Discover the wonderful world of Hull dialect! From breadcakes to croggies, explore the unique words and phrases that make Hull-speak unique.
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1. Bains
Young children. Note the regional difference to the more common northern English/Scottish word “bairnes”. These related words all stem from the Old Norse word for child, “barn”, which is still used in Scandinavian countries like Sweden today.
“Where are t’bains? It’s teatime!”
2. Breadcake
A floury bread bun. This word is definitely typical for Hull, although this dialect map shows it is used in Sheffield and Leeds, too.
“Those breadcakes look lovely!”
3. Gorn on’t rerd
Natives of Hull and East Yorkshire do very strange things with vowels. “Oh” sounds like the “o” in “choke” or the “oa” in “throat” transform into “err”. Consequently, when someone from Hull talks about a “rerd”, they mean a “road”.”T’rerd” with the definite article generally refers to the Hessle Road. However, “gorn on’t rerd” is also a generic way of saying “I’m going shopping”.
“Am gorn on’t rerd – yer need anythin’?”
4. Bool
To push along a wheeled object, such as a bike or pram. It is commonly assumed to come from the name for a metal ring or hoop, such as an end ring from an oak cask or a bike rim, that children could use as a toy by rolling it along with a stick.
“She was boolin’ t’bain down t’rerd.”
5. Bray
A threat unique to Hull and it’s surrounding area, meaning to beat someone up. In fact, I often heard this at school in East Yorkshire!
“If yer don’t shurrup I’m gunna bray yer ‘ead in!”
6. Croggy
A lift on a friend’s pushbike, either on the crossbars at the front or sitting on the saddle while the rider of the bike stands on the pedals.
“Giz a croggy!”
7. Maftin’
Absolutely sweltering; too hot; used to describe unbearably hot weather.
“Blimey, I’m maftin’!”
8. Twaggin’ (off)
Playing truant from school; skipping class. Known in other parts of England variously as “wagging off”, “skiving off” (that’s what I’d call it) or “bunking off”.
“I got caught twaggin’ off school.”
9. Tenfoot
The narrow alleyway running behind a row of terraced houses. Sounds dodgier than it is. Unique to Hull.
“I’ll see yer in’t tenfoot at 4, alright?”
10. Chipspice
A distinctive bright orange spice blend including salt, tomato powder and paprika to sprinkle over chips/fried after cooking. Chipspice is a legendary Hull takeaway tradition – although it’s apparently used in the Manchester area too where people call it “red salt”. I can’t believe I grew up in East Yorkshire and never heard of it.
Note to self: try chipspice on next visit home!
11. (Savoury) pattie
A battered deep-fried mashed potato cake with added sage. Another Hull chip-shop staple not commonly found elsewhere.
12. Skeg
Also a word I heard almost every other day at school and among locals when growing up, a “skeg” means a quick look or glance. I don’t know how it came to mean this; the only origin I can find is the Old Norse “skegg” meaning “beard”.
“Gizza skeg!”
(Fun fact: Skeg in modern English also refers the stern of the keel of a ship near the sternpost or, in Australia, a fin on the bottom of a surfboard used for stability and steering.)
13. Cockle ovver
To fall over or topple sideways awkwardly.
“I cockled ovver on’t rerd and hurt me ankle.”
14. Taffled
Tangled.
“I didn’t brush me hair last night before bed and this mornin’ it’s all taffled.”
15. Tansad
A pushchair or stroller for small children. “Tansad” was apparently a brand which became the generic dialect word for a pushchair in Hull.
“She was boolin’ ‘er Tansad on’t rerd.”
16. Brok
Broken.
“That’s bike’s brok.”
17. Frame
Pull yourself together; sort yourself out; shape up.
“Frame (yerself) lad!”
18. Doin’ me ‘eddin
When something/someone is “doing your head in”, it is annoying or confusing you.
“This car’s doin’ me ‘eddin!”
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Ey up! Are there any Hull natives reading this who have more local words that I’ve missed? Send me an email at me@katharinewrites.com and I’ll add them in!
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More articles for hardcore language nerds:
Yorkshire words & phrases that I still use after 19 years living abroad
Midlands dialect and the odd things my mum says
Sloshed! British English words for being drunk
Victorian words and phrases from Britain
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Image credit: 43 Clicks North on Unsplash