Irie

adjective eye-REE /aɪˈriː/

Also spelled irey, iri

Good, pleasing, and at peace — a state of everything being right and in harmony. One of the most beloved and widely known words of Rastafari and reggae, 'irie' describes both a feeling and a situation, and it works as a greeting, an answer, and a general expression of approval: 'everyting irie' means all is well, and 'mi feel irie' is I feel good and content. It carries the whole cast of positive, peaceful, upful vibration the culture prizes, and it has spread far beyond Jamaica as a word for pure well-being.

  • Everyting irie.

    Everything is fine.

    The most common usage — a reassurance that all is well.

  • Mi feel irie dis mawnin.

    I feel great this morning.

  • Di vibes at di beach did irie.

    The vibe at the beach was wonderful.

Rooted in Rastafari speech, where it carries the sense of being spiritually and emotionally elevated. Often linked to English "alright" reshaped through the Rastafari practice of building words that sound positive.

Carries more weight in Rastafari contexts, where being irie is closer to inner peace than to casual 'okay'. Widely adopted internationally through reggae, sometimes with the spiritual depth flattened out.