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1Incorporating Posh Words Into Your Vocabulary
2Pronouncing Words
3Listening and Repeating
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Co-authored bywikiHow Staff
Last Updated: December 12, 2021
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The posh accent is used to describe how the upper class in England speak. But while it is associated with the upper class, the posh dialect has been embraced by members of the middle class in England and elsewhere, including the United States. However, speaking posh is not as simple as repeating words the English aristocracy use. To speak posh, you need to practice speaking posh, incorporate posh vocabulary into your speech, and pronounce words in a certain way.
Part 1
Part 1 of 3:
Incorporating Posh Words Into Your Vocabulary
1
Use posh slang. Posh is characterized by certain slang words. To talk posh, you need to incorporate posh slang into your vocabulary. Some examples of posh slang include:
- "Golly gosh."
- "Old bean." Much like “old sport” or “old fellow,” this is a term of endearment used to describe a person beyond middle age.
- "Poppycock." This means something is nonsensical or stupid.
- "Capital" – spoken “kepitol.” This means “fantastic.”
- "Skive." This means lazy.
2
Embrace posh phrases and sayings. One of the hallmarks of the posh dialect are the colorful phrases and sayings associated with it. These phrases are used to convey people's thoughts in a colloquial way. Some popular posh phrases and sayings include:
- "Don't get your knickers in a twist." This means you should not get upset or excited over something.
- "Jolly good show." This means something was performed well or was entertaining.
- "Throw a spanner in the works." This means someone has messed something up.[1]
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3
Use some words that might seem formal or out of date. Another characteristic of the posh dialect is the use of words that seem excessively formal or even dated. Many of these words have faded out of use in average British or American English. However, the use of these words will help you sound posh. Some words include:
- "Seedy" (suspicious).
- "Rubbish" (garbage).
- "Fortnight" (two weeks).[2]
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Part 2
Part 2 of 3:
Pronouncing Words
1
Say an “an” sound like an “eh” sound. Posh speakers will substitute “ah” sounds for “eh.” They'll do this in a variety of words. For example:
- Pronounce “thank” as “thenk.
- Pronounce “man” as “men.”
- Pronounce “angry” as “ehngry.”
2
Pronounce the “ee” at the end of some words as an “eh.” When pronouncing the final “ee” sound in a word (such as (the “y” in “picky”), articulate the sound like an “eh.” For example:
- ”Quickly” should sound more like “quickleh”
- “Sorry” should sound more like “sorreh.”
- ”Barley” should sound more like “barleh.”
3
Lengthen the “oo” sound in some words. When pronouncing words with an “oo” sound, you need to lengthen the “oo.” This is because people who talk posh make the “oo” sound with their tongue further back. For example:
- ”New” should have a longer “oo.” Extend the sound by a second.
- ”Glue” should have a longer “oo.” Try saying it like “gl-ooo.”
4
Do not enunciate the “w” in words that end in “wer.” People who speak posh tend to gloss over the “w” sound in certain words. To the average listener, it sounds as if a posh talker is not even pronouncing the w. For example:
- ”Shower” may be pronounced “Sha-er.”
- ”Power” may be pronounced “Pa-er.”
- ”Flower” may be pronounced “fla-er.”
5
Lengthen vowels at the end of a sentence. Many posh talkers tend to stretch out vowels as they come to the end of a sentence. This may have the effect of making their voice more “creaky.” To talk posh, then, stretch vowels in words at the end of a sentence. For example:
- "Oh, really?" would be, "Oh, reel-eeeh?"
- "I am doing absolutely fabulous," would be, "I am doing absolutely fab-u-le-eh-ss."
6
Replace the “uh” sound in some words with an “ah” sound. One of the most common things posh talkers do is to replace the “uh” sound in a lot of words. This is something you will commonly hear when you listen to posh talkers. For example:
- ”Bus” is pronounced “Bah-se”
- ”Duck” is pronounced Dah-k.”
- ”Money” is pronounced “Mah-ney.”
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Part 3
Part 3 of 3:
Listening and Repeating
1
Watch movies and television shows. One of the easiest ways to pick up the posh dialect is to listen to how it is spoken in movies and in TV. There are a wide variety of media, from the 1930s to today, that feature people talking posh. Some of these movies include:
- 'Casablanca'
- 'Bridget Jones' Diary'
- The television show “Made in Chelsea”[3]
2
Hang around others who talk posh. Anyone who tries to learn a foreign language knows that the best way to learn is to surround oneself with people who speak that language. The same thing goes with talking posh. Try to spend as much time as possible with people who talk posh. You'll wind up picking it up fairly quick.
- If there is a bar, club, or other social setting where people talk posh in your community, hang out there.
- If you have a friend who talks posh or grew up around people who spoke posh, talk to them.[4]
3
Practice a lot. Without practicing you won't be able to master the posh dialect. As a result, you should talk posh whenever you can. Do this by integrating posh words, sayings, and pronunciations into the way you talk daily. The more you practice, the better you'll be able to talk posh.[5]
- Talk posh to your friends and family.
- Start talking posh in public.
- Repeat posh phrases to yourself.
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References
- ↑ http://www.anglotopia.net/british-identity/humor/top-100-most-beautiful-british-slang-words-and-phrases/
- ↑ http://www.anglotopia.net/british-identity/humor/top-100-most-beautiful-british-slang-words-and-phrases/
- ↑ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/thinking-man/10520339/Please-dont-judge-me-by-my-posh-accent.html
- ↑ https://www.bloomsbury-international.com/blog/2014/09/19/how-to-speak-like-the-queen-received-pronunciationposh-accent/
- ↑ https://www.bloomsbury-international.com/blog/2014/09/19/how-to-speak-like-the-queen-received-pronunciationposh-accent/
About This Article
This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 93,465 times.
335 votes - 64%
Co-authors: 7
Updated: December 12, 2021
Views:93,465
Categories: Urban Styles
Article SummaryX
To talk posh, which is how the upper class in England speak, you’ll need to incorporate certain vocabulary into your speech. Start adding posh slang to your vocabulary, like “Golly gosh,” “Old bean” to describe a middle-aged person, and “Poppycock” to describe something silly. You’ll also want to embrace phrases and sayings like “Don’t get your knickers in a twist” to let someone know that they shouldn’t get excited or upset. Note that words that seem formal or out of date are actually part of the posh dialect, like saying “Seedy” if something is suspicious. To work on your posh dialect, listen to how it’s spoken in certain movies and TV shows, like “Casablanca,” “Bridget Jones’ Diary,” and “Made in Chelsea.” Also, hang around others who talk posh to pick it up fairly quickly. To learn how to pronounce words to sound posh, keep reading!
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FAQs
How do you speak with a posh accent? ›
- The essential tip: use long vowels. ...
- Purse your lips, open your throat and drop your jaw. ...
- Fully articulate each and every consonant. ...
- Make space around your 'r's. ...
- 'Y' not 'ee'. ...
- Avoid modern conventions.
Posh is most commonly used today as an informal adjective to describe a person, place, or thing as classy, fancy, or spiffy (e.g., a posh restaurant). The word has a strong upper-class connotation, related to having or spending money. Calling something posh is still closely associated with the UK.
How do posh people act? ›Posh people have good manners and know the boundaries in human relations. Always say "please" and "thank you" when the situation calls for it. Say "excuse me," greet people politely, and display good table manners—such as chewing with your mouth closed.
How do posh people say often? ›'Often' Pronunciation UK
tən/ . For others, the 't' in the word is silent and it is pronounced as 'off-en' /ˈɒf. ən/. Both pronunciations of the word are acceptable to use, but only one of them is considered 'posh' (indicating that the speaker belongs to a higher social class).
- Yeah, sure. Here you go.
- No problem! I'm always happy to help.
- Yep! I will be right there. (Yep is another informal way to say yes like yeah.)
- Yeah, I'd be happy to!
- Cool. (Yes, cool can really be used to say yes or to show agreement.)
- You got it.
- Okay.
Toilet. This was on the original 1950s list and, to be honest, I'd rather chew glass than use the word toilet in polite conversation. It's a harsh word that was adapted from the French toilette which means your appearance, hence toiletries bag. Lavatory or loo is much more acceptable.
