Like anywhere else in the world, the people in this lovely city that I now live in have their own little quirks. One of it is their language. For the uninitiated, no one…and I mean NO ONE (except maybe the royal family) actually speaks the Queen’s english like how it’s taught in school. The most puzzling slang has got to be Cockney, but we’ll touch on that another day – today I am concentrating on the Yorkshire slang. I had, at times, question if they are actually speaking English, but have since joined their ranks (gasp!) and regularly use all of the below – to my shame!

Luv/Luvvie and other variations
No idea why everyone from the bus driver to the barman to the waitress does this, but everyone’s luv to a yorkshireman (or woman). Bear in mind this does not apply to man-man conversation…in that instance mate is used

nowt/naught
In my first job here, the guy that was training me up keep telling me “….and then its nowt point nowt nowt two “. I actually thought it was a technical term – turns out its ZERO. as in 0. Or Kosong. Depending on context, also used to mean nothing…as in ” I want nowt in me tea luvvie”.

Ta
This really is strange. Used in various combinations, it can mean thank you (from what I can decipher anyway) or bye. Another variation is ta-ra…but that is used more in saying good bye. In a sacarstic sense, ” Ta luvvie for nowt!”, which will mean thanks for nothing…although I have not actually heard it used in this situation.

Are lass/Are kid
Usually means little sister or little brother, this is derived from ‘our lass’ and ‘our kid’. Also used as a posessive noun for daughter/son. Pronounced like R.Kelly. Yep, just like that. You can also use it as an alternative in names…as in Are Jane. Or R Jane..whatever you prefer

Ay up!
Not specific to the Yorkshiremen, this is used nearly everywhere. Basically the british version of Whassup!

Me
Used in sentences such as, ” Me mum is in me house making me dinner”. I don’t understand why they can’t use my….me means me in the conventional sense and it also means my.Hmm

Scraps
I have seen non-yorkshire brits puzzled at the fish and chip shop at this question, used in the context of, ” Do you want scraps wiv your chips luvvie?”. It’s hilarious seeing their face just go a big fat HUH??? Basically means bits of fried batter that flake off in the process of deep frying the fish. Very, very naughty, but very,very nice!

innit
This is not really Yorkshire as I first learn this from a Mancunian (someone from Manchester). One of the more common slang used up and down the country, this means isn’t it. But not in a nice way…most of the time anyway.

Yer wha?
Lazy pronounciation of You What….what I can assume as a version of excuse me as it’s used in that context. Not really meant to be rude, really.

Chippie
Chip shop, or fish and chip shop. Abit like the malaysian mamak…theoretically mamaks are a race, not a roadside 24hr stall.

Vineger
No they don’t use this to mean anything other than vineger in the traditional sense, but I think its well worth including it here. Every non-Brit that I’ve met has asked me about this – why do the brits drench their fish & chips in splashes of malt vineger and then salt? Well, I don’t really know, but bacon says it’s to cut through the fattiness. Hmmm. All I can say is that it replaces usual fresh squeezes of lemon that is otherwise not native to the UK – weather’s way too depressing and cold unless you grow it in a green house. And it might be suprising, but traditional fish & chips does not come with tatare sauce.

Well, that’s all that I can think of now – will update this later if I can think of more! In the meantime, try abit of Yorkshire on the person sitting next to you!

Updated:
Breadcake
This means a bun. As in burger bun without the sesame seeds on top. Typically found in fish and chip shops (where they have chips as the bun filling – dont ask) and tea shop/cafes. It’s either a bread or a cake, not BOTH

Teacake
I am fairly certain that this is across the UK and not only Yorkshire. No, it’s not a cake seeped in tea like tiramisu is soaked in coffee liquor. It is a currant bun. Just a breadcake with currants. Why they call it a teacake I have no idea.

You might also be interested in these

• Sundays in Leeds
• sheep in the city
• happy yorkshire day!!!!!
• Taste of Yorkshire
• Hint: It’s in Yorkshire