London slang is slang that is used in London. Cockney rhyming slang is the best known form of London slang, but London has a very diverse population and there are many sources and styles of slang. An example is Jamaican patois.
One problem with identifying what is specifically London slang is that the dominant cultural position that London has within the United Kingdom causes London slang to be exported to the rest of the UK, leading to London slang becoming general United Kingdom English slang.[citation needed]
Sources of London slang
London slang is a mixture from many sources, reflecting the diverse cultural makeup of the city's population.
In 21st century South London, Jamaican patois is the source of words such as "dat" and "dere".
Many London slang words and phrases are believed to have been imported from Indian languages by servicemen in the 19th century. London slang words for money such as "monkey" (£500) and "pony" (£25) are believed to have come from the Indian rupee banknote, which features pictures of such animals.
Another money slang word, "nicker" (£1) is hypothesised to be connected to the U.S. "nickel". Conversely, "wonga" is believed to have come from Romany.
Modern urban slang in London
In August 2005, Professor Sue Fox from Queen Mary University concluded that Cockney rhyming slang was dying out. She says that young children in East London, as well as most of London, are being influenced by words and phrases brought in from outside cultures, primarily Bangladeshi. This is primarily true, as many teenagers from London are incorporating new words into their increasing vocabularies, many of which borrowed from outside the UK. The emerging dialect has been given the name Jafaican. This has been followed up by several publications about the changing faces of youth dialect/sociolect in several national newspapers. These include The Times and The Guardian.
Example of London slang
| Slang | Definition |
|---|---|
| Buff/Choong/Fit/Peng/Jook/Zak | Sexually attractive |
| Drum/Gaff/Yard/Manor | Home |
| Filth/Coppers/Cozzers/Rozzers/Old Bill/Feds/50/boy dem | Police |
| Fresh/Freshie/Fresh off the boat | A person who has just come to the country, usually african immigrants |
| Gash | Vagina/Girl/Girlfriend (sometimes derogatory) |
| Grass/Nark/Shaun/Snake | An informer |
| Hookie/Hot/Moody (When referring to items) | Stolen. "Got me some hookie gold chains" |
| Jam/Jam your hype/Jam your tart | Calm down |
| Micky Mouse (when referring to money) | Fake |
| On your J's (from the cockney rhyming slang on your Jack Jones - On your own) | On your own |
| Porkies/Porkers (from the cockney rhyming slang Pork Pies – lies) | Lies |
| Rabbit (from the cockney rhyming slang Rabbit and Pork - talk) | To Talk excessively. ("Stop rabbitin'") |
| Wasteman | A waste of space. "Arcele is a wasteman!" |
| Sekkle/Sekkle & Chill | Calm down |
| Shrapnel/Chicken Change | Loose Money |
| Shower Roadman/General | Refers to an individual of significance within urban communities |
| Gassing it | talking rubbish |
References
- "London slang". Retrieved April 24.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - Zachary Rodgers (2005-05-05). "British Airways Campaign Teaches London Slang". ClickZ.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - "Don't Be "Naff" -- Learn To Use "Chuffed," "Laughing Gear" "Half Four" and Dozens of Other British Slang Words Before Your London Holiday". PR Newswire. 2005-05-04.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - Vicky Wilks (2004-07-09). "'Yo bro, nice bling, innit'". South London Press.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - "money slang history". Retrieved July 25.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - "London slang". FF5 Worldbook. Retrieved July 25.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help)
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See also
- Some places in London with slang names:
- London slang in popular culture
- Minder — a television series named with the London slang for a bodyguard
- The Sweeney — a television series named with the London slang (specifically Cockney rhyming slang) for the Flying Squad (Sweeney Todd → Flying Squad)
- The Bill — a television series named with the London slang for the Metropolitan Police Service
- Some things with London slang names:
- "The Addicks" — a football club nicknamed with the London slang for haddock