Useful Scottish Slang Words & Phrases Such as Fit Like Min, Aye And Ya Bas
I have put together a wee list of useful Scottish slang words and phrases, which I feel will be of benefit to anybody that has got any Scottish friends or is planning on travelling to Scotland.
I have heard it said from a few different sources that when I’m in the company of or on the phone with another Scottish person we talk funny! Even though I was born only 500 or so miles from London, our accents and local slang words are almost like a foreign language in comparison to the so called Queens English.
I must admit when I’m in a shop, café or restaurant and the person serving is from Poland, India or Outer Mongolia I like to confuse them by using as much Scottish slang words as possible.
I personally only use a few Scottish slang in my normal vocabulary. I also have never talked broad Scots or with a really heavy Scottish accents, I come from Aberdeen, which is mostly more refined than many places in Scotland!
Useful Scottish Slang Words & Phrases
- Aberdonian – “someone from Aberdeen”
- Auld – “old” it is often used to refer to old people, such as “ye auld bastard”.
- Aye – this is one that I use on a regular basis, it means, “yes”. I have read somewhere that it also means, “always”. I’m born and bred Scottish and I have never once in my life used the word aye, to mean always.
- Bam – “uneducated delinquent”.
- Bairn – “little child”
- Blether – “is to have a long talk”.
- Bonnie – “beautiful”.
- Bide – “ where you live”, such as “ I bide in Kilburn”
- Cannae – “cant”, such as you cannae make it to the pub for pint, because your wife wont let you out.
- Deid – “dead”.
- Dyke – this one will confuse you all, it is a “wall”. Not an ugly lesbian that looks like a man.
- Fae – “from” such as in “faur you fae”, “I’m fae Aberdeen”.
- Faur – “where”.
- Fit like min – this phrase basically means, “how are you”.
- Hogmanay – “New Years Eve”.
- Havering – “to talk a load of rubbish or nonsense”
- Neap – has two meanings, firstly it is what we call a “turnip” or “swede”. As well as someone who is an “idiot”.
- Rammy, Is what seems to happen when the youths of London have had a couple of shandies, “a fight”.
- Quine – this one is used a fair bit back in certain parts of Aberdeen, it means “girl” or “lass” and not just young girls. I have even heard old strong Doric speakers use quine to refer to auld grannies.
- Wee – “small” or “little”
- Ya Bas – “you Bastard”
- Ye – “you” such as “Freedom Come All Ye”
I have tried to use in my list of words or phrases, ones that are more commonly used. I could have created a list with thousands of words, “but I hinae got a day min”.
I have also for obvious reason included some words from my part of Scotland, which will differ from words used in places like Glasgow or the Highlands.
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17 Responses to “Useful Scottish Slang Words & Phrases Such as Fit Like Min, Aye And Ya Bas”
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Hi, I’ve heard that “ken” means “know”. Is that right?
It is right, “ken” is often used by some people back home. “I Ken fit you mean”.
What would “keelies of the toon” mean?
I have never personally heard the word “Keelies” used in my life. I come from the North East of Scotland and the old Scottish words used can vary significantly form those used in the West/central Scotland.
However the word “toon” is used to refer to a town or city. From what I can gather Kellies is a term that implies that the girl is tough and a bit of hooligan.
So perhaps “keelies of the toon” could mean “tough city girl”.
pure haurd…tae mind scot..
ana hae a fucking clue for onys sake! spick inglish likeee! min lol kn is is a joke right?
aye ok ceya
is there a particular word for saying I NEED in scottish slang?
Having a grandmother whose family was Williamson, ‘ye ken’ i’ve Scottish blood roaring through my veins.
But i need a phrase or word that means, “Wow” or “oh my god!” or “Jeez!” – in Scottish. Can you help me out?
I can’t personally think of anything that meets your needs Carol and Blair there might be, but I cant help….
[...] Thanks for info on the slang. The ones you guys told me have made me interested in looking up more: Useful Scottish Slang Words & Phrases Such as Fit Like Min, Aye And Ya Bas | London Is Cool I may need to print this out and bring it with me. Lol. So many confusing [...]
check oot the doric fan page on facebook for an’aer whack o doric stotters.
heres a classic scottish song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP9BtScBQaI
pronunciation is key:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kL_fdlVhsBg&feature=fvw
Oh wow. Now can’t really imagin living in Aberdeen for 4years,def looks like different language
Okay, this may sound weird. I do paranormal investigations in Canada. Recently we were asking for a response from someone with the last name of McManhon. We recorded a response that sounded like “Ya Bah Do”… I’m trying to make sense of it…does it mean anything? The question was “Lily, are you here?” we then recorded the response. I’d love any help on this.
Thanks
I’m Scottish, and understand a fair bit of our dialect, but I’m stumped on one particular word.
An American friend says that she gets called ‘min’ by a friend from the north. You mention ‘fit like min’ as roughly meaning ‘how are you?’
What does the ‘min’ refer to, and is it used in other context?
Gonnae gies an answer? Ta
The word ‘min’ trasnlated into English means ‘man’. It is Doric and is still used a wee bit back home in Aberdeen.
Scots isn’t slang per say. It’s under EU law. “ya bas” is slang. “bonnie” isn’t. It’s a perfectly normal word. “wee” was used by Shakespeare.
With regards to Carol asking for a phrase or word that means “wow”. The word wow is originally Scots. That’s where it was first found by linguists.
I believe it came from the Gaelic “bhobh”, as do a number of words. “jings” would be a clean “jeez” equivalent I guess.
Arite min!
I go to Uni in Aberdeen (RGU), originally from further North (Fraserburgh) and the the different in dialect from Aberdeen to Fraserburgh (45 miles) is unbelievable. Most of my uni friends barely speak doric.
My favourite doric phrase which always gets a laugh is “foos yir doos, yir chickens n’ yir coos?” Which translates into “How are your pigeons, your chickens and your cows?” and means “How are you?”!
At’s nae richt, nae richt ata!