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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if you like the Cockney accent?

153 replies

StaceySt · 07/03/2023 17:45

I've known my partner since our teenage years but we've only got together as a couple since 2021. I had a crush on him when we were teenagers but he then dated someone else in the group. As I got to know him I grew up love his decent, straightforward personality and I realised his accent was very 'Blimey, Guv'nor!' - but I loved it! In the intervening years his accent hasn't been modified at all - my accent is closer to the generic South East England accent FWIW.

OP posts:
Original poster
StaceySt · 07/03/2023 19:50

@JudgeRudy
This has given me a massive lol moment this evening. A few months ago my partner was talking about someone and the way he was saying the name I was convinced his surname was 'Howes' - I was really surprised to discover the bloke's surname was actually 'Hales'. I was literally like Shock so I can totally relate to this!!

On another note - I hope your cousin did manage to 'wow' Grin - sorry this is still making me laugh !!

OP posts:
Moonicorn · 07/03/2023 19:51

Yes as long as it isn’t too high pitched like Joe Swash. It’s kind of straight talking but friendly at the same time.

LargeQuarterPounderwithfries · 07/03/2023 20:18

GoodChat · 07/03/2023 19:44

I think you meant fakkin

Show quote history

No actually I say fucking! Or fuck you! Depends on the mood but always so that the recipient understands it!!

Thighdentitycrisis · 07/03/2023 20:18

MLE is multi cultural London English
It’s really very distinct from London/cockney

I miss the old London accent that was heard in people who were working class but not proper broad cockernee. I can’t explain it well, but people who had a good vocabulary, spoke well but had a distinct London accent.

Original poster
StaceySt · 07/03/2023 20:19

Just watched EastEnders and one of the characters said 'girl' not 'gel'. Sacrilege!!

OP posts:
VestaTilley · 07/03/2023 20:21

No, it’s awful. I don’t mind old school proper cockney from 50+ years ago, but the awful Estuarial drawl now is not nice.

userxx · 07/03/2023 20:24

Nope, it does absolutely nothing for me.

MeditatingOnMars · 07/03/2023 20:30

LargeQuarterPounderwithfries · 07/03/2023 19:19

What a fucking snobby thread.

We are from London. Proper old school
London cockney accents cos we were born and bred there.

It really doesn’t matter how a person speaks . It’s what’s on the inside and to judge a person based on this is proper full on shallow.

Not being outing but my DH has an amazing job and earns a lot. He is a cockney and works with some veh veh posh people in his industry. No one gives a fuck how he sounds as he amazing at what he does and is very well respected.

😂 Why are you so bothered?

Most people aren’t judging, they’re just saying whether they think it’s sounds nice or not.

How embarrassing that you’ve told us your husband ‘earns a lot’ in response to whether people like the accent.

mumof2many1943 · 07/03/2023 20:31

Love it, worked and lived in Hackney, Bethnal Green and Clapton in 60’s and 70’s fantastic people, down to earth and so kind. The Cockney accent brings it all back!

AnotherSpare · 07/03/2023 20:32

I'm East End born and bred so naturally I'm a fan of the accent Smile
I do find often when people try to mimic the accent they get it hugely wrong and I definitely don't like that false-cockney accent. For example I've never in my life said "maffs" instead of maths!

Fairislefandango · 07/03/2023 20:33

What a fucking snobby thread.

I dunno... Most people are saying they like various regional accents, but not necessarily all. I think it's possible to find accents pleasing or not pleasing to the ear without making judgements about the people who speak in them. If you liked RP and other accents perceived to be 'posh', that would be snobby. I'm a big fan of the Cockney accent, but quite like a Liverpool accent.

babybythesea · 07/03/2023 20:33

Yes. But my grandad was a cockney and although his accent was not as thick as it apparently used to be, it just reminds me of him.

Original poster
StaceySt · 07/03/2023 20:35

AnotherSpare · 07/03/2023 20:32

I'm East End born and bred so naturally I'm a fan of the accent Smile
I do find often when people try to mimic the accent they get it hugely wrong and I definitely don't like that false-cockney accent. For example I've never in my life said "maffs" instead of maths!

Lol don't think my partner's ever said 'maths' or 'with you!' Grin always wivvya !!

OP posts:
AnotherSpare · 07/03/2023 20:35

No idea what's going on with the italics in my comment above!

derbylass81 · 07/03/2023 20:35

CeliaNorth · 07/03/2023 18:12

Proper Cockney, yes. But as a pp said, it's dying out now.
Essex isn't Cockney.
Estuary is awful.

What is an estuary accent? Is it different to cockney?

Original poster
StaceySt · 07/03/2023 20:37

Fairislefandango · 07/03/2023 20:33

What a fucking snobby thread.

I dunno... Most people are saying they like various regional accents, but not necessarily all. I think it's possible to find accents pleasing or not pleasing to the ear without making judgements about the people who speak in them. If you liked RP and other accents perceived to be 'posh', that would be snobby. I'm a big fan of the Cockney accent, but quite like a Liverpool accent.

I love both 'Blimey Guv'nor' accent and RP actually!

OP posts:
derbylass81 · 07/03/2023 20:37

I can't say I particularly like it, but I don't dislike it either.

it does make me sad, though, to see people say that it's dying out.

Which it is, I agree. Much more prevalent in older generations. Will be a real shame if it dies out.

babybythesea · 07/03/2023 20:39

The other one I like is a midlands, not-quite-Brummy accent. Again, it was how my paternal grandparents spoke. It’s not one you hear much on TV - I heard someone in a tourist attraction a while ago speaking with exactly the same tones as my grandmother and I ended up just standing behind them listening for ages as it just was like hearing her again. It was quite emotional but so lovely!

cisisaslur · 07/03/2023 20:39

If it's like Danny Dyer's accent then very sexy

Original poster
StaceySt · 07/03/2023 20:42

@derbylass81 - there's a definite difference between Estuary and 'Blimey Guv'nor' London but it's kinda subtle I think and hard to describe - my partner's deffo 'inner London council estate' not Essex - but it's so subtle to distinguish. But I can think of one way - he pronounces furious - 'foorious' - I don't think Essex/Estuary would say this

OP posts:
ChateauProvence · 07/03/2023 20:42

i love it

sanityisamyth · 07/03/2023 20:43

No. It sounds awful.

MeditatingOnMars · 07/03/2023 20:43

If you liked RP and other accents perceived to be 'posh', that would be snobby.

I don’t think that would be snobby. If people are just talking about what they like or don’t like, it’s just personal preference.

GoodChat · 07/03/2023 20:47

@LargeQuarterPounderwithfries not a proper cockney then are ya

Thighdentitycrisis · 07/03/2023 20:53

re Wows and How’s, a friend of mine spent ages telling me she was looking for a Jury box -I knew her well I just couldn’t get what she was saying until she explained it was to keep rings and necklaces in !

she just couldn’t pronounce it any other way