Much has been written about the differences between British English and North American English; different spellings, different use of grammar and even different words. We all know that a ‘lift’ in the UK is an ‘elevator’ in the USA, in the UK they spell it ‘colour’ but across the Atlantic they have deemed the ‘u’ unnecessary, etc. The list of variations is long and quite well-known. So instead of focusing on British vs North American English, I’d like to give you a flavour of my own dialect, Irish English.
First of all let me explain what I mean by ‘Irish English’. Also called ‘Hiberno English’, it’s the dialect of English spoken in Ireland. Not to be confused with Gaeilge, Ireland’s native Celtic language, which is often referred to simply as ‘Irish’. The Irish language has had a significant influence on the way people in Ireland speak English but is an entirely different language, closely related to other Celtic languages like Breton, Welsh and Gaelic, which is spoken in Scotland.
Back to Irish English; Here are some common things we say in Ireland:
Grand
According to the Oxford English dictionary, ‘grand’ is an adjective denoting something ‘magnificent and imposing in appearance, size, or style’. Not so in Ireland; when we use ‘grand’ it means ‘ok’, ‘fine’ or ‘not bad’. And we use it all the time! In fact it’s the most common response you will hear from an Irish person if you ask them how they are. Everything can be described as grand. The weather’s grand, you’re feeling grand, sit down with a grand cup of tea and sure everything will be grand!
Press
Visitors to Irish homes are often confused to hear that they can find cups, plates, sheets, towels, etc., in the press or the hotpress. We say ‘press’ instead of ‘cupboard’ and a variation on this word is ‘the hotpress’; an airing cupboard for drying towels and sheets, (so-called because, well, it’s hot in there!).
Thanks a million
We don’t like to thank you just once, we like to thank you a million times! This very common phrase actually comes from the Irish language phrase ‘go raibh míle maith agat’ (a thousand thank yous). The way we speak English in Ireland has been greatly influenced by interference from the Irish language.
Give out
Another example is the phrasal verb ‘give out’, which means to scold or berate someone. If children in Ireland misbehave, their Mammy will give out to them. This is a literal translation of the Irish ‘tabhair amach’, meaning the same thing.
Eejit
The Irish English way of saying ‘idiot’. Pronounced /ˈiːdʒɪt/, this is a very satisfying word to say when someone has done something terribly stupid.
Runners
In other countries they are called ‘sneakers’, ‘running shoes’ or even ‘trainers’ but in Ireland we call them runners. I mean, they are used for running so it’s very logical actually!
Words to describe rain
In Ireland it rains a lot, so in the same way that Inuit people apparently have hundreds of words for snow, we have a wide variety of words to describe the wet Irish weather. We know the difference between a mist, a drizzle and a soft day. Sometimes it’s only spitting, other times it’s bucketing, lashing or pouring from the heavens. Irish people love to discuss the weather and it shows in our vocabulary!
I could go on and on about all the little differences and peculiarities in the way we Irish speak but I’d end up writing a book! Instead you’ll have to come visit my lovely (but rainy) country to hear more unique Irish English.
Article written by Sarah O’Farrell, trainee at the Terminology Coordination Unit.