Yorkshire Sayings

The best Yorkshire Sayings and Dialect guide online!

If yer thinkin about heading to Yorkshire anytime soon, ya need t’ familiarise yourself with the ole Yorkshire slang. Some of these sayings and phrases date all t’ way back t’ when t’ Vikings invaded Britain, so pull up yer pegs and start practicin’! All the Yorkshire Sayings you could think of are here!

A

• Aye – another word for yes. “Aye mate, I’ll meet you for a drink in an hour.”
• ‘appen – means possibly. “Aye, ‘appen that’s it.”
• Allus – signifiying “always”. “I allus have to get your ass out of trouble.”
• Ah’m –means I am. “Ah’m off t’talk to the handsome lass.”
• Arse/arse end – describes an idiot behaving like “the arse end of a donkey.”
• A’gate – “on you go” or “be on your way”. “Be a’gate or I’ll call your mum.”
• Appin– Referring to bed sheets.

B

• Back end – “Can’t wait for the back end to be over.”
• Ba’ht – to be without. “Ah’m ba’ht me coat.” (without my coat).
• Bagsy – claiming ownership of something. “Bagsy the last biscuit.”
• Bairn – referring to a child. “The wee bairn is cold, give er’ a jacket.”
• Beck – a stream or creek of water. “We’re dippin our toes in the beck.”
• Bed Side Table, Drawers & Wardrobe– Means to eat so much, you feel like you’re going to burst
• Berk–  An insult referring to an idiot
• Beefin’ – the act of crying. “Would ye stop that beefin’ and do the dishes.”
• Belt – means punch or hit. “Leave him be or I’ll belt you one.”
• Be reight – it’ll be alright. “Relax would ye? It’ll be reight.”
• Black bright – means filthy. “The dog is black bright, look at the state of him!”
• Black Leg– Referring to a person who doesn’t want to get involved with a strike.
• Bogeyed– Means to be almost asleep or half asleep
• Boits. – Referring to a pair of shoes or boots
• Bog – another word for the toilet. “If yer need me, I’ll be at t’ bog.”
• Bray – means to punch someone. “I’ll bray you if you don’t back off.”
• Braunging– When someone is bragging about something.
• Brussen– Meaning stubborn or determined
• Brew – a hot cuppa’ tea. “Heat me up with a strong brew.”
• Butty – a delicious sandwich. “I’ve ordered a bacon and cheese butty for me lunch.”
• Buint over, or int puddin club– Referring to pregnancy or someone who is pregnant
• Button– A nose
• By His Sen– When someone is on their own

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C

• Cake ‘oil– A mouth.
• Casey– A leather football.
• Crack-handed – left handed. “She’s crack-handed.”
• Champion – means brilliant or excellent. “He was a champion on the pitch today.”
• Chelpin’ – means chattering. “If you would stop chelpin’ for a minute, you’d get some work done.”
• Chippy/ chip ‘ole – the fish and chip shop. “What do you want from t’ chippy?”
• Chuddy – chewing gum. “Can I have a chuddy?”
• Chuffed – pleased with the result. “Aye, I’m well chuffed with me new car.”
• Clarht-eead. – A quirky person.
• Cloise. – Meaning a field.
• Clarty – Muddy or sticky. “Me boots got clarty in the rain.”
• Coil oyle – the coal cellar. “Give me a minute to get some out of t’ coil oyle.”
• Cod. – A supervisor.
• Cog– When you hop on the back of a bicycle for a lift.
• Corser edge– The kerb of a footpath.
• Coyl– Coal.
• Croggy – when someone gets a ride on the crossbar of a bicycle. “Give me a croggy to school will ya?”
• Creel– A wooden rack for drying out clothes.

