What it means
A warm, friendly term of address in Birmingham, like love or darling but with a Brummie accent and a balti on the side. Used by shop workers, bus drivers, your nan, and basically anyone in the West Midlands being nice. You will hear alright bab, ta bab, and cheers bab several hundred times a day if you spend any time there.
Usage examples
"Pop that on the counter for me, bab, and I'll bag it up. You want a receipt or are we saving the planet today? Either way, ta."
"The lady at the Wetherspoons on Stephenson Street called me bab three times in ten minutes, served me a proper pint and a packet of cheese and onion crisps without breaking eye contact."
"Bab, you have left your umbrella by the till, said the cashier as I walked out into the drizzle, and the whole queue gave me that warm Brummie pat-on-the-back nod."
Where it comes from
Sits at the heart of Brummie speech as the affectionate short form of baby, used since well before the Industrial Revolution made Birmingham what it is today. Locals use it freely on strangers, neighbours and grandparents alike, and you cannot walk through the Bullring market without hearing it at least a dozen times an hour.
Other ways to say it
Editors of this term
Your vote counts
Is this real street talk or have we lost the plot? Cast your vote.