In Eastern central Scotland where I was born and still live, I grew up speaking two languages: English and Scots. Now some folk don’t see Scots as a language but more of a dialect. But it’s a language in my book, and has it’s own words, phrases and history. It’s still commonly spoken in the lowlands, and in the north east they speak a version called Doric. It’s also spoken in parts of Ulster.
My Dad didn’t like me speaking Scots and often corrected my speech by making me say things in English and pronounced in English than with an oary Scottish tongue. He thought Scots was common and ugly. I think it’s part of our rich cultural heritage and we should take pride in it.
So just thought I would share some Scots words and phrases with you 🙂
A’bodie/aw’body: everyone
Baith: Both
Baffies: Slippers
Blether: talk nonsense
Bra/Braw: Great, brilliant.
Cauld/Cald: cold
Clout: to hit, slap or strike
Canny: Gentle
Dreich: dull, grey, gloomy (usually in reference to the weather)
Faither: Father
Fleg: Frighten
Flit: to move (house)
Glaikit: Stupid
Greet/Greit: to cry
Haivers: nonsense
Hen: Term of endearment for a woman
Ken: know
Lum: Chimney
Mither: Mother
Mind/Mynd: remember
Nicht: Night
Peelie-Wallie: pale
Radge: mad, angry, rage
Scunner: disklike, disgust
Snaw: Snow
Teckle: good, great
Thon: Those
Hud Yer Wheesht: be quiet!
Whit’s fur ye’ll no go by ye!: What’s meant to happen will happen.
Ma heid’s mince: My head’s a bit mixed up.
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Thanks for reading! 🙂
Hag o' The Hills 