When I first moved to Dublin as a kid, I was lucky, I had the best of both worlds. At home, I grew up with Polish traditions, food, and celebrations, but outside of the house, I was raised within Irish culture. Over the years, I’ve come to feel just as Irish as I do Polish, and one of the biggest reasons for that is how welcoming Irish people are. They love sharing their culture, and a big part of that culture isn’t just music, sport, or food — it’s the language.

Now, I don’t mean Gaeilge (though that’s beautiful in its own right). I mean the everyday slang you’ll hear on the streets, in Trinity lecture halls, or down at the local pub. For me, Irish slang is ingrained in my vocabulary, I use it without even thinking. But if you’re new to Ireland, you might hear phrases like “What’s the craic?” or “I’m heading back to the gaff” and wonder if people are speaking in code.

So here it is: my survival guide to Irish slang. Master even a few of these, and you’ll be chatting like a local in no time.

Dublin Accents: Southside vs Northside

Before we jump into slang, it’s worth knowing that Dublin accents vary quite a bit. Dublin has a variety of accents, and your experience of slang will change depending on whether someone is from the Southside or the Northside.

Southside Dublin:

• The Southside accent tends to be slightly more elongated and melodic. Words may be drawn out, and sentences can sound a bit slower.
• Example: In Rathmines or Ranelagh, someone might say, “That film was deadly, so good!”, each word is clear and easy to understand.

Northside Dublin:

• The Northside accent is usually quicker and more clipped. Letters are sometimes dropped, and syllables blend together.
• Example: On the Northside, in areas like Cabra or Phibsborough, someone might say, “Yer man was gas last night, so funny.” It’s rapid, but once you get used to the pace, it becomes easy to follow.

Tip for newcomers:

These differences are just part of Dublin’s rich variety of speech. Spending time on both sides of the city will help you get used to different rhythms, slang usage, and pronunciations. Don’t worry if it feels confusing at first.

With time (and plenty of conversations in class, shops, or at social outings), your ear will adjust. No matter where you are, this guide to slang will be your go-to tool for connecting in conversations.

15 Essential Irish Slang Terms to Survive College in Dublin

1. “What’s the craic?”

This is probably the most famous Irish phrase. It means ‘What’s happening?’ or ‘How are you?’ but it’s more than just small talk. Asking about the craic is like checking in on the vibe.

Example: You bump into a classmate outside the Arts Block.

• “Hey, what’s the craic?”
• “Not much, just finished a lecture. Heading to the Pav later, yourself?”
• “Grand, I’ll join you. Sounds deadly.”

2. Gaff

This simply means house. If someone invites you back to their gaff, they’re just talking about their place.

Example: After a night at Doyle’s (a very well-known pub around Trinity), someone says:

• “We’ll go back to my gaff for a few drinks.”

Don’t panic, it just means their house or flat, not some mysterious location.

3. Grand

A classic. It means good, fine, okay, no problem. Irish people use it so much that you’ll hear it five times in one conversation.

Example:

• “What time will you get here?”
• “Around 8pm.”
• “Grand, see you then.”

Or:

• “How was your exam?”
• “Ah it was grand.” (Translation: it wasn’t amazing, but it didn’t kill me either.)

4. Lashing

When it’s lashing, it’s absolutely pouring rain, the kind that soaks you in seconds. Trust me, you’ll hear this a lot in Dublin, and it’s basically a warning to always carry a coat or an umbrella.

Example: You’re walking from Nassau Street to your 9am lecture, dodging puddles and wincing at the wind:

• “Better bring a coat — it’s lashing outside!”

5. Yer man / Yer woman / Yer one

These are handy little phrases for referring to someone when you don’t know their name (or just don’t feel like using it). It can be anyone — your lecturer, a friend’s cousin, or that person who always sits in the library silently judging everyone.

Example: You’re talking about a lecturer who just crushed a difficult topic:

• “Yer woman who was teaching the lecture today was actually brilliant.”

6. Sure look

This one’s a bit philosophical. It basically means, ah well, that’s life, essentially, the verbal shrug of Ireland.

Example: Your 9am class gets cancelled, but you already dragged yourself into town in the rain.

• “Ah, sure look, let’s grab a coffee in KC Peaches instead.”

7. Deadly

In Ireland, deadly means amazing, cool, excellent. If someone calls you deadly, take it as the highest of compliments.

Example:

• “You got Trinity Ball tickets? Deadly, you’re sorted for the night of the year.”

8. Yoke

If you forget the name of something, just call it a yoke. It works for everything from a phone charger to a frying pan.

Example:

• “My laptop cable isn’t working, pass us that yoke there.”

Don’t worry, everyone will know exactly what you mean.

9. Gas

Nothing to do with chemistry here, guys, gas just means funny.

Example: Someone tells you a story about a lecturer accidentally locking themselves out of the exam hall.

• “That’s gas, I’m in stitches.”

10. Sound

If someone says sound or sound, it means thanks or that’s decent of you.

Example:

You lend a mate your umbrella during a downpour:

• “Sound, bro. You’re a lifesaver.”

11. The Jacks

This one confuses a lot of newcomers. We don’t mean your friend, Jack, whom you met last week. The jacks just means the toilet.

Example: You’re in the Buttery with friends:

• “I’ll be back in a sec, I’m off to the jacks.”

12. Banjaxed

Something broken or wrecked is banjaxed.

Example: Your phone slips out of your pocket and the screen shatters:

• “Oh no, it’s banjaxed, I’ll need a new one.”

13. Scarlet

If you’re scarlet, you’re embarrassed.

Example: You walk into the wrong lecture theatre, realise it too late, and have to leave with everyone staring.

• “Oh my god, I was scarlet.”

14. Jammers

Something that is very crowded or full is jammers.

Example: You arrive at the library during exam week and can’t find a single seat:

• “The library is jammers this week; I couldn’t find a single seat.”

15. Leg it

Means run quickly, leave in a hurry.

Example:

• “We’ll have to leg it to catch the 9am lecture!”

Final Thoughts

Irish slang is more than just words; it’s a way of connecting with people. Accents, pace, and humour differ depending on whether you’re on the Northside or Southside, and understanding this dynamic and knowing these phrases will help you navigate both lecture halls and social events.

For me, these phrases are second nature, but I know how confusing they can sound when you first arrive in Dublin.

When you start using phrases like grand, what’s the craic, or deadly, even awkwardly at first, you’ll notice how quickly it breaks the ice. Before long, you won’t just be studying in Ireland, you’ll sound like you belong here, no matter which side of Dublin you’re on.