Learn about national languages and local lingo
In the Republic of Ireland, English and Irish are the main languages today.
The Gaelic-speaking Irish are bilingual, so you won’t need a language guidebook. You will, however, encounter many road signs along your journey in both English and Gaelic.
A few friendly Gaelic words you might encounter in the rural areas are fàilte (“welcome”) and slàinte (“cheers”).
Browse our culture and history tours of Ireland to learn more about the rich Irish or Gaelic landscape of the Emerald Isle.
Or dive into an Irish heritage tour to discover more about your ancestry.
Fun fact
You may notice that sometimes toilet signs are different! If you see “fir” it is for ladies and “mna” for gents.
There are specific slang words that you may not recognise while in Ireland, here are a few helpful “translations”:
- Aye – yes
- Naw – no
- Craic – fun
- Gaff - house
- Grand – fine/great
- Wee – small, little
- Loo or the Jacks – a bathroom/WC
- Chips – French fries
- Crisps – potato chips (US-English)
Contact our travel consultants if you want to know more about travelling in Ireland.
