable.
In fact, you will be leaving quite an impression on the Irish people you meet if you pull some of these phrases out of the bag. Just watch the mouths drop around you in surprise.
Whether you’re using local Irish phrases or just engaging in some light-hearted banter, your efforts will be both noticed and appreciated. And, most definitely you will be bought a pint!
Irish people are known for their welcome and we are certain you will feel nothing but Irish kindness from such encounters. We just hope you are ready for it! Irish hospitality is in a league of its own – although we may be a tad biased!
Sharing these Irish phrases allows us to honor our heritage while bringing positivity into the lives of others. Win, win!
We hope you learned some new Irish phrases, or at least, had a giggle or two!
Which are your favourite Irish phrases? Are there any other Irish phrases you would add to the list?
If we have left anything out please let us know. We would love to hear from you.
Please let us know if you use any of these Irish phrases, and more importantly, what reaction did you get?!
Feel free to leave a message below or contact us on our socials.
Slán go fóil
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