Usage: “Oi mister, can I smoove yer dog?”
In Bristol: All of the above, but also a verb (and one which is pronounced with a ‘v’ rather than a ‘th’): To smooth a dog or a cat, or any animal that the rest of the English-speaking world would ‘stroke’. That applies to descriptions of calm seas, or journeys by train or road that are easy or uneventful, transactions, deals or events which go without problems, people who are charming and even drinks with no lumps in.
The Dictionary: Having an even and regular surface, free from lumps and bumps. The smooth ledges at The Cenotaph would be ideal for skateboarding (Image: Miranda Teixeira) So, to clarify, what we're looking for, specifically, is regular English words which mean something different, or extra, in Bristol.
One said: "Doesn't everyone in the country say 'pitch' then?" The first time it snowed in years, in December 2017, there was great debate in the Bristol Post office as Bristolian members of staff looked quizzically at their non-Bristolian colleagues when other words for what snow does were used. It's also a good example of a phenomenon linguists love, which is when people who speak a dialect don't even realise they are doing it. Pitch, pitched or pitching is a good example because it's such a common word with a huge number of meanings, but an extra special one just used in Bristol. Usage: “It’s snowing mum!" "Yeah, but is it pitching yet?” The fact this word is used almost exclusively in Bristol, while other parts of Britain use different words, like stick, settle or lay, has been the subject of previous debate, here.
In Bristol: All of the above but also the word to describe snow which falls and accumulates on the ground without immediately melting away. The Dictionary: A huge number of meanings, including black tar, a flat area often used for sports, the angle of a roof, the quality or note of a sound in music, or an attempt in business to sell an idea, product or film. General view of Ashton Gate (Image: Mark Kerton/PA Wire) Let's be clear what we are talking about here - and what we're not. So what are those words? A word that the rest of the country use, blissfully unaware that, in Bristol, it means something completely different? Words that would be completely alien to someone from Brighton or Nottingham, Seattle or Stoke.Īnd then there are the words that Bristolians use that are common to the rest of the English-speaking world, but don't actually mean the same thing. READ MORE: Things about Bristol even people who live here don't understandĪnd those words fall into two categories - the first are the words which only people in Bristol use. It is, after all, something Bristolians should be proud of - for it, and its slower, surrounding West Country accent cousins, are actually closest to the way English was originally spoken.īut should the Bristol accent actually be classified as a dialect? A dialect involves not only different accents and pronunciations, but also different words. One of the things people who move to Bristol - and let's face it, it seems everyone is at the moment - soon pick up on is the distinctive and beautiful Bristol accent.