Translation Guide: Understanding West Country Slang
How to Talk the West Country Talk
Get your head around the West Country’s weird and wonderful dialect…
Ever been in Devon, Cornwall, Dorset or Somerset and wondered what on earth that friendly local is trying to tell you? In fact, the West Country’s local lingo can almost feel like a foreign language. Toad Hall Cottages felt duty-bound to offer you a fascinating insight into some of the South West’s most authentic language.
Have a scroll through our glossary of charming West Country slang words and brush up on your yokel dialect…
Mr Toad’s Glossary of West Country Slang…
Ark at ‘Ee: To draw attention to someone’s comment with a touch of ridicule: ‘Well I’ll be. Would you ark at ‘ee’
Are ‘em: Aren’t they: ‘Those daffs are beauts are ‘em’
A-feard: To be afraid: ‘That spider under the sink ‘ad me proper a-feard’
Backalong: Sometime in the past: ‘I remember that song from backalong’
Brock: Badger: ‘I seen a brock t’other day that was larger than my wheelbarrow’
Bulorn: Snail: ‘They bliddy bulorns been at my lettuces ageen!’
Cakey: Soft in the head: ‘My cousin be proper cakey in the swede’
Cummus ‘zon: Come on then: ‘We best be off. Cummus ‘zon’
Didnus: Didn’t we: ‘Had a bliddy good larf at the village fete didnus?’
Dimpsey: Evening time or dusk: ‘I woz yomping the path home coz it woz fast gettin’ dimpsey’
Dreckly: Sometime in the near future: ‘I shall see ye dreckly’
Drumbledrone: Bumblebee: ‘I be walking a bit ginger on account of ‘aving just sat on the sharp end of a drumbledrone’
Fess: To be pleased as punch: ‘I was fessed right up with my new socks’
Fossick: To search by rummaging: ‘Just ‘ad a good fossick in the hay loft’
Gakeing: Daydreaming: ‘Are you gonna dig they tatties or just stand there gakeing?’
Grockle: A tourist or holidaymaker: ‘Sorry I’m late. Got stuck behind a grockle’
Gurt Noodle: Larking around: ‘I add too much cider and got gurt noodle’
Hoss-stinger: Dragonfly: ‘Change be in the air coz I just seen a hoss-stinger’
Janner: A person from Devon, particularly Plymouth: ‘Geddon ya Janner’
Joppety: Nervous or anxious: ‘Them bullocks are a bit joppety this morning’
Lippen: Wet and dreary: ‘It turned a bit lippen so I put on my coat’
Me ‘ansome: A friendly term used to address a close acquaintance: ‘Ello me ‘ansome. Tis loverly to see you’
Ramshacklum: Rubbish: ‘This holey bucket is ramshacklum’
Wasson: What have you got planned: ‘Wasson this afternoon?’
Where’s that to: Where is it. Can also be used with most pronouns: ‘Where’s ee to?’
Zummit: Something. A thing that is not exact: ‘Ere, did you just say zummit?’
Got it? Now you’re all set for your next holiday with Toad Hall Cottages in the wonderful West Country, famous for its golden beaches, sunny bays and endless rolling countryside. Proper job!