When I moved to Nottingham in the 1970s I made these annotations on a selection of typical phrases used by local colleagues and neighbours.
Some of these idioms have almost vanished from daily use in the last few decades, although you still hear similar phrases in some Nottingham neighbourhoods and in older generations of local people.
A few younger Nottingham residents now have an inflection of ‘Estuary English‘; a euphemism for a mild version of the London and South East accent, which has flourished for hundreds of miles outside of London.
Nottingham |
English |
Greetings | |
| Ay-up | Hello |
| Ay-up miduk | Hello (usually, but not exclusively, to a female) |
| Ay-up yooth | Hello (usually to a young male) |
| Ay-up duckeh | Hello (to a female or child you’re particularly close to) |
| Ow ya gowin on then, Serri? | How are you? |
| Ta-rar duk | Goodbye / goodnight |
General terms | |
| Ar (or Aye) | Yes |
| Knee-ow | No |
| Smornin | This morning |
| Safto | This afternoon |
| Tahn | Town / city centre |
| Twitchell / Jyitt-eh | Alley or cut-through |
| Kawzi | Pavement / footpath |
| Oss rowd | Road |
| Oss / Bobbo | Horse |
| Mazzgi | Cat |
| Om | Home |
| Ahse | House |
| Bog | Toilet |
| Gob | Mouth |
| Tabz | Ears |
| Tegs / Teggehs | Teeth |
| Dinna / Snap | Lunch or food |
| Cob | Bap, barm cake, bun or roll Just remember IT’S A COB! |
| Watter | Water |
| Duddos / tuffeh | Sweets |
| Sucka | Ice lolly |
| Guzgog | Gooseberry |
| Knobby greens | Brussels sprouts |
| Taytuzz | Potatoes |
| Code | Cold |
| Ott | Hot |
| Rammel | Rubbish |
| Brahn | Brown |
| Gizza | Give me / let me have |
| Gozz | To see / look |
| Dob dahn | To duck or hide |
| Blubber / blubbering | Crying or weeping |
| Prattin abaht | Acting stupidly |
| Pawleh / badleh | Unwell |
| Frit | Frightened |
| Clammin | Hungry |
| Mard-eh | Grumpy, miserable or sulking |
| Mank-eh | Dirty / scruffy, or sometimes silly |
| Suck-eh | Someone of questionable intelligence (a bit thick) |
| Batch-eh | Insane / crazy |
| Snided / snided out | Busy or crowded |
| Puther / puthering | Pouring or gushing; water, rain or smoke |
| Clarty | Sticky or sticks to the roof of your mouth |
| Nesh | Unusually susceptible to cold weather |
| Kroggeh / croggie | To give someone a lift on a bicycle crossbar |
| Ligger | Liar |
| Chelp | Back chat or insubordination |
| Ritt | Wrote |
| Aht | Out |
| Rahnd | Round |
| Tah | Thanks |
| Ennyrode | Anyway |
| Owt | Anything |
| Nowt | Nothing |
| Summat | Something |
| Therrint | There isn’t |
| Tint | It is not |
| Dint | Did not |
| Yove | You have |
| Sen | Self |
| Mi-sen | Myself |
| Yu-sen | Yourself |
| Thi-sens | Yourselves or themselves |
| Iz-sen | His self |
| Im-sen | Himself |
| Ussens | Ourselves |
| Ahkidd | My brother / sister |
Queries and questions | |
| Ahrode ay-yo? | How old are you? |
| Aya gorra mardilippon? | Are you sulking? |
| Aya gorra wi’ya? | Have you got her (wife) with you? |
| Aya gorrim wi’ya? | Have you got him (husband) with you? |
| Aya gorrowt? | Have you any money? |
| Aya masht miduk? | Have you made the tea yet? |
| Ezz ee sed owt? | Did he say anything? |
| Gizzabitt | Can I have some of your … ? |
| Jagadahn? | Did you go to the Nottingham Forest / Notts County match? |
| Jo wonn-owt? | Would you like anything? |
| Kannicum annorl? | May I come too? |
| Oo worree wi? | Who was he with? |
| Wair dya wekk? | Where do you work? |
| Wairza booza? | Where is the local pub? |
| Wi or wi’yaut? | With or without? |
| Worree wee iz-sen? | Was he alone? |
| Wotsupp? | Is something wrong? / Is everything alright? |
| Wotyavin? | What would you like to drink? |
| Wot yonn-wee? | What are you doing? |
| Yerwott? | I beg your pardon? |
Statements and comments | |
| Am goowin wi mi-sen | I’m going alone / by myself |
| Annorl | As well / Also |
| Av gorrit wimee | I have it with me |
| Ay aint gorrowt | I don’t have anything / any money |
| Ah dint do owt | I didn’t do anything |
| Ah towd Imm eekud pleez iz-sen | I told him the decision was his / he could please his self |
| Ah towdya an al telya namor | I’ve told you and I’m not telling you again |
| Ah’ve gone an dottied mi’sen | My hands are dirty |
| Ah’ve podged mi’sen | I’ve eaten too much |
| Batt yu-sen dahn | Dust yourself off |
| Bungitt ovvarear | Pass it to me |
| Ee-yar | Here you are (giving) / let me have that (taking) |
| E’ wants sum ossmuck inniz boots | He’s not very tall |
| Gerra buzz dahn tahn | Catch a bus into town |
| Gerrit dahn-ya | Please eat it / drink it |
| Gerroff om | It’s time you went home |
| Gerroff! | Get off! (Please go away) |
| Gerroffahtonnit! | Go away / leave it alone! |
| Gerron wee-it | Get on with it (Please continue what you were saying) |
| Gerrum in then | Buy me a drink |
| Gerrup, elsal bat ya tab | Please get up or I’ll use violence |
| Gizza gozz | Let me see |
| Gizza kroggeh / krog | To ask for a lift on a bike |
| Gizzarfonitt | Share and share alike |
| Innit code | It’s cold today |
| Innit ott | It’s hot today |
| It meks-ya tabz laff | It has a sour or bitter taste |
| It-seh bit black ovva bilzmothaz | It looks like rain |
| It’ul norrotcha | It won’t hurt you |
| Izon Iz-ollidiz | He’s on holiday |
| Justarkatit | Listen to the rain |
| Mek it g’bakkuds | Please reverse the car / vehicle |
| Owd yuh oss-uzz! | Please wait / be patient! (Hold your horses!) |
| Shurrup, elsal bat ya tab | Please be quiet or I’ll use violence |
| Shut ya gob! / Purra sock init | Shut your mouth / Shut up! |
| Tabhangin | Evesdropping |
| Thiz summat up wee im | There is something wrong with him / He may be ill |
| Tin-tin-tin | It is not in the tin |
| Wigorn tev uz dinnaz | We’re about to have lunch |
| Yowl koppitt | You’ll get into trouble |
A Nottingham dialect joke ► Vet; “Is it a tom?” Cat owner; “Nah, av gorrit wimee.”
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