Imagine you went to a different part of your country for a day. What terms do they use there that your part of the country wouldn't understand, and vice-versa?
In my example, here in Sunderland, we use the word 'aye' (meaning 'yes') a lot, as well as words like 'lass' (girl) and 'canny' ('good' or 'quite'), whilst down the South of England, they use words like 'Innit' ('isn't it'). The idea for this thread came from speaking to my friend from school, who moved up to Sunderland from Huntingdon (near Cambridge). We were talking about how funny it would be if I moved down there for a while and tried speaking to the locals and how they wouldn't have the faintest idea what I was saying half of the time!  ;D

Feel free to post more examples of region-specific terms and slang in your country and things you've heard said elsewhere that you don't understand... over to you...

A term used here

Eatin' Food - to cut or attack someone. It's a gang term. I hear this on a daily basis.
Chokin' - Something is too tight or too small. (i.e. "Yo you seen ya boys' sneakers?? His laces were chokin!) ;D

A term I don't know:
Sheila, I know that it's Australian but what it means I'm clueless

A term used here

Eatin' Food - to cut or attack someone. It's a gang term. I hear this on a daily basis.

A term I don't know:
Sheila, I know that it's Australian but what it means I'm clueless


I've often wondered that myself? In almost every Australian mock-up the terms 'sheila' and 'bruce' are used... your guess is as good as mine!  :D

Also, you seem like the sorta person to ask... i've seen a couple of you Americans using the word 'oy' in your posts. Over here it just means 'excuse me' or 'hey you' (as in "Oy, Dave, over here" etc). But that definition doesn't work for the way it's been included in your posts? What do you mean when you use it?  ???

I've often wondered that myself? In almost every Australian mock-up the terms 'sheila' and 'bruce' are used... your guess is as good as mine!  :D

Also, you seem like the sorta person to ask... i've seen a couple of you Americans using the word 'oy' in your posts. Over here it just means 'excuse me' or 'hey you' (as in "Oy, Dave, over here" etc). But that definition doesn't work for the way it's been included in your posts? What do you mean when you use it?  ???


I think it's just an exclamation. I usually say AYE. That's short for aye dios or Oh god in spanish.

I think it's just an exclamation. I usually say AYE. That's short for aye dios or Oh god in spanish.


Ah, I see... cool. you Americans have some mint words  8)

Mardy!

They apparently only say this in the Midlands. If i was to say, Fookin ell pete, yer a bit mardy today aint ya son. He'd say something along the lines of, yer, i know i'm in a bit of a radge but me mams been gettin on at me lately.

Of course, nobody else would have the first idea.

Mardy!

They apparently only say this in the Midlands. If i was to say, Fookin ell pete, yer a bit mardy today aint ya son. He'd say something along the lines of, yer, i know i'm in a bit of a radge but me mams been gettin on at me lately.

Of course, nobody else would have the first idea.




From that, I understood the word 'radge'  ;D
Neva heard the word "Mardy" afore, but us norf-eest'ners use the word 'son' all the time, like

From that, I understood the word 'radge'  ;D
Neva heard the word "Mardy" afore, but us norf-eest'ners use the word 'son' all the time, like


Aye man, s'canny often i hear the word son used up north like.  ;D ;)

Aye man, s'canny often i hear the word son used up north like.  ;D ;)


Are yeh daft, mate? w'say it proper loads, us. Right, think i'm gonna stop typing in Mackem, otherwise the other members'll probs get very confused  ;D

Are yeh daft, mate? w'say it proper loads, us. Right, think i'm gonna stop typing in Mackem, otherwise the other members'll probs get very confused  ;D


It's funny to confuse them, especially the Yanks  ;D

This guy came to the door about 3 nights ago (remembering DAK i live in the States now) and said, are you the homeowner.. i went in to my best Cockney and he looked like his head was about to explode  ;D ;D ;D

It's funny to confuse them, especially the Yanks  ;D

This guy came to the door about 3 nights ago (remembering DAK i live in the States now) and said, are you the homeowner.. i went in to my best Cockney and he looked like his head was about to explode  ;D ;D ;D


;D  That'd be cool. My mate said that you Southerners use very basic language, whilst we norf-eest'ners use very...ahem...'colourful' terms. I would name a few, but i'd end up getting kicked off the site!  ;D

The best example of a mackem accent is if you listen to the lead singer of 'The Futureheads' when he sings 'Hounds Of Love'.... honestly, I think he should've sang the whole thing in a strong mackem accent - it would be hilarious!  ;D

Huh? ???

