Limerick slang can prove to be confusing at the best of times, so here are some top words and phrases to help you speak like a local.
Despite being a minute country, Ireland has a surprising amount of accents, slang phrases and slang words, which vary from county to county.
If you are visiting Ireland, chances are you will be chatting with some locals, which makes knowing a few local phrases crucial to understanding what they are trying to say.
Without knowing the local slang, we can assure you that it may prove challenging to have a clue what the conversation is about, and this comes from locals from other counties, too.
Limerick is a county home to many quirky, random and sometimes confusing slang words, which can leave people baffling their heads.
Luckily, we are here to give you a head start on how to speak the local lingo so you can chat with the locals with ease and confidence. Hopefully!
So, with that in mind, here are some of the main Limerick slang words and phrases to help you speak like a local.
10. Sham – a casual greeting between friends
While other counties in Ireland use the slang word ‘sham’ to refer to someone essentially displaying disgraceful or embarrassing behaviour, Limerick locals use it differently.
A sham can casually describe a mate and can be used to greet almost anyone you know, but it’s best not to use this in a formal situation.
9. Nippy – not as cold as baltic
Ireland is a freezing country at the best of times, so of course, there are endless words to describe the level of coldness we are experiencing.
Add this to the fact that each county has its way of describing the bitter cold, and in Limerick, their choice of words is either nippy or Baltic.
8. State of ya – one of the most common Limerick slang phrases
This Limerick slang is one of the most common that you will hear, probably because it is used to comment on someone’s appearance – generally in a negative way.
Irish people love to joke around, and they will commonly refer to the state of someone if that someone looks worse for wear, especially in Limerick.
7. A dose – a Limerick fool
Dose has to be one of the trickiest Limerick slang words since it means something entirely different in other parts of the country.
If you have a dose of something, you are generally saying you are sick, while in Limerick is another word for an idiot, eejit or a fool, so don’t take this as a compliment.
6. Baltic – as cold as it gets
Like nippy, baltic is another word to describe the level of coldness, and in the mid-west, they certainly have their fair share of cold weather.
If you have spent some time in Limerick, you will know that the weather is almost always baltic, and if you haven’t been there yet, be prepared for the harsh weather.
5. Unreal – a level of greatness
While this example of Limerick slang might not seem so strange or unfamiliar, it’s all about how it is said, not the word itself.
In Limerick, one can describe just how excellent or fantastic something is by the way they emphasise the word unreal. An example might be, “This kebab is Unreaaaaaal, boys”.
4. Tackies – another word for trainers
‘Tackies’ might be a not self-explanatory word, but it is one of the most popular Limerick slang words you will encounter.
‘Tackies’ is a word that essentially refers to a man’s or a woman’s wardrobe, but more so, it relates to trainers or runners in Limerick.
3. Daycent – not tremendous, but ‘daycent’
This has to be one of the top Limerick slang words since it can be used for almost anything that is not particularly bad or good.
If it’s mediocre, it can be deemed ‘daycent’, a play on the word decent, and this everyday phrase is something that is used by every local to describe the ‘okayness’ of something.
2. Hun – ah howaya hun
We have all heard the slang word ‘hun’, especially those from Ireland or who have spent much time here.
Locals love to greet each other with this phrase, as an abbreviation of the pet name honey, but did you know it originated in Limerick?
1. Gowl – an idiot in Limerick
If there’s one thing the Irish are masters of, it’s creating endless words for a fool or an idiot – after all, the Irish love to slag each other.
In Limerick, one of the top phrases for an idiot is ‘gowl’, and now that you know how to speak like a local, you will undoubtedly hear this phrase time and time again.
So, if you are ready to speak like a Limerick local, take note of these top Limerick slang words and phrases, and the locals will be delighted.
