The Mackem Dictionary (1 Viewer)

Disgruntled Sky Blue

Well-Known Member
I know we've moved on by now and I've probably spent way too long entertaining myself reading some of the drivel on the Sunderland forum but can someone explain to me what the following words actually mean?

Hoy, bairn, marra, haway, oh and Mackem!!

I can make a rough guess at one or two but are they actually old English words or just part of the local dialect in that town? Tried getting a local who sat next to me to explain why they were called the Mackems but the 5th goal went in and I lost all interest after that! Anyway I just want the gap in my education filled so I can communicate more effectively next season when we go on another 550 mile round trip! ;)
 

Tommo1993

Well-Known Member
Can only guess to ‘hoy’ is to throw something. Judging by the sentences it was being used in. Can’t say for sure. More confident with Swahili.
 

Disgruntled Sky Blue

Well-Known Member
Makes you wonder why it's such an effort to use the words child, mate and throw! Right about the embellished Chinese whispers though!
Just haway and Mackem to go and I should be able to converse with the locals.
 

Sbarcher

Well-Known Member
Your marra is your mate
 

SKYBLUES90

Well-Known Member
Baffles me that they write the way they pronounce things. Backwards c**ts
 

ovduk78

Well-Known Member
I think mackem refers to them making things and is just the Geordies saying that they make them. I am sure there is a phrase in Geordie which is "you mackem and we'll tackem"
 

Sky Blue Harry H

Well-Known Member
On the sticker of a geordie's car

'Divvent dunsh us we're geordies man' - Tells you all you need to know!!
 

Happy_Martian

Well-Known Member
"Haway" is simply "Away" as in "Away the lads" probably mixed with a bit of "Hurrah". Celebratory or lauding your comrades. Or it could just be their accent has affected their typing ;)
 

Disgruntled Sky Blue

Well-Known Member
Sooooo! Mackem means make them and haway means away/hurrah!
Bloody hell, I'm not sure I can be bothered with all that. I think the next time we're up there I'll talk to them normally and see if it catches on.
 

Speedies_Chips

Well-Known Member
I know we've moved on by now and I've probably spent way too long entertaining myself reading some of the drivel on the Sunderland forum but can someone explain to me what the following words actually mean?

Hoy, bairn, marra, haway, oh and Mackem!!

I can make a rough guess at one or two but are they actually old English words or just part of the local dialect in that town? Tried getting a local who sat next to me to explain why they were called the Mackems but the 5th goal went in and I lost all interest after that! Anyway I just want the gap in my education filled so I can communicate more effectively next season when we go on another 550 mile round trip! ;)

550 mile round trip? Which way did you go? :)
 

Sbarcher

Well-Known Member
Haway is just another way of saying Cime On. I should know I am a Wearsider!
 

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