(I'd be such an embarassment in the UK)

Huh? ???

(I'd be such an embarassment in the UK)


Nah, you'd be proper sound, man. Us love the yankee accent, we think it's mint, like  :D

Nah, you'd be proper sound, man. Us love the yankee accent, we think it's mint, like  :D


mint=cool?

Ah, I don't have a "yankee" accent, I have a New Yorker one ;D

mint=cool?


Translates roughly as "no, you'd be okay, we love the way Americans speak, we think it's pretty cool"


Ah, I don't have a "yankee" accent, I have a New Yorker one ;D


(Excuse me for sounding ignorant) There's a difference?  ???

Here in Hawaii, the locals use a lot of Pidgin English...

One of the common terms they use is 'Da Kine'...meaning 'the kind' or 'you know...that one'.  :D

Here in Hawaii, the locals use a lot of Pigeon English...

One of the common terms they use is 'Da Kine'...meaning 'the kind' or 'you know...that one'.  :D


Ah, but do they use any mackem terms?  :D

Ah, but do they use any mackem terms?  :D


What are 'mackem' terms?  ???

What are 'mackem' terms?  ???


Terms used in the north east of england, more specifically from Sunderland. Often confused with 'Geordie' terms, terms used in Newcastle. Described as 'a flithy, common accent', but it gets us by

Terms used in the north east of england, more specifically from Sunderland. Often confused with 'Geordie' terms, terms used in Newcastle. Described as 'a flithy, common accent', but it gets us by


I'd say probably not.  ;)

Translates roughly as "no, you'd be okay, we love the way Americans speak, we think it's pretty cool"

(Excuse me for sounding ignorant) There's a difference?  ???


Ignorant people don't ask questions :)

As a matter of fact there is a difference even within the "typical" New Yorker accent.

Brooklyn & Long Islander's: More nasal and dragged out (Think Fran Drescher from the nanny)

Manhattanites: We tend to string words together. We also forget to pronouce our Th's occasionally. We also say "Tawk" instead of talk.

Those are the basics. Now if you compare NYC to the rest of the US there is a huge difference. I can imitate a lot of US accents there are so many.

btw I lovw UK and Australian accents those are mint

I'd say probably not.  ;)


;D


Ignorant people don't ask questions :)

As a matter of fact there is a difference even within the "typical" New Yorker accent.

Brooklyn & Long Islander's: More nasal and dragged out (Think Fran Drescher from the nanny)

Manhattanites: When tend to string words together. We also forget to pronouce our Th's occasionally. We also say "Tawk" instead of talk.

Those are the basics. Now if you compare NYC to the rest of the US there is a huge difference. I can imitate a lot of US accents there are so many.

btw I lovw UK and Australian accents those are mint


;D  Liked the inclusion of a mackem word there... very suave!  :D
The only difference i mackem accents is between the young and the old people. Old people use stupid 'olden' terms, whilst us 'young 'uns' use up-to-date terminology. For example, you would never catch a pensioner using a disrespctful term "why-aye, y'ma"

mint=cool?

Ah, I don't have a "yankee" accent, I have a New Yorker one ;D



Isn't that "New Yowk"?  ;)




Cat

Isn't that "New Yowk"?  ;)




Cat


Sounded more cockney to me  :D

i've seen a couple of you Americans using the word 'oy' in your posts. Over here it just means 'excuse me' or 'hey you' (as in "Oy, Dave, over here" etc). But that definition doesn't work for the way it's been included in your posts? What do you mean when you use it?  ???


I think it's a Yiddish exclaimation of exasperation...'Oy Vey'...

Deep in the heart of London, we still have a few remnants of rhyming slang going ('Gissa butcher's of yer paper...'), but they're very few and far between...

By far the most common greeting among the male population is still 'Awlrite mate, how yer goin'?, the normal response being 'Sweet' - which has somehow clung on since the 80s...

Also, you seem like the sorta person to ask... i've seen a couple of you Americans using the word 'oy' in your posts. Over here it just means 'excuse me' or 'hey you' (as in "Oy, Dave, over here" etc). But that definition doesn't work for the way it's been included in your posts? What do you mean when you use it?  ???



Guilty. I use the term Oy Vey from time to time.




Cat

;D

;D  Liked the inclusion of a mackem word there... very suave!  :D
The only difference i mackem accents is between the young and the old people. Old people use stupid 'olden' terms, whilst us 'young 'uns' use up-to-date terminology. For example, you would never catch a pensioner using a disrespctful term "why-aye, y'ma"


Pensioner! LOL! Does that mean what I think it does?

