12 great Cumbrian words and their meaning
How many of these do you use?
Last updated 13th Jan 2021
Have a deeks at this, marra! Here are 12 of our favourite Cumbrian words and what they mean.
Words you'll only understand if you are from Cumbria:
1) Chuddy
Something you might have said quite a bit as a kid. Chuddy was often used when saying 'chewing gum' would have taken just too long.
2) Gadgee
Used when referring to a 'man', usually when you don't know their name. "Here, gadgee!"
3) Charver
As above, but for someone younger. The Cumbrian term for 'lad'.
4) Shan-tan
This is the redness you get after spending too much time in the sun with not enough protection. Deriving from the Cumbrian term 'shan' meaning 'embarrassment'. When you're 'shant' you go red, therefore a 'shan-tan' is when you go red from the sun.
5) Gan
Meaning 'going'. Sometimes also 'gannin'. You might say "aas gan" which would mean "I am going". It is often used in the Cumbrian version of "how are you?" when said as "how's it gan?"
6) Lowie Cowie
'Lowie' is the Cumbrian term for money and a 'lowie cowie' is where you would get money from – an ATM machine.
7) Marra
If a west Cumbrian calls you a 'marra' you know they like you as it's a friendly term like 'mate' but, of course, who doesn't know that round here?
8) Clarty
If the kids have been out playing and got all messy, you might say that they have got 'clarty'. The term 'clart' can be used to refer to 'mess' too.
9) Deekabout
As the word 'deek' means 'look', 'deekabout' means to have a look around. This is why the ITV Border evening news show 'Lookaround' is often referred to as 'Border Crack and Deekabout'.
10) Ladgeful
You could say that someone was "ladgeful" if they'd done something embarrassing or if what they had done was in some way unfair.
11) Napper
Meaning 'head'. You might tell someone who is not thinking straight to "use their napper".
12) Donnat
A light-hearted term meaning 'fool'. "Get away wid ya, ya donnat!"
How many of these do you use?