You’ve watched Outlander. You’ve seen Trainspotting. Perhaps you’ve even attempted to understand a Glasgow taxi driver at 2 AM. If so, you already know that Scottish English isn’t just English with a charming accent – it’s practically a different language.
Scotland has its own linguistic traditions stretching back centuries, blending English with Scots (a Germanic language related to English) and, in the Highlands and Islands, Gaelic influences. The result is a vocabulary that can leave American visitors feeling like they’ve wandered into a foreign country, which, technically, they have.
Here’s your comprehensive guide to Scottish slang that will leave you less bewildered north of the border.
Essential Everyday Words
Aye
Pronunciation: “Eye”
Meaning: Yes. The most Scottish word there is.
Example: “Aye, I’ll have another whisky.”
Nae / Naw
Pronunciation: “Nay” / “Naw”
Meaning: No. Often combined with other words: “nae bother” (no problem), “nae worries.”
Example: “Nae chance I’m going out in that rain.”
Ken
Pronunciation: “Ken”
Meaning: Know. Particularly common in the East of Scotland and Edinburgh.
Example: “D’ye ken what I mean?”
Dinnae / Didnae
Pronunciation: “Din-nay” / “Did-nay”
Meaning: Don’t / Didn’t
Example: “I dinnae understand what he’s saying.”
Cannae
Pronunciation: “Can-nay”
Meaning: Can’t
Example: “I cannae believe it!”
Wee
Pronunciation: “Wee”
Meaning: Small, little. Used constantly in Scotland for everything, including things that aren’t remotely small.
Example: “Would you like a wee dram?” (This could be a substantial glass of whisky)
Braw
Pronunciation: “Braw” (rhymes with “saw”)
Meaning: Fine, good, excellent
Example: “It’s a braw day today!”
Bonnie
Pronunciation: “Bon-ee”
Meaning: Beautiful, pretty. Made famous by the song “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean.”
Example: “She’s a bonnie lass.”
Words for People
Lad / Lass
Meaning: Boy/man / Girl/woman
Example: “He’s a good lad” or “She’s a lovely lass.”
Bairn
Pronunciation: “Bairn” (rhymes with “cairn”)
Meaning: Child, baby
Example: “How old is your wee bairn now?”
Auld Yin
Pronunciation: “Old Yin”
Meaning: Old person, or affectionately, one’s father or mother
Example: “My auld yin used to tell me stories about the war.”
Numpty
Pronunciation: “Nump-tee”
Meaning: A foolish or stupid person. This term has spread throughout the UK but is definitively Scottish in origin.
Example: “Don’t be such a numpty!”
Dobber
Pronunciation: “Dob-ber”
Meaning: A fool, idiot. Slightly ruder than numpty.
Example: “That dobber cut me off in traffic.”
Bampot
Pronunciation: “Bam-pot”
Meaning: A crazy person, an idiot. Often used affectionately.
Example: “He’s an absolute bampot, but I love him.”
Eejit
Pronunciation: “Ee-jit”
Meaning: Idiot. Shared with Ireland and very commonly used.
Example: “What an eejit I’ve been!”
Ned
Pronunciation: “Ned”
Meaning: A young troublemaker, similar to “chav” in England. Supposedly stands for “Non-Educated Delinquent,” though this is likely a backronym.
Example: “The neds were causing trouble at the bus station again.”
Feelings and States of Being
Scunnered
Pronunciation: “Skun-nered”
Meaning: Fed up, annoyed, or disgusted
Example: “I’m absolutely scunnered with this weather.”
Gutted
Meaning: Very disappointed (used similarly to English but with particular Scottish enthusiasm)
Example: “I was gutted when Rangers lost.”
Chuffed
Meaning: Pleased, delighted
Example: “She was dead chuffed with her exam results.”
Drookit
Pronunciation: “Droo-kit”
Meaning: Soaking wet, drenched
Example: “I got caught in the rain and now I’m drookit.”
Crabbit
Pronunciation: “Crab-bit”
Meaning: Grumpy, ill-tempered
Example: “Don’t talk to him in the morning, he’s always crabbit before his coffee.”
Puggled
Pronunciation: “Pug-gled”
Meaning: Exhausted, worn out
Example: “I’m completely puggled after that hike.”
