What do Sting, Cheryl Cole, Ridley Scott and Tony from
TheTop10Blog all have in common? If you answered, "They're all famous?" you would be partly correct. The better answer, however, is...they're all
Geordies!
According to the
Wikipedia entry, "Geordie" is a term used to describe someone from either an area as large as the whole of northeast England, or as small as the city of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Whichever the case, they have a unique accent and a whole dialect uniquely their own. Inspired by my previous "They Talk Funny Here"
posts, Tony from
TheTop10Blog has been kind enough to share some of the more memorable and useful Geordie expressions. I, myself, am looking forward to using number 5 as soon as possible:
1) "Gannin doon the toon wi me marras for some dog."
Translation: I am going out with my friends to Newcastle for some Newcastle Brown Ale.
2) "Aa divvin knaa."
Translation: I don’t know.
3) "Howay the lads."
Translation: A football chant used at matches by the fans.
4) "The Toon Army"
Translation: Newcastle United supporters.
5) "Hoy a hammer ower here hinny."
Translation: I say my friend, could you pass me the hammer.
6) "Gannin' tappy-lappy doon the lonnen."
Translation: Prancing down the street.
7) "Haad yer whisht"
Translation: Shut your mouth.
8) "Gannin to the Netty"
Translation: Going to the lavatory.
9) "Divn’t dunchus"
Translation: Please don’t knock into me.
10) "Hadaway and shite"
Translation: I don’t believe what you are saying is true. (Or maybe a firm of Geordie solicitors!)
For further expressions, check out this handy online
translator where, with a few simple keystrokes, you too can learn how to speak like a true Geordie! And with that I say,
"hev a geet dyah!"
.
Americans are proud and probably bigger and louder than the British. And while we may have large, confident personalities, we could learn a LOT from the British. In fact, I've compiled a list of things the British do better than Americans and was thrilled to have guest-posted it on SmittenbyBritain.com.
