14 Amazing Ways To Say Drunk In Ireland

You have to travel a fairly long way to find a country where there is no drinking culture whatsoever.

Most countries like a drink to some extent, and Ireland is no exception.

Drinking is a common pastime of many Irish people both young and old, and so naturally out of that there tends to come a lot of different slang to describe states of drunkenness.

Today, we’re going to look at a wide variety of these terms on all ends of the spectrum—from mildly tipsy to the most intensely black out drunk.

Let’s get started.

Irish Slang For Drunk

Blustered

“Blustered” is a common slang term in Ireland used to describe someone who is heavily intoxicated but still capable of walking around and holding a conversation.

Unlike more extreme terms for drunkenness, “blustered” suggests a level of control, even if the person might wander off or get lost due to their impaired state.

While the term is still understood today, it’s more commonly used by older generations.

The word “blustered” originally meant to stray or wander blindly, a fitting description for someone stumbling about after a few too many drinks.

The term dates back to at least the 14th century in English and later took on its Irish slang meaning.

Gone

“Gone” is a simple yet effective slang term in Ireland, used to describe someone who is so intoxicated that they have essentially checked out—either by passing out, falling asleep, or being too out of it to function.

It’s often used when someone has reached the point of no return and won’t be waking up until the next morning.

While “gone” can sometimes refer to someone who is just extremely drunk, its most common usage applies to those who are beyond communication—completely out for the count.

The word itself dates back to the 16th century, but when it gained this specific meaning related to drunkenness is unclear, though it’s certainly a more modern development.

Hammered

“Hammered” is one of the most common slang terms for being very drunk, not just in Ireland but across the English-speaking world.

It describes someone who has consumed a large amount of alcohol and is heavily intoxicated, though not necessarily to the point of passing out.

The term is thought to originate from the intense headache often associated with a hangover, as if the drinker’s head has been “hammered.”

First recorded in 1986, the exact origin is unclear, but it has since become one of the most popular ways to describe being very drunk.

Langers

“Langers” is a distinctly Irish term used to describe someone who is drunk, often to a significant degree.

While it is most commonly associated with Cork, it is understood across Ireland.

The word can have other meanings, including an insult or a crude reference, so it’s best used in the right context.

The exact origins of “langers” are unclear, though some suggest it may be linked to the word “languor,” referring to sluggishness, or even a reference to langur monkeys.

Regardless of its origins, it has been widely used in Ireland since at least the 20th century.

Off Their Face

“Off their face” (or variations like “off your face” or “off his/her face”) is a very common way to describe someone who is heavily intoxicated.

It generally refers to someone who is still able to stand and speak but is clearly very drunk.

The phrase is widely used in both Ireland and Britain and has been in circulation for decades.

There is a legend that it originated from nuns disfiguring themselves to protect their chastity, but this is likely apocryphal.

Regardless of its origins, it remains one of the most recognizable ways to describe a person who has had far too much to drink.

Ossified

“Ossified” is a slang term used almost exclusively in Ireland to describe someone who is very drunk.

It can mean that a person is too intoxicated to function properly, though it can also simply mean they are heavily inebriated but still able to hold themselves together.

While not as commonly heard as some other Irish slang for drunk, most people in Ireland will understand what it means.

The word originates from the literal meaning of “ossified,” which means to harden and become like bone.

It comes from the French word ossifier, and although the exact point at which it took on the meaning of “drunk” is unclear, it likely relates to how some heavily intoxicated people appear stiff or rigid in their movements.

Paralytic

“Paralytic” is a widely used term in Ireland and the UK to describe someone who is so drunk that they are practically incapacitated.

It implies an extreme level of intoxication, where the person may struggle to stand, speak coherently, or even remain conscious.

The term originates from the word “paralysis,” which refers to the loss of movement or function.

It has been used since at least the 14th century in a medical sense, but in colloquial speech, it has come to mean being so drunk that one can barely move or function.

Plastered

“Plastered” is one of the most common slang terms for being drunk in Ireland, as well as in other English-speaking countries.

It typically refers to a state of heavy intoxication where someone is clearly affected but still able to move around and hold a conversation—at least to some degree.

