Cockney Slang A Fun Rhyming London Language

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

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.

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

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.

Scotch eggs -Legs

Chalk Farms -Arms

Loaf of bread - Head

Boat race -Face

North and south -Mouth

Daisy Roots-Boots.

Bucher's hook- Look

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!

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 ?

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!

Love to hear from you before you go..

I do read every comment and appreciate you taking the time.

Thank you for your visit!