The Scots Glossar
Scots is a rich and vast language with countless inflections and meanings dependant on region, accent, tone, and intention. Tryin tae create a glossary wae a’ the wurds fir wan magazine felt a bit daft - so insteed, we’ve pit thegither wurds yae might hear oot n aboot Guvanhill tae help ye oan yer wiy in oor Scots Glossar
Illustrations by Stuart White
Tryin tae build a Scots Glossar is like tryin tae brigg Babylon back thegither, brick by brick… it’s neer impossible. The reason fir that is because there’s joost so many wurds, sayin’s, meanin’s n variations that it becomes impossible tae try n put them aw thegither without leavin any oot. So, in the spirit ae this magazine, the offered Glossar is a list ae wurds used in this issue tae make the Scots a wee bit mair accessible. Ye might hink some wurds ur wrang, or even made up, bit each n every wan comes fae the wurds we hear oot n aboot in oor neighbourhood n the scrievers who took part in oor writin group tae put this issue thegither.
Common verbs & actions
Dae/Daein/Dain - Do/Doing
Roll n square - Roll and square sausage
Hink/Hinkin - Think/ Thinking
Scrievin - Writing
Jamp/Jamped - Jump/Jumped
Troopin - Walking with intent
Bletherin/Blthering - Gabbing/Talking
Dander/Gander - To stroll/To look
Fecht - Fight (or a polite “f-word”)
Gie/Gied - Give/Gave
Selt - Sold
Dichted - To leave/Wipe something
Patch/Patched - To ignore or leave someone/something
Shoogle - Shake, wobble, move
Notable phrases & variations
“Rats arse” - To not care at all
“Flytin the steer” - To scold or cause a fuss/disturbance
“Yon” - Referring to something over there (“That one over there”)
Home, people & places
Dookit - Pigeon house
Ma/Maw/Mither - Mum/Mother
Hame - Home
Hoos/Hooses - House/Houses
Shoap - Shop
Kirkyard - Churchyard or graveyard
Gullet - Throat
Oor/Wurr - Our
Masel - Myself
Descriptions & weather
Dreich - Wet, grey, gloomy weather
Wee - Small
Peerie-weerie - tiny/Very small
Auld - Old
Gallus - Bold, cheeky, or confident
Bam - Foolish, obnoxious, or delinquent
Besom - A contemptible person (usually female)
Stooshie - An uproar or commotion
Patter - Good banter or talk
Jammy - Very lucky
Connectives & Prepositions
Yer budgies are died - Your trousers are short
Fae - From
Tae - To
Ae/O’ - Of
Inty /Intae - Into
Aboot- About
Oot - Out
Doon - Down
Aff - Off
Outwith - Outside of/Beyond
Thegither - Together
Thiday - Today
Enin - Anything
Negatives & Helpers
Cannae/Canny - Cannot
Isnae - Isn’t
Doesnae/Disnae - Does not
Wurnae/Werney - Were not
Wisnae - Was not
Hadny/Hudnae - Hadn’t
Noo - Now
Aye - Yes
Pronunciation & spelling notes
Fotie - Photo
Poyums - Poems
Wurds - Words
Wark - Work
Gless - Glass
Stoap - Stop
Hunner - One hundred
The publisher acknowledges receipt of the Scottish Government’s Scots Language Publication Grant towards this publication.
