Dialect Dictionary: The Five Phrases That Will Have You Talking Like A True Corkonian, Like

Ireland. We’re a tiny country, in the grand scheme of things, but all you have to do is cross a county border and you’re in the land of a whole new language. We’ve paired up with 7UP Free to help you 'Irish it Up' with a regular Dialect Dictionary to help you on your travels across the Emerald Isle. 

We're heading down south today to the real capital...

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Cork, the city of drisheen, the four-faced liar, the English market, "What's de craic?"... Overall, where the people are far too proud of where they come from. As comedian Tommy Tiernan once joked, with just a hint of truth, "I'm the president of Ireland... but more importantly, I'm from Cork".

One of the things Corkonians are most proud of, however, is their very own language, the Leeside vernacular. It was difficult enough to narrow a whole language down to five phrases, but here they are, "G'luck bais"...

1. ...Like

Just one word. But it is to be attached to the end of every sentence, for example, "She told me that too, like...". To be a true Leesider, soften the 'k' sound and lengthen the word to as long as physically possible.

2. All-A-Baa

This phrase translates into English as, "Up for grabs" or "Absolutely everywhere". It indirectly describes chaos. For example, "I was in that new place in Pana yesterday, liiiike, and I swear it's just all-a-baa in there..."

A must-have for the trip, a Cork slang mug.

3. Dowtcha' Boy

In Cork, people like to praise each other a lot, because after all they've achieved so much already by just being from Cork. "Dowtcha' Boy" is the kind of phrase that makes your heart glow, it's a real term of approval. It probably translates as, "I wouldn't doubt you, boy".

This brings us onto the Cork slang term, "boy". Often used, and not just when there's a "boy" involved, the term is generally pronounced as "bai". Example, "C'mere to me bai, where are you heading off to, like?"

4. Langer

A Cork slang guide couldn't go unfinished without the word, "langer". As the well-known Tim O'Riordan once sang;

Have you seen the young man,
The drunken auld lout,
Roaring and bawling and spilling his stout,
And in everyone's business,
You'll first see his snout,
Down in Cork, he'd be known as a Langer!

5. Sconce

This comic-sounding phrase means "a quick look". Corkonians are a naturally nosey people, so this turn of phrase comes in handy. Example: "Give us a sconce of it..."

Translation: "Watch out, there's a Garda car outside the house" Pic: Dowtchaboy.com

Honourable Mention: You're About As Useful As A Kerryman With A Hurley

If you're travelling to Cork, there's one thing you should know in advance. Following the trend of each Irish country having a close rival (generally based on geographic location), Cork's most bitter rival is its neighbouring county to the west, Kerry. It might have something to do with Gaelic Football matches in the past, it might not. But a lot has come from this rivalry, most notably the somewhat derogatory phrase above. Don't worry, the Kerrymen have a few about the Corkonians too... some can't even be written down...

Check back here to 'Irish it Up' with more Dialect Diaries here over the coming week with 7UP Free