THE DONEGAL ACCENT is known across the land as being distictive and difficult in equal measure.

There are some words that just take it to the next level. Observe:

Card

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Sim ceard, memory ceard, birthday ceard. It’s all perfect.

Brave

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A wonderful way of saying many/far. “You have a brave way to go yet.” Never better.

Wild

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Said with such a harsh, Donegal tone that it can never be bettered around the country.

“It’s wild windy out.”

Ah, bliss.

Naw

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Obviously this is no, but it won’t be said like that. Ever. Naw is better.

Scrúd

Meteor Meteor

Included purely for the dreaded Donegal accent on the Leaving Cert listening exam. Everyone knows it so well now.

“Léigh anois go cúramach, ar do scrúdpháipéar, na treoracha agus na ceisteanna a ghabhann le Cuid A.”

Foundered

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Said in many parts of the North, foundered simply means to be cold. Never sounds better than a winter’s night in Donegal.

Hi

Not a greeting, of course, but that word added to the end of nearly every sentence for emphasis. Beautiful.

Lock

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Just a small amount. You can get a lock of anything that has ever existed – as long as it’s just a wee bit.

Rare

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“He’s a rare man” being the go-to way of saying someone is a little bit strange. In the dulcet Donegal accent, it is just great.

Cut

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The state of you. The cut of you.

It’s usually a harsh enough sentiment, but you’ll take it with good heart when it’s said in that Donegal accent.

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