Everything you need to know about Sheffield slang

So, you've come over to Sheffield and realised we speak some sort of weird language and haven't got a clue what we're talking about. Well, fear not because this article will become your life saver because it can be daunting.

It might, at first, sound complete nonsense to you, but if you want to be a true Sheffielder, you must learn the lingo. So, to make it a little easier I will be your translator and break things down for you…

Nowt

This can simply be translated as nothing. Example: "I've had nowt to eat."

Somert

Simply is something. Example: "Do you want to do somert today?"

Reyt

Means right. Example: "I reyt love a bit of hendos me."

Nesh

This means cold, you could possibly here people saying: "you're reyt nesh you". This is a true northern sentence.

Chuddy

Chewing gum. Example: "Give us a chuddy then."

Mardy

Moody or miserable. Example: "You're reyt mardy you."

Love

Everyone from Sheffield will call you love, we're just really friendly like that. We sort of use it as an alternative for 'mate'. Example: "You all reyt me love?"

Spice

Means sweets. Example: "You want some spice getting from shop?" (yes we often miss out the) oh, and getting is pronounced more like 'gerring.'

Snap

Means food, popular amongst the older generation. Example: "What you having for ya snap?" Northerners generally say this as a way of asking what are you having for lunch. Weird, I know.

Breadcake

Bread roll/ bun etc, this can be a strong debate in your uni flat. Example: "I'm gunna have a sarnie on a nice breadcake."

Gi'ore

Means, Give over. Example: "Gi'ore nah."

Ey up

Generally means 'how are you?' Many Yorkshire folk can be heard using this as a greeting down the pub when they see their mates. Example: "Eyup pal."

Nah then

Now then, sounds very abrupt but this can be a conversation starter amongst some Sheffield folk. Example: "Nah then, you alreyt?."

Lug oil

You mainly hear this phrase from the older Yorkshire generation. It strangely is another word for ears. Example: "Pin back thee lug oils."

Seven while three

I honestly didn't notice anything wrong with this saying until I moved into my uni flat and was surrounded by people from different areas and they looked at me blankly. This basically means the person is working seven until three.

Gipping

Means vomiting. Example: "Im gipping at the smell of that."

Sound

This is often put into a sentence such as "that person is sound". This basically means you like that person and you approve of them.

Geroff

Basically means get off but pronounced differently. Example: "Geroff that nah."

Nannan

This is commonly used around Sheffield instead of Grandma or grandmother.

Owl or blade?

This is basically asking do you support Sheffield Wednesday (owl) or Sheffield United (blade). Be prepared for this to create a huge divide amongst Sheffield folk, oh and word of advice avoid the trams on match days.

Jennel

As well as the breadcake debate this can be a huge conversation starter. Us Sheffielders refer to alleyways as jennels.

Meadowhell

People who hate Meadowhall will use this phrase to describe the place. It's often used a lot over Christmas as the place is crazy around that time and it's definitely a no go zone full of screaming kids, endless cues and don't even get me started on the January sales.

Example: "Meadowhall, more like Meadowhell!"

Hendos

Some may call it Sheffield's delicacy this is of course Henderson's relish. Don't ever mention Lea & Perrins to a Sheffielder, or dare say you prefer it.

Halfway

This is actually a place in Sheffield, believe it or not.

Buttie

Is a sandwich. Example: "Im gunna make me self a nice bacon buttie."

Dahn

Is down. Example: "Get dahn here nah."

"Turn big light on"

This may seem strange, but refers to the main light in the room.

Ta

Means thank you. Example: "Ta, me love."

Loppy

Means dirty. Example: "You look loppy you do."

Tea

This means dinner to us, not just the drink. Example: "What's for tea then mum."

So, you now know 30 of the most common Sheffield phrases and slang, some may say you have too much time on your hands but I would say that's time well spent. You're now well on your way to becoming a proper Sheffielder and are now starting to somewhat understand what we mean and that we're not a strange bunch after all.