Irish Word Facts And Origins For St. Patrick’s Day, Beyond The Leprechaun

St. Patrick’s Day is a time for Irish-Americans to celebrate their culture. While most people think of leprechauns, gold coins and all things green, there is much more to the Irish culture than excessive drinking and the grass-colored hue. Dictionary.com exclusively shared some fun facts and origins behind Irish words.

“While the leprechaun may be one of the most familiar representations from Irish folklore, there are a number of other creatures from Irish legends and literature,” Michele Turner, CEO of Dictionary.com, said in a statement. “From spooky to silly, these characters will make for the perfect conversation topic at any St. Patrick’s Day ceilidh.”

Check out the following list of Irish vocabulary words, courtesy of Dictoinary.com, to enhance your St. Patrick’s Day knowledge:

1. Ceilidh -- A gathering where storytelling and singing are the entertainment.

2. Banshee -- From Irish folklore, a spirit who wails to let family members know one of their own is about to die. Only the rich were able to hear her cries, the legend says.

3. Cluricaun -- An Irish elf, or even a fairy, who looks like an old man. He likes to play practical jokes and is always drunk.

4. Ellén trechend -- Like Ghidorah, Ellén trechend is a three-headed monster whose origin goes back to the eighth or ninth century, but there’s debate among translators about whether the monster is a bird or dragon.

5. Craic -- Pronounced krak, a word used to describe a good time.

6. Leprechaun -- When most people hear the word leprechaun, they think of a little green man, but the word breaks down into something a bit different. It comes from the Old Irish word luchorpán, where “lu” means small and “corp” means body.

7. Usquebaugh -- Usquebaugh, pronounced “uhs-kwi-baw, -bah” means “whiskey.” It’s derived from the Gaelic phrase uisce beatha, which means “water of life.”

If you liked this article, click here to check out some quotes and sayings for St. Patrick's Day.

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