The Little Book of Irishisms

by Aimee Alexander

If an Irish person said to you, “Gimmie that yoke,” would you think they were talking about an egg? If so, 99% of the time, you’d be wrong. How about banjaxed, bockety or craic? Any idea what they mean?

The Little Book of Irishisms is for anyone who wants to understand the Irish, not just how we speak English, but how we are as people, relaxed about some things, picky about others.

It’s also for those who'd like to sound Irish, even just for St. Patrick’s Day. An ambitious goal. But why not “give it a lash for the craic?”

In this little book, you’ll learn handy tricks to Irishify your sentences – and how to avoid those clangers that people think we say but never actually do, like the classic, “Top of the morning to you.”

You’ll even achieve the impossible and discover how to pronounce Irish names – like Clodagh, Tadhgh or Caoilfhinn. Call it a public service.

If you’re coming to Ireland and want to fit right in, this book’s for you. If you can’t make it to our little nation, here’s a way of visiting in spirit. “Go on, go on, go on. You will, you will, you will,” to quote the infamous Irish comedy, Father Ted.

The Little Book of Irishisms is the perfect gift for anyone who enjoys being part of the Irish community. Surprise them on Paddy's Day, Christmas, birthdays... Sure you don't need an excuse. Just surprise them.

Genres: Ireland, Nonfiction

168 pages, Paperback

Published March 4, 2021

About the author

Aimee Alexander is the pen name of bestselling Irish author, Denise Deegan. Denise writes contemporary teenage fiction under her own name. As Aimee Alexander, she writes contemporary adult fiction that focuses, largely, on family and relationships.

For more information visit: https://aimeealexander.com

For news on new books and offers and to receive a free copy of Aimee's short story, Checkout Girl, visit: http://eepurl.com/-II1X

Happy reading x

Reviews

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have two favorite Irish authors and sometimes find myself wondering what a phrase that they’ve written means. My first couple trips to the fair island, I occasionally wondered what something meant. If you’ve found yourself in either position, or one similar, this is the book for you. It’s everything I wondered about and more. For your own use or as a gift, it’s a great purchase altogether.

[Joy Gerbode · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of fun, teaching simple ways to speak and sound Irish. Simple ideas, helps for a good understanding of what is truly Irish, and what is "American Irish".

[Nicola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this on my lunch in work!!! I am Irish living abroad so it was fun to read the language i miss every day and still use a lot and get all the strange looks off people! If you know any Irish people read this and use the language with them! It will be fun for everyone

[Elise Chandler · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much craic and fierce informative too!

[Sean Meagher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little book is feckin’ good craic

[Cyndar · Rating 5 out of 5]

By the time you finish the book, and stop laughing, you will really be able to use a lot of Irish words. I particularly enjoyed the section on insults, and all the phrases that show the warmth and great spirit of Ireland.
When I first saw the fun cover of the book, I knew I was in for some laughs and good craic. Even the font was easy on the eyes The index and glossary make it easy to find the expressions I want to use. I noticed that we have adoped many of these in the United States, and it is good to add to that knowledge.
I read it straight through (more than once) and actually escaped the problems and worries of today's world. The lighthearted illustrations add to the fun. I want to emphasize how much I laughed while reading this book. It is wonderful . If you read at night or early in the morning, be careful not to awaken the entire family with bursts of laughter and mirth. Read it because it is tons of fun and really good craic. I am feeling knackered from laughing, so I m hitting the scratcher. Nite-nite, all.

[Luisa Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Never having been to Ireland (a situation I aim to change one day), I know that when I do get there I’ll be well prepared having this little volume in my luggage. Such fun, it’s humorous and wry and an enjoyable quick read. It could also be a useful reference for any writers who might want to include Irish characters and need some appropriate turns of phrase. The cartoons add a quirky and light-hearted touch, complementing the text perfectly. It’s broken up into handy sections and ends with a glossary so it would be easy to dive in at the bit you need. A particularly helpful part is the guide to pronouncing Irish names.
All in all, a perfect gift for an Irish person or for anyone remotely interested in Ireland, its culture and people. Highly recommended.

[Melanie Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book! Having had the good fortune to travel in Ireland twice, I wish I could have had this book with me. It not only delves into the meanings of common Irish terms, but informs you of what NOT to say. I am an avid reader, having read 77 books in 2020, a number of which are by Irish authors. I will now be able to use this book as a dictionary instead of Googling every term I do not understand. The cover is awesome, as well as the illustrations. My daughter and I plan a trip to Dublin and Scotland in 2022. I will be getting her a copy of this book as a gift so that she can have it handy while in Dublin.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely presentation of much used Irish turns of phrase.

[Josephine · Rating 3 out of 5]

It should be go n-éirí on page 136 not go néirí. I don’t know if the English stuff is right or wrong. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Frankie✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

So fun and useful! 💚

[Lauren · Rating 1 out of 5]

Silly.

[Stan Morrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a gem of a reference book for all admirers of the Irish.

Here is a “Fun” reference book in which Aimee Alexander the accomplished novelist shows us how her beloved Irish have adapted the English language to their own unique and amusing use.
As a casual reader you will enjoy the humour and insight which lives on every page. It is also a handy source for anyone planning to visit Ireland, or anyone who enjoys Irish films, TV and books. With it you will be able to understand the nuances of a conversation heard in a bus or a pub – and it is crammed with tips on how to avoid the blunders that strangers often make.

The body of the book is divided into sections which use gentle humour to deliver their messages. The first is logically, “How to say Hello like an Irish person”. Then “Ask us how we are” and correctly understand the answer you might receive such as “Ah, sure, you know yourself”. Then “Want to get us talking?” which we know is a great ice breaker. And a host of other sections.

Each section is a gem but I desperately need to study “Irish names and how to pronounce them”. Like what do you call a girl whose name is written “Aoife” … and how to write the name that sounds like “DEER-mid?” This could be a mine field for the un-informed. “Impress with some Irish language words” like Failte could also be useful when you get it right.

The icing on the cake is the Glossary – an alphabetic dictionary of the words you might need in a hurry.

I would love to have this as an e-book to take along in my phone. However it would not be the same without its beautiful cover and without the little pen-and-ink sketches scattered through its pages. For now it will enhance my bookshelf as a ready reference, and I will make space for it in one of my pockets whenever I go travelling on the Emerald Isle. There could not be a better read on the flight going there.