Forum Topic

Variety of English language.

The English language is varied and so wonderful. What are the different, alternative words and expressions(maybe slang even) for the words money, food and police?

Gerry Tan ● 4564d34 Comments

Other words I like which sound quirky but not necessarily Romany in origin are: HeebeejeebyBog-standardNimbyismCantankerousthe list goes on...

Gerry Tan ● 4286d

I always under the assumption that CHAV was an acronym for:Council Housed And Violent.

Lee Page ● 4287d

Is that Romany?

Graham Weeks ● 4289d

A lot of Romani words are also used as slang, ie chav is a derivative of chavi meaning child, jook is Romani for dog, wonga (money) is believed to be from vonga, cushti for good, gavver for policeman, jel for go, and chor for stealing

Tracey Mehdizadeh ● 4289d

Each to their own Gerry but there is a time and a place for trivial and for serious too imho..

Keith Iddon ● 4289d

Well Keith, speaking for myself, I do talk a whole lotta rubbish at times - often in fact - but I enjoy it. I don't do 'serious'.

Gerry Tan ● 4289d

Speak for yourself Gerry...;-0

Keith Iddon ● 4289d

Thanks Keith - what a load of rubbish we indulged in before - still, its fun!

Gerry Tan ● 4289d

Bump.....

Keith Iddon ● 4289d

Thanks Keith. And what does "sowing your wild oats" mean? English is such a versatile and flexible language - its so beautiful and useful, no wonder the whole world chose it to be the international language to be used at sea, in the air, on land and in space.

Gerry Tan ● 4559d

I assume you mean me Gerry..;-)...in colloquial English it means, certainly 'up north' anyway, having (ahem) intimate relations with another person, usually of the opposite sex but you never know nowadays...

Keith Iddon ● 4559d

What does "getting my oats" mean Kieth?

Gerry Tan ● 4559d

I think getting or sowing your 'oats' means something else Gerry...

Keith Iddon ● 4560d

Nosh - another word for food. Also oats.

Gerry Tan ● 4560d

Old banger.

Keith Iddon ● 4562d

Most of the examples cited of all the differing words for the categories in this thread are not in everday use Susan. Unless of course you are in the habit walk of 'roun all bleedin' day ball of chalkin'' like a cockney sparer my old china...which I'm sure that you aren't but would like to see.

Keith Iddon ● 4562d

Jalloppy is another!

Gerry Tan ● 4562d

None of those words for cars is in everyday use, though, Keith. The first two are mockney rhyming slang and the last would only ever be used self-consciously.

Susan Kelly ● 4562d

Plod. Woodentops.

Keith Iddon ● 4563d

Also John, the LAW is sometimes used for the word police.

Gerry Tan ● 4563d

"Nigel, also the Yiddish for money is GELT I think."Could well be. Geld is German for money.A few more for the police: bluebottles, the filth, pigs and cops. The yoof of today call 'em the feds in their attempt to be American :-)

John Walker ● 4563d

Jam jars, lah-di-dah's,wheels...

Keith Iddon ● 4563d

I find it odd that we don't really have a slang word for cars.

Susan Kelly ● 4563d

Nigel, also the Yiddish for money is GELT I think.

Gerry Tan ● 4563d

Nigel, I think the word woman in Polari-speak is PALONE instead of polome!Also in the same slang, the word for police is LILLY.

Gerry Tan ● 4563d

Nosebag, nosh, grub, trough-time, vittles, chow, a bite, scran.I think spondoolicks is Yiddish.

Nigel Brooks ● 4563d

I like the word 'shufti' as in 'I want a quick shufti in this shop'..it is the Arabic word for having a look.The expression 'Doolally tap' as in when someone going a bit mad is derived from the name for the British Army transit camp in Deolali in India and tap is from the Sanskrit word tapa which means fever or heat. Soldiers who spend a long time in this camp awaiting transit sometimes went off their rockers.

Keith Iddon ● 4563d

A fiver is a 'Lady Godiva' and I have always wondered where the word spondoolicks comes from  when referring to  'bangers and mash'(cash). food...grub, nosebag.

Keith Iddon ● 4563d

That's bold Nigel!

Gerry Tan ● 4563d

Answering my original questions, another word for money is cash, for food there is nosh and for police there are rozzers and fuzz. Any more?

Gerry Tan ● 4563d

Commonly thought to come from Polari (early homosexual slang).As in "vada the polome rozzer with the lank riah, she needs a bona shykel"."Look at the woman police officer with the bad hair, she needs a good wig"

Nigel Brooks ● 4563d

I like "a Harold" for a £5 note,etym. from Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes.

Tony Wood ● 4563d

And the "Fuzz".

Gerry Tan ● 4563d

Always loved 'Rozzers'.  Anyone know where it comes from?

Andy Vaughan ● 4563d