How to Speak With a Cockney Accent

The best way to learn an accent is to listen to it. Watch Mary Poppins and listen to how Bert and the other Chimney sweeps talk. But you can also learn an accent if you follow some rules that show how an accent is

different from how you usually speak. Here are some rules for a Cockney accent:

1. Don’t say “H” at the beginning of a word2. Say in’ instead of ing3. Say wot instead of “that” or “who” or “which”4. “T” makes a sound at the back of your throat like the beginning of “uh-oh”5. “Er” at the end of a word sounds like “uh”6. Say is instead of are7. Th can change to a d, f, or v sound. For example:

Say fink instead of think Say muvah instead of mother Say dis instead of this

8. An L sound at the end of a word sounds like W9. The “I” sound in I, buy, like, or kite sounds like toy or boy10. Say me instead of my

Ex. Jane and her brother Michael are in for some strange happenings now that Mary Poppins is here! Jane and ‘er bruver Michael is in for some strange ‘appenin’s now wot Mary Poppins is ‘ere!

Ex. I do like Mary Poppins!Oi dew loike Mary Poppins!

Your Turn!

Hello there, mate!

Mary Poppins is the lady who is going to help the Banks family.

Now then, what do you think of this?

Let’s go fly a kite!

Do you think being a chimney sweep is harder than being a nanny?

I like being a chimney sweep. There’s nothing hard about it.

Mary Poppins has something mysterious about her alright

The “a” sound in day, pay, weigh, and lady