Do you want to learn how to impress the locals using Irish Gaelic? We've compiled a list where you can discover some funny Irish phrases to interact with the Irish locals like a champ. As we all know, adding humor in your conversations with them may help you win a lot of pats on the back. If you are ready for it, then let's get started!
The drinking culture is prevalent in Ireland. It would not be wrong to say the Irish people drink every day instead of every week. Even the dating culture in Ireland revolves around the idea of talking and drinking in pubs. To put it simply, the locals view drinking as a way to celebrate and properly mourn over something. Let's look at some funny Irish sayings about drinking and say cheers.
Besides the funny Irish sayings about drinking, there are other ways of being funny and even sarcastic in Irish. Let's now look at some examples:
Since we are discussing some of the funny Irish phrases, we should also look into some Irish slang words used for situations that are not funny. A funny Irish expression to call a person who is extremely boring is Minus craic.
The word craic in the Irish language largely refers to "fun" or "interesting," so when you say minus craic, it means extracting the fun from a situation or a certain person. This is also why a very common phrase to greet someone in Irish is by saying, "What's The Craic?"
If you know the meaning of craic, then that can open many doors for you. Craic might not mean much in the English Language, but in Irish culture, the word craic is used a lot.
A very fun phrase that might give any non-Irish person a good laugh is Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. This is generally used by the older generation in Irish, especially mothers. When their children are being annoying, and they are testing their patience, the mothers often say this phrase so that the children can understand their pain.
You can also use it with a friend who is not getting your point even after explaining it over a million times. This can signify a native Irish person that you are aware of the Irish sayings, which you might not have heard in a very long time.
When someone is teasing someone else, they often say that we were taking a piss. This is a funny way of being a sneaky person and not getting all the blame. Many people in Ireland often have a fair play in this regard and call others out in the name of a funny phrase that is taking a piss.
Feel free to use this phrase in your everyday conversation. In the Irish lingo, taking a piss is one of the very common Irish sayings and thus an excellent way for people to communicate and have fun with each other.
Irish Phrases | English translation |
Seo chugainn ár mná céile agus cailíní (fear céile agus buachaill)! Ná buailfidh siad choíche! | Here come our wives and girls (husband and boyfriend)! Never hit them! |
Níl tuairim ar bith ag na hÉireannaigh cad atá uathu - agus tá siad réidh troid chun báis chun é a fháil! | The Irish have no idea what they want - and are ready to fight to the death to get it! |
Más mí-úsáid í atá uait, pós. Más moladh é atá uait, faigh bás. | If you want abuse, get married. If you want praise, die. |
Is iomaí uair a bhris béal fir a shrón. | Many times a man's mouth broke his nose. |
Is é an t-aon leigheas ar an ngrá ná pósadh | The only cure for love is marriage |
Ólann muid agus a fháil ar meisce. Nuair a théimid ar meisce, titeann muid inár chodladh. Nuair a thitimid inár gcodladh, ní dhéanaimid aon pheaca. Ní dhéanaimid aon pheaca agus téighimid chun na bhflaitheas. Mar sin bímis go léir ar meisce agus dul chun na bhflaitheas! | We drink and get drunk. When we get drunk, we fall asleep. When we fall asleep, we do not sin. We sin not, and we go to heaven. So let's all get drunk and go to heaven! |
Ní raibh i mbiachlár mo mháthar ach dhá mhír: tóg é nó fág é. | My mother's menu contained only two items: take it or leave it. |
Ar neamh, níl aon beoir ann agus is é seo an fáth a ólann muid anseo. | Heaven, there is no beer and this is why we drink here. |
Thug na hÉireannaigh píobáin do na hAlbanaigh mar joke. Tá siad fós chun an joke a fháil. | The Irish gave pipes to the Scots as a joke. They have yet to get the joke. |
Cheap Dia fuisce chun cosc a chur ar na hÉireannaigh smacht a chur ar an domhan. | God devised whiskey to prevent the Irish from taking control of the world. |
Is iad gáire maith agus codladh fada an dá leigheas is fearr | Good laughter and long sleep are the two best remedies |
Ní fhaca mé é le blianta anuas | I haven't seen him in donkey's years |
Cén fáth a mbíonn tú i gcónaí ag aisteoireacht an chruimh? | Why are you always acting the maggot? |
Ní féidir leat sparán síoda a dhéanamh as cluas cránach | You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear |
Caithfidh tú do fhás féin a dhéanamh, is cuma cé chomh hard is a bhí do sheanathair. | You've got to do your own growing, no matter how tall your grandfather was. |
Cad é an scéal, a chapaill? | What's the story, horse? |
Ná bíodh aon bhliain bhreise agat gan mise. | May you not get even one extra year without me. |
Go bhfaighidh tú do chuid Éireannach eile, rud nach mise. | May you find your other irish part, which can't be me. |
Teastaíonn uaim fíorghrá a fháil, rachaimid chuig an teach tábhairne. | I wanna find true love, let's head to the pub. |
Múin dom focail bhraite Gaeilge agus múinfidh mé duit cathain is ceart iad a úsáid. | Teach me Irish slang words, and I'll teach you when to use them. |
Níl mé cinnte an gcloisfinn nuair a fhaigheann tú bás, ach is cinnte go mbeidh cóisir mhór cheiliúrtha ar siúl agam. | I am not sure if I would cry when you die, but I am definitely going to throw a grand celebration party. |
If you are learning Irish, then the Ling app by Simya Solutions is like a masterpiece for you because you can get access to many lessons and that too for free. You can find different interesting ways on the Ling App that will help you learn Irish vocabulary and assist you in making sentences of all the types. You should also check out Saying Thank you in Irish and Complete Irish Calendar.
Happy Learning!