What does verra mean?
Verra is an informal British variant of the intensifier “very.” It is used particularly in regional and conversational English to express a strong degree of a quality: someone might describe a meal as “verra good,” a performance as “verra impressive,” or say that something happened “verra quickly.” The word is closely related to the standard form “very” and carries much the same intensifying meaning, but its pronunciation and spelling give it a more distinctive, folksy character. It is unusual in formal writing and may sound deliberately colloquial or exaggerated in contexts where neutral standard English is expected. Verra can add warmth to friendly speech, although speakers may also use it comedically to emphasize a dialectal voice. For most formal purposes, “very” is the appropriate equivalent.
adverbAn informal variant of “very,” used as an intensifier.
- An informal, emphatic variant of “very,” especially characteristic of British regional speech.
"That was verra kind of you."
"We had to wait verra patiently for the bus."
"It was verra cold outside, but the children still wanted to play."
Verra gives the familiar intensifier “very” a warmer, folksier, and distinctly informal voice.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of verra
Verra is a regional and colloquial variant of “very.” The standard form “very” entered Middle English through Old French from Latin verus, meaning “true,” and developed from an emphasis on truth into a general intensifier. Latin verus also underlies related English words such as “true,” “veracity,” and “verily.”
How verra is actually used
Chiefly used in informal British English and generally perceived as nonstandard. Depending on the speaker and delivery, it can sound friendly and emphatic, while its regional character may also make it humorous or exaggerated.
Easily confused with verra
“Very” is the standard modern English intensifier, whereas “verra” is a chiefly British informal and regional variant.