Glasgow Rhyming Slang
by Have you ever heard someone from Glasgow talking? It seems that every so often they say something that seems totally incomprehensible. It could be because they are using some Glasgow rhyming slang.
Let’s see if you can work out what the following is all about.
What’s the Hampden? I don’t have a scooby. How’s your donald? Are you in soapy? He’s completely radio. You are a bengal. Alright china?
What on earth was that all about?
Don’t worry you haven’t all of a sudden lost your grasp of the English language, the above do make sense, if you know why. They are all examples of rhyming slang that people from Glasgow use very often.
I will take your word for that, but just what is rhyming slang?
Basically rhyming slang does exactly what it says it does. It is a word or phrase of colloquial speech which rhymes with what you are actually meaning. Usually it is just two or three words, the last of which is the word used to rhyme with what you are meaning.
eg (from Cockney Rhyming Slang): Dog and bone = Phone
What makes ‘Glasgow Rhyming Slang’ different from other types?
Well the main difference is that in normal rhyming slang the whole phrase is said to emphasise the rhyme, so even if you are not quite sure what they mean you can still hazard a good guess by rhyming a word to the last one. When a Glaswegian uses some rhyming slang though, the reason that so many find it so unintelligible is that the last part (which would give the rhyme) is very rarely spoken. It can really only be understood by those listeners who are in the know in the first place. You would struggle to guess what the meaning is.
Right, I went back to the top and tried to guess and you were right, I did struggle. Have I become stupid?
No, not at all, the reason you may have struggled is because you would have to first work out what the second part was (ie: the missing word that would give you the rhyme) and then work out what it actually rhymed with. Some may be easier to work out but others may still confuse you but I will explain below.
Thank goodness for that, I wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight not having an explanation.
To make it slightly easier for you to understand I have put the words from the top in bold and the missing part of the rhyming slang in bold and itallics. Also I will give you a quick explanation of each one and put the rhyming slang into a sentence for you.
Liked it
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Post CommentBren Parks
On January 9, 2009 at 1:21 am
LOL! Loved it.
Bruce
On January 9, 2009 at 4:47 am
I think the tricky bit is when there’s a Glasgow version of something that actually exists in Cockney, for example:
Soapy Bubble = Trouble ‘You will be in deep soapy tonight’
I Cockney, Barney Rubble = Trouble.
Very entertaining post, though!
Alistair Briggs
On January 9, 2009 at 5:22 am
Thanks for the comment Bruce,
When it comes to rhyming slag there are many cases of similar ones throughout the world.
As I said, one difference between cockney rhyming slang and Glasgow rhyming slang is in cockney they say both words (generally) and in Glasgow it is just the first word.
Glad you enjoyed my post.
seashell66
On January 10, 2009 at 8:29 pm
This is fascinating! Thank you for posting.
postpunkpixie
On January 18, 2009 at 9:22 am
Heehee what a fun article! I always loved Cockney rhyming slang, I never knew about the glasgow version.
Glynis Smy
On January 20, 2009 at 1:32 am
I met a Cypriot who had lived in Glasgow for 15yrs!! I just smiled and walked away LOL !! Good fun article
Sotiris
On January 20, 2009 at 9:59 am
That was funny! Thanks for sharing! Stumbled!
Joni Keith
On January 20, 2009 at 12:34 pm
This was very entertaining. I’m the one that didn’t have a clue. Thanks for providing a full explanation. Lots of fun!
nutuba
On January 20, 2009 at 12:52 pm
I enjoyed this — great writing!
ArtSiren
On January 20, 2009 at 4:01 pm
Great fun. A lot of it is quite similar to cockney slang as well.
Matt John
On January 21, 2009 at 12:03 am
Loved it.
Matt John
http://stumblephemera.blogspot.com/
K Kristie
On January 21, 2009 at 2:34 am
What a fun and informative piece. Will stumble and bookmark this so i can take a look again.
workaholic
On January 23, 2009 at 2:00 am
good one. enjoyed reading it.
workaholic
On January 23, 2009 at 3:02 am
liked it.
woody15
On January 23, 2009 at 3:06 am
good piece (don’t know anyone from glasgow but have lots of coaches from scotland/england and find them hard to understand at times).
