Like everywhere else in Ireland, Derry people have their way with words. Since the release of the Derry Girls TV Show people have taken an interest on the Derry lingo and how the Derry wans phrase their sentences.
Speaking Derry Slang
We've teamed up with some of our muckers from Derry to draw up a list of the most popular phrases and words heard in Derry. We should note, that not all of these are unique to Derry but we've added them anyway because they're still commonly used.
Derry Greetings
There are multiple ways to say hello to Derry and the most popular are:
- Alright, hi!
- Whatta bout ye? or Bout ye? (How are you?)
- Yes hi.
- What's the craic?
Derry Goodbyes
Just like the greeting, there are different ways to say Goodbye:
- Mind yourself or Watch yourself (Take care).
- See ye hi or see ye later hi ( I will see you later)
"See yee hi" is probably the most common and it's pure Derry without a doubt.
General conversations in Derry
Here's some common phrases or words you'll here in general conversations.
- Ack aye, ano - This is often used by someone who is agreeing with what you're saying. Its basically saying yes and no at the same time but dont be confused, they are agreeing with you.
- Aye - Yes.
- Bars - Gossip. If someone asks you if you have any bars, they're wanting to know if you have any news or gossip to share.
- Brock - Rubbish. Example, Yer talking a load of brock.
- Broke to the bone - Someone who has no money.
- Cant hold your water - Cant keep a secret. Example: Don't tell Margaret, she cant hold her water.
- Dead On or sound on - For this you can use either dead on or sound on, they're both the same but there are different meanings depending on the context.
- Someone who is nice - Liam is dead on when he's not drinking.
- A sarcastic way of saying I dont believe you - You can sing better than Bono? Aye, dead on.
- A way of saying thanks - Dead on for making sure I got home last night.
- Something that is perfect - that's dead on.
- Hi - No, this isn't a greeting. Derry people have a mad habit of placing "hi" at the end of the sentence. People tend to think its random but its actually to put emphasis on the person you are talking to. Example, are you heading to the pub for a few pints, hi.
- I will, aye - A common form of sarcasm all over Ireland for saying no I wont. Example: You want me to pay for your drinks? I will, aye.
- Jammy - Someone or something that is lucky. Example: He's such a jammy prick for winning all that money.
- Mind - Remember. Example: Mind when I called you a jammy prick?
- Not letting on - Keeping a secret. Example: Kevin isn't letting on he won a lot of money.
- Up a tree in Rosemount - Whereabouts unknown. If someone asks you where someone is, respond with Up a tree in Rosemount.
- Wind yer neck in - Wise up or dont be stupid. The earth is flat? Wind yer neck in.
- You must think I came up the Foyle in a bubble - Said when someone thinks you're gullible. Example: You forgot your wallet? You must think I came up the Foyle in a bubble.
Derry Insults
We all love a good insult and Derry people have no shortage of them. Here are some of our favourite Derry insults.
- Ankles not speaking to the trousers - When someone's trousers are too short for their legs.
- Bin Lid - Someone who is silly or stupid, or both. Example: Claire is a bin lid because of the way she talks.
- Fanta Pubes - someone with ginger hair.
- Free Stater - Someone from the Republic of Ireland. (controversial insult).
- Gack - Someone being silly. Example: Sarah is a right gack after a few drinks.
- Gienger - Someone with red hair. Its pronounced gien-ger.
- Gulpin - Greedy. Example: John is a big gulpin when it comes to sausage rolls.
- Half a head - Someone who is forgetful. Example: Brian forgot his wallet again. He's such a half a head.
- Head melt - Someone or something that is annoying. Example: Julie is a head melt when talking about her dog.
- Head the ball or Header - Someone who is crazy or an idiot. Example: Paul is such a head the ball after a few drinks.
- Touched - Someone who is challenged. Example: Claire acts like a bin lid, I think she might be a wee bit touched.
- Jaffa - Derogatory term for a Protestant. Named after McVitie's Jaffa Cakes.
- Prick - An unpleasant person. Example: Liam has been a prick all his life.
- More faces than the Guildhall clock - Someone who is two-faced. Example: I wouldn't trust Sean, he has more faces than the Guildhall clock.
- Thick - Stupid. Example: Sean thinks we're all thick, he's just a prick.
- Mouth - Someone prone to exaggeration. Example: Dave is a mouth after a few pints.
- Not all there - Someone who might be mentally slow. Example: Sharon isn't all there after the accident.
- Not the full shilling - Someone who is silly. Example: Bill is not the full shilling when he says his dog can talk.
- Pain in the arse - Someone or something being difficult. Example: He can be a right pain in the arse when deciding what to eat.
- Quare and green - Somone taking the advantage of something. Example: Harry is quare and green if he thinks he's getting free drinks.
- Rare Duck - Someone who is weird. Example: Yer man Glen is a right rare duck.
- Slabber - Someone who talks/lies too much. Example: Kevin keeps slabbering about how he's got the best car in Derry.
- Smarthole or Smart Arse - A person who is irritating because they behave as if they know everything. Example: When it comes to pub quizzes, Ben is a right smarthole.
- State of you! or shape of ye - Somone or something thats a mess. Example: The shape of ye with that boy band haircut.
- Taig - Derogatory term for a Catholic.
- The tide wouldnt take you out - Someone who is so ugly they wont get a date. Example: Wearing a shirt like that the tide wouldn't take you out.
- Tight arse - Someone who is selfish.
- Up yer own hole - Someone who has too much confidence. Example: Lisa is up her own hole when it comes to wearing sunglasses.
- Yer heads a marley - Someone who is forgetful. Example: My head is such a marley, I keep forgetting my wallet.
The above is only a small example of how Derry people talk, you would need an extensive dictionary to really get a good grasp of all their lingo. We should also point out that Derry people not only tend to speak very fast but also merge words together.
