Cockney

The Beautiful Language/Accent that is Cockney

‘Ave a Butchers

The term Cockney has more geographical and social meaning than linguistic meaning.

It is often referred to the working class and specifically the people living in the East End of London.

The earliest known usage of the word was in 1362 in the book ‘The Visions of William concerning Piers Plowman’ by William Langland, however this version of the word meant a small and misshapen egg.

In Middle English it literally meant “A cocks egg”.

“In Reeve’s Tale” by Geoffrey Chaucer in 1386 it appeared as ‘cokenay’ which at the time meant ‘Milksop’ (a piece of bread sopped in Milk).

The region of the Cockney language is still undefined.

Although the region is mostly affiliated with the East End.

A true Cockney is defined as someone born within ear shot of the bells of the St. Mary-le-Bow church.

The Cockney accent has been long looked down upon as being inferior, but Cockney is becoming more and more influential and some claim that it will become a standard language.

Common parts of the Cockney language include leaving out the “H” phoneme in some words, such as Head which would become ‘Ead’ pronounced [E-D].

Some of the best examples of Cockney slang or expressions are:

(Note that the AND is replaced with an ‘N’)

-          Apples ‘N’ Pears = Stairs

-          Cain “N’ Able = Table

-          Butchers = A Look

-          Banet Fair = Hair

-          Bird Lime = Time

-          Trouble ‘N’ Strife = Wife

-          Frog ‘N’ Toad = Road

-          Jam Jar = Motor Car

-          Pot ‘N’ Pan = Old Man

-          Cobbler’s = Balls/Testis

-          Bag Of Yeast = Priest

-          Dirty Beast = Priest

-          Hot Cross Bun = Nun

-          Steak ‘N’ Kidney = Sydney

-          China Plate = Mate

-          Dead Horse = Bottle Of Sauce

-           Harold Holt = Salt

-          Brahms ‘N’ Liszt = Pissed

-          Brown Bread = Dead

-          J Arthur Rank = Wank

-          North ‘N’ South = Mouth

-          Weasel ‘N’ Stoat = Coat

And the best Cockney word is: Trafalgar’s. (Read on to understand)

Trafalgar Square

Fox And Hare

A Hairy Greek

A Five Day Week

Weak And Feeble

Pins And Needles

Needle And Stitch

Abercrombie And Fitch

Abercrombie Zombie (So Trafalgar’s equals ZOMBIES).

Cheers