21 Words and phrases you will only hear in Northern Ireland

Often tourists struggle with the local lingo and wonder what the heck we are talking about, and for arguably good reason.

Here’s a list of some of the most weird and wonderful words and phrases we’ve made our own in Northern Ireland.

1. Dander (A stroll. Or if you’re intending on motoring a bit quicker, a saunter)

2. Bout ye! (An elated greeting)

3. It’s baltic (Used when cold)

4. It’s roastin’ (Used when warm)

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

5. Wee (Everything is wee in Belfast, even when it’s big, eg when you get asked for the wee number on the front of your bank card – the 16 digit one!)

6. Steamin’ (When you’ve had a few too many)

7. Eejit (Idiot)

8. Wind yer neck in (Most commonly used in a misguided attempt to calm someone down)

9. Awk sure ya know yerself (A means of confirming)

10. Scundered (Mortified for you)

11. Ragin’ (Used when seriously annoyed)

12. Banjaxed (When something is broken)

13. Swall / Swallin’ (AKA having a drink/setting out to get drunk)

14. Windee (Window)

15. Craic (Popular throughout Ireland, but you couldn’t leave out this one!)

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

16. Big Lad/Love (Terms of endearment reserved for their respective sexes)

17. Poke (Ice-cream, preferably a Mr Whippy from an ice-cream van, or chips if you’re of a certain age)

18. Aye sure why nat? (A means of justifying/laughing off something everyone involves realises is an inevitably bad decision – before doing it anyway)

19. Here’s me wha? (Used in conversation to emphasise disbelief)

20. Bake (Face)

21. Dead on (Ok, or that’ll do. Often used sarcastically to emphasise a silly idea)

This article was first published on www.belfastvibe.com