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Don’t know nick from neebs? Don’t worry; Everything Edinburgh has your East Coast and Scottish lingo down. In addition to Scottish words and meanings, we’ve thrown in phonetics and examples so you can try the phrases for yourself and get a feel for them in context.
Trigger warning: There are sweary words; this article is supposed to be lighthearted and created for education and entertainment.
Now, let’s learn some popular and peculiar Scottish slang words that your grandmother used to say and some words you might hear on your holidays (vacation).
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Scottish Words Used Every Day
Alright Hen/Pal (Awrite)?
Scots take:
A question asking if you are OK
North American expat in Scotland’s take:
Instead of saying a standard greeting, folks in Scotland just assume everything is fine in your world and demand it of you.
Alright, hen (Scottish word for girl) or pal (Scottish word for friend)?
Alright!
… instead of
Hi, how are you?
Good thanks, and you?
Arse (Ahrs)
Booty, bum, ass. Opposite of fanny.
Body part or insult.
Sit on yir arse.
This is Bum the Dog, which sits in Princes Street Gardens.
He’s not an arse, just a Bum.
Aye (Eye)
Yes.
Is Everything Edinburgh worth a read? Aye.
Barry (Bah-ray)
A Scottish word for great. Also, a man’s name.
That was a Barry laugh.
Test your Scottish word knowledge with these Scottish books
Bonnie (Bohn-ay)
Scottish for beautiful, used more by the older generation.
What a bonnie lass (girl).
Fancy taking the family to Edinburgh? Here’s our kid-friendly guide.
Braw
Something nice.
It’s a braw day in Auld Reekie.
Chore (Ch-ore)
To steal something.
Chored a glass from Hard Rock Cafe.
Said every basic person.
Clarty (Clahr-tay)
Dirty.
Clean your trainers (sneakers). You look clarty.
Class (Class)
Good, excellent, really positive.
Something can be class or look class.
Wow, Gemma looks class.
Decent (Dees-int)
Describe something favourably.
That tune is decent.
Gaff (Gah-f)
A gaff is relatively new as the dictionary of Scottish words go.
It means a house party thrown by a kid when their parents are out.
When I was younger, this was called an empty.
Here is the Scottish comedian Kevin Bridges talking about an empty.
Ken (Ken)
Yes, it’s a man’s name and Barbie’s boyfriend, but in Fife, on the East Coast, it’s also used at the end of a sentence for “you know”?
Traffic was bad on the bridge, ken like?
Edinburgh folks mock Fifers for their use of ken and the additional word ‘like”.
Manky (Mahn-ki)
Dirty or disgusting.
*Dips fries into the milkshake*
You’re manky!
Messages (Mess-aj-ays)
Food shop.
Going to Waitrose for my messages.
Said no one, ever.
Read next | Definitive Edinburgh restaurant guide.
Mocket (Maw-kit)
Dirty.
Yir trews (trousers) are mocket.
Nae bother (Nay Bother)
Alternative to “not a problem at all” or “no worries”.
Nae bother, hen.
Naw (Gnaw)
Scottish for no.
Is haggis an animal? Naw.
Maybe associated more with the west coast of Scotland? Tell me in the comments below.
Nick
To steal or the state of something.
He nicked ma phone!
Check the nick of Ronan.
Oft! (Ohh-ft)
This is actually pretty hard to define.
Oh! That’s really positive, or oh, ouch!
Usually used to describe someone or respond to something.
Ronan faceplants on Victoria Street.
Oft! That’s gonna hurt.
Pelters (Pelt-urs)
Insults thrown like bullets.
Ronan’s getting pelters in this post.
Puss (Puhs)
The Scottish word for the face is usually said negatively.
Wipe that smile off yir puss.
Salt ‘n’ Sauce (Salnsawce)
Condiments of choice on chippy chips in Edinburgh. Alien to the west and rest of Scotland.
You want salnsawce on your chips?
Scunnered
The Scottish word for tired. You can be scunnered, scunnered of something or scunnered of someone.
Ronan is scunnered of Gemma’s pelters.
Shan (Shahn)
A shame or calling someone or something a shame.
I can’t make it to the party.
That’s shan.
Homework is due Tuesday.
You’re shan, miss. (Gemma worked in an Edinburgh school when this was The word of the season).
Steamin (Steam-in)
Druuuuunk.
Ronan’s steamin and singing karaoke. Again.
Tea and Teatime (Tee-time)
Your tea is your dinner. Teatime is around 5-8pm.
As the saying goes…
In Glasgow, they’ll say, do you want some tea?
In Edinburgh, they’ll say, ye would ‘av had your tea then!
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Upty (Up-tae)
A question asking: what are you up to?
What yi upty the night?
