English grammar
Cockney: the glottal t, the dropped h, blimey and mate
Recognise a few features of Cockney (East London) English: the dropped h, the glottal t, blimey and mate.
From the scene Sound Cockney
In short
In Cockney, a t between vowels becomes a catch in the throat and the h at the start disappears. Blimey means wow.
Your turn
Which one goes with h at the start disappears?
Options: water → wa'er, bottle → bo'le · blimey! · hello → 'ello
Show answer
h at the start disappears → hello → 'ello
How it works
Cockney is the traditional accent of working-class East London.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Easy, dear. First, the (blank) in the middle disappears.
Options: h · s · t
Show answer
Easy, dear. First, the t in the middle disappears.
Fácil, hijo. Primero, la t de en medio desaparece.
Good to know
In Cockney, a t between vowels becomes a glottal stop, a little catch in the throat (water → wa'er, bottle → bo'le), and the h at the start of a word disappears (hello → 'ello).
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
And "hello" sounds like "(blank)": you drop the h.
Options: 'ello · hel'o · yello
Show answer
And "hello" sounds like "'ello": you drop the h.
Y "hello" suena "'ello": se quita la h.
Good to know
Both are heard all over London and much of England today.
Good to know
Blimey! is an old-fashioned, very British "wow"; mate (= friend) is used everywhere in Britain.
t between vowels → glottal stop water → wa'er, bottle → bo'le
h at the start disappears hello → 'ello
Your turn
What goes with hello → 'ello?
Options: h at the start disappears · t between vowels → glottal stop · surprise
Show answer
hello → 'ello → h at the start disappears
surprise blimey!
Elena
That's it. And when something surprises you, you say "blimey!".
Eso es. Y cuando algo te sorprende, dices "¡blimey!".
Your turn
What fills the gap?
That's it. And when something surprises you, you say "(blank)!".
Options: bottle → bo'le · hello → 'ello · blimey
Show answer
Elena
That's it. And when something surprises you, you say "blimey!".
Eso es. Y cuando algo te sorprende, dices "¡blimey!".
friendly way to address someone mate (= friend, pal)
Elena
"Mate" means "friend" or "pal". You hear it all over Britain.
"Mate" significa "amigo" o "colega". Se oye por toda Gran Bretaña.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
"(blank)" means "friend" or "pal". You hear it all over Britain.
Options: Bottle → bo'le · Hello → 'ello · Mate
Show answer
Elena
"Mate" means "friend" or "pal". You hear it all over Britain.
"Mate" significa "amigo" o "colega". Se oye por toda Gran Bretaña.
Common mistake
Not mate or cheers here. A word for surprise.
That's it. And when something surprises you, you say "blimey!".
Eso es. Y cuando algo te sorprende, dices "¡blimey!".
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| t between vowels → glottal stop | water → wa'er, bottle → bo'le |
|---|---|
| h at the start disappears | hello → 'ello |
| surprise | blimey! |
| friendly way to address someone | mate (= friend, pal) |
More lines from the story
- ElenaEasy, dear. First, the t in the middle disappears.Fácil, hijo. Primero, la t de en medio desaparece.
- ElenaAnd "hello" sounds like "'ello": you drop the h.Y "hello" suena "'ello": se quita la h.
- TomásDoña Elena, I need to sound Cockney for my scene.Doña Elena, necesito sonar cockney para mi escena.
- Tomás"'Ello"? But I already talk like that!¿"'Ello"? ¡Pero si yo ya hablo así!