England has a rich array of accents that stretch from south to north. As you move up the country the accent changes like on a music scale from the nasal tones of the south to the sing-song accent of the Geordies. To appreciate the range of British accents, listen to Peter Sellers doing a variety of English and Scottish accents in this youtube clip. Below you will see and hear Geordie accent examples.
What is a Geordie accent?
A Geordie accent consists of the sound patterns of the dialect spoken by the people of Newcastle upon Tyne and Tyneside in the north east of England. A dialect is a specific variety of English consisting of vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation (accent).
What is a Geordie?
You are a Geordie if you were born within a mile of the River Tyne. So that makes Sting a Geordie (born Wallsend), but not Mark Knopfler (born Glasgow) even though he recorded the catchy tune: Why Aye Man.
Take a look at the smoke signals on this google map to see the area: 
This is a bit strict so being a Geordie tends to cover the areas of North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Gateshead as well as the city of Newcastle upon Tyne.
Is there a definitive Geordie dialect?
Probably not, but there are many words and expressions which are widely used across the North East. Furthermore the dialects of Northumberland, Sunderland and County Durham are quite distinctive from Geordies on Tyneside.
Even with the areas of Tyneside the Geordie accents vary. I was in a bar in Brisbane, Australia when I heard a woman ordering a drink. I could hear that she had a North Shields accent. I recognized it straightaway and found out she lived near Queen Alexandra Road.
Where does the term Geordie come from?
Probably from the name George, a common name for the eldest son in the past. Which means that there were loads of blokes walking around Newcastle saying ‘Alreet Geordie’ to each other.
Another common name in the north east was to be christened John, but then be called Jack in daily life. It must have been confusing for a man from Newcastle christened John living in London and being called ‘Geordie Jack’ by everyone.
Do you trust the Geordie accent?
Two thousand people who were polled in a study agreed that the Geordie accent was the coolest regional twang in England. Over 2,000 motorists surveyed across the country have said that they would most like to be guided by a sat nav with a Geordie accent. While a newspaper article suggests that it is the best accent for carrying out a door-to-door scam as the public find it trustworthy.
How to speak and understand a Geordie accent?
A newspaper article says that Americans find it difficult to understand a Geordie accent or maybe it is just Cheryl Cole they don’t understand.
To speak Geordie right, you really need to experience the culture. Go to Newcastle for a visit. The best way to learn a language is to immerse yourself in the environment and talk to the local people. See the sights: Tyne Bridge, Angel of the North, Fish and Chip shop at North Shields quayside, and St James’ Park (which may have been renamed McDonalds@ St James’ Park – but just ignore that.)
Anyway, here are some tips if you want to do this from your couch:
1. WEAR A NUFC SOCCER JERSEY (FOOTBALL SHIRT)
This nylon black and white striped piece of clothing will help you to feel what it is like to be a member of the Toon Army. Preferably while watching a Newcastle United game on tv as this is an inherent part of being a Geordie and so learning to speak like one.
2. PRACTICE THE BASIC SOUNDS FIRST
Watch and listen to Al Murray in the following youtube Geordie accent clip and imitate the sounds whenever you can. (There is swearing in the following video clip):
When learning to speak Geordie the trick is to start with a deep voice at the start of the sentence and end with a higher voice at the end. Lee Mack gives a sarky example (there is swearing in the following video clip):
3. LEARN SOME BASIC VOCABULARY
Take the time to memorize some of the following words. You may be tested later…
aboot = about
alreet = hello
aye = yes
bairn = child
bait = food
bonny = pretty
broon = brown
bullets = sweets
canny = good, nice, or very (e.g. he’s a canny lad; it’s canny good)
champion = very well or very good
clart = mud
cowld = cold
divint = don’t
daint = don’t
doon = down
gadgie = chap
gan = go
geet = very
hadaway = get away or go away
howay = come on
hinny = honey
hoose = house
hoy = throw
knaa = know
mam = mum or mom
me = my or myself
nowt = nothing
ootside = outside
pet = woman or child
pit = bed
radgie = moody
scran = food
spelk = splinter
spuggy = sparrow
stot = bounce
taak = talk
tab = cigarette
toon = town
us = I or me
wifey = woman
wor = our (e.g wor lass, wor kid)
yem = home
If you would like to learn more Geordie language, go here for a Geordie dictionary.
4. TRY A FEW COMMON GEORDIE PHRASES AND SENTENCES
Why aye man = that’s right
Ah daint knaa what yee are taaking aboot like bonny lad = I don’t know what you are talking about
To come up with your own phrases to try out, use the English to Geordie translator to translate sentences into Geordie. For example, typing in: “I would like a glass of red wine my good man”, becomes: “Aa’d leik a glass of red wine me canny good gadgie.” While: “do you know what I mean?” becomes “dyer knaa what Ah mean?”
5. WATCH RELEVANT GEORDIE DVDs
- Auf Wiedersehen Pet which is about 3 Geordie bricklayers working in Germany. (There is Jimmy Nail nudity in the following video clip):
- Or Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads which is about the friendship of two working-class young men.
- Watch Inspector Lewis if you can’t get the above two shows.
6. GO TO SEE ROSS NOBLE
This Geordie comedian was born in Cramlington (does that mean he’s a Geordie?) He certainly sounds like one and he’s funny. (There is swearing in the following video clip.)
7. READ SOME GEORDIE BOOKS
- You can read Catherine Cookson if you want, but try and not get depressed.
- Larn Yersel’ Geordie by Scott Dobson
- Todd’s Geordie Words and Phrases by George Todd
- Taak of the Toon by Sid Waddell
8. JOIN THE 7500+ MEMBERS OF THE GEORDIE ACCENT APPRECIATION SOCIETY
This is a Facebook group. Ask for help with imitating the accent. It is not easy imitate the accent. Just listen to Emma Bunton from the Spice Girls try.
Putting it all together
OK. So you have read the background, watched the videos, heard a few examples, practiced the sounds, learned some words and phrases and said them out loud. Now that you have done some learning, watch and listen to this clip and find out how much you understand:
What’s the next step?
The next step is to demonstrate. Show your friends your new vocal skills. As they say: use it or lose it.
If you like, record your impersonation of a Geordie saying something like” Because I am worth it”, store it online somewhere (e.g. youtube) and link to it in the comments box below for the entertainment of others.
Take the Poll
(This articles was first published on my old site geordieaccent.com)