Irish Slang For Cool (Helpful Content!)

The most common Irish slang terms for cool include things like “grand”, “boss” and “fab”. These are common in the English speaking world though certainly have a uniquely Irish character as well. Beyond these, you may hear any number of common slang terms for cool like “sick” or “mint”.

Slang terms for “cool” are among the most widely used in virtually any country on Earth, particularly among the younger generations.

Ireland certainly has its own unique character of slang terms for cool, but at the same time many of those that it most commonly uses can also be heard in other parts of the English-speaking world.

Let’s find out more.

In This Article

What do the Irish say for cool?

The Irish have a variety of slang terms for cool, though it’s certainly worth clarifying that many of them will simply use the term “cool”.

Even those who make use of the other slang terms will still use the term “cool” from time to time, in certain contexts, depending on their age and where in Ireland they are from.

That said, there are many slang terms in Ireland used for “cool”.

“Grand” is an extremely common Irish slang term, and in some cases it may be used in the sense of “cool”.

It can have other senses, simply meaning “very good” often in a broader sense.

At the same time, it is very often used to mean cool and in ways that the word “cool” is used.

For example, in the way that you might just say “cool” to indicate you’ve heard someone and you agree with what they said, the Irish might use the word “grand”.

“I’ll be there in about ten minutes.”

“Grand!” for example.

Another very popular and common slang term for “cool” in Ireland is “boss”.

Again, this one is not unique to Ireland, but in Britain and Ireland at least it is certainly a lot more common in Ireland.

Again it can be used in a variety of contexts, though generally speaking it just has the sense of “very cool” or really good.

It’s not particularly limited by region or generation–it’s just as likely to be used by any one person as any other.

Of course, though, not everyone uses it.

“I’ve got a boss new game to show you,” for example.

“Fab” is another slang term widely used in Britain that is also very popular in Ireland.

It again just means something is very cool, or very good, and is more commonly used by women than men. “

That new top is fab!” for example.

Where do these terms come from, then?

Why do the Irish say “grand”?

It’s not really clear when or why the term “grand” caught on Ireland as it has, and became such a quintessentially Irish piece of slang.

The word itself is obviously very old, and is used in the English speaking world in a variety of senses. Its standard definition relates more to elaborateness, large scale, and particularly extravagant and elegant things–buildings, for example.

This is first recorded in the late 14th Century, deriving from the French graunt simply meaning very large or tall.

In Irish it has a much broader sense, though it’s very hard to say when it took on this meaning in Irish English. It is recorded in the 19th Century, and the English first outlawed the use of Irish in Ireland in the 16th Century–so it may have been the 18th or 19th Century when it was first used in this way.

We just don’t know for sure.

Why do the Irish say “boss”?

Again, the term boss itself is obviously very old.

It is first used in the sense of an overseer or supervisor in American English in the 1640s, and it had many different meanings over the years following.

It certainly seems to be a much more recent term in the sense of “cool” in Irish slang.

It was in use perhaps early as the 1920s in Ireland, as we can see it beginning to be used in the sense of “cool” in other places around this time.

Again, unfortunately, the paucity of written records leaves us guessing.

Why do the Irish say “fab”?

“Fab” is a much simpler one, and is simply a shortening of the term “fabulous”.

This term was first recorded in 1957, so it likely predates this by some time.

It’s very natural to simply shorten words in this way, so there’s not much more to it than that!

What else do the Irish say for cool?

Beyond these terms, there are many slang words for cool you’ll hear in Ireland that you may also hear elsewhere in the English-speaking world–though most are shared with Britain.

“Mint” is a very common slang word for something that’s very common in Ireland, mostly among the younger generations.

“Sick,” similarly, is a common Irish slang term for cool used among younger generations for something that is extremely cool or good.

This is certainly a term used primarily by the youth of Ireland as it is in Britain.

So, there are many different terms you might hear for “cool” in Irish slang, though some are certainly a good deal more common than others.

From the simplest and most catch-all terms to those that are a bit more specific in their sense, Irish English is a rich tapestry of slang that brings us a great many unique and interesting takes on more broadly used slang terms for cool.

More in Irish Slang

Founder - @PollyWebster

Polly Webster is the founder of Foreign Lingo and a seasoned traveler with a decade of exploration under her belt.

Over the past 10 years, she has journeyed to numerous countries around the globe, immersing herself in diverse cultures, traditions, and languages.

Drawing from her rich experiences, Polly now writes insightful articles about travel, languages, traditions, and cultures, sharing her unique perspectives and invaluable tips with her readers.

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