Sometimes, America and Ireland are two countries separated by a common language.
Hiberno-English refers to the various forms of the English language spoken in Ireland. There are differences between Hiberno-English and American English, including variations in pronunciation, vocabulary, and some grammatical structures.
Some words have different meanings in Hiberno-English compared to American English. For example, in Ireland, "jumper" is used to refer to a sweater, while in the United States, "jumper" typically means a person who jumps, or it can refer to a type of dress. The word "boot" in Ireland refers to the trunk of a car, while in the United States, it is more commonly used to describe footwear.
It can be a minefield!
Here are some words that mean very different things in Ireland and America
Jumper
In Ireland, a jumper is a sweater, while in the US, a jumper is a person who jumps - though it can also mean a certain type of dress.
Boot
The word "boot" in Ireland refers to the trunk of a car, while in the US, it is more commonly used to describe footwear.
Table
As in “table a motion.” In the US, it means to remove and end the motion, and in Ireland, it means present it.
Ride
Asking for a ride in the US means you need a lift. In Ireland, it means you're asking someone to get intimate with you.
Chemist
A chemist would be known as a pharmacist in the US.
Chemist means two different things in Ireland and America
Chips
This means french fries in Ireland and potato chips in America.
Fanny
Be especially careful with this one! Fanny means backside in the US, but vagina in Ireland.
Football
Means soccer in Ireland, and American football in the US.
Football is a word that has different meanings to people from the US and Ireland
Bonnet
Get your driving terms straight! In Ireland, bonnet means the hood of the car while in America it is a child’s head covering.
Grand
In Ireland, "grand" means fine, while in the US, it used to refer size - large size!
* Originally published June 2014. Updated in 2024
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