I’m reposting this for those that missed it first time round!
There are lots of different variations of all languages. I love how quickly people pick up little phrases after only speaking to me for a short period of time. I laughed my head off the first time Shady told me he was “Feckin knackered”.
Paul will berate me sometimes because he says people won’t understand some of the phrases and slang I use and Lee has to ask me to slow down, to be fair I do have a tendency to ramble.
So in an effort to make the whole thing a little easier I have compiled a list of some of the most popular phrases. Feel free to use it for translation if there is ever something in one of my posts you cannot understand. This is only a few of a vast array, I will no doubt think of others and have to add them at a later date.
A Rough Guide to Norn Iron Speak!
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Saying
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Translation |
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Eejit
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Yes it does mean an idiot in most cases, however if I said to you “You’re a fecking eejit”, I would mean it as in you’re a headcase, or a laugh. Idiot doesn’t necessarily mean stupid here, it can also mean funny! |
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Ach What About Ye. |
Hello. How are you doing. |
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Aye |
Yes |
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Catch Yerself On |
Wise up. |
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Yer Having a laugh! |
You cannot be serious. |
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Shut Yer Bake |
Shut up or close your mouth. Bakebook = Facebook |
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Feck away aff! |
Go away. Quickly. |
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Giz a buck at ye! |
You look hot today. Would you like to come in for coffee. |
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Keepin Dick |
Keeping a look out. |
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Away fer a feg! |
I’m off to have a cigarette. |
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Alright Mucker |
Hi mate |
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Lamps |
Eyes – “I cried my lamps out at that film” |
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C’mere wee lad |
Come over here young man |
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Spuds |
Potatoes. “I need to get home and get the spuds on. |
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Yer Ma |
Your Mother |
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Cheeky wee skitter! |
Cheeky little imp |
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You’re heeds a marley |
You’re not thinking clearly |
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Knackered |
Tired or worn out. |
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Till |
To. “I’m away till the shops” |
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The craic’s mighty / It’s great craic
Wee |
It’s a good laugh. It’s great fun.
We say this with everything. Would you like a wee come of tea? Oh come in for a wee minute? |
Comments welcome with variations of your own funny phrases!
The Indecisive Eejit 
[…] I was offered a challenge by my good friend Juls in response to her attempts to teach the world how to speak ‘O’Irish’. Not […]
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Took me a minute to figure out Norn Iron LOL
I am fond of saying “feck” in certain situations, but I learned it from “Father Ted”. :-D
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Lol he hails from the same Island just further South, feck arse biscuits an all!
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Waaah I love it! I’ll try to get these things in my vocabulary! I must say, I’m pretty knackered at the moment, so that is already one.
I wish I could do the same with Dutch…
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Teach me some sometime, even just how to say hello is a start lol
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I’m also from the lovely Norn Iron and I have a few more for you:
Wee- said infront of almost everything, but doesn’t actually mean that it is small. ‘Would you like a wee cuppa?’
Fleg- the Belfast for Flag
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I forgot about wee ffs and I say it all the time lol good one!
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LOL The craic’s mighty!!
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Lol sure is!
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Catch Yerself on- love it!
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Another version of that one would be ‘Away on ffs’ lol
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Wicked pissah, Juls!
(New England speak for, “very cool!”). :D
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Lol pissah or other spellings of it mean something totally different here lol
Thank you, you’re wicked pissah yourself :)
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Actually knew a few of them already and a few used around here!
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How long till we can get you saying them to people outside of here though, that’s the challenge lol
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