D

• Dale – the valley. “We’re headin’ to the dale for a walk, are ya comin?”
• Delve – means to prod at something. “Stop tryin’ t’ delve into it again, it’s in t’ past.”
• Ding – hitting something with force. “Ya gave t’ side of me car a big ding ya arse.”
• Dollop – meaning a lump of food. “I’ll take another dollop of gravy on my mash please.”
• Down’t – abbreviated saying for “down the road”. “I’m heading to the shop down’t road.”
• Doy Meaning– Meaning darling.
• Do it thisen– Do it for yourself.
• Dee Dah– Describing a person from Sheffield.
• Derrived from liggin’– Wasting time lying around with no real purpose.

E

• ‘ead – means head. “Watch yer ‘ead on that low ceiling mate.”
• ‘eck – means hell. “Holy ‘eck, how’d ya manage that?”
• Eeh by gum – alternative phrase for “oh my god”.
• Eh – means pardon. “Eh? Sorry, can you repeat that last sentence please?”
• Ey up – a common greeting or used to express concern. “Ey up, mind the step.”

F

• Faffin’ – messing about. “Right kids, stop yer fafflin’ or ya won’t get yer dessert.”
• Fair t’middlin’ – means fine or fair to middle. “I’m feeling fair t’middlin’ today.”
• Fettle – fixing or tidying something. “I bettle fettle that before me dad gets home.”
• Flaggin’ – feeling tired. “Let’s take a short break, I’m flaggin.”
• Flippin’ eck – an expression of shock or disbelief. “Flippin’ eck, how did that happen?”
• Flit – moving to a new house often. “Aye, we’re flitting again next week.”
• Flummoxed – means disorganised or confused. “Nah, he’s just as flummoxed as me. We can’t find the house keys anywhere.”
• Friggin’ – an alternative curse word to bloody hell, damn, etc. “Friggin’ heck, what are we gonna do now?”
• Fill thi boits. – Means to enjoy yourself and have fun.
• Fish and fernerkers– Meaning fish and chips from the chippy.
• Flags– Referring to the pavement or path.
• Frame yourself– Encouraging someone to try harder

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G

• Gaffer – the ‘boss”. “I have a meeting with the gaffer in ten minutes.”
• Gander – to take a look at something. “Take a gander over there.”
• Ginnel – an alleyway. “The cat’s chasing a rat in the ginnel.”
• Gip – means to vomit. “The thought of it makes me gip.”
• Giz – give it to me. “Giz me that!”
• Goffs – a terrible smell or stench. “What is that? It goffs in ‘ere.”
• Goosegogs – gooseberries. “They’re out pickin’ t’ goosegogs all morning.”
• Guff – means to pass gas or fart. “Open the window, someone’s guffed a big one!”
• Gansy– A jumper
• Gi– To give.
• Gi o’er– Meaning to get over something.
• Gripe– A basic fork.

H

• Haver – another word for oats. “I love a bit of havercake with me brew.”
• Hell Fire – means oh my goodness, an expression of shock or disbelief. “Hell Fire! Look what ya did!”
• Hacky– Describing something that feels sticky.

I

• Ice-shoggles – icicles. “It was so cold I had ice-shoggles comin’ out of me nose!”
• In’t – signifying “in the”. “I left the keys in’t car.”
• In a bit – meaning see you soon, catch you later. “I’ll see ya in a bit Susan.”
• If in doubt-do nowt!– Means to avoid doing something you are in doubt about
• In t coil– Referring to coal.
• It sempt/sem’t reight good(Sheffield) – Means it seemed really good…or it seemed like a good idea at the time etc.

J

• Jammy – someone got lucky. “I won £20 pounds on t’ scratch card, I got jammy alright!”
• Jiggered – meaning worn-out and drained. “Let’s get a cuppa tea, I’m jiggered.”

K

• Ketty – raw meat or rubbish. “Don’t eat that, it’s ketty.”
• Kittlin – a cute kitten. “We’re getting her a little kittling for her birthday, she’s begged us for months.”
• Kegs – means bottoms, trousers or jeans etc. “I’m getting a new pair of kegs for me interview.”
• Kiddin’ – to make a joke. “I’m just kiddin’, would ya calm down mate.”

