Understand Scottish Slang
Many visitors to Scotland are confused and intimidated by the unique Scottish slang words — not to be confused with the Scots dialect, a language in its own right. To make things even more confusing, each town has their own variations on common words, such as "bairn" in Fife or "wean" in Glasgow. (Both mean "small child.") Whether you're traveling to Scotland or just curious about some unique regional color, learning Scottish slang will likely bring a smile to your face.
Steps
- Learn the basics:
- Aye - Yes
- Nah, Nae, Naw - No
- Alright?, Awright? - How are you?/Hello
- Nowt, Nuttin, HEEHAW - Nothing
- Learn some phrases:
- Fit ye on the day? - What are you up to today?
- Craic the day? Hows it gaan? Fits the craic? - What are you doing today?
- Learn some slang:
- NED - Slang for a youth with problems/chav (Non-educated delinquent)normally an outspoken cheeky teenager also referred to as hoodies
- Sound, eh - Great
- Slaters - Wood Lice
- Braw, fandabbydosy, brulliant, it's a belter - Great (or pretty)
- Say some more stuff:
- Ye ken, no whit ah mean - You know, do you know what I mean
- A cannie mind, ma heids away - I can't remember/think
- Dinnae - Don't
- Wit, Eh? - What
- Bairn, rugrat, wean- Baby
- Mankit, manky, reekin, mokkit, clatty - Dirty
- craw - Crow (can also be used offensively, ie - look at that craw = look at that rough person)
- stotter - someone who looks in a state normally used to refer to a drunkard who is wandering aimlessly about and stoating.
- sassenach - A specific offensive word used against the English, or used to anyone not agreeing with your point of view not normally used towards english as stating they are english is normally offensive enough for Scots.
- Coo, dug - cow, dog
- baw - ball
- eejit - Someone who is an idiot
- the brew, the dole - unemployment office
- dreekit, ringing - soaking wet
- aw ya Bawbag - you're a dick, actually translates as Excuse me, you scrotum ! However this can also be said to a friend, meaning I have not seen you in a long time how are you doing?
- in ma hoose/ma bit/ma gaff - in my house or flat (apartment)
- gimme ma haunbag, gies the hingie, gies the didgerydoodah - pass my bag, give me that thing, give me the.......
- yir aff yir heid - you are off your head meaning you are insane, not understanding or just plain stupid.
- gies yir patter, or gies yir banter - let me hear you say things in a local dialect that I can find amusing.
- heid bummer- person in charge
- get up yon close - go up the stairs
- gutties, snibs, reekers, trannys, paki 2 bobs - meaning training shoes or plimsole
- wheres yir wallies - where are your false teeth
- its baltic, brass monkeys, blue balls - it is very cold outside
- chibbed, dun in, a kickin, leathered, skudded, smacked good looking - you are about to be assaulted in a serious manner
- wheesht - please be quiet
- skelf - splinter (can be used to describe anything appearing rather thin and smaller than counterparts.
- yir a skelf - you are very thin
- awrighty troops, awright muckers - hello everybody (who are your friends)
- it's a belter, top quality, its smashin - it is very good
- am goin a donner - I am going for a walk
- blether, natter - having a chat
- get a grip, get a haud o yirsel - Calm down and amend the way you are thinking
- you fancy a cuppa - would you like to go and get a cup of tea/coffee
- wits oan the box - what is on the television
- gies a break - please leave me alone
- ah want a bag of crisps - I would like a bag of potato chips/slices
- am goin for a chippie - I am going to the fish and chip shop
- chips - like french fries but thicker and greasier (throughout the UK, not just Scottish)
- sweets - general British term for what the US calls candy
- bevvy, cairy oot, take away, offies, - having an alcoholic beverage
- roon ma bit, ma gaff, - around the area where I live
- an empty - an unexpected absence of parents where teenagers are left unattended and throw a party
- a kipper - two faced and gutless person or a smoked haddock
- yir nabbed - you have been caught
- getting jumped - meaning you will be attacked later, or have a sexual encounter.
- Elvis impersonator - drunken man found at 3.00am outside every dance hall in Glasgow millions have seen them
- poaching - stealing animals or fish illegally... or cooking eggs
- nicking, nabbing, lucky dip - stealing
- blues and twos, checkers, bizzies, pigs, polis, scum, grunters, I smell bacon, paddy wagon, meat wagon, black maria (dated) - police and their vehicles
- windae licker - meaning a person who is very special and requires alternative transport rather than mainstream
- crack me up - meaning to laugh a lot or drive insane
- it's a riot, rammy, randan, dogs bollocks, bees knees, top banana, off the chain - highly infectious fun
- bampot, eidgit, twat, feckwit, divvy, heidbanger, heidcase - all meaning idiot of the highest level
- dinked - meaning to be hit with a glass bottle over the head
- tealeaf - meaning thief, burglar
- five finger discount - stealing
- ony, onywhere, onyway - meaning any, anywhere, anyway
- whit the **** - meaning : What is happening? Why is this not working? What is going on? You cannot be serious?
Tips
- Swearing is also a big part of everyday language and is often not seen as offensive depending on topic and usage.
- In Scotland what appears to be an insult can in fact just be friends exchanging greeting, for example: "Awright ya wee bawbag?" means "how are you doing my friend?" However drop the "awright" aspect and say "Haw you, ya bawbag" would mean "Excuse me you I dislike you."
- A good way to get a taste of Scotland is to go to you tube. Type in phrases such as Glasgow Fireworks, Glasgow Midget (please look for the racial definition of the one involved) will give you an idea of the humour. Also putting in Rab C Nesbit and Still Game will give you a whole episodes and several series' of West coast and Glasgow based themes and general spoken language by the areas in the shows
- Watch Scottish TV shows.
- If possible, get in touch with a Scottish friend or someone you know who is Scottish. Listen to their words and phrases and try and pick up on them.
