10 Sheffield Slang Expressions And What They Really Mean

If you’re planning to spend time in Sheffield, whether for study, work, or just to explore the city, you might notice that locals have their own way of speaking. Sheffield and the surrounding Yorkshire area have a rich dialect filled with unique words and expressions that you won’t hear elsewhere in the UK.

To help you fit in and understand what’s being said, here are 10 Sheffield slang words that you need to know.

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Understanding Local Speech

Many newcomers to the UK find British slang difficult, and Sheffield takes it up a notch with its own regional expressions. If you don’t know these words, you might feel lost in conversations.

But don’t worry! By the end of this article, you’ll be ready to chat like a local.

Common Sheffield Slang Words

1. Owt / Nowt – Anything / Nothing

Used in daily conversation, these words are essential for understanding Sheffield speech. For example:

• "As tha’ got owt to eat?" (Have you got anything to eat?)

• "Nah, I’ve got nowt." (No, I’ve got nothing.)

   

2. Be reyt – It’ll be alright

Yorkshire people have a relaxed attitude, and you’ll often hear "Be reyt" as a way of saying that everything will be fine, even if things seem bad!

3. Mardy – Miserable or moody

If someone is acting grumpy, they might be called "mardy".

• "Stop being mardy!" (Stop being miserable!)

   

4. Nesh – Sensitive to the cold

If someone complains about the cold, a Yorkshire local might say:

• "Tha’s nesh!" (You’re too sensitive to the cold!)

   

5. Siling down – Raining heavily

• "It’s siling down outside, best grab yer brolly!" (It’s pouring with rain, grab your umbrella!)

Food & Fun Slang

6. Snap – Packed lunch or food

• "Got me snap for later." (I’ve got my packed lunch.)

7. Spice – Sweets or candy

Unlike the rest of the world where ‘spice’ means something hot, in Sheffield, it means sweets!

• "I’m off to the shop for some spice, does tha’ want owt?" (I’m going to buy some sweets, do you want anything?)

8. Laik – To play (often used by kids)

• "Are tha’ laikin’ out today?" (Are you playing outside today?)

9. Giz – Give me

A shortened form of "give us" (meaning "give me").

• "Giz a lift to town." (Give me a lift to the town centre.)

10. Breadcake – A bread roll

One of the most controversial words in the UK, as different regions have different names for it! In Sheffield, it’s always a breadcake.

How to Use These Words in Conversations

Now that you know these words, try using them in everyday conversations when visiting Sheffield. Here’s a fun example:

🗣️ Local: "Ey up! Tha’s nesh today, got yer coat on in summer!" (You’re sensitive to the cold, wearing a coat in summer!)

🗣️ You: "Aye, it’s siling down! But it’ll be reyt." (Yeah, it’s raining heavily, but it’ll be fine.)

Using these expressions will help you sound more natural and connect better with locals.

Sheffield has its own set of unique slang words that give the city its charm.

Learning words like owt/nowt, be reyt, mardy, and snap will help you understand locals better and feel more at home.

Explore more British slang and accents in:

The British Slang Challenge