Translation into English of the Northern England languages

Helpful Translations for U.S. Visitors to Northern England – Speaking Plain Yorkshire

Many visitors from the U.S. will make it a point to visit the Bronte Parsonage at Haworth, and the magnificent Yorkshire Moors that featured so strongly in Emily Bronte’s “Wuthering Heights.” Which is all well and good, for what difficulties could they possibly encounter, given that Americans speak English, and so too, do the people of Yorkshire? Ah, but will those cousins from across the Pond know what exactly is being said to them?

In the largest county in the United Kingdom, known locally as God’s Own Country, you will find a diversity of accents, environments, economies and cultures. All these elements are linked by a use of language which reflects a character that is straight-talking, plain speaking and prefers to call a spade a spade rather than an agricultural digging implement. Never mind that a miner from South Yorkshire might not fully understand either the accent or the vernacular of a native of Hull (East Yorkshire), or vice versa, the intention to “say it like it is” will always be present.

Here follows some examples of such “plain speaking” to illustrate:-

Putt t’wood in’t oil!                                                           ‘Could you please close the door’

Poor lass, ‘er bairn’s reet mawngey                               ‘That poor girl has a very fretful baby’

She’s a reet midden                                                           ‘That woman is of easy virtue’

A’m brassed off!                                                                 ‘I am not very happy today’

‘Ees thick as two short planks                                         ‘He is totally lacking in intelligence’

‘Ees daft as a brush!                                                          ‘What an extremely silly person!’

A’m fair mafted.                                                                 ‘I am feeling the heat somewhat’

Eeh, A were gobsmacked!                                                ‘I was so surprised, it rendered me speechless!’
A’ll go to ower ‘ouse!                                                                                   Ditto

A’ll go tut fut o’ ower stairs!                                                                       Ditto

Bluddy ‘ell fire!                                                                   ‘I am (any of these) shocked/surprised/ dismayed/furious
Tha’s as much use as a chocolate teapot                        ‘You are totally ineffectual’
(or fireguard)

It’s like plaitin’ fog (or jugglin’ soot)                              ‘This is an extremely difficult task to complete’

It’s a tuppny ‘op on t’trackless                                         ‘The journey is short distance by tram’

‘Ark at pot callin’ kettle grimey-arse!                             ‘Did you hear that? Let he who is without sin cast the first stone!’

She’ nubbut a bairn                                                           ‘She is a mere child’

On the subject of mean people and lack of funds, your might hear the following:

‘Is pockets’re too long.                                                     ‘He would never buy a round of drinks as he cannot find his wallet in time’

‘Eed peel an orange in ‘is pocket                                    ‘That person would share nothing with anyone’

She’s tight as a duck’s arse (or crab’s  back pincers)  ‘She is mean, selfish and totally lacking in generosity’

Equipped with these standard phrases, all overseas visitors with a good command of the English language should be able to understand the vernacular. Oh, but watch out for the accents, they are many and varied, tha knaws.