If Des MacHale had to pick a favorite from the collection of insulting and confusing words that make up Cork slang, it would have to be “langer.” Depending on how it’s said and the situation, it can mean idiot, drunkenness, or penis. This versatility confuses outsiders and makes the word even more valuable. “Langer is an absolutely beautiful word. I’m very fond of it,” says MacHale.
That’s why it’s in the title of his new book, Langers & Lashes: A Compendium of Cork Slang. The book claims to be the most complete collection of the crude, playful, harsh, and clever wordplay that colors speech in Ireland’s second city.
“It’s an incredibly rich area that most dictionaries avoid,” MacHale says. “It’s a very real part of language that hasn’t been taken very seriously until now.”
In the foreword, the publisher, Mercier, said it added explanatory notes to highlight some terms’ “historical context and outdated social views” and that including them didn’t mean they were endorsed. “By keeping these terms as artifacts of the past, we hope to encourage today’s Cork speakers to embrace the city’s famous wit while rejecting harmful stereotypes.”
Sex, drink, and religion are common themes. A “premature ejaculator” – a term credited to the late Cork actor and comedian Niall Tóibín – is a man who has to go to the bathroom after only three pints. “Immaculate conception” describes drinkers who avoid paying for their round. “Lash” is an attractive woman.
Cork – known in Ireland as the rebel county and also the people’s republic of Cork – uses local slang more than other parts of the island, says MacHale. “Cork slang is very different from Dublin slang, and from Belfast, and from Galway. It’s much more widespread.”
MacHale is an unlikely person to document this. The 80-year-old academic is from County Mayo, and his background is in math, not language. “I’ve been here for about 55 years, so I’m still seen as a blow-in.”
The emeritus professor at University College Cork has written dozens of books on puzzles and humor, including a book of Kerryman jokes that still sells 50 years after it was first published. “A mathematician likes to collect, classify, and put things together,” MacHale explained.
His credibility on Cork slang is boosted by having five Cork-born children, including actor Dominic MacHale, who plays Sergeant Healy in the BBC sitcom Young Offenders, a show about hopeless delinquents.
For the compendium, MacHale used two earlier books on Cork slang that are no longer in print, as well as conversations with Cork residents. “Nearly everyone you meet has a new word,” he says. “I’m not sure why, but women seem to be much better at remembering the words and using them than men.”
Under A, there’s “all-a-bah,” a warning you give when someone is about to vomit. A person who is “all Gillette” is dressed up.
Brussels sprouts are “balls of the cabbage.” To be ill is to feel “like a small hospital” or to be “barely above ground.” A “wooden suit” is a coffin. “Bazz” is female pubic hair, not to be confused with “bazzer,” a cheap, self-done haircut, or “bozzer,” an attractive person.
To “be doggy wide” is to be very careful. A “belly bachelor” is someone who makes friends just to get free meals. To tell someone to get lost, you say: “bite the back of me bollix.”
To “lob the gob” is to try to kiss someone. A “martyr for the quare thing” is someone with a strong sex drive. To “fertilise the stars” is to urinate in a field, and to “raise the froth” is to urinate a lot.
A “dullamoo” – derived from a”G dul amú” is Irish for “getting lost” and refers to an unreliable person. A “gedgemeen” is a small, unhappy person. Not all of these terms were necessarily invented in Cork, but they are commonly heard there, according to MacHale.
“Tosser” — defined as a synonym for “langer” — made a controversial appearance in parliament this week. During a clash with the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, opposition leader Mary Lou McDonald said, “Jesus, he really is a tosser.” That remark was officially recorded in the Dáil record.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about the new book on Cork slang covering definitions benefits and practical tips
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 What is this book about
Its a guide to the unique slang used in Cork Ireland It explains words like lashes and langers
2 Who is this book for
Anyone who visits Cork moves there or just loves Irish dialects Its also great for locals who want to understand the history behind their own words
3 What does bozzers mean
Bozzers is Cork slang for something that is brilliant excellent or very cool If something is pure bozzers its topnotch
4 What is a belly bachelor
Its a funny Cork term for the last sausage left on a plate Its the lonely one nobody picked up first
5 Is this book just a dictionary
No its more than that It breaks down why people use these words where they came from and how to use them naturally in conversation
Advanced Practical Questions
6 Does the book explain the difference between Cork slang and general Irish slang
Yes It focuses specifically on Cork city and county terms which are often very different from Dublin or Northern Irish slang It highlights words that would confuse people from other parts of Ireland
7 Will the book help me avoid embarrassing mistakes
Absolutely For example lashes means fun not eyelashes The book gives context so you dont accidentally ask someone for a few lashes in the wrong way
8 Are there pronunciation guides
Yes it includes phonetic spellings For instance it explains how langers is said with a short a and a hard g
9 Can I use this book to learn how to insult someone in Cork
Not really The focus is on friendly everyday banter While some words can be sharp the book emphasizes the humorous and welcoming nature of the slang not aggressive insults
10 Does the book cover modern slang or just old terms
It covers both It includes classic terms like belly bachelor but also modern or evolving slang