How do you say I love you in a posh? ›- I love you to the moon and back again.
- We fit together like puzzle pieces.
- You are the best thing that has ever happened to me.
- You complete me.
- I can't believe you're mine.
- You are a beautiful person inside and out.
- I am here for you… always.
- I'm yours.
Is 'posh' positive or negative? So 'posh' can be used as a negative, particularly where there's such inequality. 'Inequality' means that people not being treated equally because of their class. 'Posh' probably acquires a more negative meaning in certain parts of the country – probably the ones which aren't posh.
What does pish posh mean? ›pish posh. old-fashioned informalUK. used to express disagreement or to say that something is nonsense: Oh, pish posh! Ridiculous.
What is a posh accent called? ›The phrase Received Pronunciation was coined in 1869 by the linguist, A J Ellis, but it only became a widely used term to describe the accent of the social elite after the phonetician, Daniel Jones, adopted it for the second edition of the English Pronouncing Dictionary (1924).
How to behave like a posh girl? ›
- Nails. Nails can make any girl look classy. ...
- Statement Sunnies. It is very important that you go and find that one pair of sunglasses that flatter your face nicely. ...
- Have one good classic wrist watch. ...
- Diamond Studs. ...
- Have a signature scent. ...
- Neutral colour. ...
- Simple makeup. ...
- Red Lips.
According to those surveyed, being able to ski, asking people 'where did you school?' and calling your pals by their second names also reveal a person's poshness. Other indications of 'poshness' included having been to boarding school, knowing Latin, wearing an old, battered Barbour and having a family coat of arms.
What is posh lifestyle? ›POSH Lifestyle ® offers a luxury service and personalized assistance by providing international professionals who have been inspired over the years by the largest concierge agencies and luxury services.
Do posh people say pardon? ›' Received wisdom has it that 'pardon', used when asking someone to repeat something, is the preserve of the middle classes - on a par with 'toilet', 'serviette' and referring to one's lunch as 'dinner'. But Tatler, bible of the upper classes, has decreed that the word is now socially acceptable.
How do posh people say garage? ›Let's look at the spelling patterns and the pronunciation patterns for words ending in “age” pronounced /ɑːʒ/. These example words are like the posh pronunciation of the word garage /ˈgær. ɑːʒ/.
What is the most British thing to say? ›I'm knackered – I'm tired. Cheeky – Mischievous or playful. Bloody – This is a very British thing to say – meaning very. I'm pissed – Not meaning the regular “angry”, in British talk it actually means you're very drunk and is used quite a lot when you are out drinking with friends.
How do you talk in a classy way? ›- Be confident.
- Minimize the use of filler words – Um's and Uh's.
- Breathe deeply.
- Control your pace.
- Adjust your tone.
- Read more.
- An interesting fact.
MAC Posh Tone is a very warm-toned, very dark peach with a natural finish. It is a permanent lipstick that retails for $25.00 and contains 0.14 oz.
What does it mean to talk posh? ›talk posh. Britishspoken. 1. to talk in a way that is typical of people from a high social class.
What are some classy words? ›- elegant.
- graceful.
- handsome.
- fine.
- stylish.
- tasteful.
- luxurious.
- majestic.
How do you talk like a classy girl? ›
If you want to sound classy, then you have to speak clearly, avoid mumbling or talking too loudly, and be grammatically correct. A classy lady speaks with confidence and talks clearly enough for others to understand her. Avoid saying "um," or "like" every two seconds, because that will make you look unrefined.
How do you start a fancy conversation? ›- Tell me about you. ...
- Working on anything exciting lately? ...
- What's your story? ...
- What personal passion project are you working on right now? ...
- How do you know the host? ...
- What was the highlight of your day today? ...
- What was the highlight of your week?
If you've been struggling to dazzle interviewers for that job you've wanted it might be because your voice isn't posh enough. New research into the perception of job interview candidates suggests posher accents cast an interviewee in a better light, making them more likely to get the job and be paid more for it too.
What is a plummy voice? ›plummy adjective (SPEECH)
used to describe a low voice or way of speaking using long vowels, of a type thought to be typical of the English upper social class: a plummy voice. a plummy accent.