Ireland vs. Canada: Understanding How the Other Half Speaks

It's February! Where does the time go?

I figured it was time that I start reflecting on and sharing some of the wonderful "differences" that I have had to adapt to while living on the Emerald Isle. I feel that I have been able to adapt pretty well to the "Irish" lifestyle, but I must admit, I am still resisting some changes. In my home, if I say 'where are my pants?', I do not and never will mean "where is my underwear". For me, pants will remain pants, and the word trousers will rarely creep into my vocabulary.

So here's a guide to Irish/UK vocabulary and phrases that I've picked up so far, and will help you 'fit' in when visiting!

Canadian word = Irish translation [FYI: The British also use some if not all these terms as well]

FOOD/Drink

Chips = Crisps 
Oh, the times that I've been reminded that "No Monica, you want CRISPS, not chips" when buying snack food.

Fries = Chips
Now, this one is a bit strange. Chips are what people call chunky deep fried cut potatoes... Basically, they are chunkier and thicker than what Norther Americans know as fries.

Garbage = Rubbish 
I still get laughed at when I call garbage -- 'garbage'.

Eggplant = Aubergine


Arugula = Rocket (lettuce) 


Zucchini = Courgette

- People will still understand you if you say the North American term, but across the pond, they say the latter. So just in case you're like me and didn't know there was another name for it.. there you go!

Pop/Soda = Fizzy Drink 
I find it funny when I hear customers ask for frizzy drinks... sounds like they are 6 years old.

Ground Meat = Mince Meat

Cookie = Biscuit 


Muffin/Cupcake/Danish/ = Bun 
Now, this one confuses me still. Some will say muffin, cupcake, danish, etc, but they are commonly referred to as "buns". Rice Crispy squares are popular here, and they'll be referred to as a bun as well, but then a caramel square or rocky road is a tray bake. People use these words interchangeably. But just be aware, if you hear someone talk about "buns" it doesn't mean like a bread bun that you'd use for sandwiches.

Bun = Roll or Bap 


Automobiles

Trunk = Boot 
"The spare tyre [tire], is in the boot!"

Hood = Bonnet 
"Take a look under the bonnet will ya?"

Truck = Lorry

Clothing

Pants = Trousers 

It's hard for me to use the phrase 'fancy pants' without people thinking I'm calling them 'fancy undies'

Sweater = Jumper 


Running Shoes/Sneakers = Trainers 

Around the House/Objects/Beauty

Stroller = Pram 


Bangs (hair) = Fringe 


Cellphone = Mobile 


Garbage/Trash Can  = Bin 


Garbage Bag = Bin Liner 


Plastic Wrap = Cling Film
It took me a while to get used to this one!!

Dish Soap = Washing Up Liquid
This was one of the first differences that I couldn't help but find absolutely absurd!

Misc 

Expensive = Dear 
Used in a sentence - "That restaurant is dear"

To Rent (an apartment)= To Let 
Using the term "to let" seems to be most commonly used when speaking of renting property. So you'll see lots of signs for renting places that say "To Let".

To Rent (a room, car, etc) = To Hire 
When using "to hire", it normally refers to renting a space for something, or a car, bike, etc.

Elevator = Lift (noun)


Apartment = Flat 


Ride = Lift (verb) 
Try not to make the mistake I made once when I said "I'm waiting for my 'ride'....people might take it as something 'sexual'. You might want to say "I'm waiting for my lift" instead!


Washroom/Restroom = Toilet 

Drunk = Pissed 


Store = Shop 


TV Show = Programme 


Flashlight = Torch
I'm curious as to what they call as actual torch with a flame...


Phrases/Words you may hear... 


'Call In' 


- Basically, when you hear someone tell you to "call in", "please call again", "when did you call in?", they actually mean "come visit me", "please come again", "when did you come around?".

'Power Shower'

An Electric Shower. Perhaps this is also used back home, but I didn't come across this term back home in Canada, and have never used an electric shower until I arrived here! Now, what I find amusing about "power shower" is the way the Northern Irish pronounce the word. If only I could type it out... 

