
It’s a little nod to Wayne’s World, but instead of ‘party time, excellent’ (if you are aware of the cult nineties classic) I will be diving into one WORD each day. It could be something I learned, something bizarre that happened, a favourite word that I have rediscovered or just a thought that won’t leave me alone.
If you’re joining in on today’s word, feel free to use this tag to connect your post to the series: #WaynesWord
Today’s word is BALTIC.
If you’re from Northern Ireland, you will most certainly have heard someone say “It’s baltic out there!” and you will instantly know to grab a coat. In local slang, baltic doesn’t just mean cold, it means absolutely FREEZING, bitter, bone-chilling cold that cuts right through you.
The think word itself likely comes from the Baltic Sea and the surrounding Baltic countries, a part of Europe known for its harsh, icy winters. Over time, the name became shorthand in Northern Ireland for weather that feels just as cold and unforgiving.
Have you ever heard of this word being used?

I live on the SE coast of the US and it’s usually warm to face-melting hot outside here, so nope. Never heard of “baltic”. Cool local insight on the lingo. ‘Excellent, party-on!”
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Haha love it. Thanks so much Carolina!
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I’ve never heard of that saying before. I don’t imagine it would be very fun to be outside when it’s so baltic!
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Oh it’s really not, unless you’re well wrapped up.
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Not in that context
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Interesting.
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I have never heard of baltic being used that way, but I’m gonna try it out one of these days.
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I love that Neal, thank you!
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Interesting, it makes sense
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It only clicked with me recently when I was looking at the Baltic countries and thinking how cold they must be in winter.
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nope but it’s easy enough to grasp the meaning. We’d say 2brass monkeys”, maybe.
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Haha yes I’ve heard that one too!
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Never heard of Baltic being used in that sense before. New one for me.
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Love that Jean, many thanks!
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I have not heard this word in that context before, Wayne. But I have sure lived in a few places that fit the bill. Here, that kind of cold is sometimes referred to as ‘Skookum Cold’. Great (as always) animated gif. I feel the chill from it!
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Ooh that’s a new one for me Suzette!
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Awesome!!
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This is a new one for me, Wayne, although it makes perfect sense to use it when referring to the cold. Too bad it’s already warming up here…otherwise, I’d try to use it in conversation to see what kind of reaction I’d get!
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Haha well I’m just glad to hear it’s warming up for you all on that side of the world.
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That’s completely new to me!
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Love that Lynette.
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