35 Northern Irish Sayings & Words You Need To Know
This post lists 35 Northern Irish slang words, sayings & phrases.
Northern Ireland is a place renowned for it’s beautiful landscapes, rich history & of course – our unique way of speaking!
The Northern Irish accent can be quite challenging to understand at times – especially if you’re not familiar with it!
Combine that with the fact that we have some very unusual words & phrases around these parts – you may end up feeling quite perplexed! 😂
From cheeky expressions to affectionate sayings, Northern Irish slang is full of character and charm.
In this post, we’ve put together 35 of the most popular and quirky slang words and sayings that you’ll likely hear on your trip to Northern Ireland.
So, buckle up and get ready to add a bit of Northern Irish flair to your vocabulary!
Northern Irish Slang & Sayings
1. What about ye
The phrase ‘what about ye’ is a very common greeting in Northern Ireland which just means ‘how are you?’ or ‘how’s things?’
Example: “Alright! What about ye? Haven’t seen you in ages!”
2. It’s baltic
When we say ‘it’s baltic!’ in Northern Ireland, it’s simply another way of saying we’re cold.
Example: “It’s baltic outside today!” or “I’m absolutely baltic!”
3. Skundered
‘Skundered’ can actually have two meanings, depending on the context. It can mean embarrassed or to be tired/fed up.
Example: “I can’t believe I fell over in front of everyone – I’m skundered!” or “I’ve been so busy all day; I’m absolutely skundered!”
4. What’s the craic
I’m sure everyone on this planet has heard the phrase – ‘what’s the craic?’ It’s a very common phrase in the North & also the South of Ireland – basically the equivalent of asking someone ‘what’s up’ or how they are doing.
The word ‘craic’ itself refers to general news or happenings. It can also mean ‘fun’! It’s pronounced ‘crack’.
Example: “I haven’t seen you in a while, what’s the craic?” or if you’re saying you’re having fun or a good time you could say: “this party is great craic!”
5. Wind yer neck in
Hopefully no one will be saying this to you on your visit lol, but you might overhear it. ‘Wind yer neck in’ is a funny phrase which can mean to ‘calm down’ or to stop saying/doing something.
Example: “Wind yer neck in & stop being so loud”, or “She was talking negatively about herself so I told her to wind her neck in!”
It can be used in both a nice friendly tone or a more serious way depending on the situation!
6. Dead on
If you hear someone say ‘dead on’, they’re usually expressing their approval or agreement with something. It basically means something is ‘fine’ or ‘good.’ It can also be used to describe a person.
Example: “Aye, that sounds dead on to me!” or “The girl in the shop was dead on, she served me quickly.”
7. Keep er lit
‘Keep er lit!’ is a very unique saying in Northern Ireland – although I haven’t heard it now since my school days lol. It’s a way of encouraging someone to stay motivated or to keep doing something. To ‘stay positive’ or ‘keep it up!’
Example: “You’re doing great, keep er lit!” or “We’ve nearly finished our run, keep er lit!”
8. Sure you know yourself
‘Sure you know yourself’, is a phrase similar to ‘you know what I mean?’ It’s used to acknowledge an understanding of something that’s pretty obvious or that there’s no explanation needed.
Example: “Sure you know yourself, she’s always late” or “The traffic is always mad in Belfast – sure you know yourself!”
9. Where you born in a field
One of my mum’s favourite phrases when someone leaves the door open behind them when they enter a room. It’s a playful way of commenting when someone forgets to close something – usually a door!
Example: “Where you born in a field? Close the kitchen door!”
10. Ats us nai
This phrase makes me cringe inwardly & outwardly, but people still use it regularly, especially in Belfast.
It’s the equivalent of saying something is ‘all good’ or ‘everything is sorted now’.
Example: “We’re all here at the party, ats us nai!” or “We’re on our flight to Spain, ats us nai!”
11. Aye yer ma
This one you’ll probably not want to say to anyone unless you know them really well lol. It’s a pretty cheeky phrase which is randomly used when you’re joking around with friends, usually trying to tease them.
Example: “I’m going to beat you at this round of pool”, “Aye yer ma!”
12. Wise up
If you tell someone to ‘wise up’ in Northern Ireland, you’re telling them to ‘get real’ or stop being silly.
Example: “Wise up, that’ll not work”” or “Wise up & stop speaking bad about yourself.”
13. So it is
Sometimes you’ll hear people add ‘so it is’ to the end of their sentence. It’s used to simply add emphasis to something that’s been said, like saying ‘that’s right or ‘I agree!’
Example: “It’s a lovely day out there, so it is!”
14. Up to high doh
I never really use this phrase, but many you’ll here this being said in certain areas in Northern Ireland. If you’re feeling ‘very stressed’ or anxious about something, you are ‘up to high doh!’
Example: “I’m up to high doh trying to organizing this party!”
