Can You Speak Norfolk? Our Guide to the Local Lingo
Norfolk has its own unmistakable way of speaking.
Some words have been passed down through generations, others are still heard in everyday conversation, and a few may leave visitors wondering whether they have accidentally stumbled into an entirely different language.
Known as Broad Norfolk, the county’s traditional dialect includes distinctive words, pronunciations and phrases. There is no single official way to write many of them because the spelling often attempts to capture the sound of the Norfolk accent, which can vary between different parts of the county.
To help any confused “furriners” — and to test the knowledge of lifelong locals — here is Broadland Radio’s guide to some classic Norfolk lingo.
Ah bor
Everyday English: Yes, mate; hello, friend; or an expression of agreement.
“Bor” is a traditional friendly term for a boy, man, neighbour or companion. “Ah bor” can be used as a greeting or an enthusiastic way of agreeing with something.
In conversation:
“That’s turned out hot today, ent it?”
“Ah bor, that hev!”
Ar yer orrite?
Everyday English: Are you all right? How are you?
A simple Norfolk greeting. Depending on how it is said, it might be a genuine enquiry about your wellbeing or simply another way of saying hello.
Bishy barnabee
Everyday English: A ladybird.
Possibly one of Norfolk’s best-loved dialect names, a bishy barnabee is the little red beetle with black spots that most of the country calls a ladybird.
Different spellings and variations include bishy barney bee and bishy barnybee.
Bootiful
Everyday English: Beautiful, lovely or excellent.
The word became famous far beyond Norfolk through Bernard Matthews’ well-known “bootiful” catchphrase, but it remains instantly associated with the county.
A good meal, a sunny day or an impressive view can all be described as bootiful.
Bor
Everyday English: Mate, friend, neighbour or boy.
This is one of the most recognisable Norfolk words. It is normally used as a friendly form of address rather than literally meaning a young boy.
Example:
“Hold yew hard, bor!”
Charley pig
Everyday English: A woodlouse.
That small grey creature found underneath stones, logs and damp garden pots has several regional names. In parts of Norfolk, it is known as a charley pig or barney pig.
Chimley
Everyday English: Chimney.
A classic example of a familiar English word being given a distinctive Norfolk pronunciation.
Example:
“Look at that smoke comin’ out of the chimley.”
Claggy
Everyday English: Sticky, damp or unpleasantly moist.
Mud can be claggy, uncooked pastry can be claggy and a humid summer afternoon might feel claggy.
It is one of those useful words for which standard English does not offer a replacement that sounds quite as effective.
Cooshies
Everyday English: Sweets.
Children might once have been offered a bag of cooshies from the local shop, although the word is less commonly heard today.
Craze
Everyday English: To nag or repeatedly pester someone.
Someone who will not stop asking you for something is crazing you.
Example:
“The kids kept crazing me for an ice cream.”
Crockin’
Everyday English: Crying.
A child who is upset might be described as crockin’, particularly if the tears are rather loud or persistent.
Dew yew keep a-troshin’
Everyday English: Keep going, take care or goodbye.
The phrase is connected with Norfolk’s agricultural past and literally refers to continuing with the threshing. It developed into a friendly way of saying goodbye or encouraging somebody to carry on.
You may also see it written as “keep a throshin’.”
Dodman
Everyday English: A snail.
Another wonderful traditional Norfolk creature name. A snail may also be called a dodderman or doddiman in different parts of East Anglia.
Ent it?
Everyday English: Isn’t it?
A phrase often added to the end of a sentence, whether or not a direct answer is really expected.
Example:
“Thass a cold wind today, ent it?”
Furriner
Everyday English: Somebody from outside Norfolk.
You do not necessarily need to have arrived from another country to be considered a furriner. Depending on the speaker, coming from the next county may be more than enough.
Haller
Everyday English: To shout loudly.
If somebody is hollering across a field, garden or crowded room, they may be said to be hallering.
Example:
“Dunt haller — I’m standing roight hare.”
Harnser
Everyday English: A heron.
The tall, long-legged bird regularly seen beside the Broads, rivers and wetlands is traditionally known as a harnser in Norfolk. The word remains familiar through local business and place names.
Hitch up
Everyday English: Move along and make some room.
This is what someone might say when squeezing another person onto a bench or sofa.
Example:
“Hitch up, bor. There’s room for one more.”
Hold yew hard
Everyday English: Hang on, wait a moment or listen to me.
