Hello, duck! Neil and Feifei bring you some unusual ways of greeting people, all of which are related to animals. Don’t worry, they’re all friendly ways to say hello!
Neil
(Makes sound of a duck)
Feifei
Welcome to The English We Speak…
Neil
(Makes sound of a duck)
Feifei
Shh… Let me finish! Welcome to The English We Speak, the programme where we…
Neil
(Makes sound of a duck)
Feifei
Ok, ok – you win, Neil. You start the programme.
Neil
OK – welcome to The English We Speak. Today we bring you a way to say hello to people that involves… ducks.
Feifei
Finally. English is, of course, a rich and diverse language, and different regions use different expressions. In the English Midlands – the area around the city of Nottingham – you’ll hear this. Imagine I’m in a shop, and Neil is the shopkeeper:
Neil
Hello duck, how can I help you?
Feifei
Hello duck – ‘duck’ here is a form of address – a word you use when politely speaking to someone.
Neil
And ‘duck’ is an affectionate term for another person. So if you hear it – please don’t be offended – it’s a friendly thing to say.
Feifei
Some think that it comes from the word ‘duke’! Let’s hear a few examples:
Examples
Come over here and tell me what the problem is, duck.
Don’t you worry about that broken glass, duck. I’ll sort it out.
Neil
‘Duck’ is generally used by people talking to those younger than or the same age as themselves. In some ways it functions like the word ‘dear’.
Feifei
But it’s not a phrase that all native English speakers use. When Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie used it when presenting an award to an English actor from the East Midlands, Jack O’Connoll, it confused a lot of people around the world!
Neil
And what’s more, ‘duck’ is not the only form of address based on animals. For example, where might someone call you… hen?
Feifei
‘Hen’ is used in Glasgow – but only when talking to women.
Neil
Alright hen? And then we have ‘pet’…
Feifei
‘Pet’ is used in the North East of England – around Newcastle people call each other ‘pet’.
Neil
Thanks, pet. So – listen out for these different regional ways of being friendly – just don’t be surprised if you confuse people when you use them yourself! Thanks for listening.
Feifei
(Makes sound of a duck)
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