15. Catch yourself on
Someone might tell you to ‘catch yourself on’, if you’re acting a bit silly or foolish. It’s like telling someone to ‘get real’ or ‘wise up!’
Example: “You think you can have 10 dogs in your house? Catch yourself on!”
16. On the rip
Something we don’t do much of anymore in our late 30’s is ‘go on the rip!’ Another way of saying having a good time, usually by way of drinking or partying.
Example: “I was out on the rip last night & now I’m hungover!”
17. Head the ball
‘Head the ball’ is a funny sayings, used to describe a person who’s acting stupidly or irrationally.
Example: “He’s acting a head the ball, he never listens!”
18. Faffing
To ‘faff’ or ‘faff about’ means to procrastinate on something or mess around.
Example: “He’s been faffing about all morning on his phone instead of doing the housework,” or “quit faffing about & book that flight!”
19. Here ‘bes’ me
A very Belfast colloquial expression – ‘here bes me’ translates to ‘look at me’ or ‘here I am’.
I don’t have an example of when someone might say it, as you usually find it’s said quite randomly rather than in a sentence, especially amongst young teenagers!
20. Steamin
Gone for a drink in the pub? Be sure not to get too ‘steamin’! And by that we mean don’t get ‘very drunk’ or ‘intoxicated’.
Example: “She was steamin last night at the bar!” or “I’m steamin after those two glasses of wine!”
21. Boke
‘Boke’ is another word for sick or vomit. Lovely I know! It can also mean you’re disgusted by something.
Example: “That smell makes me want to boke.” or “I had food poisoning & boked all night long.”
22. Wee
In Northern Ireland, pretty much everything is ‘wee’! Yes, we may be referring to something that’s physically small, but it is used as almost a term of endearment.
Example: “Can you pass me that wee glass?”, “I’m going for a wee walk” or “Can I ask you a wee question?”
23. Parful
If something is ‘parful’ – it’s really good or amazing.
Example: “That dinner was parful” or “What a parful day at the beach!”
24. Melter
One of my favourite Northern Irish slang words, ‘melter’ is used to describe someone whos annoying or irritiating, or something that’s frustrating.
Example: “That guy was a melter, he complained too much” or, “My head is melted trying to organize this holiday!”
25. Eejit
A funny word which means ‘idiot’ or that you’re a bit silly. It’s usually used in a friendly, non-offensive way.
Example: “You’re an eejit for forgetting to lock the house up”, or “He’s a bit of an eejit dancing like that!”
26. Foundered
If you have a trip planned to Northern Ireland, you will most likely experience being ‘foundered’, which simply means ‘being cold’. Unless you’re coming the summer when you may see a day or two of sunshine lol.
Example: “This house is so cold, I’m foundered!” or “I’m foundered after that walk.”
27. Banter
Having ‘banter’ with someone, means you’re joking around with them, having a laugh. Can also be used to describe someone who has good chat.
Example: “Tonight was good banter, let’s do it again!”, “That girl we met was really good banter!”
28. Yousens
Another one of my favourite unique Northern Irish words, ‘yousens’ is a term meaning ‘you guys’ or ‘you all.
Example: “What are yousens up to the weekend”, “When are yousens going on your trip?”
29. Stroked
Been fooled or deceived by somebody or something? You’ve most likely just been ‘stroked!’ It’s kind of a way of saying that you feel tricked or hard done by.
Example: “I got completely stroked by that guy selling fake concert tickets.”
30. Spoofer
In Northern Ireland, “spoofer” is someone who shows off, lies to impress people or exaggerates their abilities.
Example: “Don’t listen to him, he’s such a spoofer
31. Slabber
If you call someone a ‘slabber’, it usually means they’re a gossiper or they’re always talking negatively about people.
Example: “Stop slabbering about that girl, she’s really nice!” or “He’s a bit of a slabber, he talks about other people too much.”
32. Banjaxed
If something is broken or damaged, it’s referred to as being ‘banjaxed’. Don’t ask us where that word came from lol. If you’re feeling tired or worn on, you can also feel banjaxed too.
Example: “My car is banjaxed, it needs repaired”, or “I feel banjaxed after that long hike!”
33. Yoke
‘Yoke’ is another funny northern irish word which is generally used when you just can’t think of a name for an item or object right in that moment.
Example: “Can you pass me that yoke over there?” or “Look at this new yoke I got for cleaning the windows!”
34. Belter
The word ‘belter’ is another word for ‘great’, ‘amazing’, ‘brilliant,’
Example: “The sun is out, what a belter of a day!”, or “That match was belter this afternoon!”
35. Aye
The final word on our list is an easy one – the word ‘aye’ which simply translates to ‘yes’.
Example: “Aye, that’ll do!” or “Do you want to go for a trip up the North Coast? Aye, sure why not!”
We hope you enjoyed this fun list of Northern Irish sayings & phrases – do let us know in the comments if you have a trip planned! ☘️
Save this post for your trip to Northern Ireland! 📌
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