Irish Slang for Friend
The Irish slang for friend changes from county to county, but you'll hear mucker, bud and sham all over. A mucker is a trusted pal, bud is the Dublin way of saying it, and sham is how they greet a friend in Sligo. If you're very fond of someone, they're me oul segosha.
Every corner of Ireland has its own word for a friend. In Cork, an old pal is me aul flower. In Waterford, a good friend is your butty, although a butty can also be a chip sandwich, so mind yourself. Louth has horsebox and scoby, Armagh has shkin and Wexford has brudder. In Galway you might be someone's suballa or scan, and in Tipperary their segocia. Around Callan in Kilkenny, a friend is your buh.
A lot of Irish slang for friend is really a greeting. Well boi is hello mate in Clonmel, a Waterford pal is your puddin head, and in Wexford crawc lawd means how are you, my friend, any news? Head and boss are both what you'd call a pal when you meet them on the street. And when it's a whole gang of you heading out, it's de boys or de gurls.
Some of these have been around for generations, like coadjutor for a close crony, and some, like pazer, are a pet name built on a pet name. Try them out on your own pals first, though. Call a stranger your segosha and you might get a funny look.
Below are 28 Irish words for a friend, grouped by how you'd use them, most popular first in each group, with what each one means, the county it comes from and a real example. For more words for a fella, see Irish slang for man, and for all the ways we say hello, see our greetings page.
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Words for a friend 13
ShamSligo +7
A form of greeting. Can also mean friend or fellow.
Hey sham, how's it goin'?
MuckerDerry +2
A trusted friend, companion, or fellow.
What's the story, mucker, are we off for a pint or what?
ScanGalway +2
A fellow or friend, used around Milltown in Galway, where locals won't say sham. Also a person from Milltown.
How's things scan?
BudDublin +1
A term for friend or pal, common in Dublin.
Here bud, come here!
ButtyWaterford +1
A good friend, generally male. Can also be a chip sandwich.
Well butty, giz a chip butty, a few scallops and a battered sausage!
BrudderWexford
A close male friend, comrade, or brother in arms.
Awright brudder, how's she cuttin' with you dis fine evenin'?
BuhKilkenny
A friend or pal, usually male, heard most around Callan. Huh buh? means how are you?
Huh buh wass de crack wid ye?
CoadjutorWaterford
A close friend or crony.
He went out last night with his coadjutors
ShkinArmagh
A good friend.
'Bout ye shkin! Are you away to de jab?
ScobyLouth
A friend.
Well scoby are yiz headin' over to the far side (either side of the bridge in Drogheda depending on what side your on) for a few scoops?
SuballaGalway
A friend or companion.
Well suballa.
Owl handTipperary
Pal or friend.
Ah well owl hand, shur you're a sight for sore eyes.
PazerWexford
An affectionate term for a friend or companion, being an extension of the simpler "Pa" which carries the same meaning.
Alright Pazer, what's the story?
My old friend 7
Me aul flowerCork +4
My old friend or acquaintance.
How's it going me aul flower.
SegociaTipperary +2
An affectionate term of address for an old friend or trusted comrade.
Well how's the goin' me owl segocia, it's a sight for sair een to see ya!
Me oul' segoshaDublin +7
A term of endearment meaning my old friend or companion.
Ah there y'are now me oul' segosha
Puddin headWaterford
A term of affection for a close friend or companion.
Alright puddin head waz da craic.
Aul stockMayo +1
An affectionate term for a trusted companion, old friend, or local acquaintance.
Well how'ya doin me aul stock, is it yourself that's in it at all?
SegoshaDublin
A term of endearment for someone who makes one feel comfortable and at ease. Also spelled sagocia.
Ah dare yar now me oul segosha
Owl flowerTipperary
An affectionate term of address for a dear friend or comrade.
Hello me owl flower, but shur how're ye doin' at all?
What you call a pal when you meet them 5
HorseboxLouth +9
A friendly term of address used between pals upon meeting.
Well horsebox, how's things?
Well boiTipperary +5
A colloquial greeting among young men, roughly translating to hello mate or how are things. Associated with Clonmel.
Well boi, how's she cuttin' down in Clonmel dis fine evenin'?
BossGalway +1
A greeting addressed to a male friend or acquaintance.
How's it going there boss
HeadDublin +3
A term of address for a mate or buddy.
Howya head
Crawc LawdWexford
How are you, my friend? Any news?
Crawc lawd?
The gang 3
Questions people ask
What is Irish slang for friend?
Mucker, bud and sham are heard all over, and every county has its own word too, from butty in Waterford to shkin in Armagh.
What does mucker mean?
A mucker is a trusted pal, the friend you'd ring first.
What does me oul segosha mean?
Me oul segosha means my old friend. It's a term of endearment for a pal you're very fond of.