By far the most common greeting among the male population is still 'Awlrite mate, how yer goin'?, the normal response being 'Sweet' - which has somehow clung on since the 80s...


That's how my mate speaks. I don't recall him using the word 'sweet' very often, but he says that it is quite a commonly used phrase where he comes from. I suppose the north-east equivalent would be 'class'


Pensioner! LOL! Does that mean what I think it does?


::)

I am from the Boston area and apart from the accent there are terms we use that no one else
seems to be aquainted with  We say tonic instead of soda, and eat subs on spuckies,
that would be a "hero" other places, a spuckie is a roll that looks like a short loaf of Italian bread.

I am from the Boston area and apart from the accent there are terms we use that no one else
seems to be aquainted with  We say tonic instead of soda, and eat subs on spuckies,
that would be a "hero" other places, a spuckie is a roll that looks like a short loaf of Italian bread.




You lost me....  ???

You lost me....  ???


With which, the sub, the spuckie, or the tonic?

That's how my mate speaks. I don't recall him using the word 'sweet' very often, but he says that it is quite a commonly used phrase where he comes from. I suppose the north-east equivalent would be 'class'


'Class'...always a confusing one - up your way, it's pronounced as written, but down here it's pronounced 'clarss'...

...ditto with 'grarss' and 'barth'  

mint=cool?

Ah, I don't have a "yankee" accent, I have a New Yorker one ;D


That's considered yankee. I have the same accent as you.

Tanya

'Class'...always a confusing one - up your way, it's pronounced as written, but down here it's pronounced 'clarss'...

...ditto with 'grarss' and 'barth'  


yeah, you lot speak proper you posh gits!  ;D

'Bath' is usually pronounced 'Baff' up here. 'Potato' translates as 'tatie' (pronounced tay-tee) up here as well. Like I said, we talk like nasty, filthy commoners!  ;D

I am from the Boston area and apart from the accent there are terms we use that no one else
seems to be aquainted with  We say tonic instead of soda, and eat subs on spuckies,
that would be a "hero" other places, a spuckie is a roll that looks like a short loaf of Italian bread.





And you drive around in a "Cah"  :D ;)




Cat

That's considered yankee. I have the same accent as you.

Tanya


Nuh-uh,  Yankee is Boston, which is what I speak, New York has a bit of the dutch in it and
is easily distinguishable.

yeah, you lot speak proper you posh gits!  ;D

Plums in the gob a specialty...!

Plums in the gob a specialty...!


y'wot?  ???

And you drive around in a "Cah"  :D ;)


Cat


And I know that it is against the law to pahk it in Hahvad Yahd

That's considered yankee. I have the same accent as you.

Tanya


Niiice :) You from the city too?

y'wot?  ???


The 'posh speakers' were always thought to be speaking with a plum (or similar sized object) in their mouths, such is the dialect...

Tho' if you're looking for a perfect BBC-type accent - don't look at me!

The 'posh speakers' were always thought to be speaking with a plum (or similar sized object) in their mouths, such is the dialect...

Tho' if you're looking for a perfect BBC-type accent - don't look at me!


The BBC would'nt dream of having any Mackems as tv presenters... they would probably end up swearing during a live broadcast!  :D ;D

The BBC would'nt dream of having any Mackems as tv presenters... they would probably end up swearing during a live broadcast!  :D ;D
It would liven up the TV screens

We went to visit some friends in up-state NY a few years back. My youngest step-daughter came with us. I mentioned something about their "dowg" and she turned to me said, "Boy, you are getting a New York accent".  I looked at her and said, "Getting? Where have you been?"





Cat

It would liven up the TV screens


;D

True. Better than your usual basic boring BBC queen's English accents you hear everywhere. Can you just imagine it? A mackem broadcaster?

"And now on BBC one, like, it's that git hospital show... y'know, the one that's proper class and has that git fit as f*k lass in it who plays that gadgie? Aye, her... she's mint, she is...."  :D

;D

True. Better than your usual basic boring BBC queen's English accents you hear everywhere. Can you just imagine it? A mackem broadcaster?

"And now on BBC one, like, it's that git hospital show... y'know, the one that's proper class and has that git fit as f*k lass in it who plays that gadgie? Aye, her... she's mint, she is...."  :D


Sounds like an episode of 'Byker Grove'...!

I don't know about the rest of the US...but alot of people here where I live use the word, "like" alot.  Ex.... "That is like the strangest thing I've ever seen".  I remember when I was younger..we met these girls from New England and they said that we sounded like valley girls!!! LOL!!!


