Know the lingo - A simple guide to modern Irish slang for St. Patrick’s Day

Don't make a balls of this ye gurrier! Speak like an Irishman for St. Patrick's Day

So you are all set for Saint Patrick’s Day, right? Good. Got your lucky green socks? Check. Leprechaun hat? check. Shamrock face stickers? check. Green bagel? Yep. Kiss me I’m Irish T-shirt? All good.

But do you really want to stand out in the crowds this year? You do? Sure. Who doesn’t? Am I right?

Then why not try learning some Irish slang. And we have a list to help get you started thanks to the Murphy/Odea classic The book of feckin’ Irish Slang that’s great craic for cute hoors and bowsies.

Keep practicing and before you know it you will become the hit at your St Patricks Day “Hooley” (or party)

bags (n) - A botched job (also see “hames”)

Eg: That guy made a right bags of me corned beef and cabbage.

Bowsie(n)- Person (esp. male) of very disreputable character. A useless good-for-nothing?

Eg:Hey, that Bowsie totally just cut me in the bathroom line.

Bollixed (adj) (see fluthered, gee-eyed, rat-arsed) - Somewhat in excess of the legal alcohol driving limit.

Eg:I think thats my last Baileys dude. I am way bollixed

Chisseler (n) - young child

I cant believe Snooky has a chisseler on the way.

Cute hoor (n) - suspiciously resourceful gentleman

Eg:Speaking from his villa in the Alps, the cute hoor denied making any payments to politicna for favorable contracts.

Donkeys years (n) - Inordrdinately long amount of time. An epoch. A time memorial.

Eg:I haven’t marched in a parade in donkey’s years.

Fanny (n) - Females genitals

(Not a woman’s rear as usually assumed. Take note)

Flahulach (adj) (pronounced Flah-hule-uck) - generous

Eg: Wow. You left a tip. You must be feeling rather flaulach today.

Gaff (n) - Home. Place of residence.

Eg: Thats some pretty fancy gaff you got there with that yard and those trees.

Ganky (n) - repulsive, ugly

Eg: This green corned beef is rather ganky.

Gollier (n)- A mass of phglem expelled from mouth at high speed.

Eg: Watch it man! You just got a gollier in my beer.

Gurrier (n) - Hooligan. Ruffian. Delinquent.

Eg: Hey I think I’ve spotted the Gurrier who ran off with my kids shamrock balloon.

Heavin’ (adj) - Thoroughly packed.

Eg: Wow! O’Reillys is heavin’ tonight.

Hockeyed (v) - heavily deafeted

Eg:Is it me or are the New Jersey Nets hockeyed every night?

Hop (v) - Play truant from school.

Eg: Lets go the hop and see the parade in the city?

Jacks (n) - toilet, restroom

Eg: C’mon man hurry up. You’re not the only one who has to use the jacks pal.

Jo Maxi (n) - cab

Eg: I think you’re pretty bollixed. I’m calling you a Jo Maxi.

Me oul’ segotia (expression) - Term of endearment. My old flower.

​
Nster.com