Top Norn Iron Slang
Norn Iron is how Northern Ireland sounds when you say it the way a local would. These are the Northern Irish slang words people love most, ranked by our own research, from wee and aye to scundered, bout ye and wee buns. Here are the top 40, most loved first, with what they mean and how they are used. For every word from the six counties, see our full Northern Irish slang page.
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CraicRoscommon +10
"Craic" has a couple of very broad meanings.
1.) Séamas: 'Come into town, it's great craic!'
WeeDonegal +5
Small in size, extent, or degree, and often used affectionately. In Ulster especially, it's often used just to soften a phrase, not only to mean small.
The wee card machine is just over the wee wall so it is.
EejitAll Ireland +13
A foolish or silly person.
Jaysus he's an awful eejit
SteaminFermanagh +3
Extremely drunk or heavily intoxicated after a session.
Your da was pure steamin last night hi, singin rebel songs in the hallway!
DeadlyWexford +9
Very nice, satisfying, enjoyable.
I went to the opera last night. Was it any good? Yes, it was deadly.
GaffDublin +8
A house or home.
Aye mon up dey my gaff for a C.O. before we head out sure" "Are you comin to my gaff?" "Let's go to your gaf to drink" "I'm headin over to the gaff to grab a few tuttles
HarmlessTyrone
Gentle and incapable of causing trouble.
Is he a good fella, yer new man?" "Ah, he's harmless.
AyeLouth +6
Yes; also used at intervals while listening to a tedious speaker.
Aye! I know what ya mean alrite.
The very boyDerry
That's the one. Said when somebody finally names the person or thing you were trying to think of.
Who was it fixed the roof? Big Paddy? The very boy.
YokeAll Ireland +18
A thing. Any object, gadget or contraption whose name escapes you, and sometimes a person.
Pass us dat yoke dere, de yoke for openin' de other yoke.
How's she cuttin'?Monaghan +22
A common greeting in Monaghan and Cavan, equivalent to hello or how are you.
How's she cuttin'?
YeooDerry
A roar of delight or approval, the Irish whoop. The more o's, the happier the roarer.
Dey scored in de last minute, yeooo!
Give my head peaceAntrim
Leave me alone; stop going on at me. Belfast's answer to nagging.
Ach away and give my head peace, I'm watchin' de match.
Norn IronAntrim
Northern Ireland, as said by the people who live there. Usually roared.
We're not Brazil, we're Norn Iron!
BanjaxedFermanagh +15
In a bad state of repair. Also broken or exhausted.
I was banjaxed last night hi led
CoastieAntrim
Someone from the North Coast: Portrush, Portstewart, Coleraine and round about.
Yer man's a proper Coastie, he's in the sea at Portrush every mornin' even in January.
On the brewAntrim
Signing on; on the dole. The brew is the bureau.
Me da's been on de brew since nineteen eighty six and he's never been busier.
QuareDown +12
Quite or rather; to a notable degree.
Aye, he's a quare geg alright
WainTyrone
A child (from "wee one").
Them wains are giving a lot of bother.
GegAntrim +1
A bit of fun, crack.
Millie: "I hear yousins were throwin' barrack busters down yer necks last night hiy..."
ScunderedAntrim +5
Mortified or deeply embarrassed on someone else's behalf.
I was scundered for the craythur when he fell out of the chair!
Dead onAntrim +2
Great, Perfect.
The Big Doctor's dead on. He said nothing after I dropped one when he was checking out me Johnny Giles.
FullAntrim +1
Extremely drunk; full of alcohol after a heavy drinking session.
I was completely full last night, I couldn't even tell me own name to the taxi man!
That's us naiAll Ireland
We're done, job finished, time to go. That's us now, with extra Northern spice.
Right, dishes done, dat's us nai. Put on de kettle.
Came up the Lagan in a bubbleAntrim
Do you think I'm stupid? The Belfast version of 'I wasn't born yesterday'.
One pint, is it? Do ye think I came up de Lagan in a bubble?
WhistLeitrim +9
Be quiet. Also: to listen or to shut up, depending on context and tone.
Ahh will you ever whisht, Ireland don't stand a chance in the World Cup.
Your head's cutAntrim
You're mad, you're talking nonsense. Said with a shake of the head.
Ye want to walk to Bangor in dem shoes? Yer head's cut.
KidOffaly +2
A casual term of address inserted when speaking to someone.
Howya keepin kid?
Catch yourself onAll Ireland
Wise up; cop on; stop talking nonsense.
Ye want me to lend ye another tenner? Catch yerself on.
HangingCork +3
Extremely hungover or physically wrecked following a heavy session of drinking.
Yer man was absolutely hanging coming out of the pub this morning.
Taking the pissDublin +1
Teasing, mocking, or joking with someone in a mischievous manner.
Ah your taking the piss now, there's no way that horse won the grand national!
Wee bunsAntrim
Simple. Easy.
The exawm was wee buns so 'twas!
PureCarlow +12
Very.
That's pure savage
CubFermanagh
A young male, the son of someone.
D'ye want butther an yer piece (see Antrim) cub?
GobWaterford +3
The mouth or face, often used when telling someone to hold their tongue or offering a slap.
Shut yer trap or I'll give ya a good box in the gob!
Craic killerDerry
Someone who spoils the fun. The opposite of good craic.
Don't invite him, he's a total craic killer, he'll have us home by ten.
Bout ye?Derry +1
A colloquial salutation used to enquire after someone's well-being.
Bout ye, Mickey, how has life been treating you lately?
Pastie supperAntrim
A pastie, a round patty of spiced sausage meat and potato, deep fried at the chippy and served with chips. A Northern classic.
Two pastie suppers and a bottle of brown sauce, wee man.
Hands on him like shovelsDerry
Said of a man with big, broad hands.
He'd lift that sofa on his own, he has hands on him like shovels.
Boys a dearFermanagh
An expression of exasperation.
Boys a dear, 'twas wide as a ducks arse again, will you put it over the black spot ya hoorsh melt!
