01
Aye
Agreement · Conversation
Yes; it can also signal agreement, recognition, or continuation.
A–Z Scottish dictionary
Browse every word and phrase
Search 59 source-checked entries across Scots, Scottish English, Doric, west-central speech, food, weather, family, and everyday conversation.
A
B
01
Braw
Praise · Everyday Scots
Fine, excellent, attractive, or especially pleasing.
02
Blether
Conversation · Social life
A long chat, or to talk at length; it can be friendly or mildly critical.
03
Bahookie
Body · Humour
The buttocks or backside.
04
Bairn
Family · People
A child.
05
Bonnie
Praise · Appearance
Pretty, attractive, pleasant, or fine.
06
Bampot
Insults · People
A foolish, erratic, or troublesome person.
07
Bide
Location · Everyday Scots
To stay, live, or remain in a place.
C
01
Coorie
Comfort · Weather
To snuggle, nestle, or shelter closely for warmth and comfort.
02
Cannae
Grammar · Negation
Cannot or can’t.
03
Clarty
Weather · Appearance
Dirty, muddy, sticky, or unpleasantly messy.
04
Chancer
People · Insults
Someone who pushes their luck or tries to gain an advantage through nerve or opportunism.
05
Crabbit
Emotion · Character
Bad-tempered, irritable, or grumpy.
D
F
G
01
Glaikit
Insults · Appearance
Foolish, vacant-looking, or lacking awareness.
02
Ginger
Food · Glasgow and west
Fizzy soft drink, especially in parts of west-central Scotland.
03
Greet
Emotion · Everyday Scots
To cry or weep.
04
Gallus
Character · Glasgow and west
Bold, confident, stylish, or cheekily self-assured.
05
Guddle
Problems · Action
A confused mess or muddle; to handle or search in a disorderly way.
H
01
Haud yer wheesht
Conversation · Commands
Hold your tongue; be quiet.
02
Howk
Action · Everyday Scots
To dig, pull out, or rummage for something.
K
L
M
N
01
Numpty
Insults · People
A foolish or incompetent person, usually as a mild or comic insult.
02
Naw
Agreement · Conversation
No.
03
Neeps
Food · Traditions
Turnips or swedes, especially when served as part of a meal.
04
Nae bother
Agreement · Politeness
No problem; it is fine or can be done.
O
P
01
Peely-wally
Appearance · Health descriptions
Pale, washed-out, or looking unwell.
02
Piece
Food · Everyday Scottish English
A sandwich or a slice of bread with a topping or filling.
03
Pure dead brilliant
Praise · Glasgow and west
Extremely good or excellent, especially in comic or emphatic west-central speech.
04
Patter
Conversation · Glasgow and west
A person’s chat, banter, or style of entertaining talk.
Q
01
Quine
People · Doric
A girl or young woman in north-east Scots and Doric.
R
01
Rammy
Conflict · Glasgow and west
A noisy fight, quarrel, or disorderly commotion.
S
01
Scunner
Emotion · Insults
Disgust or strong aversion; also someone or something that causes irritation or revulsion.
02
Stooshie
Conflict · Conversation
A fuss, disturbance, argument, or noisy commotion.
03
Shoogle
Movement · Everyday Scots
To shake, wobble, or move something back and forth.
04
Sleekit
Character · Insults
Sly, crafty, or quietly deceitful.
05
Scran
Food · Informal speech
Food or a meal.
06
Skelp
Action · Informal speech
A slap, smack, or sharp hit; to strike quickly.
07
Stookie
Health descriptions · Everyday Scottish English
A plaster cast worn around a broken limb.
08
Stramash
Conflict · Movement
A noisy disturbance, confused clash, or energetic commotion.
09
Sound
Praise · People
Good, reliable, agreeable, or kind.
T
01
Tattie
Food · Everyday Scots
A potato.
W
01
Wee
Size · Everyday Scots
Small or little; it can also soften a request or make a phrase sound familiar.
02
Wean
Family · Glasgow and west
A child, especially in west-central Scottish speech.
03
Wee yin
Family · Glasgow and west
A little one or young child; sometimes any smaller or younger person or thing.
04
Wheesht
Conversation · Commands
Be quiet, hush, or stop talking.