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Glossary of Scottish Words/Slang

Bit o’ banter – Scots love to tease each other; banter is highly cherished

Bloody – a word used to add emphasis; expletive

Bonnie – pretty

Brekkie – breakfast

Braw – beautiful, good

Burn – river, small stream

Clarty – dirty

Crabbit – cranky, moody

Eejit – idiot

Get the messages – running errands, going to the shops/market

Give it laldy/laldie – do something with vigor or enthusiasm

Hen – woman, female

“It’s a dreich day” – cold; damp; miserable

Neeps – turnips

Och – used to express many emotions, typically surprise, regret, or disbelief

On you go then – be on your way; get on with it

Scran – food

Tatties – potatoes

Tetchy – crabby, cranky, moody

Tea – in Scotland, having tea is often used to refer to the dinnertime meal

Wee – small, little

Wheesht (haud your wheesht) – be quiet, hush, shut up