Geordie Word of the Day: Howay · Jul 6, 09:38 PM

Today’s Geordie word of the day is:

Howay

Not to be mixed up with the Mackem version (Haway), howay would be used in a sentence like this: “Howay man! Giz some booze will ye?”

In English that would be translated as: “Excuse me barkeep, would you kindly pass some fine ale my way please?”

Howay: Howay can be used in several different ways. In our example it was to grab the attention of the barkeep. But it can be used to signal discontent i.e “Howay, gan tell that to wor lass!” or to give directions “Howay owa here”.

— Lee

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Comment

  1. Haway, Howay however it is pronounced, has always been a Geordie term of encouragement and should not be allowed to be confused with people who are not proud to be Geordies anymore. No matter which side of the Coaly Tyne or Atlantic :P we live on a Geordie is always proud to be called a Geordie

    Canny Blog By The Way Lee :D

    — G.E · Oct 14, 05:52 PM · #

  2. Odd. I’m Frech Canadian. I always thought that the expression “Howay” was something that only Frech Canadians used. I never, ever heard any English peaking people in Canada use this term, only Frech. Odd… I wonder how this came to be.

    — Argnom · Feb 15, 11:34 PM · #

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