Manchester A–Z
A glossary of Manchester terms
Manchester talks its own way. A colleague apologises for mithering you, a friend's "our kid" is a forty-year-old brother, lunch comes in a barm, and directions send you through a ginnel. The city also has words for itself - Cottonopolis, Madchester, the worker bee - that explain why it feels the way it does. This glossary explains them to the adult who has moved here for work, in plain English, one term per page, each with its sources.
How to use this glossary
The opening paragraph of each term answers the question on its own. "In practice" gives the detail, and the last section says why the word matters to a newcomer. Each page names its source.
The city's story
- Cottonopolis - Manchester's nickname as the world centre of the cotton trade.
- Mancunian - A person from Manchester; Manc for short.
- Worker bee - The city's symbol of hard work and, since 2017, unity.
Words you will hear
- Barm - A soft bread roll, as in a chip barm.
- Ginnel - A narrow passage between or behind houses.
- Mither - To pester, bother or moan.
- Our kid - My brother or sister, or a close friend.
Places and culture
- Ancoats - The mill district east of the centre, now a sought-after neighbourhood.
- Corrie - Coronation Street, ITV's soap set in fictional Weatherfield.
- Curry Mile - Wilmslow Road in Rusholme and its restaurants.
- Madchester - The music and club scene of the late 1980s and early 1990s.
- Northern Quarter - The warehouse district of independent shops and bars.
Getting around and working
- Bee Network - Greater Manchester's public transport system.
- MediaCityUK - The media district at Salford Quays.
- Metrolink - The tram network, the largest in the UK.
Manchester Society is independent and is not affiliated with Manchester City Council, Transport for Greater Manchester or any organisation named in this glossary.