What are Irish twins? Meaning of the phrase explained - and it has an offensive history

The phrase 'Irish twins' is one you've likely heard tossed around in conversation or perhaps in a film or TV series, like the other popular term, the Irish goodbye .

It's a term with a specific meaning - it refers to a mother giving birth to two children within 12 months. So, if you and your sibling are the same age at any point, even for just a day, you're considered 'Irish twins'.

But what's the origin of this term? We've done some digging and the answer is quite intriguing.

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What does Irish Twins mean?

As we've established, 'Irish twins' is a term used when a mother has two children within the same year. But why is it specifically 'Irish'?

Like many idioms and phrases, the origin of the term probably doesn't actually trace back to Ireland itself.

In fact, it's more likely that this phrase, along with other well-known sayings, was once used as a derogatory remark towards the Irish.

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Historically, Irish Catholic families were often larger than those from other backgrounds due to various factors such as religion, lack of education about birth control, cultural practices, and economic circumstances.

Some suggest that it's an American term used to belittle the Irish community that had migrated to the US in the past, leading some to view it as an offensive term.

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While it's highly probable that the term was once used as an insult towards Irish people with large families, today it carries a different connotation that isn't particularly associated with contemporary Ireland.

Over time, the term has evolved in meaning and it's unlikely to cause offence to an Irish person if used in their presence.

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