Erin :)

I don't know about the rest of the US...but alot of people here where I live use the word, "like" alot.  Ex.... "That is like the strangest thing I've ever seen".  I remember when I was younger..we met these girls from New England and they said that we sounded like valley girls!!! LOL!!!


Is sounding like a valley girl a bad thing?

Some areas in Britain use 'like', but it's normally tacked on to the end of a phrase along the lines of...'Yeah! That's dead romantic, like...' (That's very romantic, that is...')

What it means, I couldn't begin to tell you!

Is sounding like a valley girl a bad thing?

Some areas in Britain use 'like', but it's normally tacked on to the end of a phrase along the lines of...'Yeah! That's dead romantic, like...' (That's very romantic, that is...')

What it means, I couldn't begin to tell you!



no, it's not necessarily a bad thing, however, I suppose that the repeated usage of the word could be annoying at times, to certain people.



Erin :)

Hey Erin, here's a question for you.. where you live, is your name pronounced the same as Aaron?

How about Carrie & Kerry?  The same or different?

Dawn & Don?

Here in CA all those pairs are pronounced exactly the same.  Erin & Aaron are both pronounced "AIR-en".  That bugs me.  Back east, there was a very clear difference.

Erin would be: EH-ren (with the "r" clearly the beginning of a syllable as opposed to the end)

And Aaron is a very clear "AAAH-ren" (as if starting to say the word ATmosphere)

It's kind of sad that Californians don't know the difference between an A and an E.

Oh yeah, and I sometimes notice things when I read posts from Howard and Nullandvoid that bring back memories... Like in the photo thread when Howard said "When Robin finally came over my house"

I have never heard the term "came over my house" outside of NY.  Here it would be "came to my house" or simply "came over"

Hey Erin, here's a question for you.. where you live, is your name pronounced the same as Aaron?

How about Carrie & Kerry? The same or different?

Dawn & Don?

Here in CA all those pairs are pronounced exactly the same. Erin & Aaron are both pronounced "AIR-en". That bugs me. Back east, there was a very clear difference.

Erin would be: EH-ren (with the "r" clearly the beginning of a syllable as opposed to the end)

And Aaron is a very clear "AAAH-ren" (as if starting to say the word ATmosphere)

It's kind of sad that Californians don't know the difference between an A and an E.


I can vouch for this too, LOL! I say "Erin" and "Aaron" the exact same way. ;D

Oh, and I think I've always been pretty well-spoken - yet I still say "like" in a typical sentence sometimes enough to count as Valley Girl status -- well, despite being the wrong gender and (unfortunately) 20 years too late. ;)

Especially as an adjective or describing something (eg - in the late 90s, it was, like, retro 70s).

I almost NEVER do this typing - just in live talking.

We have a lot of hick slang.. I don't know too much, though.. not my crowd, and I never picked up the accent or culture or anything.

We have a lot of hick slang.. I don't know too much, though.. not my crowd, and I never picked up the accent or culture or anything.


First of all, it's not hick slang...it's Cumberland Valley slang.  Secondly, what accent?

And in case yuns didn't know...the milk's all.  ::)

;D I figured you'd cover all the slang, Matth.

I can vouch for this too, LOL! I say "Erin" and "Aaron" the exact same way. ;D

Oh, and I think I've always been pretty well-spoken - yet I still say "like" in a typical sentence sometimes enough to count as Valley Girl status -- well, despite being the wrong gender and (unfortunately) 20 years too late. ;)

Especially as an adjective or describing something (eg - in the late 90s, it was, like, retro 70s).

I almost NEVER do this typing - just in live talking.


I have a habit of saying "like" as a replacement for "said".. as in:

...and he was like "what's wrong with you?"

Hey Erin, here's a question for you.. where you live, is your name pronounced the same as Aaron?

How about Carrie & Kerry?  The same or different?

Dawn & Don?

Here in CA all those pairs are pronounced exactly the same.  Erin & Aaron are both pronounced "AIR-en".  That bugs me.  Back east, there was a very clear difference.

Erin would be: EH-ren (with the "r" clearly the beginning of a syllable as opposed to the end)

And Aaron is a very clear "AAAH-ren" (as if starting to say the word ATmosphere)

It's kind of sad that Californians don't know the difference between an A and an E.




hey andrea!
actually, I never noticed the difference between pronunciation of the names "Erin" and "Aaron"......most people around here pronounce them exactly the same.