L

• Larking, laiking – playing around. “Stop laikin and get to work.”
• Lass – means female, girl or woman etc. “How’s your lass doin? Haven’t seen her in a while.”
• Lop – a flea. “Give that dog a bath, he’s infested with lops.”
• Lug – to pull at something. “I’ve been lugging me suitcase around the airport all day.”
• Lug ‘ole – an ear. “You won’t believe your lug’oles when I tell you this.”
• Lamp– To hit or punch.
• leave ‘er be– Leave her alone.
• Liggers– A comb-over to hide a bald spot.
• Lugs– Meaning hair tangles and knots.

M

• Maftin’ – means hot and humid. “Put on the air conditioning, it’s maftin’.”
• Manky – means revolting. “No thanks, the last one tasted manky when I tried it.”
• Mardy – means grumpy. “If you would stop being so mardy, you’d have a better time tonight.”
• Maungy – to whine or sulk. “Quit being so maungy, it’s not that bad.”
• Middlin’ – means average or satisfactory. “It was just middlin’, nothing special.”
• Mind – meaning be cautious. “Mind the step on your way out.”
• Mingin’ – disgusting or unattractive. “You should’ve seen it, it was mingin’.”
• Mithering – meaning irritating. “He’s mithering me all day about it, had to get out of t’ house to give mi’sen a break.”
• Monk on – to be cranky or ill-tempered. “She lost the match and has her monk on all day.”
• Mi’sen – myself. “I’m craving a bit of chocolate mi’sen.”
• Macca– A huge stone
• Marra Tivvit– Meaning two of a kind.
• Mash– Brewing tea.
• Mebee– Means perhaps, maybe or might do.

N

• Nang – means worrying or difficult. “That math exam was absolutely nanglin’, especially those last questions.”
• Narky – means bad-tempered or moody. “He’s been narky all night about sommat.”
• Nay – meaning no. “Nay, I’m not in the mood for it.”
• Nar’n – means now then. “Nar’n, let’s get to work so we can get home early.”
• Neb – nose. “I’ve a terrible itch in me neb.”
• Nesh – feeling the cold. “Us Yorkies are used to the nesh in winter.”
• Nithered, Nitherin’ – means freezing. “Couldn’t stay out long, it’s nitherin’ out there.”
• Nowt – means nothing. “There’s nowt left in the fridge and me belly’s grumblin.”
• Now then – a friendly greeting such as hi or hello. “Now then! How have you been?”
• Nithered– Describing the cold.
• Nobbut– Means nothing.

O

• Oh aye? – means oh really? “We won the finals last week.” “Oh aye? Well done!”
• ‘ow do – an expression used to ask someone how they are doing. “’ow do mate? You doing okay?”
• Owt – means anything. “Do you have owt biscuits for me tea?”
• Ocker– When someone can’t make up their mind.
• Od thi dog back.– Means to take your time and wait a minute.
• oss (Oss thisen)– Make more of an effort
• Over Yonder– Means over there.

P

• Pack it in – meaning be quiet or stop it. “Pack it in before I get your father down ere.”
• Paggered – means broken or exhausted. “I have to take my laptop to the repair shop, it’s paggered.”
• Parky – means chilly. “Put a coat on, it’s getting a bit parky outside.”
• Playin’ pop – meaning to give off to someone. “The kids were playin’ pop with each other over the last chocolate bar.”
• Pop – a fizzy drink. “I could do with a cold pop on a hot day like that.”
• Pudgy – a chubby person. “He’s getting a bit pudgy.”
• Put wood in t ‘ole – close the door. “Put wood in t’ ole, it’s freezing in here.”
• Pauping– Messing around
• Pobs– Referring to bread for dipping into milk
• Push Iron– A bicycle

R

• Radged – means annoyed or angry. “He were radged his team didn’t win the cup.”
• Rank – disgusting or revolting. “That smells rank, throw it out.”
• Reckon – to think or come to a conclusion. “I reckon it was the husband that did it, what do you think?”
• Reeks – a rotten smell. “The stable reeks of horse shit.”
• Reight/reet – meaning very. “We had a reight time at the concert.”
• Riding – referring to one of the former administrative parts of Yorkshire.
• Rig-welted – a sheep that’s managed to get stuck lying on its back. “Gotta go out and help the big one, he’s rig-welted.”
• Roaring– To cry or scream.

