How to speak like a Derry Girl

Fan’s of Channel 4’s hit show Derry Girl’s, will be delighted that it is back on the screen. The surprise hit of 2018 has made it to a second series and exactly half of Northern Ireland are beside themselves with excitement eager to see the *craic on the bax.

The Derry grammar police (Sister Michael?) will be on my case for the obvious error in the title, that of course should read “How till speak like a Derry girl”, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves, vocabulary first. I thought it might be useful to translate some common words and phrases.

So grab a mug of tea, sit tight and I’ll have you talking like Nadine Coyle after a night on the rip, in no time.

Bake – another name for your face. “Wud ye luuk at the bake on her? Sure her face is as long as a Lurgan Spade”

Boke – to throw up, or vomit. “The smell of thon near made me boke!

Brit – A british soldier

Boggin – very dirty. “C’mere you till I see yer face. Ah FFS its boggin, d’you ever wash it?”

Broke to the bone – really embarrassing. “I had to read this out in class today and I was broke to the bone!”

Buncrana – A seaside resort just the other side of the Irish Border

Buzzin – Excitement

Catch yersel on – common phrase telling someone to wise up or get a grip of themselves

Cack – shit “I near had a cack attack when the Nuns came in”

Clabbered – completely caked in dirt

Class – very good

Craic* – entertainment, and also news or gossip. “What’s the craic like?” is not an investigation into drug use. However if ‘the craic was 90’ that’s as high a compliment as can be paid to your company.

Cracker – really good

Critter – a small animal or a diminutive term for a person

Curtin – dating someone

Cut to the knickers – an alternative to broke to the bone

Cuddy – a young lad

Dead on – ok; frequently with a sarcastic tone

Dander – a gentle walk

Eejit – Idiot

Foundered – really cold. “Are you going out like that? You’ll be foundered!”

Grand – good, everything is sorted

Gurn – moan or cry, usually to everyone else’s annoyance

Haul – hold on. Haul yer whisht – stop talking, Haul yer horses – slow down

Here’s me, wha? Utter disbelief

Headmelt – a problem that makes your head hurt

Hi – used like punctuation to end a sentence, hi.

Hi doh – anger and frustration that will make you raise your voice. “He was so angry he hit hi doh!”

Hoak – rummage, Having a good hoak in your handbag is fine, probably hoaking anywhere else isn’t.

Hoop – your backside. “I was out last night and fell, flat on my hoop!”

Is that you? – Are you finished yet?

Lush – fantastic

Mingin – kind of disgusting

Mon tae fek – expression of total exasperation

Mouth – someone who talks/gossips a lot. “She has a quare mouth on her

Mucker – your mate

No bother – that’s ok

Norn Iron – the promised land

Nuck – steal

Pastie Lip – a big thick lip, like if someone is sulking

Poke – an ice cream. “D’you fancy a poke?”

Ragin – rather angry

Ride – to have sex, or someone you want to have sex with. “OO look at him, he’s a quare ride!”

Rippin – angry “Did you see Sister Michael this morning? she was rippin!”

Roastin – very hot

Saunter – to walk with an attitude

Shite the tights! – scary disbelief

Sham – a person. “Hey Sham, whataboutcha?”

Slabber – A wee shite (person)

So it is, – more punctuation so it is, so I am, so they are, so it was

Start – an aggrievance. “Ach don’t be starting!”

Steamin – drunk

Till – to. “I’m away till get some milk at the garage”

Thee – the numeral three

Thon – Gender non specific pronoun “Would you ever look at thon?

Wain – a small child

Wan – the numeral one

Watch yersel – cheerio

Wee – small

Whataboutche? – Hello! How are you?

Wick – rubbish. “D’you have till go hame early? Ach, that’s wick!”

Wile – A lot

Wise up – get real. Wise the bap – have a bit of sense!

Yer Ma – derogatory term indicating disbelief. “You’re going out with that big ride over there? Aye yer Ma!”

Yeooooo – General expression of happiness

Yes – Hello

Yoke – a thing, often a tractor but actually could be anything

So now you are all set, to speak like a native, or at the very least, follow what the Derry Girls are saying. Good luck!