Scots colloquialisms

**figheadair** · 29th December 10, 08:30 AM

Whisht - be quite (from the Gaelic Ist - hush)

Crabbit - cross, out of salts

Piece - sandwitch/snack

Play piece - playtime snack

Jilly Piece - Jam Sandwitch

Back of (as in time) - Back of 11 - after 11 o'clock

Wazzack - idiot

Pinkie - little finger

The list is fairly long added to which not only are there generic Scottish ones but there are a host of regional ones too:

In the Angus area you'll come across the mornins nicht - tomorrow night.

Local to me you'll still here the older generation say I'm fair bochk - I'm ill (from the Gaelic bochd) - poor.

**Burly Brute** · 29th December 10, 09:09 AM

Originally Posted by figheadair

Whisht - be quite (from the Gaelic Ist - hush)

Crabbit - cross, out of salts

Piece - sandwitch/snack

Play piece - playtime snack

Jilly Piece - Jam Sandwitch

Back of (as in time) - Back of 11 - after 11 o'clock

Wazzack - idiot

Pinkie - little finger

The list is fairly long added to which not only are there generic Scottish ones but there are a host of regional ones too:

In the Angus area you'll come across the mornins nicht - tomorrow night.

Local to me you'll still here the older generation say I'm fair bochk - I'm ill (from the Gaelic bochd) - poor.

Forgive me, but isn't "nicht" german? Or is that nacht? Ugh, I dont know why I try.

**kc8ufv** · 29th December 10, 12:05 PM

Originally Posted by Burly Brute

Forgive me, but isn't "nicht" german? Or is that nacht? Ugh, I dont know why I try.

"nacht" is German for night

**Burly Brute** · 29th December 10, 01:21 PM

Originally Posted by kc8ufv

"nacht" is German for night

guten nacht! Aye! Thanks

lol

I guess this wouldnt be a good choice for girl scouts, but isn't bullocks one?

**Graham A. Robieson** · 29th December 10, 01:47 PM

Greetings,

Its a braw bricht moonlicht nicht, th' nicht = It's a grand/beautiful bright moonlight night tonight.

naw/nae bad and yersel = no/not bad and how is yourself.

Aw right! = alright/all is ok/ok/I basically understand what your saying I'm just not interested. (If you are talking and someone keeps saying Aw Right! they are hearing you just not listening LOL) also can mean: are you ok! e.g. (ME) Hi James, Aw right! - (JAMES) Ay' nae bad and yersel? - (ME) Aw right!

Ay' = yes

There is alot more, but my "Scots Dictionary" is in a cupboard somewhere.

All the best,

Graham

**Manitoban Keith** · 4th January 11, 09:18 PM

a few that come to mind

aboon = above
braw = pretty
chiel = child
cowpin' = falling
jaloused = guessed
tulzie = tussle/skirmish

**PEEDYC** · 5th January 11, 05:26 AM

The rabble have come up with a mixture of local pronunciations as well as few Scottish words. You may need to distinguish between the two. In Glasgow there are many different dialects depending on where one lived and in some cases what school you went to.

If you can find any of Stanley Baxter's Parliamo Glasgow shows on the net you will see what I mean. He made a series of shows taking the mickey out of Glesga speak. (English as spoken in Glasgow) Phrases such as "Erra perra ...... o'er err on ra flare" Translated as- There is a pair of .... over there on the floor. Sayings such as "Goin doon ra waater" Going down the water means a boat trip on the River Clyde. Many comedians also made fun of some of the phrases in common use such as what became known as the Common Giraffe. "Cum on get aff" Meaning:- Hurry up and get off (the bus)

I could go on but I am sure you get the drift ...... Good luck with your presentation

**Tobus** · 5th January 11, 07:19 AM

I'll not claim to be an authority on the Scots language, but if you really want to get familiar with Scots colloquialisms, in a more historic/older context anyway, read some of Sir Walter Scott's novels. When I first started reading them, I had a hard time with all the Scots words. But now, after reading only 4 of his books, I can breeze right through it and know exactly what they're saying.

Some of the e-books have a glossary in the back, which is helpful!

For example, here is the html version of Sir Walter Scott's Guy Mannering: or, the Astrologer. Scroll almost to the end and there's a glossary of Scots terms found in the book. If you don't want to read the whole book, just do a text search for some of those words to find them in the document and see them in context.

Again, this usage of words dates back 200 years, but it would be a great source for a fun presentation to girl scouts who know nothing of the language.

**ohiopiper** · 5th January 11, 09:42 AM

Thanks for all the tips, including about reading Sir Walter Scott.

My presentation will be complete and ready for delivery very soon. I'll post the contents of it here for you to read. After all, you had a hand in it!

**Jock Scot** · 5th January 11, 10:03 AM

Sorry a bit late for this one. Ask the girls; "where do you stay?" and look for total confusion! It causes absolute confusion up here! I means "where do you live?" but most visitors say "oh we are staying at the Ulbster Arms" or wherever; instead of what is really being asked, "I come from London" for example. This conversation can go on for ages as the same question is asked time and time again as the visitor tries to explain where his hotel is!