The Ultimate A-Z Guide to Pompey Slang for Tourists
How to talk like a local…
Pompey is a slang term for Portsmouth (and a most awesome football team), a waterfront city located on a tiny island off the South Coast of England. With a vast association with the Royal and Merchant Navy, it is culturally a very diverse city with a unique and fascinating history. The slang I grew up hearing was once (and still is) widely used by many locals, a head nod to our heritage and a sense of pride in our local community.
If you go ‘dayntain’ you will still hear the local lingo known commonly as ‘Pompey Speak’ being spoken. Many famous authors have also captured the unique culture and lingo in literature. This includes the work of Charles Dickens who was born in the city. Sir Arthur Conan Doyal the author of Sherlock Holmes and a Portsmouth a resident for a bit! Rudyard Kipling author of the Jungle Book and H.G Wells author of War of the Worlds and The Time Machine have also lived in the city. Other notable people born in Portsmouth included Isambard Brunel, an engineer during the Industrial Revolution, James Callaghan, who was the British prime minister during the 1970s and John Pounds, the founder of the first ragged school. Ragged schools provided free education to the working-class children across the city. The comic actor Peter Sellers was in fact a Pompey lad - born in Southsea. Even Arnold Schwarzenegger once lived and trained in the city!
What’s in an Accent?
The maritime connection in Portsmouth has really set the Pompey accent apart from the typical local Hampshire accent which is more country sounding. I would say that the closest match to a Pompey accent would have to be London-Cockney accent. A lot of the slang words from London have worked their way down to Portsmouth over the years. There is a reason for this as after WW2 many Londoners were re-homed in Portsmouth and also many dockworkers came from the East End of London. There are also a lot of borrowed words that are Cockney slang and Romani Gypsy in origin. When Gypsy and Traveller sites in Hampshire, especially the New Forest area were closed many Romani families were moved to the Portsmouth area.
If you are planning a trip to Portsmouth here is your ultimate guide to understanding and sounding like the locals…
The A-Z Pompey Slang Guide
Beard on — When you are not believing in what another person is saying.
Chav — Actually meaning child (chavi) in Romani.
Chore — Meaning Stolen. ‘Chored‘ is actually of Romani Gypsy origin, which makes its use in Pompey slang rather ironic! It’s one of many Romani words still used on the island!
Chuffed — When someone is happy or proud of an accomplishment.
Chufty badge — When someone has accomplished something and is feeling rather proud, and will NOT stop talking about it! Someone might ask if they want a ‘chufty badge‘.
Cosh — Romani in nature this word refers to a heavy stick - “that mush is totally mullering that geezer wiv a cosh”
Cream krackered — To be really tired and exhausted. This is a phrase that has worked its way down from London.
Cushty/Cushti/kusti — It’s all good. Another word that is Romani in origin.
Diamond geezer — Another word working it’s way down from London, meaning a really top bloke.
Divvi/Div — A word borrowed from the Romani language meaning crazy or a little slow.
Dinlo — A light-hearted insult meaning fool. ‘Din’, ‘and ‘dinny’ are also used. Like many words on this list, it is of cause Romani in origin.
Duff — A term used for when something is broken. “E got duff’ed up real good” actually translates as “He got broken (beaten up) badly“.
Chinny — The same meaning as ‘beard on‘. This is used when a person is not believing in what another person is saying!
Eze up — When someone is getting a bit too much in your face and you need them to calm down.
Gavvers — A Romani word for police.
Gettin lairy — What someone is doing if they are being overly sarcastic or losing their cool.
Gibberish — Talking nonsense. This is derived from the Romani word ‘jib’ meaning meaning tongue (mother tongue | language), can you “rokker the Romani jib?”
Got a chuffty on — When you are commenting on a person being proud of something. Sometimes said in a sarcastic tone, i.e. “I bet you got a chuffty on about it“.
In a cop/cop on someone — To be annoyed with someone.
Knackered — Exhausted, tired, can also mean ‘broken’ if applied to an object.
Knukledayn — To crack on with the task at hand.
(Well) Mangey — Something looks dirty, ill or uncared for.
Lush — Nice
Mush — (Pronounced as moosh). Another Romani word originally meaning man, but now used for mate.
Mush Bird — A rather masculine woman!
Mullered — Once again a word borrowed from the Romani language that can either mean intoxicated or that someone has been beaten up really badly.
Noice one geeze — Good job mate.
Oh my dayz — What next?
Off ya ‘ed — Someone who isn’t thinking right… likely to be intoxicated!
Roight Scank — Disgusting.
Sort — A person that is good looking.
Scrummy — Something that is really delicious. Could relate to a person or food.
Squinny — To complain or cry a lot!
See a man about a dog — Borrowed from Cockney slang this means to attend a meeting or to go to the toilet!
Skive — To take an unwarranted day off work or school, for example, pulling a sickie!
Tain — Town
Taking the piss — Mocking someone.
Tickety-boo — When something is going smoothly without any disasters.
Turk Tain — Is a reference to the neighbouring town of Gosport.
Turned ’round n said — When referencing to how someone had told another person off (i.e. I turned ’round n said to erm…).
Weee! — A surprised expression. Not to be confused with the Scottish term for little.
Well ‘ard — Someone who knows how to take care of themselves. Don’t mess with them they are “Well ‘ard”!
Bonus Tip: Wanna sound like a local then forget ‘Ts‘ they become silent and add an ‘S‘ to the end of everything you say, for example, Yous, twos, Tescos, Asdas, and ones… because even one can become a plural when you are from Pompey!
Descended from mudlarkers, Romani-Gypsies, West Indians and Naval folki, Fan of pushing herself out of the comfort zone with #100Daysof and #30Daysof challenges. Academic and professional background in psychology, wellbeing and leadership. Member of Chartered Management Institute (CMI). Writing about all things psychological, wellbeing, self-improvement, digital, leadership, diversity and inclusion.
Twitter @IcklePixelPanda | Instagram: @IcklePixelPanda
Thank you to Jennifer Hudson, Charley Jenkins, Carly Morrissey and Neil Ansell for your support on writing the original blog post.
Have I missed a word or phrase OR do you have a better definition? Meanings can change over time and I want to keep this article current. Comment and contribute to this article by responding below…
Originally published as ‘The Ultimate Guide to Pompey Slang for Tourists’ (2016, republished 2018) in Language Learners Journal.
