The University’s Urban Dictionary

I’ve learnt a lot from my first year of University, and most of it hasn’t really come from my lectures. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve doing a lot of studying and reading up throughout my various modules, but I guarantee I’ve learnt more, even if it’s about far more trivial subjects, from the new people around me. It turns out that where you come from has a big impact on the words you naturally use, and the North/South divide of England has been made all the more clear. So here is just a small list of the language you may need to grasp, before stepping foot on campus!

 

Peak – More of a Southern turn of phrase, meaning really bad. (No, I don’t understand why either!)

 

Steaming – Contrary to my initial idea that this implied somebody smoked, it’s actually just another word for drunk.

 

Cwtch – Yes this is spelled correctly; pronounced ‘cutch’, the Welsh expression for a cuddle.

 

Famalam – A ‘word’ some, including myself, use in the place of family.

 

Fam – Again, can mean family in some circumstances, but generally used to refer to one person in a direct manner.

 

Jokes – If something is described in this way it is funny and/or enjoyable.

 

Lush – Another Welsh one, either describing something as good-looking or nice.

 

Peng – Basically the English equivalent to lush.

 

Tea – Northerners, like myself, refer to our evening meal as tea rather than dinner, you’ll get used to it.

 

Dinner – Again with the pesky Northerners, the word dinner refers to lunch/afternoon meal.

 

Aite/Ite – This meaning depends on how/where you use this word; either asking the question ‘Are you alright?’ or simply ‘Alright’ when giving a response.

 

Bare – Normally implies ‘a lot of’ something, such as coursework.

 

Chunder – Not very pleasant, meaning vomit, whether done tactically or otherwise.

 

Sick – Not to be confused with chunder, rather refers to something considered to be really good.

 

Libes – Not a common term in my Leicester University circles, but refers to the library.

 

Aye – Something I’ve picked up myself, a Scottish term for ‘Yes’.

 

Wavy Garms (Garments) –  A ‘cool’ outfit, which in reality you in fact found in your grandfather’s wardrobe.

 

B – Nothing more than an affectionate term to your friends, similar to other equivalents, generally used between females, such as babe/babes/girl.

 

Gains – Referring to the frequent gym-goer, with the implication of gaining muscle mass, so: ‘Going to the gym for the gains’.

 

Pres/ Pre-drinks/Prinks – I’d never used this word before going to University; a process of drinking and socializing before a night out, avoiding the need to buy expensive alcoholic drinks in a pub/club.

 

There we go! Just a short list, but hopefully you’re now feeling thoroughly educated; or perhaps just fairly confused, I wouldn’t blame you. Regardless, I hope you enjoyed this little piece of my University life, and possibly even found this useful.

 

Take Care Everyone, I’ll Speak to You All Soon!