Essential English phrases

The words that make your first weeks in Manchester smoother — with pronunciation you can actually say.

Social

Our kid
ah KID
Your brother or sister — or, loosely, a close friend. Nothing to do with children. Heard constantly and meant warmly.
Mint
mint
Excellent. 'That's mint' is high praise. Also 'sound', which means both 'good' and 'no problem'.
Dead
ded
Very. 'Dead good', 'dead busy'. An intensifier, used without irony across the North West.

Daily life

The Bee Network
Greater Manchester's integrated transport system — buses, trams and cycle routes under one brand, one fare cap and one contactless tap. The bee is the city's symbol.
Brew
broo
A cup of tea. 'Fancy a brew?' is the standard offer of hospitality and it is not optional to accept.
Barm
barm
A soft bread roll. What the South calls a bap and Liverpool calls a bun. Ordering the wrong word marks you instantly.
Council Tax
The local property tax paid by the occupier, banded by property value. It is your bill, not the landlord's, and it is billed separately from rent.
Periodic tenancy
Since the Renters' Rights Act, every private tenancy in England rolls month to month with no fixed end date. You can leave on two months' notice.

Culture

The Curry Mile
Wilmslow Road in Rusholme — a dense strip of South Asian and Middle Eastern restaurants and shisha bars, and a Manchester institution.
Madchester
MAD-chess-ter
The late-80s and early-90s music scene — the Haçienda, the Stone Roses, Happy Mondays. Still the frame through which the city sells itself.

Emergency

999 / 111
999 for emergencies. NHS 111 for urgent but non-emergency medical help. Both free from any phone.

Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.

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