Old Scottish Sayings, Scottish Words And Slang Your Granny May Have Used!

Here you can have a look at some of our fine old Scottish sayings that go back not only to grandma’s day, but for generations beyond. Also some that are not so old.

Some of them are not used much now. Maybe that’s just as well as they can even confuse some Scots, depending which part of the country you’re in. The Scottish dialect can vary so much, from The Highlands to South Ayrshire, and from East to West, so in different parts of the country, different words can actually mean the same thing.

Honestly, some of these sayings will have you scratching your head, as I did, but I will translate the meanings, as I understand them. Like they say “a nod’s as guid as a wink tae a blind horse”, meaning, explain yourself properly, and make your meaning crystal clear.

If you understand that, you’re halfway there! Most Scots tend to use slang words occasionally and think nothing of it. It’s only when you read some you see how funny they are. Take a look at some of the old Scottish sayings, some not so old, Scottish words, and slang…

The Old Scottish Sayings….

• I’ll gie ye a skelpit lug! – I’ll give you a slap on the ear.
• Whit’s fur ye’ll no go by ye! – What’s meant to happen will happen.
• Skinny Malinky Longlegs! – A tall thin person.
• Lang may yer lum reek! – May you live long and stay well.
• Speak o’ the Devil! – Usually said when you have been talking about someone – they usually appear.
• Black as the Earl of Hell’s Waistcoat! – Pitch black.
• Failing means yer playin! – When you fail at something at least you’re trying.
• Mony a mickle maks a muckle! – Saving a small amount soon builds up to a large amount.
• Keep the heid! – Stay calm, don’t get upset.
• We’re a’ Jock Tamson’s bairns! – We’re all God’s children, nobody is better than anybody else – we’re all equal.
• Dinnae teach yer Granny tae suck eggs! – Don’t try to teach someone something they already know.
• Dinnae marry fur money! – Don’t marry for money – you can borrow it cheaper.
• Is the cat deid? – Has the cat died? Means your trousers are a bit short – like a flag flying at half mast.
• The baw’s on the slates – Game over. In our younger days we played football in the street. If the ball landed on a roof, the game was over.
• Haud yer wheesht! – Be quiet.
• Noo jist haud on! – Now just hold it, slow down, take your time.
• Hell slap it intae ye! – Means it’s your own fault.
• I’m fair puckled! – I’m short of breath.
• Do yer dinger. – Loudly express disapproval.
• Gie it laldy. – Do something with gusto.
• Ah dinnae ken. – I don’t know.
• Haste Ye Back! – Farewell saying meaning “return soon”.
• It’s a dreich day! – Said in reference to the weather, when it’s cold, damp and miserable.

Some Scottish sayings that are not so old….

• Gonnae no’ dae that! – Going to not do that.
• At dis ma nut in – That does my head in.
• Pure dead brilliant – Exceptionally good.
• Yer bum’s oot the windae – You’re talking rubbish.
• