英和和英

語源

Eye dialect of them ones (“those ones”, dialectal), as a reference to us versus them (“a state of opposition between two groups, mostly based on group membership”), in mock imitation of a stereotypical parochial sectarian. Singular themmun is a back-formation from themmuns (plural). Compare ussun.

発音

• IPA: /ˈðɛmən/
• 韻: -ɛmən

名詞

themmun (plural themmuns)

1. (Northern Ireland, colloquial, chiefly humorous and in the plural) Someone on the other side of the Northern Irish sectarian divide (from the speaker's perspective).

   Antonym: ussun

使用する際の注意点

• Chiefly used in the plural themmuns to refer to the other side from the speaker collectively:

  Themmuns always get everything, and ussuns get nothing!

• However, it can also be used in the singular or (definite) plural to refer to specific individuals:

  It depends. Is he an ussun or a themmun?

• Generally used to mock sectarianism by framing both sides as cynical, arbitrary and nakedly self-interested, either to ridicule sectarian behaviour or to draw attention to the shared experiences of those on both sides of the conflict.

  If themmuns are for it, ussuns are against it!

  Well I had no choice - I had to vote for ussuns to stop themmuns getting in!