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Ginnel
01
a narrow passage or alleyway between buildings, often pedestrian-only
Dialect
British
Grammatical Information
Animacy status
Inanimate
Composition
Simple
Countable
Plural form
ginnels
What does "ginnel" mean in British dialectal slang?
It is used in British English, particularly in Northern England (especially Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Manchester), to mean a narrow passage or alleyway between buildings, often pedestrian only, similar to "snicket" (Yorkshire) or "jitty" (East Midlands). People typically say "Cut through the ginnel to get there faster" or "The ginnel behind the shops is dark at night." The term originated in Northern English dialect, and remains a strong regional marker, with different words for alleyways across the UK (e.g., "twitten" in Sussex, "close" in Scotland).
Examples
We cut through the ginnel to get to the park.



























