London slang: What Irish People Really Call Their Shoes, Clothes, and Gear

When you hear someone say London slang, a set of informal words and phrases used in London, often influencing UK and Irish everyday speech. Also known as Cockney rhyming slang, it has shaped how people in Ireland talk about clothes, shoes, and style. But here’s the thing—Irish people didn’t just copy it. They twisted it, dropped it, or replaced it with their own version. You won’t hear "sneakers" much in Dublin, Galway, or Cork. You’ll hear "trainers." And that’s not just a preference—it’s cultural DNA. The same goes for "slippers," "hoodie," and even "suit." These aren’t just words. They’re clues to how people live here: wet streets, cold winds, and a deep dislike for anything that doesn’t actually work.

Take Irish footwear, the practical, weather-tested shoes worn daily across Ireland, from city pavements to rural lanes. In London, you might say "trainers," but in Ireland, that’s the only word. No "sneakers." No "athletics." Just "trainers." And it’s not because people are lazy with language—it’s because the shoes have to handle rain, mud, cobblestones, and 10-kilometer walks to the pub. Same with sportswear, clothing designed for physical activity, but in Ireland, often worn for commuting, walking the dog, or waiting at the bus stop. A hoodie isn’t gym gear here—it’s your outer layer in April, June, and October. It doesn’t matter if it’s branded as "sportswear." If it keeps you dry, it’s just your jacket.

And then there’s the suit. In London, you might say "bespoke." In Ireland, you say "did it last through three funerals?" That’s the real test. The most worn shoe? Waterproof walking boot. The most trusted jacket? Not the one with the logo—the one that doesn’t leak when you’re caught in a downpour on the DART. These aren’t fashion choices. They’re survival tactics shaped by weather, history, and quiet pragmatism. And while London slang might have started some of these terms, Ireland didn’t just adopt them—it rewrote their meaning. You won’t find a single Irish person who calls their indoor shoes "slippers" the way Americans do. They’re warm, rubber-soled, and meant for damp kitchens. That’s not slang. That’s life.

What you’ll find below isn’t a dictionary of British phrases. It’s a map of how Irish people actually talk about what they wear—day after day, rain or shine. You’ll learn why "trainers" beat "sneakers," why a 70-year-old woman wears the same jeans as her granddaughter, and why a £150 suit can look better than a £500 one in this climate. These aren’t trends. They’re truths. And they’re written in the language of the streets, not the runway.