london.localmean.com/proper
proper
PROP-uh · /ˈprɒp.ə/
Local meaning
Really, completely, or genuinely; also correct or high quality.
It can intensify an adjective or mark something as authentic: “proper busy” or “a proper meal”.
Examples in context
- It was proper cold this morning.
- That’s a proper café.
How it is used
This use is common in London across generations.
Emphatic, approving, descriptive.
Everyday evaluation and intensity.
Broad informal use.
Do not label it as exclusively Cockney or MLE.
Spelling and scope
Widespread British informal speech.
Common search forms stay discoverable without claiming that every London community uses one spelling.
Common patterns
- proper good
- proper London
- a proper one
Read next
All words →Evidence and further reading
Sources support the definition, history, or usage layer. Local review remains welcome.
- Cambridge English DictionaryCambridge University Press
General British-English reference for wider informal terms.