Bahookie
Bahookie
If there’s a more musical way to describe the rear end, we’ve yet to find it.
In a sentence: “The wee yin fell right on his bahookie.”
In English: “The little one fell on his bum.”
Blate
Blate
If you find yourself a bit sheepish in the company of a Shetlander, you might just hear this wee Scots gem.
In a sentence: “Dunna be blate; glaep yun down!”
In English: “Don’t be shy; eat up!”
Braw
Braw
From cuddly Highland coos to soaring, cloud-kissed summits, Scotland has no shortage of braw sights.
In a sentence: “It’s a braw day for a dauner.”
In English: “It’s a lovely day for a walk.”
Coorie
Coorie
Think warm woollen blankets, roaring fires, and steaming cups of tea – or something a little stronger!
In a sentence: “It’s awfy dreich; it’s a day fur coorieing in under the covers.”
In English: “The weather is awfully dreary; this is a day for snuggling under the covers.”
Dook
Dook
Fancy trying your hand at a dook? If you’re brave enough, you can take part in the aptly-named Loony Dook!
In a sentence: “Dook yer haun in the watter an see if it’s cauld.”
In English: “Dunk your hand in the water and see if it’s cold.”
Fankle
Fankle
Whether describing shoelaces or situations, fankle is a fantastically versatile bit of language.
In a sentence: “Ma heidphones are aww fankled.”
In English: “My headphones are all tangled.”
Oxter
Oxter
In Scotland, you’re not busy; you’re ‘up to your oxters in it.’
In a sentence: “Him there, wae the jaikit tucked in his oxter.”
In English: “That man over there with the jacket tucked in his armpit.”
Piece
Piece
Whatever the filling, whatever the bread, in Scots it’s known as a piece.
In a sentence: “Canny believe that – av forgoat ma piece.”
In English: “I can’t believe it – I’ve forgotten my sandwich.”
Peely-wally
Peelie-Wally
Only in Scotland can looking unwell sound so whimsical!
In a sentence: “She’s looking awfy peelie-wally.”
In English: “She’s looking awfully pale.”
Shoogle
Shoogle
Scots is a wonderfully illustrative language – you can practically see the word ‘shoogle’ wobbling as you read it.
In a sentence: “Jist gie it a wee shoogle and it’ll come loose.”
In English: “Just give it a small shake and it’ll come loose.”
Sleekit
Sleekit
Sleekit is one of the best-known Scots words, thanks to our National Bard Robert Burns using it to describe a field mouse.
In a sentence: “Wee, sleekit, cow’rin, tim’rous beastie.”
In English: “Small, sly, cowering, fearful animal.”
Weesht
Weesht
A fitting end to our whistle-stop tour of Scots – silence!
In a sentence: “Wheesht!”
In English: “Be quiet!”
