Complete Guide to Brummie Slang Words, Phrases, Accent, and Meanings (+ Audio Dictionary)
WANT TO KNOW ALL ABOUT THE BRUMMIE SLANG OF BIRMINGHAM?
As a born-and-bred Brummie, I’m fluent in the Brummie accent and slang like “alright bab”—phrases that baffle outsiders but define our West Midlands roots.
The Brummie dialect, shaped by the city’s industrial past and Black Country neighbours, includes gems like “cob” (bread roll) and “bostin’” (brilliant).
The term Brummie is also the name of the inhabitants of this city, while the term Brum is the name of the city itself.
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Popular Brummie Slang Words Still Spoken In 2025:
Cob – Bread roll
Bab – Baby
Bostin’ – Brilliant/Excellent
Ar – Yes
Pop – Soda/Soft drink
Lickle – Little
Bawlin’ – Crying loudly
Wench – Woman (affectionate term)
Gaffer – Boss / employer
ENT – Is not / Isn’t (also “Ain’t”)
Yow – You
Ta-ra – Goodbye
What Makes the Brummie Accent Unique?
The Brummie accent, instantly recognisable by its melodic downward lilt, is the sound of Britain’s West Midlands. Unlike London’s clipped tones or Manchester’s sharp vowels, Birmingham’s dialect stretches words like “alright” into “orrr-ite” and turns “you” into “yow”.
Key Features:
✅ Downward inflection: Sentences fade out (“How am ya…”)
✅ Elongated vowels: “Cup” becomes “caaahp”
✅ Dropped letters: “Getting” → “gerrin'”
Essential Brummie Slang (2025)
What are Brummie words? Here’s a collection of the most commonly used dialect and phrases still in use by today’s Brummie population:
Food & Drink
Bab – Term of endearment (“Alright bab!”)
Bostin’ – Excellent (“Proper bostin’ that!”)
Cob – Bread roll
Fizzy pop – Soda/soft drink
Pop – Soft drink (“Get some pop”)
Snap – Meal
Locations & Objects
The Cut – Canal
Flat cap – Peaky Blinders-style hat
Outdoor – Off-licence
The Bull – Bullring statue meeting spot
Actions & Phrases
ENT – Isn’t (“It ent right”)
Gambol – Forward roll
Lamp – To hit someone
Mom – Mother (Brummie variant)
Ta-ra – Goodbye (“Ta-ra a bit!”)
Wench – Affectionate term for a woman
Yow – You (“Yow alright?”)
Unique Expressions
Face as long as Livery Street – Looking miserable
Going round the Wrekin – Taking the long way. The Wrekin is a famous hill in Shropshire.
0121 do one – Get lost (Birmingham’s dialling code)
🗣️ Brummie Slang Dictionary
Learn authentic Birmingham dialect with pronunciation guides
See also: West Midlands Maps (Free PDF Downloads)
Why Brummie Slang Matters
From Peaky Blinders putting Birmingham on the map to grandparents teaching kids local phrases, the Brummie dialect remains a proud marker of identity. As one local put it: “We might sound odd to outsiders, but to us, it’s the sound of home.”
What’s the difference between a Brummie and Black Country?
A Brummie refers to the residents of the city of Birmingham, while the Black Country is the industrial region that surrounds Birmingham to the north and west, that consists of Walsall, Wolverhampton, Sandwell and Dudley. Black Country folks are known as ‘yam yams.’
Though often lumped together, Brummie (Birmingham) and Black Country dialects differ:
Yam Yams say: “Meemaw”, “batch”, “Cor” (isn’t)
Brummies say: “Mom”, “cob”, “ENT” (isn’t)
Learn all about the differences between the two in our Brum vs Black Country comparison guide here. You can also read my complete guide on Black Country Slang here.
The Origins of Brummie Slang
► The Brummie slang and dialect has its origins in the industrial growth of Birmingham in the 18th and 19th centuries. As workers migrated to work in factories, the local accent and lingo evolved.
► Influences likely include Romany gypsies and immigrant groups who came for industrial jobs. Words like “mom” (mother) have Romani origins.
The Evolution of Brummie Slang
► As Birmingham expanded into an industrial hub, more people came from across Britain, influencing the accent over generations. Regional words dropped out of use while new terms were coined.
