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Derby words & sayings

A light-hearted guide to the Derbyshire words, sayings and local lore you'll come across in the city and across the county, and how (not) to use them on a date.

Derbyshire words and sayings

Ay up me duck
Hello, my dear. The classic Derby greeting, and "duck" is for anyone, not just people you know well.
In dating: If someone greets you with "ay up me duck", you're in Derbyshire and you're among friends.
Mardy
Grumpy, sulky or in a bad mood.
In dating: Nobody wants a mardy first date. Pick somewhere warm and dry and you'll both be fine.
Nesh
Feels the cold easily.
In dating: If they bring a big coat in June, they're a bit nesh. Lend them your scarf.
Snap
A packed lunch, the food you take to work. From the days of the mines and the mills.
In dating: A flask and some snap on a walk in the Peak District makes a lovely, low key date.
Jitty
A narrow alleyway or passage between houses.
In dating: Maybe don't suggest meeting in one.
Cob
A bread roll. Ask for a cob in Derby and you'll get exactly what you want.
In dating: Knowing where to get a good cob is a genuinely attractive quality.
Mash
To brew a pot of tea, as in "I'll mash the tea".
In dating: Offering to mash the tea is a sure sign you're comfortable in each other's company.
It's black over Bill's mother's
The sky's darkening, so rain is on its way. Nobody quite knows who Bill was.
In dating: If it's black over Bill's mother's, head for a café. Always have an indoor plan B.
Owt and nowt
Anything and nothing, as in "is there owt on?" and "nowt much".
In dating: "Fancy doing owt at the weekend?" is a perfectly good way to ask for a second date.

Derby lore and traditions

The Rams
Derby County, named after the ram that has long been a symbol of the city, and the old folk song about a giant ram.
In dating: A shared team makes for easy conversation, whether you're a lifelong Rams fan or not.
The Silk Mill
Built on the River Derwent in the early 1700s and often called the world's first factory. It's now the Museum of Making.
In dating: Free to visit, and a great place for a first date with plenty to talk about.
The Derwent Valley Mills
The string of historic mills from Derby up to Cromford, together a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In dating: A walk along the Derwent past the old mills makes a lovely day out.
Joseph Wright of Derby
The 18th century painter famous for his candlelit scenes. Derby Museum and Art Gallery has a large collection of his work.
In dating: Seeing his paintings together is a good excuse for a quiet, thoughtful first date.
The Cathedral Quarter
The heart of the old city around Derby Cathedral, with independent shops, cafés and old pubs.
In dating: Plenty of quiet corners for a first coffee or drink.
The crooked spire
The famous twisted spire of the church in Chesterfield, which leans and twists over the town.
In dating: Meeting under the crooked spire is a very Derbyshire way to start a date.
Bakewell pudding
The original from Bakewell: a pastry case with jam and an almond egg filling. Not to be confused with a Bakewell tart.
In dating: Sharing one in Bakewell and arguing about which is better is a fine way to spend an afternoon.
Well dressing
A Peak District tradition where villages decorate their wells with pictures made from petals and seeds, mostly in spring and summer.
In dating: Visiting the well dressings together is a gentle, colourful day out.
Royal Shrovetide Football
The huge, ancient game played through the streets of Ashbourne every Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday, with goals miles apart.
In dating: Perhaps one to watch from a safe distance on a date.

Words change from town to town, and what you hear in Chesterfield isn't always what you hear in Swadlincote. Got a favourite we've missed? Tell us when you join.

Don't be shy. Go and meet someone.

Put a few of these to use with singles who'll know exactly what you mean.

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