adjective
General Slang
Canny
/ˈkani/ · adjective · informal
Geordie/Scottish for nice, good, or — as an adverb — 'quite' / 'fairly'.
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Definitions
1
In the northeast (Geordie), nice, pleasant, or good.
“He's a canny lad, you'll like him.”
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2
In Scots, shrewd, careful, or wise — the more traditional sense.
“She's a canny one with money, never wastes a penny.”
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3
As an intensifier meaning 'quite' or 'fairly'.
“It's canny cold out there, wrap up.”
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Canny In A Sentence
Had a canny night out, nowt mad.
That's a canny good price for them boots.
Be canny on them roads, it's icy.
Origin & Usage
From 'can' (to know how), originally Scots for shrewd or prudent. In Tyneside it shifted to mean 'nice' and 'quite', which is now its most famous Geordie use.
People Also Ask
What does 'canny' mean in Geordie?
It means nice or good — 'a canny lad' is a nice bloke — and as an adverb it means 'quite', like 'canny cold'.
Does 'canny' mean clever?
In the traditional Scots sense yes, it means shrewd or careful with things. In Newcastle it's drifted to mean 'nice'.
What does 'canny good' mean?
It's a Geordie way of saying 'quite good' or 'really good'.
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