Slang and Expressions from Birmingham

Brummie slang gets underrated but it's absolute gold. The accent might divide opinion, but the expressions are proper bostin. Birmingham invented its own way of speaking and couldn't care less what anyone thinks.

Bab

A warm, friendly term of address in Birmingham, like love or darling but with a Brummie accent and a balti on the side. Used by shop workers, bus drivers, your nan, and basically anyone in the West Midlands being nice. You will hear alright bab, ta bab, and cheers bab several hundred times a day if you spend any time there.

"Pop that on the counter for me, bab, and I'll bag it up. You want a receipt or are we saving the planet today? Either way, ta."

Ayup

A quick, no-fuss greeting meaning hello, alright, or what’s up. You fling it at anyone, mates, strangers, the postie, no big ceremony. Tone’s everything, it can be warm and friendly, a bit surprised, or even lightly nosy like you’ve clocked something’s gone off. Often written as ay up or ey up too.

"Ayup, you’re reyt? Tha’s made a right mess of it. Come in, stick t’kettle on then, and tell us what’s been happenin’."

Brummie

Someone from Birmingham, or anything with that unmistakable Brum flavour, especially the accent. Comes from Brummagem, an old nickname for the city. Can be a bit of banter bait for outsiders, but most locals wear it as a badge of pride. Warm, chatty, and dead easy to spot once you’ve heard it.

"At the chippy he clocked my accent and went, Alright bab, you a Brummie or what? Had me smiling like I’d bumped into family."

Croggy

A cheeky lift on someone’s bike when you’re not in the saddle. You perch on the handlebars, the crossbar, or squeeze onto the back pegs like a sketchy extra passenger. Total Midlands school-kid classic for nipping to the shops or getting to class. Feels mint till you hit a pothole and both of you learn about gravity.

"Bab, give us a croggy to school, I’m running late. Go on then, but don’t wiggle on the bars or we’ll end up in the hedge by the Spar."

Duck

A warm, everyday pet name in the Midlands, used the way you’d say mate, love, or pal. Shop staff, cabbies, and random aunties drop it with zero flirting, just pure friendliness. It can sound odd if you’re not local, but once someone calls you duck, you feel instantly looked after.

"Alright, duck, you after a bacon cob or what? Cheers, love, stick a brew on an’ all, I’m starving, ta."

Voices of the people

Theory is all well and good... but what we Magikitos really love is hearing the people of Birmingham in their natural flow. If you know a typical expression from there, send us a voice note on WhatsApp using it with a real example. We will add it to the voices of your area!