cockney Definition
- 1a person from the East End of London, traditionally defined as someone born within the sound of Bow Bells
- 2the accent or dialect of English spoken by cockneys
Using cockney: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "cockney" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
He speaks with a strong cockney accent.
Example
My grandfather was a true cockney, born and raised in the East End.
Phrases with cockney
a form of slang in which a word or phrase is replaced by a rhyming phrase, often with the last word omitted
Example
In Cockney rhyming slang, 'stairs' becomes 'apples and pears'.
Example
My dad is a true Cockney sparrow, born and raised in the East End.
an older working-class man from the East End of London, often used to describe someone who is tough and streetwise
Example
He's a real Cockney geezer, always ready for a fight.
Summary: cockney in Brief
The term 'cockney' [ˈkɒkni] refers to a person from the East End of London, typically defined as someone born within the sound of Bow Bells. It also denotes the accent or dialect of English spoken by cockneys, exemplified by 'He speaks with a strong cockney accent.' The term extends into phrases like 'Cockney rhyming slang,' a form of slang in which a word or phrase is replaced by a rhyming phrase, often with the last word omitted.
