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SOMETIMES, HAVING A full-blown, proper swear is just not appropriate.
So we, as a people, have had to be inventive and come up with ways around the major, obvious swear words. Leaving us with some perfectly Irish half swear words that do the job just as well:
Prefaces many of our most beloved phrases. Insert in front of bag, hawk, box and you’re away. It’s actually better than the more basic word it’s intended to replace.
Monday 18 November, 2024
Monday 18 November, 2024
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11 uniquely Irish ways of swearing
SOMETIMES, HAVING A full-blown, proper swear is just not appropriate.
So we, as a people, have had to be inventive and come up with ways around the major, obvious swear words. Leaving us with some perfectly Irish half swear words that do the job just as well:
1. Feck
The classic. Any way to get around saying the actual word f**k was welcomed – and feck was always your best bet.
2. Puck
This can be rolled into your regular GAA chat as well as substituting perfectly for its well known rhyming equivalent.
3. Cac
“That is absolute cac.”
A more poetic way of saying s**t, and we’re all the better for it.
4. Gick
A delightful way of describing defecation – it has a nice, harsh tone to it as well.
5. Shite
Prefaces many of our most beloved phrases. Insert in front of bag, hawk, box and you’re away. It’s actually better than the more basic word it’s intended to replace.
6. Fudge
One of the tamest swear words you are likely to hear, but it can’t be denied its rightful place amongst its other, more coarse brethren.
7. Sugar
8. Fack
Used around the country as a perfect workaround in front of Mammy. You’re technically not swearing, and that’s all that matters.
9. Bollix
The ‘ix’ ending compared to the ‘ocks’ one gives bollix a whimsy that the other sorely lacks.
10. Jaysus
A completely different ball game altogether from the much more serious and formal “Jesus” pronunciation.
11. Hoor
The pronunciation is as old as Irish slang itself. And no better way to exclaim your outrage at someone/thing than to elongate the ooo in “hoooor.”
What is your go-to Irish swear word that’s not actually a swear word? Let us know in the comments.
More 10 Irish slang words that need to be added to the dictionary right now>
More 9 of the mildest (but most cutting) Irish insults>
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Craic poetic slang swear by it swear words swearing