Cockneys

London working class

Cockneys are people from the East End of London, traditionally defined as those born within earshot of the bells of St Mary-le-Bow church.

The term also refers to their distinctive dialect, marked by dropped H's, glottal stops, and rhyming slang where apples and pears means stairs and trouble and strife means wife.

He's a proper Cockney, born and bred.

dialect

rhyming slang

Substitution using sound-alike phrases

apples and pearsCockney term for steps
butchers hookCurved hanger for carcasses
porky piesRhyming slang for lies

bread and honey · Adam and Eve · dropped aitches · cor blimey · innit · gor blimey · accent · vernacular · patter · lingo

geography

East End

London district beyond the City

WhitechapelEast London district
PoplarDeciduous tree, willow family
ShoreditchEast London neighborhood

Stratford · Docklands · Tower Hamlets · Thames

identity

Londoners

Capital city inhabitants

working-classManual laborers as group
Bow BellsSt Mary-le-Bow's bells
chirpyLively and cheerful

salt-of-the-earth · locals · natives · dockers · street vendors · cab drivers · publicans

culture

music halls

Live entertainment venues

knees-upBoisterous British party
jellied eelsCold fish in gel
pie and mashLondon pub grub duo

liquor · whelks · barrel organ · boozer · lock-ins · darts · dominoes · community spirit · extended families

stereotype

cheeky

Playfully disrespectful

quick-wittedFast at thinking
humorousCausing amusement or laughter
resilientAble to recover quickly

resourceful · streetwise · sharp · lovable rogue · wheeler-dealer · ducking and diving · having a laugh · taking the mickey · geezer · salt of the earth

Cockneys

rhyming slang

East End

Londoners

music halls

cheeky

Cockneys

Opposites

Phrases

Categories

Family