Gert lush
Gert lush is Bristol slang for "really lovely": "gert" means very or great, and "lush" means lovely or delicious. "That cake is gert lush" is about the highest praise a Bristolian can give.
In practice
"Gert" is an intensifier used before almost anything - "a gert big dog", "gert busy" - and comes from the same root as "great". "Lush" is used more widely in the West Country and Wales for anything pleasant, from food to weather to people. Together they have become a symbol of Bristol identity, appearing on café names, souvenirs, beer labels and murals around the city.
Why it matters to newcomers
You will hear these words within days of arriving, and they are always positive. Using "lush" yourself is easy; "gert lush" is better kept for when you are comfortable with the accent.
Related
- Bristolian - the dialect it comes from
- Bristol L - the sound that marks the accent
- Cheers drive - another everyday Bristol phrase
Sources: Wiktionary: gert lush; Wiktionary: lush.