14 phrases and sayings you’re likely to hear in Northern Ireland

"Well what's the craic?"

Giants Causeway
Author: Anna Sky MagliolaPublished 13th Feb 2019

Whether you are in the middle of Belfast, on a weekend hike in the Mournes or visiting the Giant's Causeway at the north coast the 'Norn Iron' lingo isn't the most straight forward of languages to understand sometimes. However we love it!

We wanted to share our glorious dialect far and wide and have decided to take a look and explain some classic slang that will help overseas visitors understand what on earth we are talking about. These words and phrases aren't all new, but it may be that you've not heard of some of these before. These will only make sense if you're from here., how many of the list did you know or do you use?

Wind yer neck in

Calm down, usually said to somebody who is over-excited or boasting about something

Up to high doh

Stressed out

Bout ye?

An informal way of asking how you are

Ascared

Afraid

Scundered

Embarrassed

Foundered

I'm cold

Buck eejit

Acting like an idiot

Poke

An ice-cream

Dead on

That's fine

Gurn

Cry, moan or complain about something

Wee

Small

Dander

Go for a walk

Boggin’

Dirty

Banjaxed

Broken beyond repair

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