12 familiar English words you didn't realise came from the Irish language

As St Patrick's Day approaches, many celebrate Irish culture, but did you know that our native language has influenced English with everyday words like 'hooligan', 'whiskey' and 'tory'...

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With St Patrick's Day approaching, many of us will be celebrating Irish culture - whether by attending parades, wearing green or enjoying a pint of Guinness.

But did you know the Irish language has left its mark on the English language in more ways than you might think? From smithereens to tory, there are many common words that you probably didn’t realise have Irish roots.

The Irish language, or Gaeilge, was once the predominant language of Ireland and it continues to thrive across the country. It has also been spread across the globe through the wide-ranging Irish diaspora.

According to the most recent census, 39.8% of respondents in the Republic and 10.65% of the respondents in the North claimed they could speak the language.

The language’s influence on modern English is evident and is responsible for many everyday words.

Here are 12 everyday English words that you didn't realise came from the Irish language

Hooligan

Hooligan - meaning someone who takes part in rowdy behaviour - is said to have come from the Irish family name O hUallachain, which was anglicised as O'Houlihan.

A popular British music hall song of the 1890s referenced the fictional Irish fighting family of O hUallachain, who were known for their bad social behaviour.

Tory

The word Tory, often used to refer to a member of the UK Conservative Party, comes from the Irish Gaelic word ‘toraidhe’ meaning outlaw or robber. The phrase was popular in the 17th century when it was meant as an insult.

Whiskey

Whiskey is the English interpretation of an old Irish name for the drink - uisce beatha which means water of life. The uisce part was anglicised to become whiskey, and in some parts of Ireland it is still pronounced whish-key.

Clock

The word clock can be traced back to old Irish words clagan and clocca, both meaning 'bell', which references hand-bells used by early Irish missionaries.

Galore

Galore comes from go leor which is the Irish phrase for 'there was a lot of something'. The only difference between the pair is the spelling, as they both have the similar pronunciations.

Slogan

Slogan comes from the phrase sluagh-ghairm, which can be traced back to the 1670s when it was apparently used as a battle cry by Irish clans. It's derived from the Irish sluagh-ghairm, meaning army shout.

Bother

There are two possible Irish words that influenced the English word bother. It could come from bodhar which means deaf/bothered/confused or from bodhraigh which means to deafen/annoy.

Lough

Lough, which is used to refer to a lake, comes from the Irish loch.

Smithereens

Smithereens is made up of the word ‘smithers’, with the Irish diminutive ending ‘eens’. It was likely developed from the Irish word smidirini, which means little bits.

Cross

The ultimate source of this word is the Latin crux, but some sources say the English word comes from Old Irish cros.

Slob

The English word slob, which means "an untidy, sloppy, or lazy person", derives from the Irish Gaelic word slab, which means mud.

Trousers

The word trousers derives from the Gaelic words triubhas or trius. This was taken into English in the sixteenth century and became trouse before becoming the word we now use.

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