WE IRISH ARE famous for having the gift of the gab.
We also have our own charming way of expressing ourselves, from saying something is “cat” to finishing a sentence with “inallandanyways”. Here’s a handy breakdown of what it all means…
- “Ara“
Ara is used to give an indication that you’re really not too fussed about something. It can also be used to start pretty much any sentence:
Ara I might go. I might not.
- “Ara Musha“
When ara is used in conjunction with musha then it means something else entirely. It’s a term of endearment or affection:
Ara musha you poor craythur, you’ll be grand
- “Craythur“
There is a world of difference between calling someone a “creature” and calling someone a “craythur”. A craythur deserves some kind of sympathy or empathy, and the word is usually preceeded by “poor”:
The poor craythur fell into the ditch, but she’ll be grand.
- “Sca“
Sca is akin to ‘craic’ or ‘news’.
Any sca?
- “Dowtcha bai“
A Cork saying, dowtcha boy basically means “well done” or more literally “I don’t doubt you, boy”:
I got the shift last night
Dowtcha bai!
Image: Shutterstock
- “Woejus“
Something that is particularly crap, or “cat”:
That new Crystal Swing song is only woejus.
- “Cat“
Something that is particularly crap or woejus. It is a contraction of the saying “cat melodeon” or “cat melojen”.
Your one’s outfit is totally cat.
- “Quare“
Putting “quare” before a word adds emphasis. It’s most often heard coming out of a Carlow person’s mouth:
That batter burger is quare tasty.
- “Yerra“
Similar to “ara”, the word “yerra” indicates that you really couldn’t give a toss about something:
Did your one ring you after you got the shift?
Yerra she was cat anyway.
- “Inallandanyways“
A more complicated way of saying ‘anyway’, usually heard in the Dublin area:
I’m going to go and see him meself inallandanyways.
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