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jackeen

(Ireland, derogatory) An arrogant lower-class person, especially in Dublin.

ˈdʒækiːn187 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
🗺️ Regional & Other
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#1·Apr 27, 2026

(Ireland, derogatory) An arrogant lower-class person, especially in Dublin.

A buckeen, a jackeen, a squireen, or any of the intermediate classes.
Origin: From , from Jack being a common English name. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
For parents

Jackeen means: An arrogant lower-class person, especially in Dublin.. It is mainly Irish English and may not be understood outside that context. It is generally derogatory or offensive; worth a quiet word about how it lands on the person being described. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.

For ESL learners

jackeen means: An arrogant lower-class person, especially in Dublin.. Register: very informal, often derogatory or vulgar. Avoid in formal, business, academic, or polite writing. Even in casual speech the word can offend and is best left out of a learner's active vocabulary. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.

Cluster: insult
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#2·Apr 27, 2026

(Ireland, derogatory, ethnic slur) , especially (obsolete, _, or, _, historic) an excessively Anglophile one.

Jackeens loitering about the Dublin theatres.
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For specific readers

Jackeen means: An arrogant lower-class person, especially in Dublin.. It is mainly Irish English and may not be understood outside that context. It is generally derogatory or offensive; worth a quiet word about how it lands on the person being described. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.

Why is this section here?

Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.

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