Scots colloquialisms

[ohiopiper]

I'm putting together my presentation for the Girl Scout in Feb. I've got most of what I need, but would like to get a few words and phrases that are distinctively Scottish.

I've tried the internet search, but have come up with either stuff with no translation (don't want to say naughty things to minors) or stuff that I hear a couple English friends say quite commonly, but are attibuted to Scotland on the web. Example: Cheesered. A friend from London says this pretty often to imply she's very happy.

What would be great is if someone could tell me where to purchase recordings of native speakers so I don't mangle the pronounciation. The scouts hearing that would be better than me stumbling over it.

[Bill aka Mole]

Wee = small or young, i.e. Wee Beastie (small animal that hides in a closet or under a bed), wee bairn (young child, infant).

Bairn = Child

Aye, right = No, not true, incorrect

Good on you = Good job or other praise

Thats all that I can remember from nearly fourty years ago.

[Canuck of NI]

I would go through the works of Robert Burns, a footnoted edition with a lexicography, and for sure you could use the more modern thing called Google. Searches might include 'Scots language', 'Lallans' and, my personal favourite variation, 'Ullands' but go with the Google flow.

[CameronCat]

One of my favorites is chuff / chuffed, a simple verb meaning to "cause good feelings" or to be in high spirits. My experience shows it in common use in casual conversation among my Scots friends. A fun word and totally absent from US usage.

e.g:
* Seamus was quite chuffed when he found his missing gloves.
* The team was well chuffed after scoring 3 goals in the last 4 minutes.
* Let's chuff up the little ones with a trip to the zoo.

[ohiopiper]

Thanks for those. I'll try the Lallans and Ullands searches, too.

And I've got a Burns page bookmarked, so I'll copy those out and see if I can get accurate "translation".

Thanks to everyone.

[Canuck of NI]

Thanks for those. I'll try the Lallans and Ullands searches, too.

And I've got a Burns page bookmarked, so I'll copy those out and see if I can get accurate "translation".

Thanks to everyone.

I should of course have typed "Ullans"-I'm always putting in the extra D for mysterious reasons it seems I can't overcome. Anyway, the Ulster-Scot dialect.

[Monkey@Arms]

"Many a mickle makes a muckle." (Many small amounts accumulate to make a large amount.)

Best regards,

Jake

[rtc872]

I didn't realise that chuffed was scottish! We use it a lot in Australia. That doesn't mean it isn't scottish though... :S

[cajunscot]

Cha shoirbh triubhas a chur air cat.
It’s not easy to put trews on a cat.

[Steve Barclay]

"Messages"= items of shopping, basic things people buy often
"Wean" (pronounced "wain")= child
"Jammies"= pyjamas
"Polis"= police

I think all of the above are most commonly used in the Glasgow area.