Unmistakably Yorkshire: how to tell you're from God's Own Country

Tell us you're from Yorkshire without telling us you're from Yorkshire...

Author: Sarah ReevePublished 1st Mar 2024

God's Own Country, you can't get much better. From quirky dialect that non-Yorkshire folk don't understand to love of gravy and tea (the drink, not the meal) and so much more!

We asked you to 'tell us you're from Yorkshire without telling us you're from Yorkshire' and the response was phenomenal (just like Yorkshire). Here are just a few and what they mean...

Your responses: Tell us you're from Yorkshire without telling us you're from Yorkshire...

Tek ya coat off

We've all heard this phrase when we still have our coat on indoors. Take it off!

We are tough!

The coat saga continues with this one. Often associated with the North and South divide. Us Northern folk don't need a coat! We can survive anything, including temperatures suited to a Polar Bear!

Corporation pop

Thirsty? There is plenty tap water to be drunk, after all we pay the local authority for it and it's cheaper than any other beverage!

Yorkshire folk love gravy!

To some, gravy is just a sauce but for Yorkshire folk it is something sent from God! Chips and gravy, gravy on yorky puds, gravy on our roast dinner... the possibilities are endless!

Breakfast, dinner, tea

Lunch doesn't exist in Yorkshire, it is dinner! Breakfast is a morning meal, dinner is a midday meal and tea is an evening meal...got that!?

Variations of 'Tea'

Similar to the above, there are many ways to use the word 'Tea' in Yorkshire. Tea is your dinner and your brew.

Our way of speaking is strange to some...

Apparently dropping T's in words has a fancy name 'T-glottalization' and Yorkshire folk do this a lot! For example, tha' is a fa' ca' = that is a fat cat.

‘t’in’t in’t tin

The dropping of T's continues with this one... meaning "It isn't in the tin". The phrase isn't commonly used when speaking, but is often associated with God's Own Country.

Get a wash!

As a Yorkshire kid, if you come in from the outdoors covered in mud or make a mess while eating it is more than likely you will be labelled a 'mucky pup'.

Are you in a bad mood?

Often described as 'mardy' or 'mardy bum' too, meaning grumpy, in a bad mood.

That is expensive!

Stereotypically, Yorkshire folk are known for not wanting to part with their hard earned cash.

The biggest debate in the land...

Who knew that bread could cause such havoc!? The biggest debate of Yorkshire is often whether you call the food often used to make a sandwich a 'breadcake', 'bread roll', 'bap', 'bun' or 'teacake'.

Scraps or bits

Another big food debate in Yorkshire is 'scraps' or 'bits', y'know the small pieces of batter you can get from the fish and chip shop.

Turn the lights off!

If you leave all the lights blaring, you can guarantee you will hear this phrase being uttered in your direction.

The light on the ceiling

When in Yorkshire turning on the 'big light' means the main light in the room, the one of the ceiling. Often compared to 'lamp' or 'little light'.

You're in the way!

'I can't see', 'you're in the way', 'move!' all explain what this ones mean! Often used when someone is stood in front of something / the television.

Are you at home?

If someone wants to pop over for a brew and a natter they might ask if you're at home; while 'Love' is often a term of endearment for us Yorkshire folk.

Put the kettle on

Talking of a brew aka tea, the beverage is like liquid gold in Yorkshire! Particularly Yorkshire Tea, if you use any other brand of tea it is sacrilege!

Shut up, be quiet

If someone from Yorkshire doesn't agree with what you are saying or you're being too loud they will tell you to shut your mouth, the Yorkshire way!

Best start behaving

Similarly, if you are misbehaving and crying your parents might threaten you with punishment if you continue to blubber!

Bursting with pride

She's not wrong! Yorkshire Day is held annually on the 1st of August. Celebrating the largest county in the UK and all that is great about it, from history to food plus so much more. You won't find a prouder place than Yorkshire!

We're a friendly bunch

Meaning 'hello' or 'how are you?' you may be greeted with this saying if you bump into a mate from Yorkshire.

Yorkshire has many greetings

Others might say this is the phrase you use to get someone's attention. Not in Yorkshire, 'now then' is used as another form of 'hello'.

Bye, see you later

Another greeting that might be deemed unusual to non-Yorkshire folk is the way we say 'goodbye', 'see you later', 'I'm leaving'.

We are optimistic

'It'll be alright' for people not from Yorkshire. Likely to be said when something isn't going to plan as a form of reassurance.

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