13 words and phrases you will only know if you are a true Leeds native
We were inundated with nearly 500 comments after asking readers of the Yorkshire Evening Post what words and phrases only local Leeds folk will know.
With a recent study finding that the that northern accents and pronunciations of words could be wiped out in England within the next 45 years, we are on a mission to make sure these words don’t disappear.
So grab yer flat caps, whack on a Leeds top and grab a pint o’ Tetley’s as we run through some of the essential local vernacular that you need to know!
1. 'Jimmy's'
St James's Hospital is abbreviated to 'Jimmy's' by a lot of Leeds folk, which can be confusing for many new to the city. As stated by Emma in our comments section: "Telling someone not from Leeds you were born at Jimmys and them thinking 'who is this bloke Jimmy. Is he a back street midwife or summat?' Photo: Asadour Guzelian
2. "Put wood in t'ole"
A number of readers highlighted a couple of phrases that you might hear if you fail to close the door: "Put wood in t'ole" and "Were yer born in a barn?" Photo: Handout
3. Ginnel
Another phrase highlighted by a few readers was 'ginnel', which is another term for an alleyway or passage. An example would be: "I've just seen 'im go down that ginnel!" Photo: Steve Riding
4. 'Now then'
Readers highlighted a few of their favourite terms of greeting heard in Leeds, with 'Now then!' being the most quoted. Photo: Frank Reid
5. 'T'in't in tin'
Another favourite to demonstrate the humour within the Leeds accent is the phrase for 'It isn't in the tin', which for a local would come out as 'T'in't in tin'. Photo: Nigel John
