Saturday, January 22, 2011

dictionary for my english friends

    In the past few days I have been asked to decipher many many things i say so here is the nearly definitive guide of Northern Irish words:-)
    -Is that you? If you're asked this, please don't answer with "Of course it's me, you idiot!". They only want to know if you've finished whatever you're doing.
    -Are you away? Again, no stupid sarcastic answers. They're asking if you are going out / leaving.
    -What about ye? What's up, How are you?
    -Tee, Te & Till. Different ways of saying 'To', depending on which area of N.I. you come from.
    -Catch yourself on! Wise up.
    -Dead on! Great. Perfect, Really nice. (Often used to describe people.)
    -Wet the tea. Make some tea.
    -Away in the head. Lost his senses. Stupid.
    -Away on! You're kidding!
    -Sound. Also a word of praise generally used for describing people.- 'He's dead sound!'
    -Wait till I tell ye. This is difficult to translate. It's a way of starting a conversation or introducing something important or interesting into the conversation.
    -I tell a lie. It's what you say when you've realised that you said something wrong!
    -Do you think I came up the Lagan in a bubble? Do you think I was born yesterday? (The Lagan is the river that runs through Belfast. This phrase varies depending on which river you were brought up by.)
    -Class, Cracker, Grand, Stickin' out, Magic, Smashing, Brilliant. Just a few more ways to say something's great.
    -Ta, Ta-ta, Cheers, Thankin' you. And a few ways to say thanks.
    -Are you gettin'? Have you been helped / served?
    -He/she/that/this 'Does my head in.' Drives you up the wall.
    -Mucker. Mate, friend.
    -Steady/Steady on. Similar to saying 'Behave' or 'Watch it!'.
    -I'll do you! I'll kill you.
    -Clattered, Lamped. Hit, Punched.
    -Faffin'/ Faffin' about. Messing around.
    -Peelers. Cops.
    -Spide. A term used when talking about trendy people who listen to rave and dance music.
    -Wick, Naff. Stupid or useless.
    -Eejit. Local pronunciation of the word idiot.
    -Bog. Bathroom.
    -Boggin', Mingin', Mankin'. Messy and horrible.
    -Minger. Ugly person.
    -Talent. Attractive people.
    -Snog. Kiss.
    -One night stand. In N.I. it can mean anything from a kiss, to going all the way.
    -Yous. Plural of you.
    -Ach! Oh, or Ah. As in 'Ach, What about ye?'
    -Aye. Yes.
    -Bake, Gub. Mouth.
    -Pull. To get, or try to get 'lucky'. I.e.. 'Did he pull?' - 'He's on the pull tonight.'
    -Crack/Craic. Fun.
    -The Black Stuff. Guinness.
    -Dummy. Pacifier.
    -Pram. Stroller.
    -Nappy. Diaper.
    -Biscuit. Cookie.
    -Poke. Ice cream cone.
    -Lolly/Ice lolly. Popsicle.
    -Scone. A sweet biscuit...of sorts.
    -Bun/ Wee bun. Sweet roll, danish.
    -Round. One portion, i.e.. 'round of toast'.
    -Gravy ring. Ring doughnut.
    -Bap. A bun or roll. Used mainly for sandwiches.
    -Ulster Fry. A fried meal with eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, soda bread, potato bread, beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, etc. ALL FRIED.
    -Soda. Soda bread. If you want the drink, you'll get the bread!
    -Sausengers. Sausages.
    -Lozengers. Lozenges.
    -Sweets. Candy.
    -Your man/woman. That man/woman.
    -Thingy. In America, they would say 'What's-her/his/name?'
    -Cheerio. Good-bye.
    -All the best! Good-bye, wishing you all the best

2 comments:

  1. That was . . . an education. Do you think I came up the Slaney in a bubble?

    ReplyDelete