► Post war immigration from Asia and the Caribbean also impacted Brummie slang. Words like “raaa” for example, come from South Asian and Afro-Caribbean communities.
Read more: Best Time to Visit Birmingham: Weather, Things to Do
What does Bostin mean?
One of the most popular and iconic words in the Brummie Slang dictionary is the word “Bostin”. It’s a well-known term that means amazing, awesome, brilliant, or excellent. The shorter word “Bost” (similar to the word bust), is slang for broken, so you could use the word bostin to describe something that’s smashing.
This word is also popular in the Black Country Dialect.
Read more: 24 Lesser-Known Black Country Facts
Funny Brummie Phrases and Conversations:
→ “Orright bab! Ow am ya?”
(Hello my friend! How are you?)
→ “Ow bist? Not too bad ar kid, just gerrin the buzz into town to meet the wenches. We’m off down the outdoor first tho, gotta get some pops n rocks for laters. Going up the wooden hills to get changed out these clarty clothes then it’s taxi time! What you up to?”
(How are you? I’m not too bad my friend, just getting the bus into town to meet the girls. We’re stopping at the off-license first though, need to pick up some soda and candies for later. Going upstairs to get changed out of these dirty clothes then catching a taxi into town! What are your plans?)
→ “Haha yow likkle gambol! Mite catch ya laters if you’m hitting Broad Street? Got a works do at Second Cup but it’ll be boring as so will see if owt good is going dahn in Brums afterward. Have a bost night! Tara a bit”
(Haha you little joker/fool! I might see you later if you’re partying on Broad Street. I’ve got a work event at Second Cup but it’ll be boring so will see if there’s anything fun happening in Birmingham city centre afterwards. Have an excellent night! Goodbye for now!”
More Birmingham posts:
Best Day Trips from Brum with Families
Top Summertime Activities in Birmingham for Families
Free Birmingham Printable PDF Maps
Weird, Rude and Funny Terms, Euphemisms and Phrases
I’ve compiled a mini urban dictionary below of the most commonly used Brummie insults and outrageous definitions:
Modern Brummie Insults & Slang
➤ Back of Rackhams – Insult referencing Birmingham’s historic red-light district near the old department store. Used to imply someone is disreputable.
Example: “He’s trouble—proper Back of Rackhams, that one.
➤ Birmingasm – The joy of visiting Birmingham or experiencing something great in the city (e.g., shopping, nights out).
Example: “That concert gave me proper Birmingasm!”
➤ Council pop – Tap water (implying someone’s cheap
Example: “What’s this? Serving council pop at your party?”
➤ Chaventry – Playful slang for Coventry, often used in rivalry banter.
Example: “Rather be in Brum than Chaventry!”
➤ Northern monkey – Lighthearted dig at people from northern England.
Example: “Look at those Northern monkeys causing a stir!”
➤ Raaa – Exclamation of surprise or excitement (“Wow!”), popular in multicultural areas like Handsworth.
Example: “Raaa, did you see that?!”
➤ 0121 do one! – Means “get lost” using Birmingham’s area code as shorthand for dismissal.
Example: “Yow chatting rubbish, mate. 0121 do one!”
Further reading: Free Things to Do Around the West Midlands
My Birmingham maps guide has a collection of free and useful downloadable PDF maps of Birmingham, from rail and bus network maps, to landmarks, shopping malls, restaurants and cafes.
The word pop has several definitions: on its own, it means squash (ie: orange squash, Ribena). Fizzy pop means soda / fizzy drinks (ie: lemonade, Coke). And council pop just means tap water. ‘Council’ implies a person is too poor/broke to afford normal pop, stereotypically associated with people who live on council estates.
The Brummie Accent
The so-called ‘British accent’ is recognised all around the world due to hit TV dramas and blockbuster movies, often prevalent among protagonist/villain characters in Hollywood.
However, what many don’t realise is, there is actually no such thing as a British accent!
What people outside the UK are hearing is technically known as Received Pronunciation (RP) – the accent of the elite, also known as the King’s English.
Whats more, there are many different regional accents all over the UK, some of which are specific to individual cities even.
