Lost in translation - Adjusting Irish lingo for New York ears
By: Molly Muldoon | Published Wednesday, January 9, 2013, 7:46 AM | Updated Wednesday, January 9, 2013, 7:46 AM
For some my choice Irish phrases are a source of amusement, for others a source of confusion.
The majority of us speak the same language, but my sentences have been lost in translation on many an occasion since moving Stateside.
It occurred to me this morning when my friend emailed me concerned about where one of her guests would lay his head this coming weekend when he visits the Big Apple. “God knows where he will sleep!,” she reflected.
Irish people do certainly have a way with words. Despite the scrunched up faces of bewilderment when I pepper my stories with Irish lingo, I will always persist with our homeland dialect.
Here is a choice example of regaling a nights events from an Irish person’s perspective, the American girls in the office helped me translate.
Sur wasn’t I down in the boozer last night and the place was wedged, the craic was ninety. I saw this ride at the bar and he was giving me the eye. I thought to myself, you are sucking diesel now. Didn’t he waltz on over, but then I realized he was locked. I was scarlet for him. When I told him to sling his hook, he started effin and blindin. So in the end I didn’t get the shift.
Last night I was down in the bar and the place was packed. There was a great crowd. I saw a major hottie at the bar, and he looked over at me. I thought I was onto a winner. As he approached me I realized he was really trashed. I was super embarrassed for him! When I told him to get lost he cursed me out of it. So in the end, I didn’t hook up with anyone.
Read on for some of my favorite Irish statements, try and use one today. It’s sure to cause confusion.
-Top of the morning to you
Good morning, (no one in Ireland actually says this!)
-Give that a lash
Try that one out.
-Go away outta that
You’re not actually serious.
-Did ya see the head on that one?
She looks rather terrible.
-There was great banter out of him
We had a great chat.
-The place was wedged
The area was very crowded.
-The craic was ninety
We had a good time.
-He was locked, stocious, gee-eyed
He was intoxicated.
-Haven’t seen him for donkeys years
I haven’t him for a long time.
-Take that puss off your face
Stop sulking like a child.
-He ate the head off me
He verbally attacked me.
-Did ya get the shift last night?
Did you kiss anyone last night?
-Go way outta that!
Desist from telling me lies.
-That’s grand.
That sounds good.
-It’s a day for the high stool
It is a day to be drinking in a bar.
-Full duck or no dinner
Either do something right or don’t do it at all.
-Going anywhere nice for your jolliers?
Where are you going on vacation?
-That lad is a ride.
The man is rather good-looking.
-That lad is a muck savage
He is a person from the countryside.
-Scarlet for ya.
I am really embarrassed for you.
-Now we are sucking diesel
You are making good progress.
-That lad is a header
The man is a bit crazy.
-He made a holy show of himself
His actions brought shame on his character.
-I am knackered
I am really tired.
-That lad is an awful scab
That man is very thrifty with his money.
-Did you see the ronnie on her?
Did you happen to notice the facial hair on that female.
-Give me a half one
I would like an Irish whiskey straight up.
-Can you pick me up a nagan in the offo?
I would like some alcohol from the liquor store.
-Give me a pint of the black stuff
I would like a pint of Guinness.
-Did you see yer mano
Did you see that guy we both know?
- Are you heading for the chipper?
Are you going to the fish and chips shop?
-I'm pretty sure that lad is a fairy
I think he is a homosexual.
42 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Stropaire | Jan 11, 2012, 12:07 PM EST
A few more; "She had to be cut out of her Hula Hoop" -She is rather large That's about as much use as a pair of knickers to a mermaid" -That's not much use "If he stuck his toung out, You'd swear he was a zip fastener" -He's rather thin. "He's (or She's)got a face like a kick in the bollis" -rather unattractive visually. "He's hopping around like a snot on a hot shovel" -He's somewhat agitated. "He smells like a hoor's handbag" -He's overdone it with the aftershave
oldboreen | Jul 07, 2011, 05:36 PM EDT
'Wasn't he langers altogether' (man was he drunk!)
oldboreen | Jul 07, 2011, 05:30 PM EDT
'Wouldn't the face on that one sour milk' (referring to a woman with a miserable countenance)
chesapeake | Jul 07, 2011, 10:58 AM EDT
All languages have slang expression; but "English" knows virtually no bounds. I have lived in Southern climes for almost 40 years and heard a myriad of sayings and pronunciations, especially the Coastal areas of North Carolina(Olde English); low-country South Carolina (quite quare) and mountains (Appalachian Scottish-Irish). Of course there is always New Orleans with five or more dialectsent dialects plus Cajun. It's just all different - but we usually figure it out in the end.
yolatreacy | May 05, 2011, 04:30 PM EDT
I'm from Tipperary and my wife is from New Jersey. Over the last 3 and half years she points out some of the language differences between us. Here are some words I use: "Press" instead of cabinet or cupboard; "jumper" instead of sweater; "foot path" for sidewalk; shopping trolley for shopping cart; train carriage for train car; "runners" for sneakers; "headache tablets" for asparin; "hoover" for vacuum; "jam" for jelly; "post" for mail; "fortnight" for two weeks; "lift" for elevator; "sitting room" for living room; "pitch" for field; "torch" for flashlight and finally "boot, bonnet and wind-shield" instead of trunk, hood and wind-screen.....and the list goes on. Thanks Molly for the article.
gerardthomas | Mar 17, 2011, 11:21 PM EDT
I must say that it,s quite interesting,a little taste of how some Irish use the Irish language.
