English Vocabulary – Cockney Rhyming Slang

Hi mate! (“mate” is a synonym of “friend”)

So, what is cockney rhyming slang?

Cockney – a person from the East End of London.
Rhyming – to have or end with the same sounds.
Slang – words that are not considered part of the standard vocabulary of a language and that are used very informally in speech especially by a particular group of people.

It started around the 1840s in East London as a code between groups of people who wanted to speak to each other without others being able to understand.

So, how does it work?

Well, first you choose some words that rhyme with the original word, for example, “dog and bone” rhymes with “telephone”. Then, you use the first rhyming word in a sentence. For example: “Pick up the dog, someone is calling”. See?

Let’s have a look at some common rhymes: 

Apples and pears – stairs

Example: “My friend Sam fell down the apples; she broke her leg!”

Twist and twirl – girl

Example: “I really like that twist”

One’s and Two’s – Shoes

Example: “Put your one’s on, we’re going for a walk”

Tea leaf – Thief

Example: “That man over there is a tea leaf”

Porky pies – Lies

Example: “Julian, don’t tell porkies, they will get you into trouble”

Loaf of bread – Head

Example: “Get your loaf out of the clouds”

Custard and jelly – telly (television)

Example: “Stop watching the custard all day!”

Barney Rubble – Trouble

Example: “There will be  big barney between them tomorrow”

China and plate – Mate

Example: “I love you, china”

Isn’t it fun? A secret language from the streets of London and still very much used today!

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