Most countries around the world have their own variety of slang words. In Scotland, it could be argued that we use our own slang a lot more than we use proper English dialect, which is why we’ve created this Scottish slang glossary
Auld
Meaning: Old
Example: ‘Yer getting auld noo’
Translation: ‘You are getting old now’
Bairn
Meaning: Baby
Example: ‘Aw, look et the wee bairn’
Translation: ‘Aw, look at the little baby’
Coupon
Meaning: Face
Example: ‘Wit’s rang wae yer coupon?’
Translations: ‘What is wrong with your face?’ (Usually used when asking someone why they are in a bad mood)
Drookit
Meaning: Extremely wet/soaked
Example: ‘Take that drookit jaikit aff’
Translation: ‘Take that soaked jacket off’
Eejit
Meaning: Idiot
Example: ‘Wit an eejit’
Translation: ‘What an idiot’
Feart
Meaning: Scared
Example: ‘I wis awfa feart!’
Translation: ‘I was very scared!’
Glaikit
Meaning: Stupid/thoughtless
Example: ‘Don’t be so glaikit’
Translation: ‘Don’t be so stupid’
Hoachin
Meaning: Very busy
Example: ‘The shopping centre was absolutely hoachin the day’
Translation: ‘The shopping centre was very busy today’
Isnae
Meaning: Isn’t
Example: ‘That isnae right’
Translation: ‘That isn’t right’
Jaikit
Meaning: Jacket
Example: ‘Pit yer jaikit oan’
Translation: ‘Put your jacket on’
Ken
Meaning: To know
Example: ‘Dae you ken wit a mean?’
Translation: ‘Do you know what I mean?’
Loupin
Meaning: Very sore
Example: ‘My heid is absolutely loupin!’
Translation: ‘My head is very sore’
Mawkit
Meaning: Verydirty
Example: ‘Yer troosers are mawkit’
Translation: ‘Your trousers are very dirty’
Neep
Meaning: Turnip
Example: ‘Am huvin haggis, neeps n tattie for ma tea’
Translation: I’m having haggis, turnip and potato for my dinner’
Oot
Meaning: Out
Example: ‘Am gawn oot the night’
Translation: ‘I’m going out tonight’
Peely Wally
Meaning: Pale
Example: ‘Yer face is looking quite peely wally’
Translation: ‘You face is looking quite pale’
Quine
Meaning: A young woman
Example: ‘She’s a braw lookin’ quine’
Translation: ‘She’s a good-looking young woman’
Rubbered
Meaning: Very drunk
Example: ‘We’re gawn oot to get rubbered the night’
Translation: ‘We’re going out to get very drunk tonight’
Sleekit
Meaning: Sly/untrustworthy
Example: ‘There’s something sleekit aboot him’
Translation: ‘There’s something untrustworthy about him’
Toon
Meaning: Town
Example: ‘We’re gawn into toon for some shopping’
Translation: ‘We’re going into town for some shopping’
Wheesht
Meaning: Quiet
Example: ‘Haud yer wheesht!’
Translation: ‘Be quiet!’
Yaldi
Meaning: Excitement or joy
Example: ‘It’s Friday, yaldi!’
Translation: ‘It’s Friday, yay!’
Scottish sayings to remember
Visiting Scotland? You might want to remember some of these popular Scottish slang phrases.
‘Pure dead brilliant’ – Very good
‘Yer budgies deed’ – Your trousers are too short
‘Gonnae no dae that’ – Don’t do that
‘Yer aff yer heid!’ – You’re crazy!
‘Where dae ye cum fae?’ – Where do you come from?
‘Whit’s fur ye’ll no go past ye’ – What’s for you won’t go by you (If it’s meant to be, it’ll happen)
‘That’s geein me the boak’ – That is making me feel sick
