Eight Irish English, or Hiberno-English, words that are "untranslatable" or "cannot be translated into another" are included in the Oxford English Dictionary's (OED) March 2025 update.
The OED is constantly updated to reflect words and phrases that have become common parlance, including terms like "generation alpha" to describe those born between 2010 and today, or "unfollow." the act of ceasing to follow someone on social media.
Additions from Ireland, as well as Southeast Asia and South Africa, are included in the OED's first quarterly update for the year.
In a statement, the OED said: "When we talk about untranslatable words, what we are actually talking about are words that have been lexicalized in one language but not in others, which is what makes them particularly intriguing."
The OED uses the takeaway meal, a spice bag, as an excellent example of this evolution of the English language, saying: "An Irish creation inspired by Chinese cuisine, with Mexican and Indian elements that all somehow work together to form a delicious whole, the spice bag is not unlike the World Englishes whose diverse vocabulary we discuss in these quarterly updates to the OED."
Here are the eight Irish English words and phrases added to the OED in March 2025:
Ludraman
Noun
Irish English (colloquial and derogatory). 1922– A lazy, unproductive, or stupid person (esp. a man).
In its latest update, the OED states that "the earliest evidence of this word’s use in English is in James Joyce’s seminal 1922 novel 'Ulysses,' in which the author spells it loodheramaun."
Blaa
Noun
Irish English. 1960– A soft white bread roll dusted with flour, particularly associated with Waterford, Ireland. Also in: Waterford blaa.
The OED says "this type of bread roll is usually thought to have been introduced to Waterford by Huguenot immigrants in the 17th century, though its exact history is difficult to determine. Possible origins could be the French words blanc ‘white’ and blé ‘wheat’, but neither of these suggestions can be substantiated."
Class
Adjective
colloquial (chiefly Irish English and English regional (northern)). As a general term of approval: excellent, fantastic, great.
The OED explains: "Class is how main character Erin describes her hometown of Derry, Northern Ireland in an episode of the first season of the popular sitcom 'Derry Girls.'
"Creator Lisa McGee’s 2018 script is quoted in the OED’s entry for the Irish and northern English usage of class as a general term of approval, which the dictionary dates back to 1981."
Debs
Noun
A formal social event (such as a dance, party, or ball), held for students in their final year of secondary school, usually towards the end of the school year. (1981)
The debs is rather like proms held in America.
It usually takes place in late summer or early autumn and is seen as a rite of passage marking the transition from school to adulthood. While the tradition has evolved since the early 1980s, it remains one of the most anticipated social events for Irish school leavers.
Spice bag
Noun
A takeaway meal usually sold from either Chinese food outlets or fish and chip shops, typically consisting of chips, shredded deep-fried chicken, fried onions, red and green peppers, chilli peppers, and jalapeño peppers, tossed together in a bag with various spices and often served with curry sauce for dipping. (2012)
A spice bag. (via @xianstreetfood, Instagram)
The OED states that "the spice bag was invented in a Chinese takeaway restaurant in Dublin called Sunflower around 2006, and indeed the OED’s first quotation for this entry is a social media post from 2012 of someone contemplating a trip to Sunflower to grab one."
Mineral
Noun
British, Irish English, and West African: a carbonated soft drink. Cf. mineral water. Not in North American use. Now apparently unusual in the United Kingdom, except as a commercial designation for soft drinks of this type. (1893)
Morto
Adjective
Irish English colloquial. Mortified, extremely embarrassed. (1991)
The Irish slang term "morto" is commonly used to describe extreme embarrassment, and over time, it was shortened to "morto" in casual speech.
For example, "I fell in front of everyone at the Debs—absolute morto!" Or "Me Ma commenting on my Instagram? Morto.""
It’s a classic example of how Irish slang often shortens or plays with words to create a unique, expressive vocabulary.
To act the maggot
Noun
Irish English. to act the maggot: to act or behave foolishly; to behave in a playful or silly way; to act the fool. (1946)
"To act the maggot" likely comes from the image of a maggot wriggling around aimlessly, much like someone fooling about instead of doing what they’re supposed to. The expression has been in use in Ireland for decades and is often said in a half-scolding, half-affectionate way.
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