Irish Slang For Drunk (20 Examples!)

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.

Wasted

Starting off with a widely used one, first we have “wasted”.

This is a common Irish slang term meaning a person is extremely drunk, often to the point of being passed out and uncommunicative but which is also widely used just for any state of extreme drunkenness.

Some will certainly use it more liberally than others, while those others might reserve it for the most extreme kinds of drunkenness.

It is generally used by the majority of the population of all ages and demographics, though they may favor a different term.

“I was really wasted last night, they had to carry me home,” for example.

The word itself is very old, deriving from a 14^th Century term that meant weakened or enfeebled.

It wasn’t until the 1950s that it came to mean intoxicated with alcohol, though this was at first an American term rather than an Irish one.

Plastered

Another common Irish slang term for drunk is “plastered”.

This is again more or less universally used to some extent, and you’ll certainly be hard-pressed to find anyone who just doesn’t understand what the word means.

To be plastered is to be very drunk, though again this could mean a variety of things depending on the person using it.

“Plastered” usually means someone is very drunk but still able to stand up and be coherent.

“I’m going to get plastered tonight,” for example.

This term is again naturally very old, but the meaning of “very drunk” is first attested in 1912.

Given that the original meaning was to cover walls with plaster, it’s thought that the slang sense relates to the intoxicating effects that breathing in the fumes of such plaster can have.

This isn’t entirely clear, though.

Hammered

Another very common term for drunk in the English speaking world, widely used in Ireland, is “hammered”.

Again, the sense is very similar. It most often means someone is extremely drunk, and this could mean virtually anything.

It could mean they are close to passing out, though generally it isn’t used in quite so intense a meaning.

It simply means you’re very drunk, with varying senses given to each individual—different people have different limits, after all.

“I was so hammered last night, it was bad,” for example.

Again, the origin of this one is not completely clear. It is first attested more recently in 1986, and it’s most commonly thought to relate to the headache that you get with a hangover the morning after drinking.

This is not certain, though, and it may have arisen out of other senses.

Ossified

Moving on to a more uniquely Irish slang term for drunk, next we have “ossified”.

This is a term more or less exclusive to Ireland, and again has the sense of being very drunk, usually.

It can mean you are so drunk that you can’t function properly, though again it can also just mean you’re very drunk but still able to hold yourself together.

It’s not quite as widely used, though the majority of Irish people will understand what you mean if you use the term.

“He’s basically ossified, someone call a cab,” for example.

The literal sense of the word means to harden and become like bone.

This term derives from the 18^th Century, coming probably from the French word ossifier.

When it came to mean drunk is not clear, though it’s thought that it relates to the way people who are very drunk can sometimes “harden” up and go stiff.

Blustered

Blustered is another very common slang term for drunk in Ireland.

This one usually means someone is past the point of drunk, but that they’re still able to carry themselves, walk around, and even hold a conversation.

They might wander off and get themselves lost as the term implies, but they still possess the physical wherewithal to be able to walk off in the first place.

This one is a bit less common today and you’re more likely to hear it among the older generations than the younger.

“I ended up pretty blustered last night,” for example.

The literal meaning of the term is to stray and wander blindly—rather like drunk people tend to do!

This is first attested in the late 14^th Century in English, and ultimately spread to Ireland to take on this slang sense at some point in the last couple of centuries.

It’s difficult to be any more precise than this.

Scuttered

The term “scuttered” is another common slang term used in Ireland, though you’re much more likely to hear it in Munster than anywhere else.

That said, it’s certainly become more common in recent years, though it’s again more generationally restricted to older people.

It again has the sense of being very drunk, though not always to the point of being out of control.

You might be “scuttered” if you’ve just had a few too many and need to walk yourself home.

“Have fun tonight, don’t come home scuttered!” for example.

The word in British English generally is used in a similar way to “scuttle”.

That is, to move around quickly and with dynamism.

When it took on this meaning in Ireland is unfortunately unclear.

It likely simply relates to the way drunken people tend to move around in a very particular way.

Pissed

Next we have one of the most common and universal slang terms for drunk in the English speaking world, “pissed”.

This one is used throughout Ireland by all generations of people for just about any level of drunkenness.

