Cockney is a distinctive dialect traditionally associated with working-class Londoners, particularly those from the East End. It is characterized by its unique pronunciation, rhyming slang, and specific vocabulary. For example, a Cockney speaker might say "apples and pears" to mean "stairs." This playful use of language reflects the cultural identity of the Cockney community. The Cockney accent features notable phonetic traits, such as dropping the "h" sound at the beginning of words and replacing the "th" sound with an "f" or "v." Over the years, Cockney has influenced and been influenced by other dialects and cultures, contributing to the rich tapestry of British English.