'I will, yeah': Cork-based GP says foreign doctors in Ireland can face a slang barrier

IMO conference hears that doctors from abroad who are perfectly fluent in English can be thrown by Irish idioms

When Mohamed Elbadri asked a patient if he would quit smoking, he responded ‘I will, yeah’ — meaning that he wouldn't. Dr Elbadri acknowledged the humour in such misunderstandings but pointed out they could have serious implications. Picture: Shane O'Neill/Coalesce

A misunderstanding about the uniquely Irish phrase ‘I will, yeah’ has led a Sudanese GP working in Cork to call for more cultural supports for newly-arrived migrant doctors.

Dr Mohamed Elbadri was advising a patient about quitting smoking when some confusion arose.