Bab / Babby (noun / West Midlands & Northern Slang)
(Also heard as: Babs, Our bab, Babber)
Definition:
A pet name used across the Midlands and North for just about anyone. Partners, kids, mates, or even the person ringing up your milk at the corner shop.
Where It Comes From:
Comes from the old dialect word for a literal baby (“babby”). People in Birmingham and the Black Country kept saying it, and over time it just stuck as a general term of affection for adults too.
How People Actually Use It:
Second nature if you’re from around Brum or the Black Country. You hear it tacked onto hellos, goodbyes, and offers of a brew. It basically swaps in wherever someone down south might say “mate” or “love.”
Examples in the Wild:
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“Alright, bab? You want a cuppa?”
Translation: Hey, fancy a cup of tea?
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“Ta, bab, keep the change.”
Translation: Thanks, you can keep the coins.
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“Don’t fret, bab, it’ll all get sorted.”
Translation: Stop worrying, we’ll fix it.
Similar Slang: Duck, Love, Pet, Chuck, Hun
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