The Black Country Dialect

2009-11-16T05:25:00.000-08:00

The Black Country dialect is an important part of Black Country life. Noone else in the world speaks like Black Country folk do.
The sound of the accent of a black country mon or ooman is that of early modern english and middle english, making people from outside the area very confused by it.
"Ow Bist?" meaning "How are you?" derives from the old saying "How beist thou?". "Owamya" is another very common greeting in the Black Country!
In reply "Bay too bad", meaning "I'm not too bad" and "Om Alright Ta me mucker!" meaning "I'm alright thanks my friend"
The Black Country dialect often substitutes the word "ar" for "yes" and "I haven't seen her" becomes "I ay sid 'er". .
Broad Black Country speakers say "agooin" instead of going.

Black Country people are proud to be known as Black Country "folk" and resist hints at any relationship to people living in Birmingham, calling Birmingham "Brum-a-jum" or Birminam. "Ar Bay A Brummie Arm from The Black Country" is a common saying amongst the locals.

Brummies often refer to their Black Country neighbours as "Yam Yams", because of their use of "Yow am" ( or yow'm) instead of "You are". In reply, Black Country often say "I Yam What I Yam!" and accept the Yam Yam name.

Other examples of Black Country Dialect:
Click On Each One!

"Yow Cor Spake Propa"

"Ow Bin Yow Doin Aah Kid"

"Arma Gud Un"

"Yow'm Avin A Loff"

"Black Country Mon"

"Bost"

"I'm With Arf Baerked"

"Owbinya?"

"I Ay A Brummie Arm From The Black Country"

"Fittle"

"Oss"

"I Loike Yow"

"Riffy"

"Yampy"

"Me Wench"

BLACK COUNTRY DIALECT

The Black Country Dialect