You needn’t have lived in Ireland very long to be familiar with the term “craic.” But where did this word come from and what exactly does someone mean when they say it?
Back in Ye Olde English days, the word “craician” meant to make a loud noise or to brag/boast. This word was then taken into the Irish vernacular and used to describe the sound of loud thunder or a cracking whip. Eventually, it simply referred to any loud noise or commotion.
By the 20th century, the loud noise and commotion Irish people associated the word with was that made during gatherings or enjoyable experiences (see where this is going?), and the word got shortened—giving birth to the “craic” as we know it today.
But the evolution didn’t stop there. It began to encompass all the positive aspects of social interactions and experiences including gossip (“What’s the craic?”), entertainment (“How’s the craic?”), great conversation (“They’re great craic!”), and general fun (“It was good craic!”).
In fact, the Irish take their craic so seriously that there are actually SIX levels into which the craic could be categorized. So,study up, and after your next social outing you can be certain exactly how much craic was had:
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THE CRAIC WAS NINETY
The absolute Nirvana of craic. One for the books. The pints, the people, the vibe—everything was AMAZING!!!
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DEADLY CRAIC
Incredible fun, good times, but not peak craic. |
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SAVAGE CRAIC
A step below Deadly. Drinks were flowing, everyone was getting along, plenty of laughs.
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MIGHTY CRAIC
Great stories, memorable moments (probably most nights out with your best mates). |
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GOOD CRAIC
Decent, good fun, but maybe not the best time you’ve ever had. |
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MINUS CRAIC
You should’ve stayed home with that tub of Ben & Jerry’s |
Gabby Dunne was born and raised in Las Vegas, NV, and never left the States before meeting her Irish husband on the Vegas Strip. She moved to Dublin a year later and has been here for 12 years. She has one son and two stepchildren, and she works in early intervention for neurodiverse children. Gabby joined the AWCD in 2023 and is 'finally reconnecting with [her] American side!'
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