Scottish Terms of Endearment
Much of the following Scots slang has dual meanings, so while some words are used lovingly, they can also be used negatively.
So, if you are wondering how to insult a Scottish person, there isn’t a clear answer.
You need to consider the context in which it is said!
Bairn (Bay-rn)
Scottish slang for a child/baby.
Tell the bairn to come in for their tea.
This Scottish nickname changes depending on whether you are on the east or west coast of Scotland.
In the West, locals say wean (way-ne), believed to be a contraction of ‘wee yin’, wee meaning small and yin meaning thing.
Bawbag (Baw-bahg)
A term of endearment and an insult…depends on context.
Och yer a wee bawbag!
Belter (Belt-er)
Something good, bad or sore.
Cruel Intentions, The Musical at the Fringe was a belter.
I banged ma heid a belter!
Eejit (Eeej-it)
A person who makes a silly decision.
The Scottish word for idiot.
That Ronan is such an eejit.
Faither (Fay-thir)
The Scottish word for Dad or Father.
I am yir Faither ~ Scottish Darth Vader.
Hen
Woman or girl. Used endearingly or in a patronising manner.
Alright, hen?
Neebs (Nee-bs)
Mainly used over the Firth in Fife.
Short for neighbour.
Alright, neebs?
Scottish Insults
Fanny (fan-ay)
Historically, a girl’s name.
Today, no one in their right mind would call their daughter fanny as spelled out by an Irn Bru advert!
A fanny is similar to an eejit and bawbag but more closely aligned to a fud because it is the name for a woman’s private parts.
Starting to see a theme here? We need to reclaim that bit in between our legs!
It’s also what our North American friends call a bum.
Now you know why we’re laughing.
Ronan is such a fanny.
Fud (Fu-ud)
A woman’s private parts or a noun.
*Insert name of Prime Minister* is a fud.
Jobby (Job-eh)
Poo. Faeces or an insult.
One of the best words in the Scottish language.
It’s also one of the funny Scottish words that kids learn first.
Ronan is a jobby.
Rocket (Rocket)
Scottish word for crazy.
Ronan is a rocket.
Other Useful Scottish Phrases and Terms
Auld Reekie (Owld Reek-ay)
Edinburgh’s nickname means ‘old smoky’ from its historic coal fires, although some tour guides and locals say it refers to how smelly the city’s sewage system (or lack thereof) used to be.
Ceilidh (Kay-lee)
It is an event where people fling/throw each other about and call it Scottish country dancing.
Let’s go to the Ghillie Dhu for Friday night’s Ceilidh!
At the ceilidh, to ask someone to dance, you say:
Ye dancin’?
Ye askin’?
Am askin!
Then am dancin.
This is not a Scottish word for party, however.
Many Scots don’t actually attend ceilidhs unless they are at a wedding or forced to learn it at school.
Read next | Things to do in Edinburgh at night
Edinburgh (Edin-bruh)
Edinboro! Edinburg! Naw!
If you really want to impress locals, arrive having rehearsed how to say the city’s name.
Say it with me…
Edin-bruh
You may also like our Edinburgh gifts guide.
Harry Potter (Hairy Pottur, think Minerva McGonagall)
A character from a series of books by an English author who Scotland spellbound.
Did you see the Harry Potter shop in Edinburgh?
Eh, which one?
Leith (Leeth/Leef)
Leith, a neighbourhood in Edinburgh by the Shore features in The Proclaimers song, Sunshine on Leith.
Also, the name of The Proclaimers inspired-movie.
While I’m worth my room on this earth
I will be with you
While the Chief puts sunshine on Leith
I’ll thank Him for His work
And your birth and my birth
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Wondering where to stay in Edinburgh? Here are the best areas
Finally…
North American pals! Be ready and be aware that the ‘c’ word is prevalent in Scotland.
Oh ya c…
Ohsa c…
You’re a c…
It’s a c…
He’s a good c…
I’m a c…
I was c…ed
I c….ed my head
That c… (aggressive)
Fun Edinburgh Gifts
- Edinburgh colour in book US/UK
- Gruesome Guide to Edinburgh (Horrible Histories) US/UK
- IrnBru candle in a glass bottle with soy wax
- Brewdog candle in beer bottle
- Edinburgh gifts for Edinburgh fans
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Ronan, love that you’ve been insulted all the way thought this. Good words!
Ruth, you’ve got to roll with the punches. Only half are true! Maybe three quarters…
Nae bother or nae bather. Awe depends on whar yir fae in Scotland..
Haha, very true Big Dave Fae Govan!
Very helpful
Thanks Dan! Appreciate the feedback.
Just curious… how would a Scot say (phonetically) “Are you trying to start a fight?”
Hi Wayne, it would really depend on where you are. Do you a specific area in mind? I hope you don’t ever come across the phrase!
