Regional British Dialects

Scouse, Geordie, Yorkshire, and beyond

Introduction

Britain's small size belies its extraordinary linguistic diversity. Travel a hundred miles and the dialect changes completely—different words, different pronunciations, different attitudes expressed through language.

From Scouse "boss" to Geordie "canny," from Yorkshire "reyt" to West Country "gurt lush," regional dialects carry local identity and pride. These aren't substandard English—they're rich linguistic traditions with their own internal logic and history.

This chapter takes a tour of British regional vocabulary—the distinctive terms that mark speakers as coming from specific places. Understanding these dialects helps decode British media and prepares you for conversations beyond London and the Southeast.

Themes

All British Slang & Idioms in This Chapter (108)

• Canny Nice, good, or pleasant (Geordie); clever or shrewd (Scottish/standard).
• Nowt Nothing (Northern English dialect).
• Boss Excellent, great (Scouse/Liverpool slang).
• La Mate, friend (Scouse term of address).
• Lecky Electricity (Scouse).
• Wool Someone from outside Liverpool (mildly derogatory Scouse term).
• Ozzy Hospital (Scouse).
• Bifter Cigarette (Scouse).
• Made up Extremely pleased, delighted (Scouse).
• Devoed Devastated, extremely upset (Scouse/Northern).
• Webs Trainers/sneakers (Scouse).
• Jarg Fake, counterfeit, rubbish (Scouse).
• Bezzy Best friend (Scouse abbreviation).
• Minty Angry, annoyed (Scouse).
• Abar About (Scouse pronunciation).
• Terrored Harassed, pestered, driven mad (Scouse).
• Our kid Sibling or close friend (Scouse/Manchester term of endearment).
• Plazzy Plastic, fake, or cheap (Scouse).
• Baltic Extremely cold (Scouse/Northern).
• Kecks Trousers or pants (Northern/Scouse).
• Scally Young working-class person, often implies trouble-making (Scouse).
• Clobber Clothes, outfit (Scouse/Northern).
• Lemo Lemonade or any fizzy drink (Scouse).
• Howay Come on, let's go (Geordie encouragement/urging).
• Pet Term of endearment (Geordie address).
• Bairn Child (Geordie/Scottish).
• Gan Go (Geordie).
• Wey aye Yes, definitely (emphatic Geordie affirmative).
• Marra Mate, friend (Geordie/Cumbrian).
• Hinny Term of endearment, honey (Geordie).
• Netty Toilet, bathroom (Geordie).
• Radgie Angry; also a wild or unpredictable person (Geordie).
• Gadgie Man, bloke, person (Geordie).
• Tab Cigarette (Geordie).
• Mortal Extremely drunk (Geordie/Northern).
• Hacky Dirty, filthy (Geordie).
• Deek Look, glance (Geordie).
• Stottie Round flat bread/cake (North East speciality).
• Divvent Don't (Geordie).
• Clamming Starving, very hungry (Geordie).
• Clarts Mud, dirt, mess (Geordie/Northern).
• Toon Town; specifically Newcastle (Geordie).
• Nowt Nothing (Geordie/Northern).
• Kets Sweets, treats, rubbish food (Geordie).
• Nowt Nothing (Yorkshire).
• Summat Something (Yorkshire).
• Owt Anything (Yorkshire/Northern).
• Ey up Hello, look out, attention (Yorkshire greeting/exclamation).
• Reyt Right, really, very (Yorkshire).
• Sithee See you, goodbye; also 'see here/look' (Yorkshire).
• Nesh Sensitive to cold, soft, weak (Yorkshire/Midlands).
• Laik Play, to be off work (Yorkshire).
• Mardy Moody, sulky, whiny (Yorkshire/Midlands).
• Gradely Fine, excellent, proper (Yorkshire/Lancashire).
• Gormless Stupid, lacking sense or initiative (Yorkshire origin).
• Mither Bother, worry, pester (Yorkshire/Lancashire).
• Ginnel Narrow alley or passage between buildings (Yorkshire).
• Snap Packed lunch, food taken to work (Yorkshire/mining).
• Bray Hit, beat, strike (Yorkshire).
• Be reyt It'll be alright, don't worry (Yorkshire reassurance).
• Put wood in t'hole Shut the door (Yorkshire command).
• Tha knows You know (Yorkshire filler/emphasis).
• Side Arrogance, pretentiousness (Yorkshire).
• Breadcake Bread roll (Yorkshire/Sheffield).
• Spice Sweets (Yorkshire).
• Frame Behave, shape up, get on with it (Yorkshire).
• Gurt lush Really lovely, very nice (West Country).
• Proper job Well done, excellent, just right (West Country/Cornwall).
• Where to? Where is it/are you? (Bristol question form).
• Ark at ee Hark at him/her, listen to them (West Country).
• Dreckly Soon, in a while, when I get round to it (Cornwall/Devon).
• Emmet Tourist, outsider (Cornwall).
• Grockle Tourist, holidaymaker (Devon/Dorset).
• Mind Though, you know, emphasis (Bristol/West Country filler).
• Cheers drive Thank you driver (Bristol bus farewell).
• Ansom Handsome, great, lovely (West Country).
• Wasson? What's on? What's happening? (Bristol greeting).
• Ideal Perfect, exactly right (Bristol/West Country approval).
• Keener Eager, too keen, try-hard (West Country).
• Alright my lover Hello, how are you (West Country greeting).
• Dimpsy Dusk, twilight (Devon/Cornwall).
• Scrumpy Strong rough cider (West Country).
• 'Tis It is (West Country affirmation).
• Geddon Hello, get on with it (Cornwall/Devon greeting/encouragement).
• Directly Soon, when ready, eventually (West Country time sense).
• Maid Woman, girl (West Country address).
• Cheel Child (Cornwall/Devon).
• Oggy oggy oggy Chant for pasties/encouragement (Cornwall).
• Stank Tired, worn out (West Country).
• Wee Small, little (Scottish).
• Aye Yes (Scottish/Northern).
• Ken Know (Scottish).
• Braw Fine, excellent, good-looking (Scottish).
• Dinnae Don't (Scottish).
• Cannae Can't (Scottish).
• Och Oh, ah (Scottish exclamation).
• Bonnie Beautiful, pretty, attractive (Scottish).
• Blether Chat, talk nonsense, gossip (Scottish).
• Bampot Idiot, fool, crazy person (Scottish).
• Dram Small measure of whisky (Scottish).
• Wheesht Quiet, hush, be quiet (Scottish).
• Haud Hold (Scottish).
• Nae No, not (Scottish).
• Scunnered Fed up, disgusted, bored (Scottish).
• Crabbit Grumpy, bad-tempered (Scottish).
• Baffies Slippers (Scottish).
• Messages Shopping, groceries (Scottish).
• Outwith Outside of, beyond (Scottish formal term).