# Brits: what does "narky" (sp?) mean? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 29, 2014, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-what-does-narky-sp-mean/696915 "2014-08-29T23:27:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2014, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-what-does-narky-sp-mean/696915/1 "2014-08-29T23:27:21Z")
This might seem merely an excuse to cite [this pleasant short vid](http://youtu.be/OdPLuO1actk), but I can’t put my finger on the meaning, even in the context. I also can’t understand a single word–from the accent, not the vocabulary, which I can’t even tell–of the small talk in the beginning about some movie or other. ---
**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2014, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-what-does-narky-sp-mean/696915/2 "2014-08-29T23:30:45Z")
argumentative, combatant. ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2014, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-what-does-narky-sp-mean/696915/3 "2014-08-29T23:31:22Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > This might seem merely an excuse to cite [this pleasant short vid](http://youtu.be/OdPLuO1actk), but I can’t put my finger on the meaning, even in the context. > > I also can’t understand a single word–from the accent, not the vocabulary, which I can’t even tell–of the small talk in the beginning about some movie or other. Urban Dictionary [link](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=narky). adjective-- British term – easily annoyed; overly sensitive; quick to fly off the handle ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2014, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-what-does-narky-sp-mean/696915/4 "2014-08-30T00:48:17Z")
I’ve never heard of it. However, a Copper’s Nark is the policeman’s best friend. Actually, the last few governments have been encouraging people to shop their friends and neighbours quite heavily. Presumably as a government training scheme for entering this valued profession. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2014, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-what-does-narky-sp-mean/696915/5 "2014-08-30T07:21:49Z")
Like **Claverhouse** , I am familiar with “nark” (=_police informant_, similar to “grass”), but not “narky”. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2014, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-what-does-narky-sp-mean/696915/6 "2014-08-30T07:50:34Z")
In the beginning, they’re talking about Groot, from Guardians of the Galaxy. Thanks for the link, that whole thing was really funny. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2014, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-what-does-narky-sp-mean/696915/7 "2014-08-30T08:36:48Z")
“Brian, it’s not worth it.” ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2014, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-what-does-narky-sp-mean/696915/8 "2014-08-30T09:37:45Z")
If you’re narked at someone you’re a bit annoyed at them. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2014, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-what-does-narky-sp-mean/696915/9 "2014-08-30T09:41:58Z")
Even to my native English ear, that accent is hard to follow. Funny film though:) ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a8b319/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_wuzzy)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2014, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-what-does-narky-sp-mean/696915/10 "2014-08-30T12:08:16Z")
An s can be added to the beginning of the word. Snarky is the word I have heard more than narky. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2014, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-what-does-narky-sp-mean/696915/11 "2014-08-30T12:56:04Z")
My dictionary identifies “snark” and “nark” as verbs, but I only ever hear/read snark as being a noun (meaning sarky or biting repartée). ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-what-does-narky-sp-mean/696915/12 "2014-09-01T12:36:23Z")
> [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](#): > > An s can be added to the beginning of the word. Snarky is the word I have heard more than narky. Snarky means taking the piss. Narky means, as others have said, easily pissed off. No need to add an s. ---
**Author:** ![Oswald\_Bastable](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oswald_bastable/32/214_2.png) [@Oswald\_Bastable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oswald_Bastable)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-what-does-narky-sp-mean/696915/13 "2014-09-01T12:56:45Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > Snarky means taking the piss. Narky means, as others have said, easily pissed off. No need to add an s. Never be snarky to someone narky. Your life won’t be worth living. OB ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Imp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Imp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Imp)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2014, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brits-what-does-narky-sp-mean/696915/14 "2014-09-01T16:22:14Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > Even to my native English ear, that accent is hard to follow. Funny film though:) It sounds like one of the speakers has a mild speech impediment, but I agree, that’s hysterical 🙂