Not every English speaker talks like the Queen! And some accents are harder to understand than others!
From lovely Laura Noble, here is a list of the top 5 hardest accents to understand if you are not native to the UK.
cockney
Call for celebs to save Cockney rhyming slang ‘which could be gone in 20 years’
There are fears Cockney rhyming slang will die out ‘within 20 years’ if no action is taken
When Andy Green was born in London’s East End in the 1950s, Cockney rhyming slang was still in its heyday.
But the 62-year-old, self-described ‘minor celebrity from a micro niche’, says Cockney will die out within 20 years unless we act to preserve its relevance – which is why he started ‘Speak Cockney Day’.
Andy is passionate that our sense of identity, including where we are from, helps to define who we are, and wants to promote the importance of nurturing the Cockney dialect to maintain its relevance.
This is why he hopes to get East-Endcelebrity figures such as Adele, Russell Brand, Michael Caine, Danny Dyer and Madness’ lead singer Suggs on board with promoting its continued use.
The proud East-ender, who grew up in Balfron Tower social housing in Poplar, Tower Hamlets, and has written two books about London, has set out a seven-step manifesto to save his beloved East End lingo.
As well as getting London celebs on board, the manifesto includes promoting Cockney’s cultural inclusivity, maintaining its relevance to young people, and getting London’s museums and institutions to take part.
The construction of rhyming slang involves replacing a common word with a phrase of two or more words, the last of which rhymes with the original word; for example, ‘apples and pears’ for ‘stairs’, or ‘bees and honey’ for ‘money’.
It is thought villains invented the dialect so the police wouldn’t understand them.
In almost all cases they would omit the second word of the phrase, so the rhyming word would be implied to listeners in the know, while eluding those who weren’t.
Source: Call for celebs to save Cockney rhyming slang ‘which could be gone in 20 years’
‘Fancy a pint of Chic Murray for dinner?’ – A Guide to Scottish rhyming slang
Though most people will be familiar with Cockney rhyming slang, they perhaps won’t know that Scotland also has its own version.
Keeping up with Scots words, the accent and even regional dialects can be hard enough, but throw in Scotland’s love of word play and it can leave many without a Scooby (as in Doo – clue, get it?).
From asking someone if they are Corned Beef to going for a Chic Murray – here are some of our favourite Scottish rhyming slang phrases.
Chic Murray – Curry
Though many have started using another famous Scottish Murray for this one (Andy), it will always be the original and best for us.
Example: “Fancy a wee Chic Murray for dinner tonight? I canny be bothered cooking.”
Corned Beef – Deif/Deaf
This one sees corned beef rhymed with deif (the way Scots would pronounce deaf), and is usually aimed at someone who isn’t listening.
Example: “Listen pal, are you corned beef? I told you to beat it.”
Hauf Inch – Pinch
A good one for someone who is known to be on the light-fingered side.
Example: “Aye it’s a cracker eh? Wee Davey hauf inched it for us.”
Mick Jagger – Lager
If someone asks if you fancy a Mick Jagger, it’s usually an invite for a pint and not referring to the great man himself.
Example: “I’m guessing most us will be choking for a Mick Jagger when the restrictions are over and the pubs re-open.”
Hampden Roar – Score
Though you might think this would be used for football, it’s more likely to be used when asking for more details about something.
Example: “What’s the Hampden for later? Where are we going?”
A Brit Back Home: Un-Guessable British Words
Although I brought my kids up to know their British heritage, and apparently we did a lot of things that weren’t typically American, I never once chided them for using Americanisms. OK, (just in case they’re reading), I did go a bit full-on making sure they said “Please”, which quite a few Americans seem to omit. (Calm down, I’m not saying anyone’s necessarily rude, but I’ve done unscientific surveys on it and the actual word is often absent.)
Anyway, I’ve never understood Brits in the USA who insist on using their British English vocabulary and worse, get annoyed or sneer when Americans don’t understand them. As Rob Lowe illustrates here, some British words are so different from American English that no one would stand a chance if they were trying to guess the meaning.
Trainers – I suppose an educated guess here might yield results since these shoes were originally designed for exercise, but I knew never to use it in the US anyway. Interestingly, despite the plethora of American words that cross the Pond every year, I’m not noticing Brits saying “sneakers” much. Continue reading
50 Cockney slang phrases that you’ve never heard of before
How familiar are you with the famous London dialect of Cockney rhyming slang?
Do you like a nice cup of ‘Rosie Lee’ at night before you head up the ‘apples and pears’ to your ‘Uncle Ted’?
Apologies – for those aged under 25, you may not understand the statement above or be familiar with the famous London dialect of Cockney rhyming slang.
For many years, Londoners have been using catchy words and phrases in sentences that rhyme with the actual words they mean to say.
Quite often, this trend can be heard around Essex too.
As an example, the sentence above means ‘Do you like a nice cup of tea at night before you head up the stairs to your bed’.
Cockney rhyming slang was also popularised around the country when it was used during the classic British sitcom ‘Only Fools and Horses’.
Here is a list of 50 Cockney terms that you’ve probably never heard – along with their translation and an example of use in a sentence:
1. Able and Willing
Translation: Shilling
Use: “I’m so skint until payday, could you lend us an Able?”
