Begorra

/bɪˈɡɔːrə/ exclamation

Definition

An Irish English exclamation of surprise or emphasis, a mild oath that's a euphemistic alteration of 'by God'.

Etymology

Irish English dialect form, from 'by God' with phonetic transformation. The 'be-' derives from 'by,' and the consonant cluster shifted through Irish English sound patterns.

Kelly Says

'Begorra' became so associated with stereotypical Irish English that it's now found mainly in caricatures and historical texts—it's a word that was real and commonly used in Irish English speech but has become almost a parody of itself in modern usage.

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