Whether you’ve had a couple of pints and you’re feeling a bit tipsy, or you’ve downed ten shots and you’re ready to pass out, you could be described as “pissed”.

Everyone in Ireland will understand what you mean by this term, though it is a mild profanity—so be careful how you use it!

“I’m going to get pissed tonight,” for example.

This term is first attested with this meaning in 1929.

It simply derives from the fact that getting drunk involves a lot of urinating since you are drinking so much liquid.

It’s not much more complicated than that!

Langers

Next we have a more uniquely Irish slang term, “langers”.

This can have a couple of different senses, and some of them are more than a little derogatory—so you want to be extremely careful with how you use it!

It can simply mean an idiot, it can be an insult for a person from the south of County Dublin, and it can simply mean penis.

“Langers” with an S, though, usually means drunk.

It can again vary in sense, though it usually just means somewhat drunk.

“Everyone was pretty langers last night,” for example.

The etymology of this word is unknown.

Some think it may relate to langur monkeys, to the word languor—ultimately it is unknown, though it seems to have begun being used in the 20^th Century.

Smashed

Another very common one in many other parts of the English speaking world, next we have “smashed”.

The sense again is quite similar to many we’ve looked at so far.

It means you’re very drunk, but there’s a fair amount of room for interpretation within that.

It could mean so drunk that you’re on the floor, but it could also just mean drunk enough that you are feeling very jolly and making a bit of an idiot of yourself.

“He’s absolutely smashed,” for example.

The “drunk” sense of this word is first attested in 1962, so it may predate this by a few years at least.

It’s not clear where it comes from, though again it’s most widely thought to be a reference to the hangover in the morning, and the way your head feels as though it has been “smashed” with something hard.

Sloshed

Next we have “sloshed”, a common Irish slang term meaning someone is very drunk.

This can mean slightly drunk, though, depending on the person using it—there’s probably more room for interpretation in this term than in any other.

Generally, though, it’s more likely to mean very drunk.

It has the sense that someone is so drunk they can’t quite compose themselves, and are “sloshing around”.

It’s common among most generations and isn’t limited to the young or old or by location.

“Get me a beer, I want to get sloshed,” for example.

This term is first attested as meaning drunk around the year 1900.

Originally, the term referred to a watery mess or sludge.

It’s thought to have been a blending of the words “slush” and “slop”.

When it came to be used in Ireland is unclear though it is likely around the time it was first used.

Shit-faced

Next we have “shit-faced”, a very common Irish slang term meaning extremely drunk.

This one is used again all over the country, though you’re probably a bit more likely to hear this one used by younger people than older.

It’s not limited by region, though, so wherever you are in Ireland, you’re likely to hear this term used.

Either way, though, this one is really reserved for extreme drunkenness—so drunk that your face shows it immediately.

Some may, as with virtually any such term, use it more liberally than this, but generally it’s reserved for being very drunk.

“He’s shit-faced, he can’t stay out any longer,” for example.

Supposedly, this term originated in Scotland, and referred to the fact that very drunk people would not notice when people threw excrement out of their windows which would land on their faces.

It’s not entirely clear that this is really true—it may instead just refer to the luck on your face when you are very drunk.

Stocious

Another uniquely Irish slang term, next we have “stocious”.

This one is virtually unheard of outside of Ireland.

It again means very drunk, though there could be a great many levels of this.

Stocious is generally reserved from the most extreme kind of drunkenness just before you reach the point of being passed out and unable to compose yourself, though.

It’s used throughout Ireland, though is much more reserved to the older generations today.

“I was absolutely stocious last night,” for example.

The origin of this word is unclear.

Some think it derives from the Irish word stuagach, meaning “pitcher”.

Others think it relates to the Scots word stot. Some suggest it may relate to a dialect word meaning muddy or waterlogged.

We just don’t know for sure.

Gone

Next we have “gone”.

This is a simple and to the point slang term for drunk in Ireland, perhaps most often applied to someone who is so drunk that they are “gone” and have fallen asleep or passed out.

They are literally “gone” in the sense that they are not going to wake up again, and they’ll be asleep until the morning now.

Naturally, this one has quite a specific meaning, though some might use it in a more general sense when they can see someone is approaching that level of drunk.