IrishMike71 | Feb 23, 2011, 03:52 PM EST
Good article Miss Molly.. Thanks
ellenfromcork | Feb 04, 2011, 12:35 PM EST
Does anyone know the source of the phrase "me old china". My Aunt Kate used to use it as in"How ar ye now, me old china?' She did spend many years in England so it might be of that derivation. Thanks for the help.
Donegal11 | Jan 31, 2011, 01:56 PM EST
WoundedKnee you are so full of sh*t "you'll often hear the Irish trying to claim that these cliches actually count as a separate language" (where is your proof of this?) We don't claim anything it's just slang, same as every part of every country has their own slang words for different things. Also its not CRACK it's CRAIC and it means fun. Why the f*ck are you even on IRISH CENTRAL if you have such a problem with how we speak? Go on away and f*ck yourself
GeorgeDillon | Jan 25, 2011, 11:30 AM EST
ancavker: You're right. That C* word is not heard in the US, except in the most disreputable places. But the Irish use it in every other sentence. I don't like them using those words in Ireland, but when they try to bring that filth with them when they come here I draw the line. Maybe we should have a collection to buy soap so that they can wash out their filthy mouths?
CitizenWhy | Jan 15, 2011, 02:02 AM EST
Back when Ireland was on the Punt, eyebrows were often raised high when one Irish girl would say to another at a NYC shop, "Do you have the LSD?" or "Fortunately I have enough LSD."
ancavker | Jan 14, 2011, 04:40 PM EST
woundedknee> That si th eIrish way now. Anything Englush/Britishis good, fashionable, sophisicated; anything native is garbage. the most offensive and disgusting word that so many use, is the c word; no class.
BallinaLass | Jan 14, 2011, 11:42 AM EST
What a cool article. I didn't know stocious was Irish - that word enjoyed a brief moment of popularity among American youth in the 1980's. And Ms. Muldoon, what about "cute hoor" for a shrewdie - that's one of the funniest Irish terms.
geoIIIIV | Jan 14, 2011, 10:55 AM EST
It was worth the read.
sirpeter | Jan 14, 2011, 10:40 AM EST
Apologize to who? Georgy..ha ha ha YOU!! ROTFLMAO!!
GeorgeDillon | Jan 14, 2011, 09:36 AM EST
sirpeter: Have you apologized yet for the disgusting post you wrote about the young Irish lady murdered in Mauritius?
seanomelbourne | Jan 14, 2011, 01:09 AM EST
What a load of drivel, this Muldoon woman has to much time on her hands.An etymologist or lexicographer she is not.
sirpeter | Jan 13, 2011, 07:30 PM EST
Georgy porgy puddin' and pie,kissed the girls and made them cry.When the boys came out to play.He kissed them too cos he was gay.
GeorgeDillon | Jan 13, 2011, 02:33 PM EST
sirpeter, before he became crazed with hate speech and bile, informed us that he supported Mass Immigration into Ireland, as long the immigrants were white.
sirpeter | Jan 13, 2011, 09:42 AM EST
bogsidebunny..Careful now!!..bogsidebunnies are scummies (poetic license)
bogsidebunny | Jan 13, 2011, 01:39 AM EST
Cork Langers are skangers!
sirpeter | Jan 12, 2011, 03:46 PM EST
She did!! but he called Immigration on her,so she beat the book over his head.
like2tweet | Jan 12, 2011, 02:39 PM EST
I don't think Woundedknee was read to as a child!
sirpeter | Jan 12, 2011, 02:38 PM EST
Woundedbolix of the misunderstood..N** word..Poles as "squareheads".Irish people should be coining words to describe all those immigrant groups.Bet you have a face like a welder’s fu*king bench..You on-fu*king-going dripping streak of running diarrhoea.Give me the fu*king vinegar..*Pours it down your racist gullet. Fu*k the sugar!!
WoundedKnee | Jan 12, 2011, 01:53 PM EST
Searlit: You misunderstand utterly. I am not trying to "get my point across". I could care less if people agree with what I write or not. On a separate point, I wonder if the Irish have invented phrases for all those foreigners who have flooded into their country. Here in the US we have words for different ethnic groups, including the Irish. If the Irish are so inventive with language--which I don't believe--they should be coining words to describe all those immigrant groups. And I don't mean just recycling the N** word, that's just unthinking and vulgar and worthless. The only such phrase I ever heard in Ireland was children describing Poles as "squareheads", I guess because the Polish men all wear their hair cropped.
antoman | Jan 12, 2011, 01:52 PM EST
*For explaing the fecking feck word to them like :)
antoman | Jan 12, 2011, 01:51 PM EST
Nice one Ozman51
beedyeyes | Jan 12, 2011, 01:50 PM EST
well said! Beedy eyes showed me the thread. I adore the creativity of the Irish parlance. Slang, dialect who cares it's still sounds wonderful. I have witnessed people writing down my cousin's expressions! Wounded knee "take the wise up pill mucker"!
antoman | Jan 12, 2011, 01:41 PM EST
@Searlit..its not woundedknee anymore.It was left too long and we had to take it off.I suggest AmputatedKnee.