And believe it or not, these accents sound very different from each other – some are soft, melodious, and easy on the ear. Others are cheery and optimistic-sounding, like the Liverpudlian accent.
Did you know: there are more canals in Birmingham than in Venice! Hence the city’s nickname, Venice of the North. Read more fun facts about Birmingham here:
How do you talk like a Brummie?
The Brummie accent is unique from most regional accents due to the downward intonation at the end of each spoken sentence, meaning the voice lowers in pitch and the sound of the last word fades away slowly.
By contrast – accents like the Scouse (Liverpool accent) and Northern Irish, have an upward intonation, and thus, an increase in pitch during talking, making those accents sound vibrant and cheerful.
Child: “I want me tay!” (I want my tea)
Mom: “Yow cor av ya tay, it tay tay toime!” (You can’t have your tea, it isn’t tea time)
As such, the Brummie accent is rather monotone, usually hitting a single, low note, and staying with it no matter what. This may be the reason why it has a negative reputation in the UK.
→ Read also: The 18 Best Things To Do In Coventry with Kids
Pronunciation and Accent Features
Outsiders often struggle to accurately replicate features like replacing “th” with “f” sounds, saying “gerrin” instead of “getting”, and pronouncing “I” like the vowel sound in “fight”. But Brummies find their home accent as comfortable as an old pair of shoes!
A ‘cob’ refers simply to a bread roll. ‘Got a cob on’ means to be in a foul mood. Example: “He’s got a right cob on this morning.”
YouTube video: Birmingham Dialect and Accent
Check out this bostin’ clip of Korean Billy giving Brummie slang sayings and definitions – listen to it all in a Brummie accent!
Grammar Quirks
You can easily identify a Brummie by distinctive grammar like:
➡️ Using “am” instead of “are” (e.g. “how am ya?”)
➡️ Double negatives like “that ent never gonna happen.”
➡️ Tags on sentence ends like “…inna bab” meaning “…isn’t it mate.”
These reveal how English grammar gets moulded by the local dialect over generations. Sentences seem perfectly logical to Brummies but words like “en’t” or “givum” seem utterly alien to outsiders!
Cultural Attitudes
The relaxed Brummie personality – making time for balti and banter with friends down the pub – manifests in local turns of phrase. Complaints are ‘aggy‘ not angry. Rain clouds come specifically from Stratford according to some poetic licence!
Idioms like “going round the Wrekin” reference the Black Country landscape. And the resilience of Brummies trying to shake off a reputation as simple folk shows through in proud, affectionate use of their unique lingo.
Even fatigue is indicated by “have it dark!” – implying it’ll be night by the time some daft apeth gets a task finished!
Ready to test your knowledge with the Brummie Slang Quiz?
🗣️ Brummie Slang Quiz
Test your knowledge of authentic Birmingham dialect
Is it Brum or Brummie?
Both are correct, but used differently. “Brum” is a nickname for the city of Birmingham, while “Brummie” refers to a person from Birmingham or the accent/dialect spoken there. For example, you might say “I’m going to Brum this weekend” or “She’s got a proper Brummie accent.
What is a Brummie slang?
Brummie slang refers to the unique words and phrases used by people from Birmingham. It’s part of the broader Brummie dialect. Examples include “bostin'” (excellent), “gambol” (forward roll), and “tara-abit” (goodbye). The slang often reflects Birmingham’s industrial heritage and local culture.
How to talk like a Brummie?
To talk like a Brummie, emphasise your vowels, especially the “u” sound (like in “cup”). Use phrases like “alright bab?” for greeting. Replace “you” with “yow.” Drop the “h” at the start of words and the “g” at the end of “-ing” words. And be sure to throw in some local slang!
Map of Birmingham and the West Midlands (Black Country) Region
Below is an interactive map of the West Midlands (in red outline), also known as the Black Country, with Birmingham city in the middle, where the Brummie accent is spoken.
Wrap up… Dialect Usage
While the Birmingham dialect may sound blunt or dismissive to outsiders, Brummies pepper their everyday talk with regional vocabulary out of familiarity and belonging, not ignorance.
Younger generations mix slang like “bostin’” and “bab” freely with friends, but use broader English in professional contexts indicating dialect fluency has faded over decades even as pride remains.
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