The Cockney language traditionally refers to the working class of East London – if you have ever heard these cheeky, rhyming sentences you will know how entertaining they are.
Cockney speakers have a distinctive accent and dialect, a type of slang that you will only understand if you speak Cockney itself. It is said that the earliest recording of this language was in 1362 and that you are only considered a ‘Cockney’ if you were born with earshot of the Bow Bells, which were the bells of the St Mary-Le-Bow church of East London.
Although I do not have the dialect sussed out, I always love reading the eccentric rhymes and the challenge of trying to figure out what they mean. It’s a wonderful, colorful language that still exists today. Before I give you my 3 favorite Cockney sayings, here’s a sentence in full swing:
“Allo me old china – wot say we pop round the Jack. I’ll stand you a pig and you can rabbit on about your teapots. We can ‘ave some loop and tommy and be off before the dickory hits twelve.”
This means:
Hello my old mate (china plate) – what do you say we pop around to the bar (Jack Tar). I’ll buy you a beer (pig) and you can talk about your kids (teapot lids). We can have some soup (loop de loop) and supper (Tommy Tucker) and be gone before the clock (hickory dickory dock) strikes twelve.
Here are my favorite Cockney sayings:
Adam and Eve – Believe
Artful Dodger – Lodger
All Night Rave – Shave
Do you have a favorite Cockney saying?
Image – Paint and Embroidery Multimedia Cockney Lesson by Mimilove forever
Easy peasy, lemon squeezy!!