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Perhaps more than any other in the country, the Geordie dialect can seem impenetrable to a non-Geordie, (a Geordie being a native of Newcastle). The differences between this and standard English fall into three main groups:
- words that are pronounced differently
- words that are unique to Geordie
- words that are used differently, i.e. in phrases you won't hear elsewhere in the country.
Here are some examples of each:
Pronunciation:
Many words acquire an extra syllable when spoken by a Geordie. Film becomes "fillum" and soap "so-ip"
"A"s are always short, as in axe, so the town is never pronounced, as it might be elsewhere in the country, as "Newcarrrrstle"
"ou", pronounced elsewhere as "ow", here becomes "oo" - thus "shout" sounds like "shoot"
Different words:
There are so many of these. For instance:
yem = home
gan = go
So "Ah'm gannin yem" means "I'm going home"
Canny can mean several things, including quite, nice and shrewd - you'll hear it a lot in phrases like "canny good" (quite good) or "a canny pint" (a tasty beer)
bairn = child
wor = our, or occasionally my ("wor lass" = "my wife")
clarts = mud, and "clarty" therefore = muddy
Haway = let's go, or come on
Toon = town, and by transference the town's only football team, Newcastle United
So anyone saying "Haway the Toon" or "Haway the lads" is cheering on the football players
Hinny = honey, used a term of endearment used for women and sometimes even for men
Different phrases:
Here are a couple that I like:
Up a height = in a high place (i.e. used of something up on a shelf)
She suits red = she looks good in red or as we'd say elsewhere in the country, red suits her
He takes a good photo = he's photogenic, looks good in photos (elsewhere this would mean that he's good at taking photos)
She belongs London = she comes from London
Updated May 1, 2011
If for the first 10 mins you don't understand a word your taxi driver is saying (and they love to talk), he's probably a Geordie... a strange local dialect of English, heavily influenced by Scandinavian languages and scottish.
The most enjoyable Geordie saying I heard was '*** oot' (hmm... the T-word seems to auto-edit in VT), normally shouted outside of the clubs by guys and followed by a brief flash if the lady seems fit...
Updated Apr 4, 2011
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The winger on our football team in college was from Newcastle and I remember how difficult it was to understand him sometimes as he had a strong Geordie accent. However, when I visited Newcastle I had no trouble with the accent, I guess I’ve got used to UK accents in the last few years. For first time visitors it might be more difficult.
Written Feb 24, 2007
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Viz is an 'adult' comic that still sells about 100,000 copies on each issue, and you can buy a copy at most newsagents in the UK.
It began about 20 years ago in Newcastle as a few badly photocopied sheets produced from a student bedsit. The humour is definetely on the purile / chilish / disgusting side / schoolboy type / knob gag / toliet humour level - and what's wrong with that ?
Many of the strips feature characters that are firmly set in Newcastle and speak pure Geordie. Good examples include Biffa Bacon, Sid the Sexist and the Fat Slags.
Buy a copy before you go, and you just might get a flavour of Geordie humour !
Updated Oct 6, 2004
Website: www.viz.co.uk
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Cushie Butterfield
She's a big lass
she's a bonnie lass
and she like her beer
and they call her Cushie Butterfield
and I wish she was here.
She sits on the quayside
and sells yellow clay
and her father is a muckman
and they call him Tom Grey
She's a big lass
she's a bonnie lass
and she like her beer
and they call her Cushie Butterfield
and I wish she was here
When The Boat Comes In
Come here, maw little Jacky,
Now aw've smoked mi backy,
Let's hev a bit o' cracky,
Till the boat comes in.
Dance ti' thy daddy, sing ti' thy mammy,
Dance ti' thy daddy, ti' thy mammy sing;
Thou shall hev a fishy on a little dishy,
Thou shall hev a fishy when the boat comes in.
Here's thy mother humming,
Like a canny woman;
Yonder comes thy father,
Drunk - he cannot stand.
Dance ti' thy daddy, sing ti' thy mammy,
Dance ti' thy daddy, ti' thy mammy sing;
Thou shall hev a fishy on a little dishy,
Thou shall hev a haddock when the boat comes in.
Our Tommy's always fuddling,
He's so fond of ale,
But he's kind to me,
I hope he'll never fail.
Dance ti' thy daddy, sing ti' thy mammy,
Dance ti' thy daddy, ti' thy mammy sing;
Thou shall hev a fishy on a little dishy,
Thou shall hev a bloater when the boat comes in.
I like a drop mysel',
When I can get it sly,
And thou, my bonny bairn,
Will lik't as well as I.
Dance ti' thy daddy, sing ti' thy mammy,
Dance ti' thy daddy, ti' thy mammy sing;
Thou shall hev a fishy on a little dishy,
Thou shall hev a mackerel when the boat comes in.
May we get a drop,
Oft as we stand in need;
And weel may the keel row
That brings the bairns their bread.
Dance ti' thy daddy, sing ti' thy mammy,
Dance ti' thy daddy, ti' thy mammy sing;
Thou shall hev a fishy on a little dishy,
Thou shall hev a salmon when the boat comes in.
Other fine favourites include The Lambton Worm and The Blaydon Races. If you want to know more follow this link
www.southshields-sanddancers.co.uk/geosongs.htm
Updated Nov 24, 2002
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'Geordie' is the regional dialect which is associated with the North East of England, although there are some variations of this within the region. The most widely agreed definition of the Geordie 'homeland' covers the group of towns that lie on either side of the Tyne River and includes Newcastle-upon-Tyne through to Whitley Bay on the north bank, and Gateshead through to South Shields on the south. There are some similarities between 'Geordie' and Scandinavian languages, which have their origins in the times of Viking occupation.
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Updated Sep 18, 2002
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You will hear many people refering to any northern accent as a Geordie accent. When in Newcastle you will hear a true accent and realise that the people of Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Durham have totally different accents.
Written Sep 7, 2002
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Geordie - a dialect of English, apparently! If you though Cockney was hard to understand, try working out what a Geordie is saying, espcially after 5 pints a broon! Common terms used by even the best-spoken Geordies are 'Way-ay' (OK), 'Ha-way' (Go on), 'Like' (Follows every sentence). You may need some help, so use this links: English-Geordie Translator and Geordie Dictionary
Written Aug 25, 2002
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The 'Geordie' language!
Ever used AltaVista BabelFish to translate from one language to another? Well now there's an extension to cover the language of Newcastle - 'Geordie'. It can be found here
Written Aug 24, 2002
I found this website which translates English to Geordie. I've had a bit of fun with it!
Written Oct 9, 2006
Website: http://www.whoohoo.co.uk/geordie-translator.asp
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Geordie - language tips and photos posted by real travelers and Newcastle upon Tyne locals.
Write a ReviewI found this website which translates English to Geordie. I've had a bit of fun with it!
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