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Pricey Bangers and Mash, Lads: Speaking English and Surviving in London
So, you’ve been learning English a while but when you went to London you could hardly understand a word or you have an English friend who seems to be speaking a different language. Does this sound familiar? Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw famously said that “England and America are two countries separated by a common language.”
English spoken in London contains many informal words and slang expressions that need to be explained to students. Here is a brief guide on what you need to know to communicate. The list is endless but if you can understand the following examples you are making a good start:
1. Food
– In London you will here many words to refer to something as simple as food. Among these are “grub” and “nosh.”
– A quality meal generally eaten in a restaurant is called “A slap up meal.”
– A sausage and mashed potato dish is called “Bangers and mash.”
– Whole potatoes are called “spuds.”
– French fries are called “chips.”
– Potato chips are called “French fries.”
– A thinly sliced meat sandwich is called a “bacon sarnie.”
– Dessert is called, “afters.”
– The fruit conserve called jelly in the US in London is called “jam.”
– Sugary gelatine is called “jelly.”
2. Clothes
Clothes also have a vocabulary of their own in London:
– A sweater is called “a jumper.”
– Trousers are called “pants.”
– Athletic or running shoes are called “trainers.”
– Lingerie for women are “knickers.”
– A small purse worn around the waste to carry money is called a “bum bag.”
– A plastic pin to hang clothes to dry is called a “clothes peg.”
3. Social Situations
– Working class Londoners from the east side of the city can sometimes be referred to as “cockneys.”
– How are you? is often said as “Alright?”
Thank you can be said as “ta.”
– Friend can be referred to as “mate” or “pal.”
– A man can be called a “bloke” or “lad.”
– You might here someone’s surprise expressed as “blimey!”
– An argument is called a “row.”
– If someone is a good person he/she might be called “sound.”
– If something is really great, it might be called “wicked” or “massive.”
– If a girl is attractive she is called “fit.”
If a person is unattractive (either male or female) they are called “minging.”
– When a person is telling their friends they are leaving, they say, “right lads, I’m off.”
– Bye can be said as “cheerio” or “cheers.”
– Bathroom is “loo.”
4. Money
– Money can be called “dosh” or “doe.”
– A British Pound can be called “a quid.”
– If something is expensive, people say “it’s a bit pricey.”
5. Some phrases
– If you are very tired, “I’m knackered.”
– When someone is very surprised, “You could have knocked me down with a feather (meaning, I was so shocked, even a small bird’s feather could have made me fall to the ground).”
– If someone orders more food than they can eat they say, t”heir eyes are bigger than their belly (or stomach).”
– Sleep well can be said as “sleep tight.”
– Do you want a cup of tea? can be asked as, “do you want a brew?”
Let’s enjoy some London English at its finest with this video of cockney boys, The Clash, with their classic, London Calling:
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