Local Slang in Ireland: What Irish People Really Call Their Clothes and Shoes

When you hear someone in Dublin say they’re wearing their baggy hoodie, a loose, oversized top worn for warmth and comfort in Ireland’s damp weather. Also known as drop shoulder hoodie, it’s not just fashion—it’s survival gear.”, they’re not talking about a trend. They’re talking about life. In Ireland, clothing isn’t just about looking good—it’s about staying dry, warm, and mobile through endless rain, wind, and muddy paths. That’s why the words people use for their clothes aren’t borrowed from London or New York. They’re local, practical, and deeply tied to the climate and culture.

Take trainers, the Irish term for athletic shoes, regardless of brand or style. Also known as sneakers, it’s the word you’ll hear everywhere—from schoolyards in Cork to bus stops in Galway. Americans call them sneakers, but here, it’s trainers. And if you’re buying them from the UK, you’ll hear people say, “Get the English ones—they hold up better in the wet.” That’s not just preference. It’s experience. The same goes for zip-up hoodies, a staple in Irish wardrobes because they’re easy to pull on over damp layers. Also known as hooded zip tops, they’re not trendy. They’re essential. You won’t find someone in Donegal without one come October.

Then there’s the denim. No one says “skinny jeans” like they do in the US. In Ireland, you’ll hear “tight jeans” or “fitted jeans,” but only if they’re actually wearable after a long day walking the coast. Older women wear wide-leg jeans not because they’re fashionable—they’re because they’re easier to get on over boots and don’t pinch when you’re sitting on a cold pub bench. And when someone says “old jeans are better,” they mean they’ve been worn, washed, and weathered into the perfect shape for Irish terrain. It’s not nostalgia. It’s utility.

Even footwear has its own rules. You don’t buy “slippers” for the house—you buy “house shoes” or “indoor boots” if you live where the floor is always damp. Nurses in Limerick wear specific work shoes because the pavement is slick, and the shift is long. No one wears flats. No one wears thin soles. You learn fast what to avoid: patent leather, high heels, anything without grip. The local slang isn’t about being cute. It’s about not slipping, not freezing, not getting soaked.

And it’s not just words—it’s how people talk about fit, fabric, and function. “Does it hold the heat?” “Will it survive the rain?” “Can you run for the bus in it?” These aren’t questions you ask in a mall. They’re questions you ask over tea in a kitchen. The Irish don’t follow trends. They adapt to the weather, the terrain, and the rhythm of daily life. And the slang? It’s the shorthand for that wisdom.

Below, you’ll find real guides written by people who live this. How to pick the right hoodie size for Irish winters. Why wide-leg jeans are the go-to for women over 70. What shoes actually keep your feet healthy after a 10-hour shift. No fluff. No marketing. Just the language and choices that actually work here.