Irish Slang for Man
The most common Irish slang for a man is fella, with lad close behind. Yer man is a man whose name you don't know or won't say, and your oul fella is your father. Every county has its own word too, from sham in Sligo and boi in Cork to feen in Galway and horse in Offaly. Here are 53 Irish words for a man, with what they mean and how they are used.
Updated
A man or a lad 16
FellaDublin +3
A male or boyfriend.
...She went out with her fella.
LadRoscommon +8
Generally used to describe a male, but can be used for females also.
1.)
Mick: "Well lads and girls, what's the story?"
2.)
Eileen: "Did you see the part where he got his lad out?!"BuckRoscommon +5
A young male.
Bridie: "I was tippin' a young buck last night Maggie who I thought was a fine bit of schtuff but when I met him today had a head like a sandblasted tomato!!!"
Maggie: "'Tis true what dey say Bridie, beauty is in the eye of the beer-holder!"FeenGalway +6
An attractive or handsome young man, the male equivalent of a bure.
Ah he's some feen
FeinArmagh +1
A term for a fellow, man, or local lad.
Are you headin' up to the match or what, fein?
BoyCork +1
A reference to an individual, normally teamed up with the slang "Story".
Story boy!
BoiSligo +2
A familiar form of address used in many Sligo sentences when speaking to someone.
Ryt boi! are ya headin in2 twn boi?
ShamSligo +7
A form of greeting. Can also mean friend or fellow.
Well sham." "Hey sham, how's it goin'?
GarsúnKildare
Irish for a young boy or lad.
When I was a garsún, I was always in school.
LadineMayo
A young man or lad.
Aww look at that lovely ladine
FeenogMayo
A young man.
Yer man's feenóg is only 4 and even he'd do better than those thick nucks!
SwordDown
Yungfella. Young man, lad or boy.
'Bout ye sword, how's yer balls?
Gahsun / garshunArmagh
Boy / Fella. Probably derived from the old French word garçon meaning young male servant.
Gahsun!!! go dine to thon shop and get me fufteen, naw twenny cases of Bucky naieee bah.
ByCarlow
Boy, with a pronunciation closer to "by" or "bye" than the standard "boy".
Bys, I can see yiz!
BayhTyrone
Boy; also a term of encouragement at sporting events.
That's it Dooher bayh!
BiyCarlow
Boy as it is pronounced in Carla'.
C'mere biys 'till I tell yiz... yer wan is a right buhher-face... her body is lovely, buhher-face is like a bulldog lickin' piss off a nettle!
Yer man 3
Yer manDublin +3
That fella; a man whose name you don't know or won't say, or one you both know. Also spelt your man.
Did you hear yermann from Aerlingus bought Man Utd for ten grand?
I saw yer man Colin last night in da pub last night he was stociousMe manWaterford
My man.
I was talkin to me man der last night boy
..Yeh, was talkin ta me man there earlier, said he'd see you tomorrowLanger DanLimerick +1
A placeholder name for a man whose actual name one cannot recall.
Go over there and ask langer dan
What you call a man to his face 1
HorseOffaly +8
A casual greeting used among men, substituting the word horse or hurse. Pronounced 'hurse' in Offaly.
How's it goin' der hurse, are ye up for a pint later?
More Irish slang for a man
HeadDublin +3
A term of address for a mate or buddy.
BudDublin +1
A term for friend or pal, common in Dublin.
BossGalway +1
A greeting addressed to a male friend or acquaintance.
ChiefLimerick
A term of respect or approval for a male.
KidOffaly +2
A casual term of address inserted when speaking to someone.
Well boiTipperary +5
A colloquial greeting among young men.
Right boiSligo +1
A friendly casual greeting addressed to a male companion.
Eh ladWexford
A form of address for a male, particularly in the New Ross area.
HairoilDublin
A friendly greeting used for a male acquaintance or friend.
BubillahCork
A friendly term of address for a male companion, akin to mate or boy.
Alright boyWaterford
A form of greeting.
Aaaright lad!Kildare
A hearty, casual greeting used among men or lads.
MuckerDerry +2
A trusted friend, companion, or fellow.
Me oul' segoshaDublin +7
A term of endearment meaning my old friend or companion.
Oul fellaCork +4
One's father.
Aul ladKilkenny +2
One's father or an older man of acquaintance.
Awl boyLongford +2
One's father or male parent.
Bowl feenMayo +1
Father, the male head of the household.
DaDublin
Father.
FadherOffaly +1
Father.
D ol' ladLouth
One's father or an older man of authority.
FaydurWaterford
Male parent.
BoyoWaterford +1
A fellow not to be trusted, often a charming rogue or lady's man.
Cute hoorCavan +4
Someone who is cunning as a fox.
Hardy buckKildare
A tough, resilient fellow; one of the boys.
Hardy manTipperary
A tough, resilient fellow.
Jack the ladTipperary
A boastful fellow who is all talk and no substance.
ManeenOffaly +2
A man that is short in both stature and temperament and tends to have misplaced notions…
Bog warriorCork +3
A man from west Cork, typically from a farming background.
A lion of a manKerry
A man of formidable courage, physical strength, and unwavering bravery.
He's some manKerry
An expression of admiration or praise for a fellow who has done something impressive.
Some man for one manOffaly
A term of warm appreciation for a fellow who has proven obliging.
Sham-feenCork
A macho fellow or hard man.
Questions people ask
What is Irish slang for a man?
Fella is the most common, with lad close behind. Around the country you will also hear sham, feen, buck and boi.
What does yer man mean?
Yer man means that man: someone whose name you don't know, or won't say, or that you both know already. The woman version is yer one.