A way with words - Local dialect

  • DebF_EONNext's Avatar
    Community Team
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    Aren't words funny 🤔 I came across a post on social media yesterday where someone said they had "brought" something from the shops and it started a huge debate about different words for instance is it:

    • Brought / bought
    • Draws / drawers
    • Roll / bun / cob / bap

    After this it then got on to the different words used in different regions, this thread went on FOREVER 😆 but it was certainly entertaining.

    I thought I would share some of the words from my local dialect (East Scotland) that for years confused my Husband (he's from Lincs):

    • Bunker = Worktop - "Ah left ma keys on the bunker" (I left my keys on the worktop)
    • Messages = Shopping - "Ah need tae nip and get the messages" (I need to go get the shopping)
    • Bucket = Bin - "Put that in the bucket when you're finished wi it" (Put that in the bin when you're finished with it)
    • Chum = Accompany - "Dae you want to chum me to get the messages" (Do you want to come with me to get the shopping)
    • Piece = Sandwich - "Can ah huv a piece on cheese" (Can I have a cheese sandwich)
    • Outwith = Beyond - "Sorry it's outwith ma control" (Sorry it's beyond my control)

    What words are local to you that people not from your area might think are a bit odd? Are there words that you've picked up along the way that you had no idea were local to you? For me it was outwith I had no idea this wasn't used outside of Scotland, I thought everyone used it 😂

    Last edited by DebF_EONNext; 16-05-23 at 10:19.
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  • 40 Replies

  • WizzyWigg's Avatar
    Level 86
    @DebF_EONNext

    My south of England friends look at me strangely when I tell them I'm going to pop down the 'ginnel ' to the shops. It's a Yorkshire word that's use a lot in Lancashire. Ginnel - A fenced alleyway between buildings.
  • Tommysgirl's Avatar
    Guest
    @DebF_EONNext and @WizzyWigg

    We have lots of local dialect words in the North East of England but I'll only mention a few:
    Tankie: The old steam train that used to transport the coal from local mines to the sea ports ;
    Lonnen: A narrow lane or street between hedges;
    Gadgie: A man, usually an old man;
    Hacky: Grubby, filthy or dirty;
    Netty: Toilet (lavatory), believed to date back to the Romans who called their version of toilets Gabinetti, and the word is still used in Italy today;
    Worky ticket: Someone who is misbehaving, particularly a child;
    Dancing the Rapper: Throwing a tantrum involving stamping the feet. Derives from a Northumbrian type of sword dance, the rappers were the swords, or their equivalents.
    Last edited by Tommysgirl; 16-05-23 at 14:01. Reason: Adding info
  • meldrewreborn's Avatar
    Level 91
    @Tommysgirl

    I liked clarts, which i think the rest of know as cow pats - "in the clarts" was the phrase.
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  • Tommysgirl's Avatar
    Guest
    @Tommysgirl

    I liked clarts, which i think the rest of know as cow pats - "in the clarts" was the phrase.
    That's exactly right. Clarty can also mean muddy.
  • retrotecchie's Avatar
    Level 92
    @Tommysgirl

    I've heard use of the term for other purposes too, especially in Cumbria. If the weather is a bit wet and murky, it's 'clarty out'.

    I believe 'dreich' is the Scots term for wet and grey weather, and it would be 'yampy' in the Black Country. Hereabouts, it's 'gwynt a glaw' - wet and windy.

    The Welsh have some great words - entirely made up mostly, but very funny. An 'oven' or a bakery is known as a popty. A microwave oven is a therefore a 'popty ping'.

    The Welsh for 'fish' is pysgod. A jelly fish is a 'pysgod wibli wobli'.

    I think it may just have been a 'Surrey thing', but does anyone else refer to woodlice as 'Cheesybobs'?


    Last edited by retrotecchie; 16-05-23 at 15:14.
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  • Tommysgirl's Avatar
    Guest
    @retrotecchie
    Dreich is the Scots term for wet and grey weather. They say it in the very north of Northumberland too.

    Popty ping is a great name for a microwave oven.🤣

    We don't refer to woodlice as cheesy bobs in Northumberland. We call earwigs: 'Forky Tails'; and craneflies: 'Daddy Long Legs' or 'Johnny Spinners'.
  • Tommysgirl's Avatar
    Guest
    @retrotecchie

    Another one of our North East ones I've just though of is:' Cuddy', which is a donkey.
    If someone is said to 'have the cuddy on their back' it means they are in a bad mood or temper.
    Pysgod wibli wobli is very funny for jellyfish😂
    Last edited by Tommysgirl; 16-05-23 at 18:53. Reason: Adding info
  • DebF_EONNext's Avatar
    Community Team
    @WizzyWigg we call it a vennel or a close.
    @Tommysgirl we use gadgie too!
    @meldrewreborn I'm with Tommysgirl I've always know clarty as dirty, usually it's clarty or manky.
    @retrotecchie I've never heard of a woodlouse being called a cheesybob we call them slaters. I absolutely love the popty ping 🤣
  • WizzyWigg's Avatar
    Level 86
    @DebF_EONNext
    Mithered - to fuss over or moan about. Frequently used in the Red Rose 🌹 County. 😀