Despite how it might sound to somebody unfamiliar with the phrase, this is not usually an instruction to grab anyone.
It is simply a way of asking somebody to stop, wait or pay attention.
Hoolly
Everyday English: Very, completely or extremely.
The word is used to strengthen a description.
Example:
“I’m hoolly worn out after walking all round Norwich.”
Hull
Everyday English: To throw or hurl something.
A child might hull a ball across the garden, or somebody could hull an unwanted object into a bin.
Example:
“He hulled that straight over the fence.”
Jiffle
Everyday English: To fidget or keep moving around.
Someone who cannot sit still may be told to stop jiffling.
It is particularly useful during a long car journey, school assembly or family photograph.
Jip
Everyday English: Pain, bother or aggravation.
If an old injury, awkward appliance or difficult person is causing trouble, it may be giving you jip.
Example:
“My knee’s giving me a bit of jip today.”
Mardle
Everyday English: To chat, gossip or have a conversation.
Having a mardle means stopping for a good old talk, often with a neighbour, friend or anybody else you happen to meet.
It can be used as either a noun or a verb.
Example:
“I only went out for a pint of milk, but I got mardling outside the shop for half an hour.”
The word has carried several meanings over time, but its familiar modern East Anglian use refers to chatting or gossiping.
Mawther
Everyday English: A girl or woman.
Mawther is traditionally used to refer to a female, while bor is used for a male.
The exact meaning and tone may depend on the context, the age of the speaker and who is being addressed.
On the huh
Everyday English: Crooked, uneven or not level.
A wonky shelf, sloping picture frame or badly built wall can all be described as being on the huh.
It is one of Norfolk’s most useful contributions to the English language because everybody immediately understands what it means once they have seen it demonstrated.
Example:
“That table’s hoolly on the huh.”
Pollywiggle
Everyday English: A tadpole.
Alongside bishy barnabee and dodman, pollywiggle is another charming Norfolk name from the natural world.
Right ol’ rum’un
Everyday English: A strange, unusual or remarkable person or thing.
A rum’un can be somebody who is a bit of a character, or a situation that is peculiar, surprising or difficult to explain.
Whether it is affectionate or critical depends entirely on how it is said.
Example:
“He’s a right ol’ rum’un, that one.”
Squit
Everyday English: Nonsense, rubbish or something of little value.
If somebody is talking squit, you probably do not believe a word they are saying.
The term can also refer more generally to worthless stuff, clutter or rubbish.
Example:
“Dunt listen to him — he’s talking a load of squit.”
That’ll learn yew
Everyday English: That will teach you.
In standard English, “learn” and “teach” have different uses. In this familiar regional expression, however, “learn” takes the place of “teach.”
It is normally delivered after somebody has made a mistake and discovered the consequences.
Thass
Everyday English: That is or that’s.
Example:
“Thass bootiful, bor.”
Together
Everyday English: All of you or everyone.
In Norfolk speech, “together” can be used when addressing a whole group.
Example:
“Good morning together.”
Up the city
Everyday English: Going into Norwich city centre.
For many people living in and around Norwich, a trip “up the city” means heading into the centre for shopping, work, entertainment or a mardle over a cup of tea.
Wazzock
Everyday English: A foolish or annoying person.
This is not exclusively Norfolk, but it will be familiar to plenty of people across the county. It is usually a relatively mild insult, although it is probably still best avoided when speaking to your boss.
Yew
Everyday English: You.
One of the easiest pieces of written Norfolk dialect to recognise.
Put everything together and a Norfolk conversation might sound something like this:
“Ar yer orrite, bor?”
“Ah bor. I’m hoolly tired. I went up the city and got mardling for ages.”
“Hold yew hard — that shelf yew put up is on the huh.”
“Dunt talk squit. Thass perfect.”
“Yew’re a right ol’ rum’un.”
Like all regional dialects, Broad Norfolk is constantly changing. Some of these words remain in regular use, while others may be more familiar to older generations or particular communities. Pronunciations, spellings and meanings can also differ from one town or village to another.
That variety is part of what makes local language so fascinating. Dialect records the county’s history, humour, working life and the everyday conversations of the people who have lived here.
Now we want to hear from you.
Which Norfolk sayings did your parents or grandparents use? Are there any brilliant local words we have missed, or phrases you still use every day?
Send your Norfolk lingo to Broadland Radio, along with what it means and where in the county you heard it. We may add the best suggestions to our list — so dew yew keep a-mardling, together!
