“You’re a mouth - that’s what you are.”
If someone is described as a mouth they do one of the following:
talk too much in general; break secrets and tell everybody’s business;
or specifically talk nonsense - and this is the point that Erin is making about Michelle.
“Don’t be such a (what is this word?) of borebags.”
Borebags are, as you’d expect, extremely boring people and in this situation
Michelle is rebuking the other girls for not lighting fire to, and drinking vodka shots.
If you’re familiar with the Derry Girls series,
you’ll remember that Uncle Colm is presented as the ultimate borebag.
“And her mother worked in the Credit Union,
you might remember. Absolutely crippled with the auld gallstones so she was.”
As you’ve probably already noticed in this video we’re going through 10 ways
to speak like a Derry girl as guided by Erin, Orla, Clare and Michelle.
If we’re meeting for the first time, I’m Alister,
an English teacher and Northern Irish dialect coach. To know more about English,
languages or accents consider subscribing and clicking the bell notification.
Should you be interested in mastering your Northern Irish
accent then contact me using the details in the description below.
“Grand, I’ll meet you after school and you can beat me up.”
This translates as good, fine, alright or another common Derryism “dead-on” -
here the 1st year at the back of the bus uses it to powerful effect to mock
the other girls as she clearly has no problem with apparently being beaten up.
“Big Mandy, Big Mandy’s your sister?”
Ah, the back of the bus plot line thickens.
This word clearly isn’t confined only to Derry, but I’ve included it because I love how it’s used
to emphasize who Mandy is, and to intimidate the other girls so they backtrack on their threat.
The meaning is as you’d expect - large,
not small and in this situation - definitely not somebody you want to pick a fight with.
“I’m not gonna bother with any never sin again material ‘cos
let’s face it we’ve been there before. You know it’s balls,I know it’s balls.”
This slang word has a surprising number
of meanings and you’re welcome to explore them all in your own time.
In this instance, Michelle simply means not gonna happen,
as in her never sinning again is not gonna happen.
By the way, this video is part of my Derry Girls series. To know more about the Derry accent,
Derry slang and to analyse each character check out the playlist
right up here, after you’ve watched this video.
“Is it just a casual thing or are we talking a keeper here?”
“I’m thinking marriage.”
“Catch yourself on!”
Many people’s favourite phrase from this part of the world.
It means to stop being ridiculous and to come back to reality. With this saying, t’s certainly
clear exactly what Erin thinks about Aunt Sarah’s card reading and Michelle being taken in by it.
“Aye.” A short, easy one next up. This simply means
yes and is something you’ll also hear across the North Channel in Scotland.
“Now the wee girl claims that she’s not bothered but…”
Wee might well be the quintessential Derry word.
What do you think? Comment below?
It sometimes means small or little. Saying that
it’s also used as a nondescript adjective or adverb, to describe any or everything.
For example:
I’ll have a wee cup of tea (does not necessarily mean a small cup of tea).
Could you give me a wee helping hand (again probably doesn’t mean a small amount of help,
quite possibly a large amount of help).
“And how soon am I gonna meet this fella? Dead soon, really soon.”
An intensifier used for emphasis or as an exclamation - it’s an
adjective or adverb meaning really, very or extremely.
“And whose fault is that? If your lot had stopped invading us.”
This is a disparaging term used, by Michelle, unsurprisingly, against James,
in reference to his people (the English) having caused so much problems historically
for Ireland - they needed to study in their exams - that’s the real problem.
And that is definitely a story for another video. We’re not going down that rabbit hole today!
Should you be looking to master your Northern Irish accent then contact
me using the details in the description below.
Now, to know more about how each Derry girl speaks watch this playlist.
Or if you’d prefer to discover in detail how to do the Northern Irish accent, then watch this video.