Cockney English Explained: A Beginner's Guide to London's Famous Rhyming Slang
London is one of the world's great cities, famous for history, landmarks, theatre, finance and enough visitors to fill several countries.
It is also home to one of Britain's most famous ways of speaking: Cockney.
For many, Cockney English can be particularly confusing. You may think your English is excellent until somebody tells you to use your apples and pears, answer the dog and bone, or asks whether you've had a butcher's at something.
Cockney English Explained: Why Londoners Talk About Apples, Pears and Dogs
The good news is that Cockney English is still English. The bad news is that it occasionally feels as though somebody has replaced half the vocabulary with a puzzle.
Fortunately, once you know a handful of common words and expressions, Cockney conversations become much easier to follow.
Cockney Words And Phrases You'll Hear Again And Again
ALRIGHT?
A common London greeting meaning "Hello" rather than a question about your health.
MATE
Used for friends, strangers and almost everyone else.
BLIMEY
An expression of shock or amazement.
GUV'NOR
A traditional Cockney term of respect or friendly address.
PORKIES
From "pork pies" meaning lies.
BUTCHER'S
From "butcher's hook" meaning look.
DOG AND BONE
A classic example of Cockney rhyming slang.
APPLES AND PEARS
Perhaps the most famous Cockney phrase of all.
TROUBLE AND STRIFE
A joking term for one's spouse.
CHINA
Short for "china plate", which rhymes with mate.
KNEES UP
A lively gathering with food, drink and music.
MINGING
Something unpleasant, smelly or unattractive.
TA-RA
A friendly informal farewell.
HAVING A LAUGH
Not meant seriously.
Why Does Cockney English Sound Different?
The vocabulary is only part of the story.
Traditional Cockney speech is known for dropping certain sounds and changing the way words are pronounced.
The H at the beginning of words is often softened or dropped, while some T sounds become a brief pause in the throat known as a glottal stop.
This distinctive accent developed in London's East End and became one of Britain's most recognisable ways of speaking.
A Real Cockney Conversation
What You Might Hear In An East London Pub
Alright, mate?
Not bad, china.
Fancy a knees up later?
Yeah, after I've been up the apples and pears.
Lovely jubbly.
Translation
Hello, how are you?
I'm fine, my friend.
Would you like to go to a party later?
Yes, after I've gone upstairs.
Excellent.
What Is Cockney Rhyming Slang?
Cockney rhyming slang developed in London's East End during the nineteenth century.
Instead of saying a word directly, speakers would replace it with a short phrase that rhymed with the original word.
Over time, people often dropped the rhyming word itself, making the phrase even harder for outsiders to understand.
For example, butcher's hook rhymes with look, so "have a butcher's" simply means "have a look".
Likewise, dog and bone rhymes with phone, while apples and pears rhymes with stairs.
BritBuddy Fact
Traditional Cockneys were said to be people born within earshot of the bells of St Mary-le-Bow church in the City of London. Today the term is often used more broadly to describe East London culture and speech.
Modern London accents have changed considerably, and fewer people speak traditional Cockney than in the past.
Even so, Cockney expressions remain an important part of British culture and regularly appear in films, television programmes and everyday conversation.
So next time somebody tells you to answer the dog and bone, don't go looking for a pet — they're talking about the telephone.
