Anyone starting work or renting in Dublin and the commuter counties.
Dublin
What the lads in the yard, the bus driver and the landlord in Dublin actually say. Listen, read what it means, then try the quick check.
24 words and phrases10 sentence check20 minutes, aboutFree no sign-up
How it sounds
Fast and flat, with the middle of words often dropped. "Th" is usually a "t" or a "d": "three" sounds like "tree", "that" like "dat". Words run together: "d'ya know what I mean" becomes "jaknowharramean". People say "yeah" for yes and "no bother" for no problem. The north side and the south side of the city sound a little different from each other, and the suburbs are softer than the centre.
The audio is a general voice for now. People from Dublin are recording these lines in their own accent, and each one swaps in as it is done.
1 Play the word, then the sentence2 Read what it means3 Say it back out loud4 Do the check at the end
24 words and phrases
What you will hear
Tap the play button on any card. The word first, then how it sounds in a sentence.
- 1
story?
Hello, how are things? Short for "what's the story?". You can answer "not much" or just "story?" back.
Story, bud? Not much, working away.
- 2
bud
A friendly word for a man you are talking to, like "mate".
Give us a hand with this, bud.
- 3
grand
Fine, OK, good enough. The most used word in the country.
How's the new place? Ah, it's grand.
- 4
gaff
A house or flat.
We're having a few people over at the gaff on Saturday.
- 5
the jacks
The toilet.
Where's the jacks in this place?
- 6
deadly
Excellent, brilliant. Nothing to do with danger.
That new drill is deadly.
- 7
savage
Very good, or very big.
Savage lunch in that place across the road.
- 8
giving out
Complaining, telling someone off.
The foreman was giving out about the mess in the van.
- 9
yer man / yer one
That man, that woman. Used when you do not say the name.
Yer man from the office is looking for you.
- 10
the Dart
The electric train along the coast.
Get the Dart to Connolly and walk from there.
- 11
the Luas
The tram. Two lines, red and green.
The Luas is quicker than the bus at that hour.
- 12
a Leap card
The card you tap on the bus, tram and train. Much cheaper than cash.
Get a Leap card, you will save a fortune.
- 13
the Northside, the Southside
The two halves of the city, split by the river Liffey.
The job is on the Northside, near the airport.
- 14
up town
Into the city centre.
I'm heading up town after work.
- 15
a chipper
A fish and chip shop.
There is a chipper on the corner if you miss the canteen.
- 16
a spice bag
Chips, chicken and peppers in a bag from the takeaway. Dublin's own.
Friday night is spice bag night.
- 17
the gargle
Drink, alcohol.
We're going for a gargle after the shift, are you coming?
- 18
scarlet
Embarrassed. "Scarlet for you" means that is embarrassing for you.
I was scarlet when the boss saw it.
- 19
a lift
A ride in someone's car. Ask for a lift, not a ride: "ride" has a rude meaning here.
Can I get a lift to the site in the morning?
- 20
sound
A good, reliable person. Also OK, thanks.
He's sound, he will sort you out.
- 21
c'mere
Come here, but really means "listen to this".
C'mere, did you hear about the new contract?
- 22
fair play
Well done, good on you.
You got it finished? Fair play to you.
- 23
hames
A mess. "Made a hames of it" means did it badly.
Someone made a hames of the wiring in that unit.
- 24
manky
Dirty, disgusting.
The van is manky, give it a wash on Friday.
Quick check
10 sentences. What did they mean?
Play each one and pick the answer. You can replay as often as you like. Your score shows at the end, and you can keep it against your name if you want to.
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