01 August 2023 , 14:08
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Yorkshire is known for its rolling hills, historic villages and cricket legends, but one thing more famous than its legendary Yorkshire puddings is its rather confusing local slang - that outsiders simply cannot understand.
Local folk have their own culture and lifestyle, as well as their own language, which includes unusual dialect and popular sayings, like 'Eyup cock' - which actually means 'Hello, dear' to other Brits.
To celebrate Yorkshire Day 2023 this Tuesday, August 1, we've translated the most common regional phrases and slang that you might've heard if you've ever ventured into God's Own Country or heard a lad or lass on TV.
Today marks Yorkshire Day which is a yearly celebration to promote the historic county of Yorkshire (stock photo) (Getty)'Ow do - It is a casual greeting to say hello, and can be replaced by 'Nah Then' or 'Ey Up' - which both mean the same thing. As we said, you can also say 'Eyup cock' to greet a female in a positive way too. Alternatively, to say goodbye, you might say, 'Ta'ra' or 'Si'thi'.
Scran - You might be familiar with this one - 'Scran' or 'Snap' simply means food. A 'Breadcake' is a bread roll and 'Dinner' is lunch for northerners, where you might have a 'Sarnie' (sandwich) or 'Spice' (confectionary). Or you could go wild and have a 'Full dressin', which is a pork sandwich with everything on.
Mardy - If you hear somebody say, 'Stop being so mardy', it must mean you're acting moody or sulky. Just like in the famous Arctic Monkeys song, Mardy Bum. The opposite would be 'Chuffed' - which means you are extremely happy or over the moon. And in extreme cases, you might say 'Chuffin', which is the Yorkshire way of swearing without using the expletive.
Dead - You would use 'Dead' to exaggerate a word or phrase or add emphasis. For example, you could say 'That class was dead 'ard'. Or you could use 'Reyt' instead of saying very.
Gaggin' - If you're 'Gaggin' then you're in need of a beverage and feeling thirsty. And if somebody asks if you fancy a drink, you can reply 'Aye', which translates to yes.
It's not me, it's t'others - If someone asks how you are and you are fine but just want to be left alone, you could respond 'It's not me, it's t'others', meaning everyone else is the problem.
Were tha born in a barn? - This is a traditional phrase that a Yorkshire mum might shout if her child keeps leaving doors open and letting the cold in. Or they could say, 'Put Wood Int' 'Ole'.
I'll go t'foot of our stairs! - Think of this as the northern equivalent of 'Oh my God'. It means a Yorkshireman is truly shocked, and he might add 'If I had any' for accuracy.
Proper gander - To have a proper gander just means to take a closer look at something. And if whatever you're looking at serves no purpose, you might say, 'That's neither use nor ornament'.
You won't get owt for nowt - This sounds just like it means - you won't get something for nothing. A similar phrase is, 'If ivver tha does owt fer nowt - allus do it fer thissen', which translates to 'if you ever do anything for nothing, always do it for yourself'.