NOTTS LINGO

NOTTINGHAM LANGUAGE AND GRAMMAR: AN INTRODUCTION

words: Bridie Squires illustrations: Raphael Achache and Natalie Owen

Welcome to your beginner’s guide to the Nottingham language. Keep this handy translation kit with you on your travels around the city, and you’ll be sure to decipher the local vernacular in no time. Like anything, the Nottingham dialect tends to vary from town to town, with West Bridgford residents sounding rather different to those in Sneinton - so be careful before you start practising with the locals! THE HUMAN FACE

Tabs Bonce

Gob Tegs

LOCAL FOOD AND DRINK

Cob Musheh Peas Nobby greens

Tuffies/duddos Guzzgogs Taters Sukka

Watter

USEFUL WORDS AND PHRASES

Hello – Ayup / Ayup me duck Term of endearment - Duck or duck-eh Goodbye – Tarrar/Tattar Yes – Yeh No – Nehhh How are you? – Yer ‘right? Something – Summat Here you go – Ee-yar (‘Here you are’) Thank you – Ta (pronounced ‘tar’) Nothing – Nowt (pronounced ‘nowt’) You’re making me grumpy – Yer mekkin’ meh mardeh Someone who is listening uninvited - Flappin’ tabs To make a cup of tea - Mash The skies are looking dark - It’s a bit black over Bill’s mother’s Grumpy - Mardy