Juancav
On January 25, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Slangs are amazing and like to know about them.
Alexa Anderson
On January 28, 2009 at 7:13 pm
“How’s your Donald?” cracked me up…sounds dirty.
Jimmy
On February 6, 2009 at 6:26 pm
You said:
“As I said, one difference between cockney rhyming slang and Glasgow rhyming slang is in cockney they say both words (generally) and in Glasgow it is just the first word.”
…that’s not true. In most cases anyone who is *actually* speaking cockney rhyming slang (i.e. not just making a pastiche of it, or using it for effect) only uses the first word. It’s supposed to be exclusive and difficult for outsiders to understand, because it’s a cryptolect; that’s the whole point. Generally, by the time a rhyming slang term is well-known enough to appear in a “glossary” such as this, actual speakers have already abandoned the term and have moved on to something else.
F J McCarthy
On February 7, 2009 at 5:08 pm
Very Interesting slang. Thanks china.
Alina Beck
On February 8, 2009 at 5:57 am
That was great – very amusing
Stumbled!
podge
On February 13, 2009 at 11:51 am
its barney rubble, not soapy???
your scottish?
Alistair Briggs
On February 13, 2009 at 12:58 pm
Barney Rubble is actually an example of Cockney Rhyming Slang although it has crossed over. Soapy is one that started in Glagsow
Kerblotto
On March 25, 2009 at 5:22 pm
I remember a line like this from Ocean’s 11:
“We’re in Barney. As in Barney Rubble. Trouble.” Completely attenuated foolishness.
SZM
On April 25, 2009 at 11:24 am
-So, when you wash your feet with soapy water, you are in trouble.
-I found the Scooby Doo.
-Good Donald Duck.
Suziwong
On May 9, 2009 at 3:46 pm
Love the article being an expat weegie (glaswegian) it brought back many other words and slang i had forgotten: scratcher – bed, Bahookie – Bum, Belter – super, Daftie – idiot, Hackit – ugly, Hawf wit – idiot, reekin – smelly, skelpt – slapped, snibbed – grounded!
Thanks for bringing back the memories lol
Suzi
DA Cournean
On July 29, 2009 at 11:33 am
Very interesting!
katie marie
On July 29, 2009 at 11:47 am
Fascinating. Thanks for cluing us in.
BradONeill
On July 29, 2009 at 3:24 pm
Very Cool article. in fact I\’m mad wi\’ it. pure dead brilliant my friend!
revivor
On July 30, 2009 at 3:00 am
would you adam and eve it??
a glaswegian talking to a londoner!!
Melody SJAL
On July 30, 2009 at 4:48 am
Very interesting.
Nikita K
On August 20, 2009 at 5:40 am
Living in Essex, I know how much London and Essex love their Cockney and it is nice reading about the Glaswegian rhyming slang too. Good article!
Kaavs
On August 21, 2009 at 1:55 am
I heard of it first at “Mind your language” , an old tele-series. Great article!
Eric
On February 5, 2010 at 10:34 am
As an American, I must admit that this is very confusing but very interesting.
I would never understand someone talking like this and probably still wouldn’t after having the concept explained to me!
James DeVere
On March 14, 2010 at 11:07 pm
I can see why this article was a winner . Very original . j
Rod Ferrandino
On April 1, 2010 at 5:05 pm
I will, no doubt, still require a translator to accompany me on any venture to Glasgow.
maeraquel
On April 3, 2010 at 9:12 am
Practicing now..for the sole purpose of alienating more people. Ü
Belinda Dobie
On April 22, 2010 at 1:51 pm
Very enlightening. Slang can sure make a language colourful.
mostpopulararticle
On December 24, 2010 at 11:32 am
This article has been indexed inThe Triond Experiment Thanks and goodluck!