The top ten words used by the Irish that never fail to confuse Americans

Tbh, it sounds as if the writer hasn't really got much of a clue about the subject...

I agree with the 'chipper' thing too. I've never heard it called that. It's called either the 'chippy', the 'chip shop' or the 'fish and chip shop'...

Hmm. My husband has always referred to it as a "chippy" and not a "chipper", but I suppose that could be a regional thing, too. (He's from N. Ireland.) The definition of "ride" here misses the mark, but others have pointed that out, too. I'm surprised that "fanny" has been left off the list. Here in the southern states of the U.S., using "fanny" refers to the backside. However I learned quickly from my husband, in british terminology, it's essentially like saying p**sy. Had a giggle over that one.

JFK was always chided to have had an IRISH temper. The word IRE apparently meant "hot or hot-tempered". Tracing it back way down before modern history, it might be that a Comet Landed somewhere in this region and in those days the spoken language was EGYPTIAN and the word IRE was the equivalent of the Egyptian God "RE" in reference to the Comet or The SUN. How about that?

Most of these words have the same meaning in England, Wales and Scotland as they do in Ireland. There's nothing particularly 'Irish' about them, apart perhaps for '2' and '4'. Btw, the definition of 'ride' is not quite right. ;)

It amuses me that so many Americans think they know so much about the Irish.The accent varies from one area to another, but a lot of the words are exactly the same in English (as spoken here in England!) but pronounced differently. The N.Irish accent is much harsher than that of the South.

Why do so many people on this site claim to be in Ireland when they've probably never been out of their basement in Hicksville, Ohio???????

We called it a gum boil if on the guums and a canker sore if some place else in the mouth. A jumper here is a skirt with an attached top which is worn with a blouse under it. We call it a sidewalk if paved and a footpath if not. Those are the words we use in Michigan or at least in my family.

And a "laneway" must be a foot path!

And a "laneway" must be a foot path!

The term "ride" is used to depict a loose woman, i.e."She's only an oul ride", then again, if one sees a nice looking woman, he may say "I'd love to get up on her and ride her all night long". Obviously, it comes from the Horse racing industry, or if you want to insult a girl...." Go way you dirty oul ride".

The term "ride" is used to depict a loose woman, i.e."She's only an oul ride", then again, if one sees a nice looking woman, he may say "I'd love to get up on her and ride her all night long". Obviously, it comes from the Horse racing industry, or if you want to insult a girl...." Go way you dirty oul ride".

The term "ride" is used to depict a loose woman, i.e."She's only an oul ride", then again, if one sees a nice looking woman, he may say "I'd love to get up on her and ride her all night long". Obviously, it comes from the Horse racing industry, or if you want to insult a girl...." Go way you dirty oul ride".

The term "ride" is used to depict a loose woman, i.e."She's only an oul ride", then again, if one sees a nice looking woman, he may say "I'd love to get up on her and ride her all night long". Obviously, it comes from the Horse racing industry, or if you want to insult a girl...." Go way you dirty oul ride".

@gumboil | Nov 16, 2012, 07:42 PM EST I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU.. IM AN IRISH MAN MYSELF BUT IM ONLY IN MY 30S YOU WILL FIND WITH A SMALL MINORITY OF OLD IRISH ITS AN INFERIORITY COMPLEX ABOUT THE BRITISH.. BECAUSE IRELAND WE HAVE 4 MILLION AS OPPOSED TO 68MILLION IN THE UK SO THEY ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO BIG THEMSELVES UP ,... TRUE IM VERY PROUD OF MY IRISH CULTURE BUT IM ALSO PROUD TO HAVE THE UK AS MY NEIGHBOR.. I COULDNT EVER IMAGINE IF IRELAND WAS GEOGRAPHICALLY LOCATED NEXT TO A COUNTRY LIKE SYRIA OR INDIA HOW MUCH WORSE OFF OUR COUNTRY AND CULTURE WOULD BE.... PEOPLE LIKE SEAMUSHAN ARE EITHER IRA REPUBLICAN TYPES WHO HAVE A CHIP ON THEIR SHOULDERS ABOUT LIFE IN GENERAL OR JUST LOVE A GOOD WINGE BUT THANKFULLY THESE ARE IN THE MINORITY !!