brogue: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Neutral to formal for the accent sense; standard for the shoe sense.
Quick answer
What does “brogue” mean?
A strong outdoor shoe, typically made of leather and often with decorative perforations.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A strong outdoor shoe, typically made of leather and often with decorative perforations.
A distinctive regional or national accent, especially a strong Irish accent.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both senses are understood, but the 'shoe' sense is more common in both varieties. In the UK, the term for the shoe is strongly associated with classic country or walking footwear. The 'accent' sense is more frequently used in the UK/Irish context than in the US.
Connotations
For the shoe: rustic, durable, traditional, upper-middle class (in a UK context). For the accent: often charming, melodic, sometimes stereotyped.
Frequency
The word is relatively low-frequency. The 'accent' sense is more likely to appear in literature, film criticism, or discussions of dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “brogue” in a Sentence
speak with a [ADJECTIVE] broguehave a [ADJECTIVE] broguewear [ADJECTIVE] broguesdetect a faint brogueVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “brogue” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- His brogue accent was unmistakable.
- He preferred a classic brogue style for his formal shoes.
American English
- She loved his slight brogue lilt.
- The wingtip brogue design is popular here.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in marketing for high-end footwear or in discussions of personal branding regarding accent.
Academic
Used in linguistics, sociolinguistics, and dialectology to describe specific Irish English accents.
Everyday
Most common when describing someone's noticeable Irish accent or a specific style of sturdy shoe.
Technical
In shoemaking, refers to a shoe with perforated decorative patterns (full brogue, semi-brogue, quarter brogue).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “brogue”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “brogue”
- Using 'brogue' to describe any strong accent (it's strongly associated with Ireland/Scotland).
- Misspelling as 'brog' or 'broag'.
- Pronouncing the final 'gue' as /g/ instead of /g/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, though it is most strongly associated with Ireland, it can be used informally for a broad Scottish accent as well, but 'burr' is also a common term for Scottish accents.
No. A brogue specifically refers to a style of shoe (often Oxford or Derby) characterised by decorative perforations (broguing) along the seam edges.
Not inherently. It is a descriptive term. Like any description of a person's accent, tone and context matter. It can be used positively ('a charming brogue') or neutrally.
They are different classifications. 'Oxford' refers to a shoe's closure system (closed lacing). 'Brogue' refers to the decorative perforations. You can have an Oxford shoe that is also a brogue (a 'brogued Oxford').
A strong outdoor shoe, typically made of leather and often with decorative perforations.
Brogue is usually neutral to formal for the accent sense; standard for the shoe sense. in register.
Brogue: in British English it is pronounced /brəʊɡ/, and in American English it is pronounced /broʊɡ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To have the brogue on one's tongue (archaic).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a Irish storyteller (with a strong brogue) wearing heavy leather shoes (brogues) while walking the bog.
Conceptual Metaphor
AN ACCENT IS A TEXTURE ON SPEECH (a thick brogue). A SHOE IS A TOOL FOR A LIFESTYLE (country brogues for a rustic life).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'brogue' LEAST likely to be used correctly?