English grammar
Regional accents; Sorry, what? / more slowly
Cope with a strong regional English accent: ask to repeat, ask to slow down.
From the scene What an accent!
In short
If you miss something, say Sorry, what? or ask them to speak more slowly. Ask about a word: What does … mean?
Your turn
Which one goes with slower, please?
Options: Sorry, what? · What does "queen" mean? (not: What means...) · Could you speak more slowly, please?
Show answer
slower, please → Could you speak more slowly, please?
How it works
Strong regional accents drop sounds and use local words.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
It means "dear", love. She must be from (blank).
Options: Liverpool · London · Glasgow
Show answer
It means "dear", love. She must be from Liverpool.
Significa "cariño", cielo. Debe de ser de Liverpool.
Good to know
In Liverpool (Scouse) people may call you "queen", say "giz" for "give us", "sound" for "great" and "ta-ra" for "bye".
Good to know
If you get lost, say Sorry, what? or ask them to speak more slowly (not "more slow").
Good to know
To ask about a word, use does: What does queen mean?, NOT "What means queen?".
didn't catch it Sorry, what?
Nuria
Yes? Reception? Sorry, what?
¿Sí? ¿Recepción? Perdone, ¿cómo?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Yes? Reception? (blank)?
Options: Sorry, what · Please · What does "queen" mean
Show answer
Nuria
Yes? Reception? Sorry, what?
¿Sí? ¿Recepción? Perdone, ¿cómo?
slower, please Could you speak more slowly, please?
Nuria
Could you speak more slowly, please?
¿Puede hablar más despacio, por favor?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank)?
Options: Could you speak more slowly, please · Sorry, what · What does "queen" mean
Show answer
Nuria
Could you speak more slowly, please?
¿Puede hablar más despacio, por favor?
a word you don't know What does "queen" mean? (not: What means...)
Scouse: queen / giz / sound / ta-ra dear / give us / great / bye
Elena
They say "giz" for "give us", dear, up north.
En el norte dicen "giz" en vez de "give us", cariño.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
They say "giz" for "(blank)", dear, up north.
Options: Sorry, what · please · give us
Show answer
Elena
They say "giz" for "give us", dear, up north.
En el norte dicen "giz" en vez de "give us", cariño.
Common mistake
Not how or when here. You didn't catch a word.
Yes? Reception? Sorry, what?
¿Sí? ¿Recepción? Perdone, ¿cómo?
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
| didn't catch it | Sorry, what? |
|---|---|
| slower, please | Could you speak more slowly, please? |
| a word you don't know | What does "queen" mean? (not: What means...) |
| Scouse: queen / giz / sound / ta-ra | dear / give us / great / bye |
More lines from the story
- ElenaIt means "dear", love. She must be from Liverpool.Significa "cariño", cielo. Debe de ser de Liverpool.
- NuriaShe called me "queen". What does that mean?Me ha llamado "queen". ¿Qué significa eso?
- NuriaNo idea... At the end she said "ta-ra" and hung up.No sé... Al final dijo "ta-ra" y colgó.