It’s a common talking point in universities around the country. You may even have visited another city just to have your lunchtime end in confusion.
A sandwich – sounds simple enough? But depending on where you are in the UK, you may struggle to find one if you’re not using the right slang.
From butties to barm cakes, what do Brits call sandwiches in their local lingo? The SlangHub team is here to explain all…
What do Londoners Call a Sandwich?
In the capital, you’re likely to hear the word sarnie of a lunchtime. Whether it’s a BLT or an egg mayo, a sarnie is just a slang term for any type of sandwich.
“Fancy a bacon sarnie?”.
Over in East London, you might hear the occasional butty – but for the most part, sarnie is the slang of choice.
What is a Sandwich Called in Manchester?
Up north, things get a bit more complicated. In Manchester, t’s not just about what goes in the sandwich, but also what kind of bread you’re using.
First up, we’ve got the butty – a staple of northern slang. Whether it’s a chip butty (chips are English slang for fries) or a bacon butty, this term covers any sandwich.
But things get interesting when we talk about barm cakes – a type of bread roll. In Manchester, sandwiches are often referred to by what bread they’re in. So, a chip barm would be a chip butty, but made with a soft barm roll.
And, occasionally, Mancs may even call a sandwich in a soft roll a muffin.
What do You Call a Sandwich in Liverpool?
When it comes to Liverpool, butties is also a common term. But unlike in the south, where sandwiches feel a bit more refined, a Liverpool butty is substantial, heavy and often greasy – we’re talking sausage butties, bacon butties, and chip butties.
If you want to sound like a local, though, just stick to sarnie – it’s quick, to the point, and will definitely get you your sandwich faster.
What do Glaswegians Call Sandwiches?
Up in Scotland, they like to keep things simple. Why call it a sandwich when you can call it a piece?
In Glasgow, and much of Scotland, the term piece is used to refer to any kind of sandwich. Whether it’s a jeely piece (a jam sandwich) or a ham piece, it’s all about what you’re putting between those slices of bread.
You might even hear kids talking about what they’ve got for their play piece, which is just a snack for break time at school.
What Do You Call a Sandwich in Yorkshire?
In Yorkshire, we’re back to the butty – especially when it comes to anything greasy and hot. If you’re having a bacon butty in Yorkshire, you’re doing something right.
However, if you fancy a sandwich in a roll, you might end up with a tea cake – and no, it’s not the kind of tea cake you have with a cup of Earl Grey. In Yorkshire, a tea cake is a soft, round bread roll, perfect for a sandwich.
What do the Welsh call a Sandwich?
In Wales, things stay pretty traditional, but you might come across a bit of Welsh language thrown into the mix.
While butty is widely understood and used, you could also hear the Welsh word for bread – bara. While it’s not technically slang as much as it is just the Welsh language, it has certainly been adopted by those who don’t speak the language fluently as part of their everyday speech.
Around much of Wales, you’ll still hear butty, too.
We know what you’re thinking – “who knew it could be so confusing ordering a sandwich?”. But the UK takes pride in its local slang and each city has a unique way of speaking that reflects the people, culture and history of the local area.
Looking for some more British slang inspiration? Check out our UK Slang guide to see our top picks!