Hiberno-English

noun

Hi·​ber·​no-En·​glish hī-ˈbər-nō-ˈiŋ-glish How to pronounce Hiberno-English (audio)
hə-,
-lish
variants or less commonly Hiberno English
: the English language spoken in Ireland
Irish and British culture has numerous similarities due to proximity but the differences in phrasing inherent in the spoken language fascinate me. Even though it is the same language, Hiberno-English has … features influenced by the Irish language.Caroline, quoted in LeftLion Magazine
[Deirdre] Sullivan's ear for Hiberno-English and attentiveness to teenage worries makes this gorgeous horror tale all the more believable …Claire Hennessy
Hiberno English comes from the English Planters in Fermanagh and Tyrone.Belfast (Ireland) Telegraph

Word History

First Known Use

1860, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Hiberno-English was in 1860

Dictionary Entries Near Hiberno-English

Cite this Entry

“Hiberno-English.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Hiberno-English. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!