'Take Away or sit in?" 

- When you 'call in' to a restaurant, you'll be asked whether or not you are taking your food "to go" or you're having your food/drink "for here". You'll hear this everywhere.

Line Up = Queue


"I'm Gettin'"
- This one confused me a lot at first. You're gettin? You're getting what exactly? When I'm first spoke to customers, I'd say "Can I help you?" and they'd respond with a Northern Irish (Belfast) "I'm Gettin' thanks". Simply put, this means "I'm being served". So, now I ask "Are you getting okay?", and people understand me. Strange eh?



PHEW!

Did you make it through the list? Lots there eh?

Hope you enjoyed that! There are many many more where that came from....

Till next time...

Keep Smilin'

M. 

What's that Mean? - Are You Gettin'?

Are You Gettin'? 

I'm gettin' 

[Northern Irish]

Definition: 

Are you being served? 

I'm being served

Origins: 

Wish I knew, but it seems to be a Northern Irish phrase. 

When I started my job in a cafe, I noticed a strange phrase that customers kept saying every time I asked "Can I help you?". They would respond with a "I'm gettin'". For weeks I wondered, "What the heck are they saying?".  Sure it all sounds self explanatory, but for a girl who doesn't quite "get" the Northern Irish accent all the time, "I'm gettin'" can be a bit confusing. 

Anywho, now I've come to understand these Northern Irish folk. I ask people "Are you gettin?" and they happily respond with a "I'm gettin'". It's a strage phrase to say, but if it helps people understand me, I suppose I will assimilate. 

Keep Smilin'!

M. 

Back to Porridge

Well folks, Christmas is over, New Years has come and gone and it's time to find normality in the world again. Time to get back into the groove again, time to get "back to porridge".

I came across this phrase on twitter last week from some Northern Irish establishments and wondered "what the heck does that mean, and where does that even come from?". Well, I haven't been able to find the exact source, but I think I've been able to piece something together with the power of google! 

First off, "back to porridge" basically means, "back to work" or "back to reality". I'm assuming porridge is supposed to symbolize going back to your regular boring meals unlike the fancy ones you may have enjoyed during the holidays. 

After doing some googling, I discovered that the phrase appears in many Northern Irish sources, but then I found the phrase "back to purridge and auld clathe", which seems to come from the Old Scots dialect meaning "back to porridge and old clothes".  Similar no?! I'm going to go ahead and take an educated guess, and say that some how, somewhere, the Scottish influenced the Northern Irish because of their proximity to one another. 

So, ANYWAY, it's back to porridge guys. Have you noticed the abundance of diet pills and gym ads that have appeared after New Years? Maybe back to porridge is really just a way of saying "Guys, go on a diet will ya!".

I hope you all had a lovely holiday season. I know I did. There was loads of food to be eaten, and people to see. I even got a chance to see some sheep up close! But what else is new right? 

Keep Smilin' 

M. 

What's that mean? - Craic [Irish]

CRAIC

[Pronounced: crack] 

Definition: 

Fun

Origins: 

Irish Gaelic

but.. the Irish Gaelic took it from the Scots language who would use the spelling "crack". 

Like anything that's to do with anything in Ireland, it's a bit complicated... 

Apparently there are some English folks who don't like that the Irish adopted their own spelling of the word.
 Another interesting fact, the Gaelic language doesn't use the letter "k". This may be another reason for the change. I'm not a linguist so I don't want to get into it too much... but lets just say, it's a relatively "new" word used in Ireland, though you wouldn't think it. The Irish use the word craic like they drink their Guinness, which is all the time. 

'Craic' used in a Sentence: 

Irish Fella #1: "What's the craic?

Irish Fella #2: "The craic is good" 

Irish guy is at a party, he wants his mates there, but they are a bit reluctant. 

In order to persuade them he says: 

"Come on mates, you gotta get down here, the craic is ninety"
[craic is ninety = pretty awesome] 

Aren't words fun? 

Keep Smilin', 

M.