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Throughout the East Midlands, many different dialects are spoken. The dialect of the Erewash Valley which includes Long Eaton, Sawley and Ilkeston etc., can sometimes sound like a foriegn language to people from outside the area. As a guide to the dialect of Derbyshire and the Erewash Valley, we have taken extracts from the book titled Ey Up Mi Duck! compiled by Richard Scollins and John Titford. The list of words below are just a sample of the many and varied words and phrases used in the Erewash Valley.

Word/PhraseMeaning
Air-dow/aah-dow/aah-do?How do you do?
A'm bostin'I can't wait (usually to go to the toilet)
AnallAs well
Are yuh arkin?Are you listening?
ArrersDarts as in the game of darts
As black as Dick's 'at bandVery black in colour
Battin'Moving very fast
Be said!That's enough and that's final
BlackbodBlackbird
Blortin'Shouting out or crying
Bod cackBird droppings
BoggerLocal version of 'bugger' can be used as an affectionate term of abuse as in "yuh silly bogger".
Bogger thisI've had enough an example is: "bogger this fer a game o' sowjers"
BonnyA well built healthy looking person - usually describing a baby
Boz-eyedCross eyed
Bread 'n bung 'oleBread and cheese
CauseyPavement, from Middle English "cauce"
Charlie's deadUsed when the underskirt is showing beneath the hem of a woman's dress
ChelpTo answer back or to cheek someone
ChunterTo mumble or complain under the breath
Dab inHurry up or get a move on. Once used to mean "cheerio"
Dob 'im one onHit him!
DoolallyMad or crazy comes from Deolalie a town near Bombay in India where exhausted troops had to spend months before being shipped home
Dunkin'To dip biscuits in a hot drink, usually tea
Eh'd a-like te com a cropperHe nearly found himself in trouble
Eh's gorra munk onHe's in a bad mood
Eh's threy shaits (sheets) te t'windA crazy lunatic
Ey up mi duckHello my dear
FortnitFortnight
FritFrightened
FrozzFrozen
Gennel/jennelSteps between coal houses into the back yard
GerruminIt's your turn to pay for the beer
GlegTo take a look. Once used in parts of Derbyshire to describe a person with a slight squint
Int winder bottomOn the window sill
Is it woth ote?Is it worth anything?
It's gerrin black ower Bill's motha'sBlack rain clouds are building up
It's muck 'r nettlesIt's six of one and half a dozen of the other - it makes no difference
JiggeredTired or exhausted
JittyA small lane or alleyway. Other examples are: gennel, twitchel and woppy-nick
LairyUsually used to describe a bad car driver
Let dog sey t 'rabbitMake room, let me see
LugA knot in the hair, from the Scandinavian word "lugg" meaning a head of hair
Lug 'olesA slang word for ears
MamMother
MardyBeing childish, easily upset. Possibly comes from a spoilt or "marred" child
MashTo make a cup of tea as in "'ave yuh mashed?"
MaziwatA weak cup of tea
MesterMister or gentleman. The female version is "missis"
MizzleA very fine drizzly rain
Mytherin'To worry about or harass as in "don't myther me"
NeshUsed to describe someone who feels the cold easily
Nobby grains/greensBrussels sprouts
Ockud/awkudAwkward
Oss-muckHorse manure
Owd yer sweatTake it easy and calm down
Pen-toedPigeon-toed
Put wood int th' oleClose the door (in South Derbyshire this would often be followed by "dusta com fra oppenwoodgate?"
RammelRubbish as in worthless (in North Staffs the word refers to a mongrel dog)
ScrannyGoing frantic through external pressures
SlormedTo sprawl out or lie across something
SnapOriginally this was a packed lunch carried by coal miners (in a snap tin) nowadays it means food in general
SnydedCrowded, packed with people
Summat's upSomething is wrong
Tabs/tab-olesAnother term for ears as in "wer yuh tabs flappin'"
Tat-arAn ordeal, having a bad time
TazA short jouney as in "taz off down shops"
The dog shelfThe floor
TrawpseA long journey, a traipse
Yo'll copitYou will get into trouble

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