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What's with the 'S' that Irish people add to shop names?

See you in Tescos, yeah?

Artist's impression of how an Irish person sees the Tesco sign Source: Mikey

WHEN YOU LOOK at this shop sign, what word do you see?

Source: PA Archive/Press Association Images

What about this one?

Source: PA Archive/Press Association Images

Some people call it ‘Tescos’, some people call it ‘Tesco’. SOME people would even go as far as to call it ‘Lidls’.

Basically, there are differences of opinion.

Some people, in fact, get VERY exercised about it.

Source: Karen Bryan

But that doesn’t stop people adding that ‘s’. No sir. No way.

Even Panti is at it.

In fact, it’s not even just Irish people. People across the UK are up to the same stuff.

So, where do you stand?


Poll Results:

I might say Tescos, but never Lidls (1212)
Never. It's not on the sign, is it ya dopes? (691)
Hmm, I'd could go either way (153)
I'd add the S to everything. Tescos, Lidls, Aldis, the works (142)

Any ideas where this comes from? Is it to do with the tradition of shops being named after their owners? Why do we keep doing it?

More: The 13 absolute best shop names in Ireland>

About the author:

Michael Freeman

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