S

• Sam up – gathering something together. “Quick mate, sam up your gym gear and let’s get going.”
• Sarnie – a sandwich. “I’m having a ham and cheese sarnie for lunch.”
• Scran – food. “I’m hungry for some scran, let’s grab a bite.”
• Silin’ – heavy rainfall. “I forgot my umbrella and got soaked, it’s silin’ like mad out there.”
• Skift – means to move. “Would you skift out of the way.”
• Snicket – an alley. “I saw him run into the snicket by James’ house.”
• Spell/Spelk – a wooden splinter. “I have a spell in my finger from climbing the tree.”
• Sprog – a young child. “My sister’s having another sprog this summer.”
• Spuds – means potatoes. “We’re having some spuds with our roast dinner on Sunday.”
• Spuggy – a sparrow. “The cat’s got an eye on the spuggy perched on the branch.”
• Summat – meaning something. “Do you have summat I can use to tighten this screw with?”
• Sup – to take a gulp of a drink. “Sup your pint lad, we’re having another round!”
• Sen– Means self.
• Shiverthewink– A troublemaker.
• Si– To see or look at something.
• Si Thi– To see you.
• Si This– To see this.
• Snek Lifter– A pint of beer.
• Snap– A packed lunch.
• Snap Tin– A lunch or sandwich box.
• Snek– The threshold of the door.
• Spice– Tasty sweets
• Spogs– Means sweets
• Stepmothers blessing. – A hang nail.
• Stoddy– Means to be awkward.
• Swill– Meaning to take a drink.

T

• Ta – means thanks. “Ta for letting me know, I’ll see ya back at work tomorrow then?”
• Tarra – means see you later or goodbye. “Tarra mate, see you soon.”
• Tek – meaning to take. “Will you tek those grocery bags into the house for me love?”
• Tha – means you. “Haven’t seen tha in a while, how have you been?”
• Thissen – meaning yourself. “What do you think happened thissen?”
• T’werk – meaning off to work. “I’m off t’werk till 5pm.”
• Tyke – an insulting word for a Yorkshire person. “He’s such a tyke.”
• Tek n’gorm– To ignore someone
• Tha meks a better door than a winder– When someone can’t see because something or someone is in their way.
• Tha mun think on– Be careful or watch what you’re doing.
• Theerz nowt s’queer as folk– Meaning people do the strangest things.
• Thoil– Means I couldn’t possibly do that.
• Tuskey– Refers to rhubarb.
• Tutty– Meaning ‘a bit of something’.
• Twiny– When someone is acting whiny or they’re moaning a lot.
• Twonk– An insult expressing how stupid a person is.
• Trod– A footpath in a garden.

U

• Underdrawin’ – a loft. “I keep all my spare tools in the underdrawin’.”
• Un – means one. “She’s a good un.”

V

• Vexed – angry or furious. “The game’s been cancelled tonight, I’m vexed.”

W

• Wang – to throw something. “Wang the ball to me next!”
• Watter – water. “I need a glass of watter, my mouth is so dry!”
• While – meaning pending or until. “I’ll be at the office while late tonight.”
• Waller– A person.
• Wanged– To have thrown.
• Wasak– An idiot or someone unintelligent.
• Wat yer playing at– Meaning, what are you doing?
• Way’od or Way’up– Meaning hold on for a second.
• Weerz– Where is?
• Weerzt– Means ‘where is the’.
• Wemmel– Meaning to walk unstably or wobbly.
• Wick– Means energetic and spirited.
• Wist tha Bahn– Means where are you off to? Where are you going? Etc.

Y

• Yacker – an acre of land. “He’s selling over twenty yackers of farmland!”
• Yam – meaning home. “I can’t wait to get yam and relax.”
• Ye – meaning you. “Where have ye been all day?”
• Yonder – referring to distance or “over there”. “Look yonder, can you see it now?”