“He’s gone, someone take him to bed,” for example.

The word itself is naturally quite old and ultimately derives from the 16^th Century.

When it came to have this more specific meaning is not clear, though it is certainly a lot more recent than that.

Wankered

Next we have “wankered”, another common slang phrase for drunk in both Britain and Ireland.

Again, it usually means very drunk, though it can be broader than this.

It could mean just on the cusp of extreme drunkenness, or it could mean past the point of no return.

It’s not quite as common in Ireland as other terms we’ve looked at so far, but you’ll certainly be understood if you use it.

Again, though, it is a mild profanity, so it’s worth being careful with it. “You are absolutely wankered, have a glass of water,” for example.

The term “wank” is the basis for many slang terms in Britain and Ireland.

It means to masturbate, but the relationship between the two is obviously loose.

It’s not clear when it started being used in this way—it was simply a natural extension of the word.

Wrecked

Another common slang term in Ireland for drunk is “wrecked”.

This one is not all that common but you’ll still be understood by virtually anyone in Ireland if you use this term.

Once again it can have a fairly wide spectrum of meanings, but as the word suggests it usually means someone who is pretty drunk.

Being “wrecked” means you are either so drunk that you can no longer function, or that you’re certainly getting there.

The term goes back to around the 19^th Century in the general sense of something which has been wrecked or destroyed.

The slang sense likely arose not long after this, given that people who are drunk can often appear “wrecked”.

Paralytic

This one skirts the line between slang and Standard English, but it is certainly a very common term used for drunk in a colloquial way.

This one means that you are absolutely beyond the pale, usually unable to stand or form coherent sentences, possibly even in danger of injuring yourself.

To be “paralytic” is about as drunk as you can be. “She’s paralytic, keep an eye on her,” for example.

The original sense of this word was “affected with paralysis,” which you can see is where the sense comes from—it is used when you are so drunk you can’t move.

This is first attested from the 14^th Century.

Rat-arsed

To be “rat-arsed” means to be extremely drunk.

It’s very widely used in Ireland and isn’t much limited to a specific area or generation.

Everyone is likely to understand what you mean by this term.

It’s perhaps a bit more common in Britain than in Ireland but it is certainly used in both countries.

It’s not quite as intense in meaning as some of the other terms we’ve looked at, but nonetheless can be used in this way—again it varies a lot depending on the person using it.

“This stuff is really strong, you’ll end up rat-arsed if you drink too much,” for example.

It likely simply relates to the way you feel the morning after getting very drunk—like a rat’s arse!

Off their face

“Off your face,” “off his/her face” are common slang phrases used in Ireland to express that someone is extremely drunk.

Again this one is very widely used and may even be one of the most common slang phrases used in both Britain and Ireland for being very drunk.

Again, this one is generally used for someone who is very drunk, but not past the point that they can stand up or speak coherently.

“I’ll be honest, I think I’m a bit off my face,” for example.

Legend has it that this phrase originated from the practice of nuns disfiguring themselves to protect their chastity.

These stories may be apocryphal, but nonetheless, they influenced the phrase’s position as one of the most common slang terms for drunk.

Off their tits

A very similar slang phrase for being very drunk is being “off one’s tits”.

This can be used by both men and women though perhaps is more commonly used by women than men.

It has virtually the same sense—if you are off your tits you are extremely drunk but you’re probably still able to conduct yourself.

You aren’t necessarily falling around or passing out, but you’re still pretty drunk.

“She’s off her tits, someone calm her down,” for example.

This phrase likely simply arose out of the older one as a newer version, though this is not completely clear.

Mangled

Finally we have “mangled”.

This is a common slang phrase in Ireland for being very drunk. It’s not quite as common as others, and is certainly more limited to certain parts of Ireland than some of the other terms we’ve looked at so far.

That said, within those regions, you’ll hear virtually anyone use it.

It has the sense again of being very drunk, though perhaps not quite as drunk as some of the other phrases might imply.

“I’m going to go out and get mangled, it’s been a really crappy week,” for example.

Originally the word meant to mutilate or hack and cut, so again the sense is that when you are very drunk, you end up as a mangled version of your usual self.

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!

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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