Erin :)

Oh yeah, and I sometimes notice things when I read posts from Howard and Nullandvoid that bring back memories... Like in the photo thread when Howard said "When Robin finally came over my house"

I have never heard the term "came over my house" outside of NY.  Here it would be "came to my house" or simply "came over"



I am from PA...but I say "came over my house" as well!



Erin :)

hey andrea!
actually, I never noticed the difference between pronunciation of the names "Erin" and "Aaron"......most people around here pronounce them exactly the same.


Erin :)


I miss my NY accent.. it's funny I had it for so long but now I can't do it correctly if I try.

First of all, it's not hick slang...it's Cumberland Valley slang.  Secondly, what accent?

And in case yuns didn't know...the milk's all.  ::)





well...Pittsburgians have their own kind of slang...but thankfully...I haven't picked any of that up.  They are famous for saying, "yinz" instead of "you".....for example:  "Are yinz guys coming over for the party?"


here is a sentence and I will translate it to "Pittsburghese".

I am going to take the dog out to go to the bathroom. If I don't take him out to pee, he is going to explode!


NOW...translated to Pittsburghese...

umina take da dog aht to go to da bathroom. If I don't take him aht to pee, he is gowen to explode!



If you think that is funny....check out this website:   http://www.pittsburghese.com/



Erin :)

I have a habit of saying "like" as a replacement for "said".. as in:

...and he was like "what's wrong with you?"


Oh yeah, that's typically how I use it too - seems to "roll off" easier in speaking than "said".

As for "came over": I'll say it as "Came over to my house" - that's long-winded compared to "came over my house" though, LOL!

Oh yeah, that's typically how I use it too - seems to "roll off" easier in speaking than "said".

As for "came over": I'll say it as "Came over to my house" - that's long-winded compared to "came over my house" though, LOL!


Jeez, that's still long winded to my..

'Pete came over mine'

That could just be a Leicester Loutish thing though.

'Pete came over mine'

.


Jiminy's gonna have fun with that one...  :D

I am from PA...but I say "came over my house" as well!



Erin :)


Philadelphia here! I thought it was a normal phrase!

Tanya

Jiminy's gonna have fun with that one...  :D

Confucius say... man who have sex on bottom always F*cks up  :D

Confucius say... man who have sex on bottom always F*cks up  :D


;D

I love all those "Confuscious Say" lists too.

One thing that drives me crazy about the accents around here is the way they pronounce elementary, or documentary.  Instead of elemen-TREE they pronounce it elemen-TARRY or documen-TARRY. Drives me insane.




Cat

One thing that drives me crazy about the accents around here is the way they pronounce elementary, or documentary.  Instead of elemen-TREE they pronounce it elemen-TARRY or documen-TARRY. Drives me insane.




Cat


Better than in the accents around here, it's usually pronounced "Doc-yer-men-'tree". I'm afraid north-east accents are some of the hardest to understand in England  :-\\

I've often wondered that myself? In almost every Australian mock-up the terms 'sheila' and 'bruce' are used... your guess is as good as mine!  :D



Sheila = female
Bruce = bloke (that came from a Monty Python skit)

Sheila = female
Bruce = bloke (that came from a Monty Python skit)


Ahhh... it all becomes so clear now!  :D

One thing that drives me crazy about the accents around here is the way they pronounce elementary, or documentary.  Instead of elemen-TREE they pronounce it elemen-TARRY or documen-TARRY. Drives me insane.




Cat


we say "documentarry" too.. but some people stress the first sillable "DOC-u-ment-ar-ry" and others stress the third "doc-u-MENT-ar-ry"

we say "documentarry" too.. but some people stress the first sillable "DOC-u-ment-ar-ry" and others stress the third "doc-u-MENT-ar-ry"


we speak like mindless, monotonic zombies and stress no parts of the word whatsoever.... yawn... :D

Mardy!

They apparently only say this in the Midlands. If i was to say, Fookin ell pete, yer a bit mardy today aint ya son. He'd say something along the lines of, yer, i know i'm in a bit of a radge but me mams been gettin on at me lately.

Of course, nobody else would have the first idea.




I know I know!!

Mardy!

They apparently only say this in the Midlands. If i was to say, Fookin ell pete, yer a bit mardy today aint ya son. He'd say something along the lines of, yer, i know i'm in a bit of a radge but me mams been gettin on at me lately.

Of course, nobody else would have the first idea.



I just realized that they wouldn't actually say it like that. They would use 'iz' instead of 'me', as in "Me mam's been getting on at iz"