10 MORE Geordie Phrases You'll Only Know if You Study in Newcastle

If you’re joining us in Newcastle as a first year student you’ll be learning heaps of new things, one of them being the Geordie accent!

When I first arrived in Newcastle as an international student, I expected to struggle with the British accent. But nothing prepared me for the Geordie dialect! It felt like an entirely different language.

Over time, I picked up some key phrases, and now I’m here to share them with you. If you're new to the Toon, these 10 words and expressions will help you blend in (or at least understand what people are saying!)

1. CHAMPION

Translation: "Champion" is used as an adjective to mean "great" or "excellent." 

Example: "Eeeh, that's champion!" 

Use: When someone tells you good news, and you want to express how great that is. 

2. TOON

Translation: Town (also used to refer to Newcastle). 

Example: "We’re gannin to the Toon." 

Use: When you and your mates decide to head into Newcastle city centre. 

3. BAIT

Translation: Food. 

Example: "I’ve brought some bait for the study session." 

Use: When you’re taking snacks or a packed lunch to uni or work. 

4. LUSH

Translation: Something really nice, attractive, or delicious. 

Example: "That cake was lush!" 

Use: When you eat something amazing or see something beautiful. 

5. SHY BAIRNS GET NOWT!

Translation: If you don’t ask, you don’t get. 

Example: "Just ask for extra chips, man—shy bairns get nowt!" 

Use: When encouraging someone to be more confident in asking for what they want. 

6. BONNY

Translation: Something that is nice or looks good. (Bonny lass, bonny lad. bonny sunset). 

Example: "Did ye's see the bonny sunset last neet doon Whitley Ba?y"

Use: When describing someone or something you find attractive. 

7. MINGING

Translation: Something horrible looking, sounding, or smelling. 

Example: "That takeaway last night was minging; never ordering from there again." 

Use: When describing something unpleasant, whether it’s food, a smell, or a situation. 

8. MAGS/MAGPIES

Translation: Geordies, someone from Newcastle, or supporters of Newcastle United Football Club. 

Example: "The Mags are playing at home this weekend, can’t wait to gan." 

Use: When talking about Newcastle United Football Club. 

9. WAG/WAGGING

Translation: Truanting/skipping a lesson at school. 

Example: "They’re always wagging lectures." 

Use: When you or someone else is skipping classes or school. 

10. NOWT

Translation: Nothing. 

Example: "There’s nowt on telly worth watching." 

Use: When there’s nothing interesting happening or available. 

Geordie is basically a language of its own, with some crazy words that definitely don’t exist in the English Dictionary! Hopefully you now have all the basic words necessary for life in Geordie-land.

By Angelina, a third year Marketing student and Student Content Creator