Don’t be a dinlo, you’ll have to brush up on the Pompey lingo

If you haven’t grown up in and around Portsmouth, then you might find some of the terms used somewhat baffling.

So we have put together a guide for new and returning students in a bid to explain some of the unusual slang words you might hear out and about in the city.

1 — Mush

This is an old Romany word meaning ‘my good friend’. It is pronounced Moosh.

2 — Weee!

This is an expression of surprise when you hear something mysterious, horrible or amazing.

3 — Dinlo

A lighthearted insult which means fool. The term has its roots among the Romany gypsies.

4 — Squinny

To complain. It can be used as a verb: stop squinnyin; a noun: ‘stop being a squinny, baby!’; or even as an adjective: ‘she’s well squinny’, meaning ‘she’s a real complainer’.

5 — Pompey

This is the slang word for the city and its football club.

The origin of the word has never been conclusively proven. One theory is that it comes from ‘Pom. P’, a shortened version of Portsmouth Point which was entered in ships’ logs as they entered Portsmouth Harbour.

Others say it comes from La Pompée, a captured French ship which was once moored in the harbour for use as a prison hulk.

Other possible sources for the nickname include: a reference to the Roman general Pompey; the volunteer firemen, called pompiers, who used to train on Southsea Common; or Bombay, the former name for Mumbai in India, which had maritime links to Portsmouth.

6 — Gettin lairy

What someone is doing if they are losing their temper.

7 — Turk Town

Turk Town is slang for Gosport.

It’s thought the term comes from Turkish sailors who were there with a ship in the 1840s. They died from cholera and were buried at a local cemetery.

8— The Lippy Tower

This is a name used to describe the large tower block at the waterside shopping and leisure complex, Gunwharf Quays.

It is meant to look like a ship’s funnel, but many believe it looks more similar to a lipstick.

9 — Scummers

Apologies in advance to any Southampton students… this is the derogatory term for those living down the road in our neighbouring south coast city.

Typically used by rival football fans — the term ‘scum’ is slang meaning worthless.

10 — Skate

Skate was an affectionate nickname given to sailors.