Craic
Craic is the social spark of the whole thing: the chat, the laughs, the gossip, the messing, the buzz in the room. If something was good craic, it was lively and worth showing up for. If someone's great craic, they're good company. What's the craic? means what's going on, and no craic means the vibe's gone a bit dead.
Culchie
A culchie is someone from rural Ireland, especially from outside Dublin. In Dublin mouths it can be a light dig at country people. Said by rural people themselves, it often flips into pride. It's one of those labels that can either wink or puff its chest out, depending on who's firing it.
Eejit
Eejit is a soft, affectionate way of calling someone an idiot after they've done something daft, clumsy, or wildly obvious. It's usually more warm ribbing than a proper insult, the sort of word you'd throw at a mate, your brother, or yourself when your brain's gone out for a smoke.
Gas
In Irish English, gas means something or someone is properly hilarious, mad entertaining, or just great value. You'd say that's gas when a story, mishap, or person has everyone creased. It's close to saying something's great craic, but gas leans more toward the laugh itself and that cheeky burst of comedy.
Grand
A very Irish catch-all for fine, okay, sorted enough, or leave it there. It often runs on understatement. Someone can say grand when things are actually lovely, slightly cursed, or hanging together by a thread. The tone does the heavy lifting, so grand might mean real comfort, weary survival, or a polite way to stop the fuss.
Sound
Sound is a very Irish way to say someone’s decent, reliable, and just good people. If a person is sound, they’re the kind you’d trust, have a laugh with, or count on not to mess you about. It also works as a quick reply for alright, grand, nice one, or no bother when you’re agreeing to something.
The craic
The craic is the fun of it all: the chat, the gossip, the laughs, the general buzz around a night, a session, or even just standing about talking shite. If you ask What's the craic?, you're basically saying what's going on or any news. If the craic was mighty, the whole thing was flying.
Taking the piss
To take the piss means to mock someone, wind them up, or act like the whole thing's a joke with a cheeky little sting in it. It can be harmless mate banter, or it can mean someone's pushing it so hard you're one sentence away from kicking off. Say it laughing and it's teasing. Say it sharp and it's a warning.
Wee
Means small or little, but in Scotland it's also a handy softener that makes anything sound casual and no bother. You'll hear it slapped on drinks, errands, and time itself: a wee coffee, a wee message, a wee minute. The joke is it doesn't guarantee size or duration at all, just that the speaker wants it to feel light and friendly.
Reckon
Reckon means think, suppose, or figure, said in a laid-back way that sounds sure of itself without getting all chest-out about it. You use it for opinions, guesses, and quick calls off the vibe. Very common in everyday British, Australian, and New Zealand speech, and you’ll hear it in questions too, like do you reckon he’s coming?
Gutted
A very common British informal word for feeling really upset, properly disappointed, or a bit emotionally punched in the ribs after something goes wrong. You use it for bad news, cancelled plans, losses, near misses, or anything that leaves you feeling hollowed out inside. It can mean mildly deflated or fully heartbroken, depending on the moment.
Buzzing
Means you're really excited, full of energy, and in a properly good mood because something's gone your way or something class is about to happen. You can be buzzing after good news, before a night out, or when the whole vibe just clicks. It's that fizzy, charged-up happy, not automatically drunk or mashed.
Boke
A Scottish and Irish way to say vomit, or feel like you're about to. You can also use it for anything so grim it turns your stomach, from rotten food to someone's absolutely rotten behaviour. Short, punchy, and a bit nasty in exactly the right way.
Deadly
Means brilliant, class, seriously good, even though it sounds like a warning label. In Irish chat you’ll call a film, a night out, or even someone’s new jacket deadly when it’s spot on. It’s an easy, high-grade compliment, usually said deadpan like it’s no big deal, which somehow makes it even better.