A United Kingdom of Regional Dialects

Have you ever watched a show in English but had a really hard time understanding what the characters are saying, even if it’s your native language or one you’ve been learning for a long time? It might be because they are speaking a totally different dialect!

Across the United Kingdom, different dialects have developed as a result of continuity of language and simultaneous change in use and culture. British English both sounds and is used differently in Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and even within different parts of England itself. There is variance in common use and a huge array of slang used all over the UK.

To say that there is only one British English dialect is like saying there is only one type of apple; in fact, there are many varieties of apples including Honeycrisp, Cortland, and Royal Gala. Just like different types of apples, accent and dialect vary greatly from region to region. There are about 40 British regional dialects, and probably even more! Let’s explore a few here so we can maybe figure out what the characters from Peaky Blinders are actually saying.

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1. COCKNEY

Do you have a didgeridoo what I’m saying? No? Then you need to practice your Cockney rhyming slang. Market traders created the code to communicate and confuse police officers. You can still hear Cockney tossed about by market traders along the East End!

• Didgeridoo = clue
• Daisy roots = boots
• Syrups and figs = wigs

2. BRUMMIE

Ever heard of a bottler? Taken a gambol? Then you must know Brummie! This dialect hails from Birmingham, a city only 100 miles outside London. The intensity of the Brummie dialect varies from person to person across the Midlands region.

• Throw a wobbly = have a tantrum
• Cack-handed = clumsy
• Yampy = a mad or daft person

3. SCOUSE

Scouse originated in Liverpool along with The Beatles, Jodie Comer, and Daniel Craig. It gets its name from a Norwegian stew called lobscouse. Check out a Beatles documentary to hear the dialect aloud.

• Chocca = busy
• Boss = incredibly awesome
• Bevvy = beverage

4. GEORDIE

If you share a cuppa with Sting, you’re going to probably pick up some famous Geordie slang. It originates from Newcastle and the surrounding area of Tyneside and is re-popularised by Ant and Dec.

• Oh, hadaway yi daft bugga = away with you
• Eeh that’s champion, man = that’s great!

5. NORTHERN IRISH

Wee Nicola Coughlan uses a kicking NI accent in the hit show Derry Girls. The word “wee” in Northern Irish is used as a term of endearment and to describe a lot of things, not just small things.

• Baltic = freezing cold
• Dander = stroll
• Kip = sleep

6. SCOTS

Next up: Scots, assigned as the ‘traditional language’ by the Scottish Executive. Scots is derived from Old English and is very diverse across the Scottish highlands.

• Pure dead brilliant = amazing
• Am pure done in = I am pretty tired
• Aye mate = yes friend

7. WELSH ENGLISH

Welsh English, or “Wenglish,” is a combination of English and five different Welsh dialects. Northern accents are thick and breathy, while Southern accents are more musical. Michael Sheen often gives interviews in this hybrid style.

• Tha’s lush, it is = I love it!
• Chopsy = cheeky, chatty
• Humming, buzzing, or minging = STINKY

There are so many English dialects spoken in the UK and across the world, it’s hard to believe it’s all the same language! It’s great to practise “standard” English, but it can be fun to play around with listening to and learning about some of the other varieties out there.