Lingo from the Land of Haggis: The Charm of Scottish Slang

Have you ever watched James McAvoy's or Ewan McGregor's interview and thought you had no idea what they were saying? If so, don't worry — you are not alone. In fact, it happens a lot when people hear Scottish slang and accent. But, of course, no need to be scared! In today's article, we'll explore the most widely used colloquial expressions from the Highlands to expand your knowledge and simply have fun. So buckle up, and let's jump in!

Common Colloquial Scottish Sayings 

While most people in Scotland speak English, their unique accent and slang phrases might significantly differ from the common language. In the list below, we've collected some of the most exciting expressions you definitely need to know.

• Haste ye back — Hurry up and come back.

You might hear this from your Scottish friends at the end of your stay in the country. It is a common slang way to say "farewell" or "return soon."

• Whit's fur ye'll no go by ye — What's for you won't go by you.

This one is a very nice and almost philosophical phrase which basically means what will be, will be.

• Yer lookin' a bit peely wally — You look a bit pale.

This one is not very nice to hear, but in language-learning terms, it's probably the epitome of Scottish slang. And yes, there is no hidden context here; this expression is used to notify someone that they're looking pale or ill.

• Gonnae no' dae that — Don't do that!

And here's another typically Scottish expression you can hear from locals, especially when doing something you're not supposed to do.

• Haud yer wheesht — Hush!

If you want to ask someone to be quiet and do it in a not-very-polite way, this expression is definitely your go-to choice. Just keep in mind that it might sound a bit rude, so save it for emergency cases.

1

Unique Scottish Slang Words to Know

In addition to brilliant expressions and phrases, there are also tons of separate words you can frequently hear in conversations with Scots. Check out the best ones in the list below.

• Aye — yes.
• Braw/tidy — handsome/pretty.
• Smourich — a kiss.
• Gutties — shoes/sneakers.
• Fearthainn — rain.
• Tattie — potato.
• Crabbit — grumpy.
• Dae/dinnae — do/don't.
• Chitter — shiver.
• Messages — shopping for groceries.

Those are only a few of many examples of popular Scottish words. You can often hear them incorporated into everyday English speech, which might be a bit confusing. However, once you memorize them, you'll easily navigate through most interactions with Scots.

Hilarious and Creative Scottish Insults

Another thing Scottish slang is full of is insults. And they vary widely, from innocent and funny ones to straight rude and offensive. Of course, we don't encourage you to use them in your daily conversations. However, if the situation requires, here are some NSFW Scottish phrases to use, just in case.

• Awa' n bile your head — go away and boil your head.
• Bampot — unhinged idiot.
• Fandan — pretentious idiots (yes, there are several ways to call someone an idiot in Scottish slang).
• His heid is full o' wee shops, and they are all shut — lights are on, but nobody's home.
• Eejit — idiot.
• Lavvy heid — toilet head.
• Nyaff — irritating person.
• Yer bum's oot the windae — your bum is out the window (used when someone's talking nonsense and doesn't make sense).

Promova: Your Ultimate Guide to Language Learning

If you want to master a foreign language, either English or any other one, you need to focus on multiple basic skills, including reading, speaking, listening, and writing. And with access to proper resources, you can significantly simplify your studying journey. That is why you definitely need to try Promova — a language-learning platform suitable for learners with different fluency levels. Here's what you can access:

• One-on-one or group English lessons with professional tutors.
• Convenient application to learn different languages anywhere and anytime.
• Conversational Club to practice English speaking with fellow learners.
• Blog with useful and engaging articles on language-related topics.

And much more! With Promova, you can learn English, Spanish, Korean, French, Arabic, and many other languages, including even ASL. So, no matter what your language learning goals are, Promova can help you achieve them!

Conclusion

Although Scottish is not considered a separate language, it has plenty of unique terms and expressions that might be a bit confusing if you're not familiar with them. In today's article, we've collected some of the most common words and phrases to get you started. Tell us which ones you liked the most in the comments, and we're looking forward to meeting you in the next article!