So, as some of you might know, I have lived in the south for most of my life. My parents (Father from Wiltshire, Mother from Burnley) moved up to Burnley, around 15 months ago.

My father has a farmer's westcountry twang and my mother is relatively accent neutral and so I expected to hear a bit of the Lancastrian accent creeping in, but nothing. What i have noticed however, is that they seem to be dropping in a few regional sayings or words. The most recent examples being 'Bonny' and 'skriking'.

What do they mean?! Can you tell me any other words or phrases and their meanings before I am completely unable to sufficiently communicate with my parents?!

Bonny = a term of endearment akin to "pretty".

"That's a bonny view."

Skriking = akin to "moaning" or "crying", usually high-pitched.

"There's no point skriking, Rovers have been relegated and the Venky's are still in charge."

Skriking - whinging, moaning, crying
Bonny - Pleasant upon the eye, good looking, attractive
Reyt good - Very good, beyond acceptable

There are many more, however none are coming to me off the top of my head

I'm looking forward to the replies to this thread

Whenever I speak to my dad he has started saying "It be reyt".

The thing I find to be dead "northern" and really simple is just "reyt?" as a way of saying hello. It doesn't happen down south. When you ask someone "you oreyt?" they think you're genuinely asking about their health.

Wait while he picks up the local phrase **** off southerner

arr reyt cock?

ZizkovClaret wrote:arr reyt cock?

That's a good one. "Cock" and "cocker".

We say "love" a lot more than southerners too. "Hello, love." People sometimes find it a bit patronising but it doesn't come across that way when you're using it up north.

E's a gait

it can mean going, saying, doing. I am originally from Nelson and have never heard that phrase used anywhere other than Burnley. I have a lot of mates from Nelson and Colne, none of them ever use that phrase. Can't comment on whether it is used the other side of Burnley or not......

HelloHiGoodbye wrote:That's a good one. "Cock" and "cocker".

We say "love" a lot more than southerners too. "Hello, love." People sometimes find it a bit patronising but it doesn't come across that way when you're using it up north.

My parents have always called people "love", but I think that is because my mother's side of the family are all northerners. I think it's just rubbed off on them alot earlier in life.

claretdom wrote:Wait while he picks up the local phrase **** off southerner

They picked up something very similar much before the move!

Aye - In place of yes / positive response ''Aye lad''
T' - The dropping of 'the' - ''I'm off t'pub''
Eeee - When recalling a fond memory ''Eeee, do you remember when...''

Herts Clarets wrote:E's a gait

it can mean going, saying, doing. I am originally from Nelson and have never heard that phrase used anywhere other than Burnley. I have a lot of mates from Nelson and Colne, none of them ever use that phrase. Can't comment on whether it is used the other side of Burnley or not......

Very commonplace in the Accy area but not used to my knowledge in Blackburn.

My gran calls a bench in a park a "form". Think that is an east lancs thing. "let's just sit on this form for a minute".

Teacakes with reference to bread rolls with no currents in.

Someone said "bonny" above. In the east midlands if you call someone bonny it means that they are fat or chubby!

'Trapesing' as in 'You can **** off, I'm not trapesing round Sainsbury's in this weather'.

Ey up!

Fettling.

Airsta fettlin' = how are you doing? Or...

I'm just fettlin' this motor = as in fixing it.

Now then? = hello.


You can swap the word "agate" for "like" these days seeing as (mainly women) come out with " he was like, hello, and I was like, hello you, and he was like, what yuptoo, and I was like, nowt why, and he was like, just askin, and I was like, well don't, and he was like, I won't, and I was like, whatever"...

bobinho wrote:Fettling.

Airsta fettlin' = how are you doing? Or...

I'm just fettlin' this motor = as in fixing it.

Now then? = hello.


You can swap the word "agate" for "like" these days seeing as (mainly women) come out with " he was like, hello, and I was like, hello you, and he was like, what yuptoo, and I was like, nowt why, and he was like, just askin, and I was like, well don't, and he was like, I won't, and I was like, whatever"...

I'm not sure that 'like' is northern, but it's up there with the most annoying things to hear.

How are you?

Fair to middlin

(Not good, not bad, just ok)

DCWat wrote:I'm not sure that 'like' is northern, but it's up there with the most annoying things to hear.

It's as bad as similar phrases dropped into sentences, like "Then I turned around and said", "You know what i mean/I'm saying", "you get me?" and "you know".

Phrase: It's crackin' t' flags

Meaning: it's very hot weather

Literal translation for southerners: The paving stones have become so heated by the sun that they have split due to extreme expansion.

"You going on't turf today"? "Aye".

Don't think that conversation would translate if we played at the Emirates Arena.

Used to make me laugh when big Sean used to say "on turf", minus the 't'. Failed attempt at the local lingo. Think someone must have had a word because he doesn't seem to try it these days!

moidering = moaning

powfagged = exhausted

I have disgracefully been described by my lady colleague as "well padded." (Fat!)

Rambler walking through farmer's field decides to drink from the stream.

Farmer with strong northern accent says to rambler 'wouldnt drink from that cock its full of hosspiss n'shite'.

The rambler replies 'I am sorry my good man I am from the south of England and I don't understand the northern accent'.

To that the farmer replies in perfect queens English.

'Cup your hands together carefully to make sure you don't spill any'.

One of my favourites,

''Not three bad'' - A response to how are you, alternative to the standard ''not too bad''

Jim '' Oreyt Brian?''
Brian ''Aye, not three bad Jim''

Oining

CJW wrote:Oining

What's that?!

Foshiznik wrote:What's that?!

Oining - Burnley for annoying, winding up.

Ive also heard it used in relation to increased performance of an automobile ''It's been oined''

Oined means mistreated, basically.

As in "he had a dog but was always oining it."

"Does he track back?"

One i've heard a lot more recently with younger lads is "what you on with?" - usually shortened to "what you on wi?" or just "you on wi?".

You on wi? - What are you up to?

"You on wi later?" 'Nowt much' "Fair one, we'll go get some scran"

Gormless. (That might be a Southern expression as well, actually.)

Simple, slow witted.

Tha mon. Strange one. Basically means "you should." As in "if he thumps you, tha mon thump him back."

Dinner is taken at Lunch, Tea is taken as the main meal of the day but too early for Supper and too late for Tea but not dressed for Dinner

Ewood Park -> the future is looking dark.

Laking =playing as in,"what do you think you're laking at".What are you playing at or what are you doing.
Yed=head It hit me on mi yed or it hit me on my head.

Troughing instead of Guttering

Howst`a meen
What do you mean
Arte goin darn Th`Imp Timmorn nite?
Are you going down to The Imperial Ballroom tomorrow night?

Howst`a meen
What do you mean
Arte goin darn Th`Imp Timmorn nite?
Are you going down to The Imperial Ballroom tomorrow night?

Gawping Looking at

Nabut wind a wather on here so far

Stop mythering me woman

when I said 'Give over', it always amused my Bristolian relatives, mind you they didn't have steak puddings peas or gravy in their chippys but offered me a faggot! I said No ya reight and walked out promptly.

ElectroClaret wrote:Gormless. (That might be a Southern expression as well, actually.)

Simple, slow witted.

Tha mon. Strange one. Basically means "you should." As in "if he thumps you, tha mon thump him back."

Not that strange if you write as "Tha mun" literally meaning You Must

Due to the accent, in Burnley, they have these vehicles which play a tune and dispense soothing white stuff. Arse Cream Vans

It's the single word that I like: hiyayoua'reyt which broadly translates as "good evening, how nice to see you, are you keeping well?"

Laking as in "arta laking" meaning are you playing bowls, dominoes, snooker, while frequenting, t'club.

My grandma always said 'put wood in th'oil' (t'oil)

Or put the wood in the hole, shut the door.

Gi'ower.

Tha'd eat two taties more n' a pig.

'ya oreyt ?'
'ye am reyt, wat ya doin ?'
'goin on'turf, obviously'
'me too, fancy a pint?'
'fookin too rety, ged 'em in then ya tiet git'
'aye oh reight then, ee yar luv, two pintsa Moorhouses wen ya ready, am gaggin'.