# Going to Dublin??? well, we dont speak like this... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 2, 2000, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-dublin-well-we-dont-speak-like-this/21197 "2000-06-02T09:05:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2000, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-dublin-well-we-dont-speak-like-this/21197/1 "2000-06-02T09:05:43Z")
heres what not to do… dont ever use a single phrase from the following site… [http://homepage.tinet.ie/~nobyrne/slang.html](http://homepage.tinet.ie/~nobyrne/slang.html) If I ever come across a tourist who said that they used this site as a guide to Dublin Language I will beat them to death with their own shoes. Rest assured that very few of the words in this site are actually used in Dublin coloquialisms. Please, folks, this is the type of ignorance I hate. Ireland isnt a land of people wearing flat caps and “Head Salutes” I know that some of you will be here during the year, Its only then that I can show you what I mean… ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2000, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-dublin-well-we-dont-speak-like-this/21197/2 "2000-06-02T09:14:57Z")
For that matter, if you come to Canada you will be looked at very oddly if you say “eh!” every fourth word. Also, please refrain from looking shocked when you discover that a Montrealer does indeed speak English. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2000, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-dublin-well-we-dont-speak-like-this/21197/3 "2000-06-02T09:41:21Z")
However, all Irishmen _are_ really called Paddy 😉 OK, I’m off now. Gotta put my finger in a dyke again. The seaside type, of course. ---
**Author:** ![SwimmingRiddles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SwimmingRiddles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwimmingRiddles)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2000, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-dublin-well-we-dont-speak-like-this/21197/4 "2000-06-02T11:38:34Z")
Ah, Matt, but as an American who has spent many a day in your fair city, it is important to note that while most Montrealers DO speak English, especially people working in retail, whether they choose to pretend to not understand a word one says in English is strickly up to their disgression. (“Ah, come on, I SAID bonjour! Gimmie the bagel!”) And John, wait, does this mean that everything I’ve learned from the bastion of knowledge known as Irish spring commericals is WRONG? OH THE HORROR! (have you seen them? Horrid. A whole bunch of redheaded people skipping through the countryside with accents they learned from Lucky Charms, dancing in waterfalls, and loving the soap that smells “Like an Irish morn.” Oy.) And Coldie, just make sure you’re smoking some of that there legal “weed” that you crazy kids got over there. This has been a message from Swiddles, official representative of the American people for this thread. Drink Coca-cola and wear Levis, my friends! ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2000, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-dublin-well-we-dont-speak-like-this/21197/5 "2000-06-02T11:42:34Z")
Cut it out Swiddles, your Krispy Original impersonation is creeping me out! ---
**Author:** ![Dragwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dragwyr/32/2855_2.png) [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2000, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-dublin-well-we-dont-speak-like-this/21197/6 "2000-06-02T14:18:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > For that matter, if you come to Canada you will be looked at very oddly if you say “eh!” every fourth word. > \*\* That is probably true, but I have a friend who lives in Canada and when she comes down for the summer, she does say “eh” about every 4th word. She doesn’t even realize it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Trion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Trion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trion)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2000, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-dublin-well-we-dont-speak-like-this/21197/7 "2000-06-02T14:47:20Z")
I can tell you right now, I’d never use one of those phrases. Hell, I’d never even heard them before. And when I hear the phrase “Dip the wick” I think of something else entirely. But then, I’ve got a filthy mind. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2000, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-dublin-well-we-dont-speak-like-this/21197/8 "2000-06-02T15:36:53Z")
Trion, you have exactly the correct meaning of that phrase. ---
**Author:** ![Trion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Trion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trion)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2000, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-dublin-well-we-dont-speak-like-this/21197/9 "2000-06-02T18:00:36Z")
Thank God I got something right. 🙂 Wait, are you telling me that people in Dublin speak _American?_ Say it ain’t so, John. ---
**Author:** ![Sunshine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Sunshine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunshine)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2000, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-dublin-well-we-dont-speak-like-this/21197/10 "2000-06-02T18:21:57Z")
Is it okay to use those phrases here in the U.S.? Because, if so, I am **definitely** going to begin saying things like “He’d lick it off a scabby leg” (when refering to someone who is fond of drink) and “He’d shite in your parlour and charge you for it” (when refering to a mean person) or my personal favorite, “Don’t be actin’ the maggot!” (meaning “Stop causing trouble!”) That would be okay, wouldn’t it John? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2000, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-dublin-well-we-dont-speak-like-this/21197/11 "2000-06-02T21:15:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > For that matter, if you come to Canada you will be looked at very oddly if you say “eh!” every fourth word. > \*\* OK, I understand that, but can we talk about the “about” thing (or should I say “aboot”)? I’ve known several Canadian expatriates, and all of them said “aboot”. ---
**Author:** ![Sassy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@Sassy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sassy)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2000, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-dublin-well-we-dont-speak-like-this/21197/12 "2000-06-02T21:26:51Z")
That’s hilarious! Yer man has got some brill ones in there, but in general I have to agree with John that he’s far out of date. I have friends in Dublin, and I’ve heard only a fraction of these. Hey John - my friend is Dublin is having a birthday next week. If you track her down and buy her a drink (and her hubby) I will reimburse you. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Doobieous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/da6949/32.png) [@Doobieous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doobieous)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2000, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-dublin-well-we-dont-speak-like-this/21197/13 "2000-06-02T23:12:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > For that matter, if you come to Canada you will be looked at very oddly if you say “eh!” every fourth word. Also, please refrain from looking shocked when you discover that a Montrealer does indeed speak English. > \*\* Eh? What are you talking eh! about? 🙂 Oh and for those of you who havent been to California yet, we do not all speak like surfers! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2000, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-dublin-well-we-dont-speak-like-this/21197/14 "2000-06-02T23:23:37Z")
> [@](#): > > **Eh? What are you talking eh! about? 🙂** Doncha mean ‘aboot’, Doobs? ::Runs from his fellow Canucks…:: ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2000, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-dublin-well-we-dont-speak-like-this/21197/15 "2000-06-02T23:26:26Z")
We don’t say “aboat”; we use a vowel somewhere between o and oo. Unlike you, we do not say “abaaahlt.” ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2000, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-dublin-well-we-dont-speak-like-this/21197/16 "2000-06-03T00:15:19Z")
> [@](#): > > **matt mcl:** > We don’t say “aboat”; we use a vowel somewhere between o and oo. Unlike you, we do not say “abaaahlt.” If you don’t know the difference between English “Al” and “ow”, maybe we shouldn’t pretend you speak the same language. It is not “abalt”, it is more like “ab-ah-oht” said _trés_ quickly (at least here in the MidSouth; I don’t know about those Yankees).