14 sayings you'll only understand if you're from Yorkshire, from nesh to be reyt

How many of these sayings do you recognise?

Yorkshire is blessed with a rich and colourful dialect, often laced with humour, but if you’re new to the county it can be a bit confusing.

We asked the people of Yorkshire to suggest the words and phrases you’ll only understand if you’re from the area, and they replied in their droves.

We’ve picked out a handful of sayings, as suggested by you, that are popular in Yorkshire but might baffle outsiders.

Some are better known than others, and some are variants of phrases used more widely across the north, but they’re all sayings you might well hear on the streets of Yorkshire.

Some colloquialisms that were once widely used in Yorkshire are in danger of dying out, but these ones appear to have a little life in them yet.

How many of these sayings do you recognise, and what others would you suggest?

News you can trust since 1882
Follow us
© 2026 Iconic Media Group Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice