Cockney
noun
A person born in the east end of London, England, specifically within hearing distance of the bells of St. Mary-le-Bow church.
The man spoke with a distinct Cockney accent, identifying him as a native of East London.
Often appears as...
- cockney accent
- cockney dialect
adjective
Relating to the Cockneys or their dialect of English.
His Cockney accent was a telltale sign of his East End origins.
Often appears as...
- cockney dialect
- cockney twang
noun
The accent or dialect of English spoken by Cockneys.
I always struggle to understand the Cockney spoken in East London.
Often appears as...
- speak cockney
- cockney dialect
noun
A person born in the east end of London, England, specifically within hearing distance of the bells of St. Mary-le-Bow church.
The man spoke with a distinct Cockney accent, identifying him as a native of East London.
Often appears as...
- cockney accent
- cockney dialect
adjective
Relating to the Cockneys or their dialect of English.
His Cockney accent was a telltale sign of his East End origins.
Often appears as...
- cockney dialect
- cockney twang
noun
The accent or dialect of English spoken by Cockneys.
I always struggle to understand the Cockney spoken in East London.
Often appears as...
- speak cockney
- cockney dialect
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Cultural Identity
Cockney is more than an accent; it symbolizes a proud cultural identity from a specific part of London.
Being a true Cockney, he cherished his East End heritage.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Just Location
'Cockney' implies a person's origin and often their working-class background.
She's a Cockney, not just from London but the right part of the city.
Pro Tip 3/3Bow Bells Myth
Some people jokingly check if a Cockney can hear the Bow Bells to authenticate their claim.
Can you hear Bow Bells ringing? Then you're a Cockney!
Pro Tip 1/3Cultural Identity
Cockney is more than an accent; it symbolizes a proud cultural identity from a specific part of London.
Being a true Cockney, he cherished his East End heritage.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Just Location
'Cockney' implies a person's origin and often their working-class background.
She's a Cockney, not just from London but the right part of the city.
Pro Tip 3/3Bow Bells Myth
Some people jokingly check if a Cockney can hear the Bow Bells to authenticate their claim.
Can you hear Bow Bells ringing? Then you're a Cockney!
Pro Tip 1/3Cultural Identity
Cockney is more than an accent; it symbolizes a proud cultural identity from a specific part of London.
Being a true Cockney, he cherished his East End heritage.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Just Location
'Cockney' implies a person's origin and often their working-class background.
She's a Cockney, not just from London but the right part of the city.
Pro Tip 3/3Bow Bells Myth
Some people jokingly check if a Cockney can hear the Bow Bells to authenticate their claim.
Can you hear Bow Bells ringing? Then you're a Cockney!
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Video examples
How sampling transformed...
I do hope that comes back soon. Anyway, this predated the sampling era. There were no samples in this record, although I did look up on the Internet last night, I mean several months ago, that "La Di Da Di" means, it's an old Cockney expression from the late 1800s in England,
Video examples
Learning other languages...
playing a cockney chimney sweep that that's been rated number one is the worst accent in Hollywood well the other thing is the French accent I took French in junior high and I found I could not speak French unless I would move my head
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 304 PIPE...
in a cockney accent so cockney accent I'll just need to lead up to it a little bit I don't think we're gonna say cold early to die oh I know where he is I think he's sitting in his room Paulie that will be in a cockney accent the
Video examples
How sampling transformed...
I do hope that comes back soon. Anyway, this predated the sampling era. There were no samples in this record, although I did look up on the Internet last night, I mean several months ago, that "La Di Da Di" means, it's an old Cockney expression from the late 1800s in England,
Video examples
Learning other languages...
playing a cockney chimney sweep that that's been rated number one is the worst accent in Hollywood well the other thing is the French accent I took French in junior high and I found I could not speak French unless I would move my head
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 304 PIPE...
in a cockney accent so cockney accent I'll just need to lead up to it a little bit I don't think we're gonna say cold early to die oh I know where he is I think he's sitting in his room Paulie that will be in a cockney accent the
Example 1 of 3
Quote examples
W. H. Davies
Welsh Poet
Cockneys make good beggars. They are held in high esteem by the fraternity in America. Their resource, originality and invention, and a never-faltering tongue enable them to often attain their ends where others fail, and they succeed where the natives starve.
Quote examples
June Brown
English Actress
I didn't know much about the East End and I didn't go trudging round to research it - couldn't be bothered with all that - but my grandmother was a cockney so I used her voice for Dot. I don't think it sounded very real at the beginning.
Quote examples
Christopher Moore
American Writer
From Dickens's cockneys to Salinger's phonies, from Kerouac's beatniks to Cheech and Chong's freaks, and on to hip hop's homies, dialect has always been used as a way for generations to distinguish themselves.
Quote examples
Keeley Hawes
English Actress
There are lots of actors who are posh and stick with that, and there are lots of actors who are cockney, and that's what they do. That's fine, but I don't think that could be said about me.
Quote examples
China Mieville
English Writer
My parents went through the dictionary looking for a beautiful name, nearly called me Banyan, flicked on a few pages and came to China, which is cockney rhyming slang for mate.
Quote examples
Daniel Radcliffe
British Actor
I don't want to say I'll never play someone with a cockney accent, but I think I would be irritated by me doing it.
Quote examples
Paloma Faith
English Actress
Adele's like a beacon of honesty. Doesn't compromise, goes to America and she's still the same sweary cockney.
Quote examples
Luke Treadaway
English Actor
It was great to play an ex-marine cockney thug. All my roles are as different as the colours of the rainbow.
Quote examples
Gemma Arterton
English Actress
I actually had a cockney accent before I went to drama school. It's softened up a bit.
Quote examples
W. H. Davies
Welsh Poet
Cockneys make good beggars. They are held in high esteem by the fraternity in America. Their resource, originality and invention, and a never-faltering tongue enable them to often attain their ends where others fail, and they succeed where the natives starve.
Quote examples
June Brown
English Actress
I didn't know much about the East End and I didn't go trudging round to research it - couldn't be bothered with all that - but my grandmother was a cockney so I used her voice for Dot. I don't think it sounded very real at the beginning.
Quote examples
Christopher Moore
American Writer
From Dickens's cockneys to Salinger's phonies, from Kerouac's beatniks to Cheech and Chong's freaks, and on to hip hop's homies, dialect has always been used as a way for generations to distinguish themselves.
Quote examples
Keeley Hawes
English Actress
There are lots of actors who are posh and stick with that, and there are lots of actors who are cockney, and that's what they do. That's fine, but I don't think that could be said about me.
Quote examples
China Mieville
English Writer
My parents went through the dictionary looking for a beautiful name, nearly called me Banyan, flicked on a few pages and came to China, which is cockney rhyming slang for mate.
Quote examples
Daniel Radcliffe
British Actor
I don't want to say I'll never play someone with a cockney accent, but I think I would be irritated by me doing it.
Quote examples
Paloma Faith
English Actress
Adele's like a beacon of honesty. Doesn't compromise, goes to America and she's still the same sweary cockney.
Quote examples
Luke Treadaway
English Actor
It was great to play an ex-marine cockney thug. All my roles are as different as the colours of the rainbow.
Quote examples
Gemma Arterton
English Actress
I actually had a cockney accent before I went to drama school. It's softened up a bit.
Example 1 of 9
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