“Ye wantin’ a square go aye?”
Defo don’t want to hear that! A square on a roll, aye. With tomato.
Think the author has spent far too much time in Edinburgh and not enough time everywhere else. A lot of truth here too, especially the C word usage but things like Shan are rare outside the capital. Clarty is Clatty in the West. Ken is said almost everywhere outside Glasgow. Enjoyable read though.
Hi Degs, I’m actually fae The Kingdom and this was created by three writers. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment, saaaaan.
As a Norwegian with Scottish roots, this was a very interesting, funny and enjoyable read! I’ve become very interested in all things Scotland lately due to my heritage and I’m glad I came across this blog! 🙂
Aw that’s really magic to read! Thank you and welcome to Everything Edinburgh.
On the subject of the c bomb, can I point out that calling someone (male or female) a c*** is about the worst insult you can get, while calling someone (male only) a decent c*** is a compliment and calling someone (male only) a gid c*** is the ultimate compliment. Or at least it is down my way.
Must be a your way thing 🙂 Chuckling at the ‘ultimate compliment’. Thanks for commenting!
My wife is from Morayshire and says that things ‘scunner’ her when they nearly make her boak. She doesn’t use it to describe being tired. She might say that putting raw liver in her mouth would scunner her.
Thank you for the very visual example Kels! Hahahha!
This was enjoyable to read I’m from East Ayrshire , and a few of these i have actually never heard of or used maybe I’m too young (40) . We have different words for some but they mean the same! I very rarely use Scottish slang now I did when I was younger . Now I’d be classed as a jakey ! If I did 😂
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for reading and taking the time to leave a comment.
Nice one mate.
I live in Australia now originally from Ayrshire.
Some brilliant memories.
I love every wan o thum.
Thanks so much Pedro!
You missed out ” tarry” and “bam!!”
Love it, cheers Michelle. What does tarry mean?
So right about the 0″c….” bomb!! i was seeing my doctor and she said don’t worry about swearing, cunt is a term off endearment in our house!’
Hahahaha!
The use of “scunnered” that I know is to be fed up/annoyed with/at something or someone.
“Ronan is scunnered of Gemma’s pelters.” 🙂
sounds like
nae Glesga folk contributed to this clickbait, true that the c word is often a term of endearment in glesga
Cheers Bob!Thanks for clicking and commenting pal. “Messages” defo West Coast.
Oh, what a belter o’ a word! I love SCUNNERED!
Yas!
scunnered for me is exhausted. usually after a hard day or somthing physical, “im sunnered now” or “that scunnered me”
Isabel Fae Greenock. Ye forgot the Glesca pronunciation fur Edinburgh. It’s ‘Embra.’
Braw!
Canny good read this like! I’m from North East England, deffo share similarities in dialect with Scotland. Very interesting! Especially C word, can be used in any situation depending on context and tone. Daft c*** is most common here.
Only part of the article I’m not sure is understood or conveyed properly is Bawbag means ball bag. So a Bawbag is someone who you don’t like. Fanny is someone who is cowardly/no backbone and an eejit/idiot is stupid, so different from Bawbag
Hey Devvo! Bawbag can be used as an endearing term or an insult. Confusing!
its not an insult here nor used endearingly! bawbag is only used playfully where I am, like “ye bawbag, oi bawbag or awrite bawbag during friendly banter. mucking around. it is negative in other places tho. fanny, muppet, eejit and rocket are all negative here. calling someone a bam is really bad. its worse than c.
oh theres also sh!tebag = scardy/coward
canny is cant where I am. a cannae dae it. also Dinnae= dont. didnae =didnt wasnae = wasnt. wulnae = wont
I dinnae ken where it is. I cannae find it. I didnae see it over there it also wasnae over here. It wulnae be far. (story of my life) im scatter brained
Ahm an old “Leither” (81)and I dinnae ken a lot o’ these words, like Bawbag? Whatever happened to Wee Stotter and Yer bum’s oot the windae? The ‘c’ word was almost always used as the worst insult you could give. Mingin’ was stinkin’ and when I went back to Fife for the holidays with my Auntie, my favourite neighbour (I called her Auntie Jean) would greet me with, Haw! ye wee bugger-o’-hell, are ye back again tae bother us. Coming from her it was the best compliment I ever had.
Thanks for your input Dave!
Scots is an internationally recognised language, it is not ‘slang’. Please keep your Anglo-centricity in check.
Hi Bab, I’ve spent some time researching why you would be offended by the word “slang” when the definition is:
A type of language consisting of words and phrases that are regarded as very informal, are more common in speech than writing, and are typically restricted to a particular context or group of people.
I’m Scottish by the way and this was written in conjunction with another Scot.
Cheers!