General
savage
What does savage mean?
Used to intensify how good something is, like 'seriously' or 'massively'.
"I'm savage hungry, where's the food?"
Origin
Hiberno-English flip of the standard negative 'savage' into a positive intensifier, especially common in Cork and Munster. Separate from the global Gen-Z 'savage' meaning brutally blunt, though that sense also circulates online.
Frequently asked questions
What does savage mean in Irish slang?
In Ireland it usually means brilliant or great, and it can also act as an intensifier like 'savage cold' meaning very cold.
Is the Irish savage the same as the TikTok savage?
No — the TikTok sense means brutally blunt or ruthless, while the Irish sense means excellent or 'very'.
Where is savage most used in Ireland?
It's especially associated with Cork and Munster, though it's understood nationwide.
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