What’s the Irish Word for Fart? It’s “Broim”

If you’ve ever stumbled through a beginner’s Irish lesson and suddenly heard someone say “broim”, you might’ve done a double-take. No, it’s not a typo or a made-up word from a sketchy phrasebook—it’s the real, official Irish word for “fart.”

Pronounced like “brim” or sometimes stretched out to “brime,” broim is as much a part of the Irish language as sláinte or céad míle fáilte. It might sound odd to English ears, but like every language, Irish has its share of humorous, earthy vocabulary, and broim fits right in.

This little word recently made a comeback as Focal an Lae #70—Word of the Day in Irish—a fun online series helping people learn everyday terms. While learners might expect “greetings” or “weather talk,” slipping in a cheeky word like broim brings a smile and keeps things real. After all, every language has words for bodily functions, and Irish is no exception.

It’s worth noting that Irish, or Gaeilge, is a living language full of nuance and regional variety. Words like broim might not appear in formal speeches in the Dáil, but they’re part of the texture of daily life and dialect. In fact, they’re often the ones people remember most—especially when they come with a laugh.

So next time someone lets one rip, you can impress them with a quick, “Ah, broim!”—just don’t be surprised if they laugh more at your accent than the word itself.

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