What visitors should know
Learn the conversational meaning before copying the accent. Scouse varies by speaker and place, and Liverpool, the Wirral, and the wider city region do not form one simple identity boundary. Terms such as wool can be playful or exclusionary depending on who says them and why.
Reviewed words and expressions
antwacky
Antwacky means old-fashioned, out of date, or stylistically behind the times; it is especially associated with Liverpool and the wider North West of England.
Liverpoolboss
In Liverpool English, boss is an informal positive adjective meaning very good, excellent, brilliant, or great.
Liverpoolcob on
In Liverpool speech, to have a cob on means to be in a bad mood, sulking, annoyed, or noticeably grumpy.
Liverpoolgo ’ed
In Liverpool speech, go ’ed is a reduced local form of 'go ahead', used to give permission, encourage someone to continue, or prompt an action.
Liverpoolis right
In Liverpool speech, is right is an approving response meaning roughly 'well done', 'exactly', 'I agree', or 'that's good', depending on context.
Liverpoolkecks
Kecks means trousers or, depending on context, underwear. It is well documented in Liverpool English but also belongs more widely to Northern English and other regional British and Irish usage.
Liverpoolmade up
In Liverpool speech, made up commonly means very happy, pleased, or delighted about something.
Liverpoolnark
In Liverpool English, nark can refer to an argumentative or annoying person, and historically can also name a state of anger or irritation.
Liverpoolscran
In Liverpool speech, scran is informal everyday vocabulary for food, a meal, or something to eat.
Liverpoolsound
In Liverpool conversation, sound can mean good, okay, all right, dependable, or acceptable, and it can stand alone as an acknowledgment similar to 'okay' or 'great'.
Liverpoolwacker
In historical Liverpool English, wacker (also whacker, wack or whack) referred to a Liverpudlian and could be used as a familiar form of address between local people.
Liverpoolwool
In Liverpool in-group speech, wool is a teasing or derogatory label for someone regarded as being from outside Liverpool proper, especially from nearby parts of Merseyside, the Wirral, St Helens, Cheshire, or surrounding areas.
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