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Cockney Slang A Fun Rhyming London Language

Cockney Rhyming Slang A Historical Language Still Alive In London.
To many, cockney rhyming slang may just be a term they have heard or seen on a TV programme like Eastenders, or other popular shows.
However for me it is a part of my history and heritage, part of what makes me, me and an essential link back to my late Dad. I love the cockney language and I love the cockney people. I think it is important to keep this language alive and well for generations to come. As a language it certainly is fun!
Join me in this trip into Cockney language slang world!
Image credit from www.amazon.com
Take a butcher's at this page!
Cockney Rhyming Slang Book - Learn Cockney!

A fun book to learn more about cockney rhyming slang. If you are interested in learning some words and phrases of this wonderful and colourful language it is really fun to know a bit of Cockney Rhyming slang!
The Cockney In Me!
You see I am a Cockney, or at least I am quarter Cockney.
My Dad was born to A full Cockney-his Dad and a lovely Irish Lady- his Mum.
To be a true cockney you have to be born within the sound of the Bow Bells In London which is around the area of Cheapside. However in the modern London it tends to mean anyone who lives in and around the London area who speaks with a cockney accent.
My Dad taught me all the "cockney slang " I know. I didn't learn it form books, I learned it from his heart and he had such fun teaching me and I loved learning it. Now he has passed it is a lovely fun and warm memory of our time together.
I do not usually speak like a cockney in my everyday life in the North of England but I know how to and can if I want to :)
I have many happy memories of sitting as a child with my Dad while he taught me words and cockney rhyming slang, then I had to make it into sentences! Some of it was learning, much of it was laughing !
Great fun then and now my dad has passed away a treasured memory ...
So here I will share with you what I learned from my wonderful cockney Dad.
If you do not have a real cockney to teach you there are also some great books I have listed here, its easy and great fun to learn.
I'm every bourgeois nightmare - a Cockney with intelligence and a million dollars.
Michael Caine
A Few Cockney Slang expressions.
Learn a bit of cockney slang
To understand Cockney Slang you have to know to join two words together which rhyme with a third word, which is the one you want to say.
So Barnet and Fair rhymes with Hair. Easy isn't it?
However quite often you will find real cockneys shortening this even further so instead of saying Barnet Fair to mean hair they will just say "Barnet". Yes you got it !
So here we go with some examples
Barnet Fair -Hair
Frog and toad - Road
Apples and pears - Stairs
Mince pies - Eyes
Trouble and strife - Wife
Uncle Ted- head
Plates of meat -Feet
Hampstead Heath-Teeth
Having a bad barnet fair day?
What Is A Cockney?
My Dad always taught me that a Cockney was someone who was born within the sound of the Bow Bells in London UK.
My Grandfather was, so he was a Cockney.
Here is some more interesting information about cockneys.
- What Is A Cockney
This article from Wikipedia gives a detailed description of cockney background and history.
More New Cockney Slang Words To Learn
Scotch eggs -Legs
Chalk Farms -Arms
Loaf of bread - Head
Boat race -Face
North and south -Mouth
Daisy Roots-Boots.
Bucher's hook- Look
Advanced Cockney Slang
If you are talking with a real cockney they often will not use the full cockney rhyming slang but instead use a much shortened version.
To understand this I illustrate below.
It is essential to understand this to get a true grasp of cockney slang language.
So to expiain the very first bit of cockney language you saw on this page I started this with-
"Have a butchers at this page". "bucher's hook- look - also a "butchers" means take a look att his page !
So what else might you find shortened?
'trouble-and-strife' means "Wife" and is often referred to as "trouble"
'dog-and-bone'is a "telephone" and shortened to "dog"
Plates of meat is "feet" shortened to "plates"
Mince pies is "eyes" becomes "minces"
Hope that is now clear!
For Light Relief After All That Learning ! My Old Man Said "Follow The Van..."
Sentences Cockney Slang
Cockney Rhyming Slang In Sentences
OK so you have the basic language . Now you need to learn how to use it.
You can just drop in cockney words in any normal sentence.
"Take a butchers" is a good example and often used.
Or if you are feeling ambitious you can have a go at making a whole sentence of cockney slang!
To be fair cockneys probably dont do this too much but it has to be said it is great fun!!
As a child I would spend time working out fun sentences and trying to get people to translate!!
Have a go at making your own sentences if you have some spare time
Now I'm going for a ball of chalk, down the frog and toad in me daisy roots!
Any idea what I said ?
Do You Like Cockney Slang Language?
I went for a ball of chalk down the frog and toad in me daisy roots!!
Translate English To Cockney !
- Cockney Rhyming Slang translation
This is a bit of fun for a rainy afternoon if you like.
A Pearly King And Queen
You cannot talk about London and cockney slang without touching on the people who are the pearly Kings and Queens of London.
These amazing people are a great sight of London and do an incredible amount of good for charity.
Watch this video to learn all about this wonderful and very much alive tradition. If you ever go to London do look out for them!
Cockney Pearly Kings And Queens
Thank you For Your Visit I Hope You Had Fun!
Love to hear from you before you go..
I do read every comment and appreciate you taking the time.
Thank you for your visit!
© 2011 RaintreeAnnie
Do you know any cockney slang? - Hope You Enjoyed My Cockney Slang Page
Yes I was born in Bow so I'm officially a Cockney! Funny because my mum was rushed to Bow from Camden Town when she went into labour because the hospitals in north London were full! I'm rather happy about that :)
This page was a lot of fun. But I need a lot more practice to really understand. *grin*
Learnt a few new ones in this lens - thanks! I've got another one for you: ruby murray = curry. It's also been shorted to "rubus". Funnily enough, I learnt that one in Manchester.
Interesting stuff, I really enjoyed reading your lens.
I enjoyed that, sounds very - post English, in awaiting their return or Australian adaptive slang, see you at that pub every Sunday for fun times !
I've been fascinated with this ever since I saw Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.
Or was it Snatch?
Either way, I'd love to be able to do it!
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