A few important Irish-English definitions

There are some terms in Irish English that vary from standard usage enough to be confusing to a visitor.

Even some words in European English may be unfamiliar to those who speak American. The Irish use a few terms that are unique.


Irish-English	Standard English
Brilliant	Excellent	Does not connote "intelligent," but "superlative." A person, for example, can be "brilliant" without being especially bright. An event or piece of information, for example, too, can be "brilliant."
Ignorant	Rude	Does not connote lack of education, awareness, nor — as implied in a nuance of the standard English — a lack of interest in awareness and education. "Ignorance," in Ireland, is rudeness.
Harmless	Naïve, simple.
Bold	Ill-behaved, disrespectful.