The term has been in use since at least 1912 in the sense of being drunk.

Its origin is uncertain, but it may relate to the intoxicating effects of fumes from plaster or the idea of being completely “coated” in alcohol, much like a wall is covered in plaster.

Scuttered

“Scuttered” is a well-known Irish slang term for being drunk, particularly common in Munster.

While it generally means being very intoxicated, it doesn’t always imply complete loss of control—it can refer to someone who’s had a few too many but can still make their way home.

This term has become more widely used in recent years, though it remains more popular among older generations.

The word “scutter” in British English is similar to “scuttle,” meaning to move quickly or in a scattered way.

The Irish slang meaning of “scuttered” likely comes from the unsteady movements of a drunk person.

Sloshed

“Sloshed” is a common slang term in Ireland for being drunk, with some flexibility in its meaning.

While it usually describes someone who is very intoxicated, some people use it to refer to mild drunkenness as well.

The term conveys the idea of someone so drunk that they are unsteady, as if they are “sloshing around.”

This word is widely understood across different generations and locations in Ireland.

The slang meaning of “sloshed” dates back to around 1900.

Originally, “slosh” referred to a watery mess or sludge, possibly derived from blending the words “slush” and “slop.”

The drunken sense likely evolved from the idea of liquid movement—much like a drunk person staggering around.

Smashed

“Smashed” is a slang term widely used in Ireland, as well as in many other English-speaking countries, to describe someone who is very drunk.

Similar to other terms, the severity can vary depending on the context.

It could mean being so drunk that you’re physically incapacitated, or it could simply refer to someone who is tipsy and acting foolish, making a bit of a scene.

The first recorded use of “smashed” in the context of drunkenness appeared in 1962, though it’s likely the term was in use for a few years prior to that.

Its origin is unclear, but it’s commonly thought to refer to the intense headache and feeling of being “smashed” or struck in the head the morning after drinking.

This sensation is what likely gave rise to the slang term for drunkenness.

Stocious

“Stocious” is a uniquely Irish term used to describe someone who is very drunk, typically on the verge of losing all ability to function coherently.

It’s used to convey the sense of someone who is so intoxicated that they’re almost at the point of passing out or becoming completely incapacitated, but not quite there yet.

While it’s a term reserved for the more extreme levels of drunkenness, it still retains a more humorous or lighthearted tone in conversation.

Though “stocious” is still used across Ireland, it’s more common among the older generations.

The term has a somewhat nostalgic feel, often used in a way that exaggerates the effects of drinking to the point of absurdity.

Wasted

“Wasted” is a common slang term used in Ireland (and many other places) to describe someone who is extremely drunk, often to the point of being completely incapacitated.

While it can sometimes imply that the person is passed out or unable to communicate, it’s also used more generally to describe anyone who is heavily intoxicated.

It’s a term used across all age groups, though some may reserve it for the most extreme cases of drunkenness.

The term “wasted” has its roots in the 14th century, originally meaning weakened or enfeebled.

It wasn’t until the 1950s that the term came to be associated with being intoxicated by alcohol, though this was more of an American term at first.

Over time, it spread and became a commonly used expression in Ireland and many other English-speaking countries.

Wrecked

“Wrecked” is a popular slang term used in Ireland to describe someone who is very drunk, to the point where they are likely not functioning properly.

It’s used to convey a sense of someone being so intoxicated that they are almost “out of it” or severely impaired, similar to being “paralytic.”

While it can sometimes be used in a more casual sense, it typically suggests that the person is thoroughly inebriated.

The term “wrecked” is commonly used across different generations and regions of Ireland, and while it’s often used in a lighthearted or exaggerated way, it can indicate someone who is at their drunken limit.

It’s often accompanied by expressions of concern or amusement from those around the person who is “wrecked.”

You are certainly not at all short on slang terms for drunk in Ireland, then.

From the most drunk a person can possibly be at the end of a long night, to that simple jolly feeling you get at the end of your second drink, there’s a word to describe it in Irish slang.

Granted, most of the slang terms do describe a more intense level of drunkenness—but you’re still covered no matter how drunk you are!