Glaikit
Pronunciation: “Glay-kit”
Meaning: Stupid, foolish, or vacant-looking
Example: “Don’t just stand there looking glaikit!”
Actions and Activities
Haver
Pronunciation: “Hay-ver”
Meaning: To talk nonsense, to babble. Made internationally famous by The Proclaimers’ song “500 Miles” – “And I would haver five hundred more.”
Example: “Stop havering and get to the point.”
Blether
Pronunciation: “Bleth-er”
Meaning: To chat, to gossip, or the chat itself. Also a person who talks a lot.
Example: “We had a good blether over a cup of tea.”
Bolt
Meaning: Go away, leave quickly
Example: “Right, I’m going to bolt before it gets too late.”
Haud yer wheesht
Pronunciation: “Haud yer weesht”
Meaning: Be quiet, shut up
Example: “Haud yer wheesht, I’m trying to watch the telly!”
Gaun yersel
Pronunciation: “Gone yer-sel”
Meaning: Go on yourself – an exclamation of encouragement
Example: “Gaun yersel, you can do it!”
Swally
Pronunciation: “Swal-ee”
Meaning: An alcoholic drink, or to drink alcohol
Example: “Fancy a wee swally after work?”
Food and Drink Terms
Piece
Meaning: A sandwich
Example: “I’m just having a piece for lunch – cheese and pickle.”
Tablet
Meaning: A traditional Scottish sweet similar to fudge but harder and grainier. Dangerously delicious.
Neeps and Tatties
Meaning: Turnips (specifically swede/rutabaga) and potatoes. Traditional accompaniment to haggis.
Dram
Meaning: A glass of whisky (note: never “whiskey” in Scotland)
Example: “Will you have a wee dram?”
Boke
Pronunciation: “Bohk”
Meaning: To vomit, or something disgusting
Example: “That smell’s making me want to boke.”
Glasgow-Specific Slang
Glasgow has its own particularly colorful vocabulary that deserves special mention.
Pure
Meaning: Very, really (intensifier)
Example: “That was pure brilliant.”
Steamin’
Meaning: Very drunk
Example: “We got absolutely steamin’ on Friday night.”
Baltic
Meaning: Extremely cold
Example: “It’s absolutely baltic out there.”
Minted
Meaning: Wealthy, rich
Example: “They must be minted to afford that house.”
Stoater
Pronunciation: “Stow-ter”
Meaning: Something excellent, a beauty
Example: “That goal was an absolute stoater!”
Mad wae it
Meaning: Very drunk (Glasgow variation of steaming)
Example: “He was mad wae it by 10 PM.”
Phrases You’ll Hear
“Haste ye back”
Meaning: Hurry back, return soon. A traditional Scottish farewell.
“Lang may yer lum reek”
Meaning: “Long may your chimney smoke” – a traditional blessing wishing someone a long life with warmth and prosperity.
“Awa’ an bile yer heid”
Meaning: “Away and boil your head” – a dismissive phrase telling someone to go away.
“It’s a dreich day”
Meaning: It’s a gray, dreary, miserable day. “Dreich” (pronounced “dreech”) is a quintessentially Scottish word for the kind of damp, overcast weather Scotland specializes in.
“She’s away with the fairies”
Meaning: She’s not paying attention, she’s daydreaming.
Pronunciation Notes for Americans
Scottish English isn’t just different vocabulary – the pronunciation follows different rules too.
- The letter “r” is almost always pronounced, unlike in many English and American accents
- The “ch” in “loch” is a guttural sound (like clearing your throat) that doesn’t exist in standard American English. Please don’t say “lock”
- “Oo” sounds are often pronounced “ae” – so “good” becomes “guid”
- “Ou” sounds become “oo” – “house” becomes “hoose”
A Word of Warning
Scottish people can generally understand standard American English perfectly well, but they may choose not to modify their speech for visitors. This is not rudeness – it’s authenticity. The accent and vocabulary are sources of cultural pride.
If you’re struggling, honesty is the best policy. A polite “Sorry, I didn’t quite catch that” will usually result in a slower, clearer repetition. Most Scots are happy to explain their words and will likely enjoy teaching you a few choice phrases.
Just don’t attempt to mimic the accent. It never ends well.
Have you encountered Scottish slang that left you baffled? Share your stories and questions in the comments below!
