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The Scottish Language

English in one way or another is spoken in Scotland. There are many various regional dialects and local expressions used. In some parts of the Highlands and  Islands, Gaelic is still spoken and it may even be the first language to some of the older people.

Nowhere in Scotland is Gaelic anyone's only language.

Listed below are some everyday Scottish words and phrases alongside there English equivalent.

SCOTTISH

 ......

ENGLISH
A Auld ...... Old
Aye ...... Yes
B Bairn ...... Child / Kid
Bap ...... Small bread roll
Ben ...... Mountain
Ben the Hoose ...... In the other room
Burl ...... Spin
Black-man ...... Ice-cream between two chocolate wafers 
Blether ...... Talk nonsense
Bonny ...... Pretty
Brae ...... Hill
Braw ...... Beautiful
Brig ...... Bridge
Burn ...... Stream
But and Ben ...... Small house with two rooms
C Clap ...... Pet / Stroke
Clarty ...... Dirty
Close ...... Entrance Hallway
Clype ...... Tell tales / sneak
Cone ...... Ice-cream cornet
Coup ...... Rubbish tip
Croft ...... Small holding in Highlands
Cry ...... Shout
Cuddie / GeeGee ...... Horse
D Dinnae ...... Don't
Dour ...... Grumpy / Sad
Dram ...... Class of Scotch
Dross ...... Small coins
Dunt ...... Bump
F Firth ...... River mouth
Fitba ...... Football
Fusty ...... Mouldy / Musty
Fae ...... From
Fag ...... Cigarette
G Gang ...... Go
Goin ...... Go And
Greet ...... Weep / Cry
Guid ...... Good
Guising ...... Messing about
H Hod ...... Hold
Haver ...... Dither
Hen ...... Mrs
Hogmanay ...... New Years Eve
Howk ...... Pull hard
Hurl ...... To ride in a car, bus etc
J Jotter ...... School book
K Ken ...... Know
Keek ...... A Quick Look
L Laddie ...... Boy
Lassie ...... Girl
Links ...... Golf course by the sea
Lug ...... Ear
Lum ...... Chimney
M Murky ...... Dark
N Neb ...... Nose
Neep ...... Turnip
Nicht ...... Night
P Peely Wally ...... To look Pale / not well
Pinkie ...... your Small finger
Poke ...... Paper bag
Pouch ...... Pocket
Press ...... Walk in Cupboard
R Reek ...... Thick Smoke / Smell
Rone ...... Rainwater gutter
S Sare ...... Sore
Scunner ...... Sicken / Disgust / Upsetting
Shoogle ...... Shake
Shinty ...... Highland Hockey
Skelp ...... Slap / Punch / Hit
Sleekit ...... Sly / Cunning
Slider ...... Ice-cream between two wafers
Smokie ...... Smoked fish
Snib ...... Bolt / Catch on a door
Stay ...... Live (where do you stay?)
Stoor ...... Dust
Stot ...... Bounce
T Tattie ...... Potato
Twa ...... Two
W Wean ...... Child
Wee ...... Small
Wheen ...... Lots / a good many
Y Yin ...... One