Irish English & Pub Vocabulary
Irish English (Hiberno-English) has its own peculiarities — shaped by Gaelic grammar, old English, and a love for language that manifests in creative expressions.
Typical Irish Expressions
| Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Craic (Kräck) | Fun, good atmosphere, sociability. "The craic was mighty" = It was a great evening |
| Grand | All right, good, okay. "How are you?" — "Grand." Universal answer to everything |
| Yer man / Yer one | The guy / The woman (general, not derogatory) |
| Eejit | Idiot (affectionate). "You're a right eejit" = You're a fool |
| Gas | Funny. "That's gas!" = That's hilarious |
| Give out | Scold, complain. "She gave out to him" = She gave him a telling-off |
| Bold | Naughty, mischievous (only for children). "He was very bold" = He was very naughty |
| Deadly | Great, super. "That gig was deadly" = The concert was awesome |
| Sound | Nice, reliable, okay. "He's sound" = He's a good guy |
| What's the story? | What's new? (Greeting) |
| Acting the maggot | Messing around |
| Fierce | Very, extremely. "It's fierce cold" = It's very cold |
| Shift | Snogging. "Did you shift anyone?" = Did you kiss anyone? |
Pub Vocabulary
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Pint | 0.568 liters (an imperial pint, larger than 0.5l!) |
| Half | A half pint |
| Round | Round — everyone takes turns buying for all |
| Snug | Small, separate area in the pub (in historic pubs) |
| Session | Live music evening (Trad Session) or extensive drinking |
| Lock-in | Illegal drinking after closing time (it happens, but shh!) |
| Last orders! | Last call! 15 minutes before closing |
| Time, ladies and gentlemen! | Closing time! Please finish your drinks |
| Carvery | Sunday roast buffet in the pub (lunch menu for €12–15) |
| Toby | Large beer glass (in some regions) |
| Naggin | 200ml bottle of spirits |
| Shoulder | 350ml bottle of spirits |
💡 Tipp
When an Irish person asks "How are you?", do NOT respond with an honest description of your condition. The correct answer is always "Grand" or "Not too bad". Anything else will result in puzzled looks.