Searlit | Jan 12, 2011, 01:29 PM EST
@Woundedknee, if you really want to get your point across a little sugar works better than all that vinegar. :-)
ozman51 | Jan 12, 2011, 01:20 PM EST
Also, as far as the word "feck" is concerned, it is not as severe as f*ck...I guess it would be like comparing "frig" with f*ck in the states. It's just not as bad as Americans think. But we've still a very coulourful way of speakin' at the local...filthy-like. hehe
ozman51 | Jan 12, 2011, 01:13 PM EST
It's just slang. No reason to get yer knickers in a twist! Just an explanation so people can understand local and regional slang. Certain slang does come from Gaelic derivations and some are just bastardized slang from other regions/countries. As far as "culchie", not a bad try like2tweet but the reason we use "culchie" is to describe a rural person/farmer who practises "agriculture". Like a "redneck" in the states. Slan go foill
WoundedKnee | Jan 12, 2011, 12:45 PM EST
like2trweet: What you say is nonsense. The Irish are notorious for believing their own blarney. Take poster beedyeyes for example. S/he thinks that the mindless use of the F*** word in every other sentence makes Irish speech charming or pleasant to listen to. Take it from me, beedyeyes, there is nothing as stale and monotonous as the Irish obsession with vulgar and abusive language. And beedyeeyes' claim that culchie has a Gaelic origin is unfounded. Where's you proof, beedyeyes, or it just more blather and blarney on your part? Cheeers, mate (I suppose you think that that commonly heard phrase is Irish?)
Ajreaper | Jan 12, 2011, 12:40 PM EST
Every place as their own regional or local "language" so to speak- I am very certain some phrases are much more common in some parts of Ireland and not used at all in other parts. No different then in the U.S. for me there is no sweeter sound then a southern gal saying pretty much anything ;)
mhichil | Jan 12, 2011, 12:27 PM EST
'top o the morning to you' is used where I worked when the management would pass by,.. ' and the rest of the day to meself' said after they pass.
beedyeyes | Jan 12, 2011, 11:09 AM EST
my cousins here in NYC like "what about ye mucker, (how are you my friend) "cutty" (girl) and "well blade" (hi girlfriend); "cut" embarrassed; scundered (fed up). We have a rich vocabulary many terms derive from the gaelic language for example "culchie" (humorous word for a rural person) comes from "as na coillte" meaning woods. In terms of accent/tone they reckon nobody says "aw for F*** sake" quite like an irish person!
antoman | Jan 12, 2011, 11:00 AM EST
like2tweet..born bread and baked in Ireland. LOL!
like2tweet | Jan 12, 2011, 10:16 AM EST
Funny blog! Wounded knee strikes again. "When I go to Ireland" you say. Take it from someone who was born, bread and reared in Ireland. These phrases DO exist. And while the entire population may not use them on a daily basis, many people do. Could you not be a bit more positive for 2011!
Canadian | Jan 12, 2011, 09:57 AM EST
It is true; people in Ireland don't say "Top of the mornin' to you" I have devised a riposte: "And the back of me hand to you"
carrickcourt | Jan 12, 2011, 09:10 AM EST
What about just trying to understand your Irish relations normal speech? My third cousins and other folks in Dublin I had no worries in understanding when I was in Dublin in Oct 2010, it was trying to understand some of my relations in the Irish countryside where I had real trouble. My relations in CO. Monaghan I did have trouble understanding and would have to ask them to repeat themselves. I frankly I think it was also because they just did not speak well.
antoman | Jan 12, 2011, 09:00 AM EST
With the morning after pill available now in Ireland. I still maintain that any advances made by georgyboy to an Irish woman will be met with the reply 'feck off'.
WoundedKnee | Jan 12, 2011, 07:03 AM EST
Same old boring phrases. Some of them are not specific to Ireland, some of them are never used in Ireland. When I go to Ireland I'm struck by the huge invasion of British English--words like the ugly "Cheers" or "naff" etc. When will Irish people get it into their thick skulls that they speak English, with a handful of local terms. Just like folks in Pittsburgh speak English, with a few local phrases, or Wyoming, or Brisbane, or Ontario etc. The Irish seem to think we find the few cliched phrases charming. We don't. And those of us who love the Irish language are even less enamored of this blather, since you'll often hear the Irish trying to claim that these cliches actually count as a separate language. They don't. "Crack" and "chipper" are poor substitutes for 1500 years of Gaelic language and culture!