Scottish slang adds a distinctive and lively flavor to the English language. It can vary widely across regions in Scotland. Here are some examples of Scottish slang along with their meanings and usage:
- Braw
- Meaning: Excellent or great.
- Usage: “That’s a braw view from the top of the hill.”
- Wee
- Meaning: Small or little.
- Usage: “I’ll have a wee cup of tea, please.”
- Dinnae
- Meaning: Do not or don’t.
- Usage: “Dinnae be late for the bus.”
- Ken
- Meaning: Know or understand.
- Usage: “I didn’t ken what he was talking about.”
- Gie
- Meaning: Give.
- Usage: “Gie us a hand with this, would ye?”
- Minging
- Meaning: Disgusting or unpleasant.
- Usage: “The public toilets were absolutely minging.”
- Auld
- Meaning: Old.
- Usage: “That’s an auld book from my gran’s collection.”
- Nae bother
- Meaning: No problem or you’re welcome.
- Usage: “Thanks for helping. Nae bother.”
- Och aye
- Meaning: Oh yes or of course.
- Usage: “Och aye, I’ll come along to the party.”
- Yer bum’s oot the windae
- Meaning: You’re talking nonsense or exaggerating.
- Usage: “Telling me you caught a fish that big? Yer bum’s oot the windae!”
- Peely-wally
- Meaning: Pale or sickly-looking.
- Usage: “She’s looking a bit peely-wally; maybe she’s unwell.”
- Tattie
- Meaning: Potato.
- Usage: “We’re having tattie soup for dinner.”
- Glaikit
- Meaning: Stupid or clueless.
- Usage: “Don’t look so glaikit; you know what’s going on.”
- Blether
- Meaning: Chat or gossip.
- Usage: “Having a wee blether over a cuppa.”
- Numpty
- Meaning: Fool or idiot.
- Usage: “Stop acting like a numpty.”
- Chuffed
- Meaning: Pleased or delighted.
- Usage: “I’m chuffed to bits with my exam results.”
- Bampot
- Meaning: Foolish or crazy person.
- Usage: “He’s a right bampot if he thinks that’ll work.”
- Drookit
- Meaning: Soaked or drenched.
- Usage: “Caught in the rain, and now I’m absolutely drookit.”
- Scran
- Meaning: Food or a meal.
- Usage: “Let’s grab some scran at the pub.”
- Greetin’
- Meaning: Crying or weeping.
- Usage: “He’s been greetin’ since he lost his wallet.”
- Scooby
- Meaning: Clue or idea, often short for “Scooby Doo” (rhyming slang).
- Usage: “I haven’t got a scooby what’s going on.”
- Dook
- Meaning: Dip or swim.
- Usage: “Fancy a dook in the river?”
- Gallus
- Meaning: Bold or daring.
- Usage: “He’s a gallus lad; always up for an adventure.”
- Bide
- Meaning: Stay or live.
- Usage: “I bide in Glasgow.”
- Hoachin’
- Meaning: Full or crowded.
- Usage: “The place was hoachin’ with people.”
- Minted
- Meaning: Rich or wealthy.
- Usage: “He drives a fancy car; he must be minted.”
- Messages
- Meaning: Groceries or shopping.
- Usage: “I’m off to get the messages from the shops.”
- Greet
- Meaning: Cry or weep.
- Usage: “Don’t greet over spilled milk.”
- Manky
- Meaning: Dirty or filthy.
- Usage: “That kitchen is manky; needs a good clean.”
- Wheesht
- Meaning: Be quiet or hush.
- Usage: “Wheesht, the movie’s starting.”
- Piece
- Meaning: A packed lunch or sandwich.
- Usage: “I brought a piece to eat during the trip.”
- Dreich
- Meaning: Gloomy or dull weather.
- Usage: “It’s a dreich day; better stay indoors.”
- Taps Aff
- Meaning: Shirt off, usually in warm weather.
- Usage: “It’s so hot; time to go taps aff!”
- Gallivantin’
- Meaning: Roaming around or traveling for fun.
- Usage: “She’s off gallivantin’ around Europe.”
- Duff
- Meaning: Useless or of poor quality.
- Usage: “That excuse is pure duff; no one believes it.”
- Jobby
- Meaning: A light-hearted term for a job or task.
- Usage: “I’ve got a wee jobby to do later.”
- Cludgie
- Meaning: Toilet or bathroom.
- Usage: “Excuse me, where’s the cludgie?”
- Nippy
- Meaning: Cold or chilly.
- Usage: “It’s a bit nippy out there; grab a jacket.”
- Mingin’
- Meaning: Disgusting or repulsive.
- Usage: “That smell is absolutely mingin’.”
- Tin Pot
- Meaning: Of little importance or quality.
- Usage: “That’s a tin pot operation; not worth our time.”
- Bletherin’
- Meaning: Talking or chatting.
- Usage: “They’re always bletherin’ in the corner.”
- Patter
- Meaning: Banter or conversation.
- Usage: “He’s got good patter; always makes me laugh.”
- Baffies
- Meaning: Slippers or comfortable indoor shoes.
- Usage: “Time to put on the baffies and relax.”
- Diddy
- Meaning: Small or insignificant.
- Usage: “It’s just a diddy little town.”
- Gubbed
- Meaning: Defeated or beaten decisively.
- Usage: “Our team got gubbed in the match.”
- Haver
- Meaning: Talk nonsense or babble.
- Usage: “Stop havering and get to the point.”
- Stookie
- Meaning: Plaster cast for a broken limb.
- Usage: “He’s got a stookie on his arm after the accident.”
- Skelp
- Meaning: A slap or hit.
- Usage: “Behave or you’ll get a skelp!”
- Drooth
- Meaning: Thirst or dehydration.
- Usage: “After the walk, I’ve got a serious drooth.”
- Radge
- Meaning: Crazy or wild.
- Usage: “The party got a bit radge towards the end.”
Remember that Scottish slang can vary regionally, and some terms may be more commonly used in specific areas. Additionally, pronunciation can greatly influence the understanding of these terms.