These Scots words, phrases, and grammatical features can be enlarged, printed, and placed in
windows or other locations round the school. Learners can work in threes to find and record as
many as possible.
Learners can use the Concise Scots Dictionary, the online Dictionary of the Scots Language
(http://www.dsl.ac.uk/) or the following vocabulary sheets to find definitions. (Words generally
need to be heard or said at least seven times before they will enter the learners’ vocabulary.)
Pronouns (short words that replace Pronouns (short words that replace
nouns) in Scots nouns) in English
it it
ma my
yon that
wha who
whit what, which
oor, wir our
ye, youse (pl) you
Exclamations/ Greetings
Ach away! exclamation of surprise
Hoo’s it gaun? How are you?
No sae bad! Not bad at all!
2. Scots
of or relating to or characteristic of Scotland or its
people or culture or its English dialect or Gaelic
language
3. Scotland
one of the four countries that make up the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland;
located on the northern part of the island of Great
Britain; famous for bagpipes and plaids and kilts
4. haggis
made of sheep's or calf's viscera minced with oatmeal
and suet and onions and boiled in the animal's
stomach
5. glen
a narrow secluded valley (in the mountains)
7. hame
stable gear consisting of either of two curved supports
that are attached to the collar of a draft horse and
that hold the traces
8. Loch Ness
a lake in the Scottish highlands
9. highland
elevated (e.g., mountainous) land
10. beer
an alcoholic beverage made by fermenting a cereal
with hops
11. whiskey
a liquor made from fermented mash of grain
12. sheep
13. staunch
firm and dependable especially in loyalty
14. hark
listen; used mostly in the imperative
15. Glasgow
largest city in Scotland
16. Celtic
relating to or characteristic of the Celts
17. maiden
an unmarried girl (especially a virgin)
18. gallant
having or displaying great dignity or nobility
19. endeavour
20. endurance
a state of surviving; remaining alive
21. thistle
any of numerous plants of the family Compositae and
especially of the genera Carduus and Cirsium and
Onopordum having prickly-edged leaves
22. Hogmanay
New Year's Eve in Scotland
23. golf
a game played on a large open course with 9 or 18
holes
24. bagpipe
a tubular wind instrument
25. wee
a short time
27. bairn
a child: son or daughter
28. bonnie
very pleasing to the eye
29. dour
showing a brooding ill humor
30. galoot
a foolish or clumsy person
Get tae
Get tae translates as ‘get to [insert f-word here]’ but some may just simply utter ‘get
tae’ and the point will still be quite clear. This is a popular Scots saying that can be
used when a person is irritated and would like the other person to leave. Additionally,
it can also be used in a sarcastic manner if the person in question can hardly believe
their eyes.
It is no lie that Scotland can experience all four weather seasons in one day. For the
days that are drab and grey, dreich is a braw word.
Blether is a grand Scottish word that simply means to chat away. The act of talking,
speaking, and gossiping would all be considered blethering.
Shan
Shan means unfair. If someone were to cut in front of the queue or a bacon roll only
had half a piece of bacon inside, then it would be fair to describe the scenario as
being ‘well shan.’
Radge
The word radge is used appropriately when referring to someone who is a tad
rambunctious or loopy. For instance, ‘he’s a radge’ would suggest that he is as mad
as a hatter. Similarly, ‘that’s well radge’ is used if something is utterly crazy or even
unfair.
‘Haud yer wheesht’ means to ‘be quiet’ or ‘shut up’. It is good to haud yer wheesht
when seeing a play, in court, or in any other scenario that calls for the sweet sound of
silence.
Braw
Braw is a classic Scottish slang word. Oor Wullie, in the iconic Scots comic strip,
frequently uses this word. It means brilliant, great, fantastic, and all things nice.
Someone may have braw banter or the view may be braw.
Ah, tidy. The Scots love this word. Tidy means beautiful, stunning, delicious, fantastic,
outstanding, lovely, pretty, bonnie – the list goes on and on. This word can be used
when referring to good food: ‘that’s well tidy scran’ or a beautiful woman: ‘that lass is
pure tidy’.
Scran
Scran is a popular Scottish word for food. If food taste delicious, then some may
describe it as ‘well tidy scran’.
Balloon
If someone is testing your patience with words that hold no meaning, then that
person may be a balloon. This implies that the person in question is ‘full of air’ and
has thoughts of no real substance.
Peely-wally
If someone is looking a wee bit peely-wally, then it may be a good plan to visit the
doctor. The word peely-wally means pale and can be used if someone doesn’t have
much of a tan or if they look as white as a sheet and are not feeling 100%.
Chore
If a person were to chore your stuff, then this would be bad news. To chore
something means to steal, nick, or nab anything that belongs to someone else.
Chum
Messages
Messages in Scotland are not necessarily cryptic words of wisdom hidden in a bottle.
Instead, messages are supermarket or grocery items. ‘Will you chum me to get the
messages?’ means ‘will you accompany me to the supermarket to grab some food?’.
Bucket
In England, the word rubbish or bin is used to describe the device where you dispose
of unwanted waste and recyclable items. The Scots favour the word bucket for such
a contraption.
Fizzy juice
A fizzy drink or fizzy juice is a carbonated drink that Americans refer to as a soda.
Aye right
‘Aye right’ is a great phrase and is used when expressing feelings of sheer disbelief.
It suggests that the person or matter in question may not be entirely accurate or
believable.
It is not ideal to have a heid full o’ mince, as it implies that the words that come out of
a person’s mouth are, quite frankly, nonsensical.
Reeking
If a person is totally reeking, then they are generally in a state of extreme intoxication
due to an excessive amount of alcohol.
Skite
To go ‘out on the skite’ means to go on a night out filled with fun festivities at clubs,
pubs, bars, or parties. Many people are reeking after a night oot on the skite.
Those who can be seen ‘tearin’ the tartan’ are engrossed in riveting conversation. In
other words, they are having a right old blether.
Munter
The word munter does not have the most endearing of meanings. It is used to refer
to a person who may not exude the socially constructed definition of beauty.
Skedaddle aff
A chancer is a person who takes risks and is typically a wee bit cheeky; they may not
be too trustworthy. For instance, ‘watch out for that one, yon’s a right chancer’.
Bampot
The word bampot can be applied to someone who doesn’t necessarily make the
wisest of choices in life. Bampots tend to be unstable in nature and are not always
the most likable of folk. However, it should be noted that some bampots can be rather
amusing.
There is a lot of truth in the saying ‘mony a mickle maks a muckle’, which means that,
at the end of the day, small amounts of money add up and eventually lead to a pretty
penny.
Rank
Spraff
Ah, beware of those who like to spraff. If someone is spraffing across town, then they
are gossiping a load of rubbish to people left, right, and centre.
Pie
In Scotland, the word pie does not necessarily mean a delicious type of food. If a
person ‘pies you’, they ignore you and your chat. Pie-ing someone is pretty shan.
Pure barry
Auld - Old
Aye - Yes
Bahoochie - Bottom/Backside/Butt
Backgreen - garden or back yard
Bairn - Baby or Young Child
Blether - Chatter-box
Boke - Gag or Vomit
Bonnie - Beautiful
Braw - Good or Nice
Burn - Stream or Creek
Canny - Careful, or sometimes Clever
Chancer - Con-man, Trickster
Clarty - Dirty or Unkempt
Clatty - another word for dirty
Clipe - This means to 'tell on' someone, or 'snitch'
Chitter - Shiver
Crabbit - Bad-tempered or Grumpy
Dae - (pronounced 'day') Do