2. Alan Minter
Translation: printer or splinter
Use: “The Alan’s jammed with paper again.”
3. Alex Nash
Translation: slash (urinate)
Use: “Where’s your loo? I’m desperate for an Alex.”
4. Apple pip
Translation: dip
Use: “Let’s all go down to Brighton for an apple pip.”
5. Arthur Conan Doyle
Translation: boil
Use: “Oi mate, would you put that kettle on the Arthur?”
6. Atilla the Hun
Translation: 2:1 degree
Use: “I graduated last year with an Atilla in Business Studies.”
7. Baa lamb
Translation: tram
Use: “I’m on the lamb over from Ikea.”
8. Basil Brush
Translation: thrush
Use: “I’ve got a bad case of the old Basil.”
9. Betty Boo/ Eartha Kitt
Translation: poo
Use: “Where’s the lav, I need a Betty!”
10. Bill Oddie
Translation: voddie (vodka)
Use: “Get us a Bill and cola.”
11. Billie Piper
Translation: windscreen wiper
Use: “Someone’s gone and ripped off my Billies.”
12. Billy Ray Cyrus
Translation: virus
Use: “I had to take my laptop to the shop because I opened an email with a nasty Billy Ray attached.”
13. Boracic lint
Translation: broke, skint
Use: “I can’t come out tonight, I’m completely Boracic.”
14. Brad Pitt
Translation: fit
Use: “Mate, that girl is proper Brad Pitt.”
15. Britney Spears
Translation: ears, tears, or beers
Use: “Dry those Britneys.”
16. Charlie Drake
Translation: steak
Use: “I’ll have chips with me Charlie.”
17. Cheese and kisses
Translation: Mrs
Use: “I got some flowers to surprise me cheese, she loved it.”
18. Cheesy Quaver
Translation: favour
Use: “Do us a cheesy Quaver, pal.”
19. Coat hanger
Translation: clanger, mistake
Use: “I’ve only gone and sent it to print with a huge coat hanger in the headline!”
20. Cuff link
Translation: drink (alcoholic)
Use: “Let’s go down the rubber dub for a cuff link.”
21. Cuppa, sausage and a slice
Translation: nice
Use: “He’s a cuppa lad.”
22. Daisy dancers
Translation: stairs
Use: “I’m off up the Daisys to bed.”
23. Damien Hirst
Translation: first class degree
Use: “My cousin only went and got a Damien from Oxford!”
24. Diet Coke
Translation: joke
Use: “These train strikes are a Diet Coke!”
25. Donald Trump
Translation: hump
Use: “What’s given you the Donald, then?”
26. French egg
Translation: enough (un ouef)
Use: “That’s it, I’ve had a French egg now.”
27. Gamma ray
Translation: stray
Use: “This cat keeps hanging about my garden, I reckon it’s a gamma.”
28. German beer/ ginger beer
Translation: engineer
Use: “If you need some work done on your car my cousin’s a great ginger beer.”
29. Godforsaken
Translation: bacon
Use: “I’m craving a godforsaken sarnie.”
30. Gordon Brown
Translation: clown
Use: “My dad’s a bit of a Gordon.”
31. Harry Hill
Translation: pill, birth control
Use: “I can’t be pregnant, I’m on the Harry.”
32. Holy Grail
Translation: email
Use: “Send us the details in a holy.”
33. Hovis
Translation: dead (from brown bread)
Use: “He’s been Hovis for years now.”
34. Ian Beale
Translation: real
Use: “I’m keeping it Ian Beale.”
35. Itchy ring
Translation: Burger King
Use: “I’m Hank Marvin mate, wanna go get an itchy?”
36. Jabba the Hutt
Translation: shut
Use: “I just went down the tin tank for some cash but it was Jabba.”
37. Jet fighter
Translation: all-nighter
Use: “I had to pull a jet fighter to catch up with my work.”
38. KY Jelly
Translation: telly
Use: “Get in here quick, your trouble’s on the KY.”
39. Kangaroo pouch
Translation: couch
Use: “Help us move my kangaroo.”
40. Lager and lime
Translation: spine
Use: “I’ve got a terrible pain in me lager.”
41. Lisa Tarbucks
Translation: Starbucks
Use: “I’ve not got enough wonga to get coffee from Lisa.”
42. Lump of lead
Translation: head
Use: “Use your lump!”
43. Malcom X
Translation: text
Use: “Send us a Malcom.”
44. Merlyn Rees
Translation: piece, lunch
Use: “I’m off to the caff for some Merlyn, are you coming?”
45. Noddy holders
Translation: shoulders
Use: “I’ve got a terrible pain in me Noddys.”
46. Obi Wan Kenobi
Translation: mobile phone
Use: “Send us a Malcom on me Obi Wan.”
47. Perpetual loser
Translation: boozer
Use: “Me local perpetual has been no cop since it got taken over.”
48. Pineapple chunk
Translation: bunk bed
Use: “You and your sister will have to share the pineapple.”
49. Ricky Gervais
Translation: face
Use: “You should’ve seen the look on her Ricky when I told her the news.”
50. Rock of Ages
Translation: wages
Use: “With rent like this they better give us higher Rock of Ages.”
Source: 50 Cockney slang phrases that you’ve never heard of before