By far the most common British slang word for friend is “mate”. This is used by just about everyone in all parts of Britain. It’s so common that it is really the only primary slang term for friend used anywhere in Britain—though you do have … Read more
There are, in any given language, countless different ways you can say something is good using slang terms. This is just as true of British English as it is of any other language, indeed perhaps even more so than the average. For any intensity of … Read more
The most common Irish slang term for funny is “gas”. This is more or less universal across the country and is essentially a simple stand in for the word funny, though you might also say it means “very funny”. Other terms you might hear are … Read more
The most common Irish slang terms for baby are simple alterations of the word baby, such as “babby”, “bab”, and “babber”. These are commonly used in most of Ireland. You may also sometimes hear the term “babe” or “babe in arms”. Other, less common terms … Read more
The most common Irish slang terms for potato are “spud” or “praties”. They are also sometimes referred to as “purdies” or “pirries” depending on where you are in Ireland. Some common Irish language terms for potato include “práta” and “fata”. Beyond that, they also use … Read more
Money is one of those everyday things that we are all constantly handling and talking about, so naturally, slang arises to grant us easier lexical tools with which to describe it. In Irish slang, money is referred to in a number of different ways and … Read more
The Irish call toilets the jacks. This is really the only uniquely Irish slang term for toilet. They may also use some British slang terms, such as loo or bog, but to a much lesser extent. In Irish Gaelic speaking parts of Ireland, it might … Read more
Menstruation is something that most people prefer to talk about in euphemisms. There is, of course, nothing wrong with menstruation—it is a perfectly natural thing that almost half the global population has to go through in some way or another. At the same time, it’s … Read more
Insults are, for better or worse, often the bedrock of national slang. They are among the oldest terms in any language, and this is certainly true of British English. The British have developed a beautifully diverse and varied tapestry of insults, varying from the mildest … Read more
Irish slang is incredibly robust and varied, and there’s a useful phrase not only for any situation but any slight variation within that situation. One thing the Irish love to tell you is that you’re being crazy for one reason or another. But, in all … Read more