General
canny
What does canny mean?
In the northeast (Geordie), nice, pleasant, or good.
"He's a canny lad, you'll like him."
Origin
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.
Frequently asked questions
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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