Somerset Sayings and Dialect
In these times of global travel and where moving around the planet has never been easier, it is important to remember our past, to know where we came from. Language and culture is an important part of that, a point of difference that should be upheld rather than found covered in cobwebs in some dusty museum piece.
Those ambassadors of all things Zummerzet, the Wurzels, have arguably done more than anyone to promote the unique phrases of the county. There are available several resources that offer the interested vistor a window into the past through language. Here are a few words and phrases that you may not know, local to Somerset...
Words
Benny - Temper
Doughboy - dumpling
Dimpsy - twilight
Elsh - new
Eute - pour out
Fitty - clever
Fump - essence of
Chuggy pig - woodlouse
Daddy granfer - woodlouse
Ling - to throw
Mang - to mix
Scad - heavy rain
Bulhaggle - scarecrow
Hauck - cough
Hark - Listen
Gurt - very
Macky - big
Batch - hill
Phrases
I am going to get some eggs - I be gwain aggy
I am confused - I be betwaddled
Of what consequence is it to me? - wha' odds izzit to I?
He is a good chap, isn't he? - 'ees a good'un, in'ur?
It is really cold this morning - 'tis nottlin' zmarnin
He is simple minded - 'Ee's pixie led
A very useful website to 'ave a gander at is: the BBC Somerset Voices page.
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