Features - Scots Language

Please note that the words underlined are a link to a RealAudio file

A'll drap in on ye i the bygaun: I will call in to see you in the passing
A'll see ye at the back o thrie: I will see you shortly after three o'clock
A'm feelin a bittie wabbit: I am feeling somewhat tired
A braw pennie: A large sum of money
A cadger's curse: A worthless thing
A cat's lick: A hasty wash
A driepin roast : A good source of income
A fiddler's biddin: A last-minute invitation
A guid few: A good many
A hae nae brou o this: I have no liking for this
A haun's turn: A stroke of work
A Scotch grauvit: An embrace
A Scotch kizzen: A distant relation
A wad raither dae this as that: I would rather do this than that
A while syne: A while ago
Aff the gleg: Off the mark
Are ye throu?: Have you finished?
At the hinner end: In the long run
Atween the wind an the wa: In dire poverty
Auld i the horn: Wise, astute
Be cried: Have marriage banns read in church
Be i the wey o: Be in the habit of
Be on ane's tap: be consistently criticising one
Bou ane's hoch: Sit down
Cauf kintra: native district
Cauld comfort: Niggardly hospitality
Cauld kail het agane: A speech, sermon or story gone stale with telling
Chow the chafts: Gnash the teeth
Cock the wee finger: Drink; tipple
Cowp somedody's hurlie: Upset someone's plans
Cowp the cran: Be ruined
Craw crouse: Talk confidently
Creep in/out: Shorten/lengthen, of daylight
Crouse i the craw: Confident in speech
Cruppen doun: Bent with age
Cry baurley-fummil: Ask for a truce
Dee a fair strae daith: Die a natural death
Deid o the yeir: Winter
Deil a haet did A get: Not a whit did I get
Doun i the mou: Downcast
Dreip a dyke: Let oneself down from a wall with arms stretched
Drive a prey: Make a cattle raid
Drive on: Pass by, of time
Droun the miller: Put too much water in whisky
Fair to middlin: Quite well
Fidgin fain: Fidgeting with anticipation
Fiddler's news: Stale news
Fine A ken: I know well
Gae doun the brae: Deteriorate in health or circumstances
Gang agley: Go awry, of human affairs
Gang hale-headit fir: Be absolutely engrossed in
Gee ane's ginger: bestir oneself; bother oneself
Get on the crack wi: Start a conversation with
Get yokit ti: Get started on
Gie's yir crack: Give me your news
Go on the bash: Go on a drinking bout
Hae an ee til: Covet; have a liking for
Haud a wee: Stop a minute
Haud ane's wheesht: Be silent
Haud hame: Make for home
Haud the stick owre: Dominate
Haud up: Keep fair, of weather
Haud wide o : Keep clear of
He got the bree o’t: He bore the brunt of it
He nivver lat bug: He gave no indication
He's by his best : He is past his best days
He wis anerlie a bit laddie: He was only a little boy
Hing the lugs: Mope
In a crack: In an instant
In grand fettle: In excellent condition / spirits
It'll be yon tyme afore.... : It will be a long time before....
It'll cost ye a bonnie penny: It will cost you a great deal of money
It's aw by nou: It's all over and done with now
Lad o pairts: Talented youth
Mak a better o: Improve upon
Mak saut ti ane's kail : Earn a living
Monie a yeir an day: For a very long time
Munelicht flittin: A decamping by night to escape creditors.
Nae faurer gane than: As recently as
Nae ferlie: No wonder
Naither eechie nor ochie: Neither one thing or another. Not a cheep.
No able for: Having no appetite for ; in capable of
No weill: unwell
On the turn: Beginning to curdle
Out o thocht : Beyond belief
Pey the mail: Pay the penalty.
Pit on the gentry: Give oneself airs
Pit the peter on: Put a stop to
Plunk the Schuil: Be absent from school without leave
Redd the thrapple: Clear the throat
Rin the gless: Use up alloted time
Saut somebody's brose: Get one's revenge on someone
She's aye at me: She is always scolding me
Short o the Greek: Stuck for words
Souk in wi : Ingratiate oneself with
Spik pan loaf: Speak with an affected English accent
Staun guid for : Be surety for
Steik ane's gab: Be Silent
Steik ane's hert: Harden one's heart
Taen on wi: Attracted
Taen ti the fair: Taken aback
Taen up wi: Absorbed in
Tak a len o: Make a fool of
Tak a guid bucket: Be a heavy drinker
Tak a rise out o: Make fun o
Tak somebody doun a hack: Humble someone
Tak tent; Take heed
Tak the dorts/ drunts/ gee: sulk
Tak the gate: depart
Tak the gow: Decamp in debt
Tak yir ain tale hame: Take your advice to yourself.
The Daft Days: Period of festivity at Christmas and New Year
The feck o: The most of
The richt wey o't; The true version of it.
The shakkins o the poke: The last remains; the last-born of a family
This while back: For some time now
Turn the crack: Change the subject
Twa in a row: Two abreast
Wait on: Wait for
Wear in: Pass by slowly
Weill on: Drunk
Whaup i the raip: lit. kink or snag in a rope ie a hitch that impedes progress or smooth running
Whit ails ye at: What do you dislike about
Wull ye no byde a wee?: Will you not tarry for a short while?
Ye'll no fin the brither o't in monie a lang day: You won't find its like for a very long time
Ye'r a sicht fir sair een: I am pleased to see you
Yir eens bigger nor yir belly: you have taken a larger portion of food than you are able to eat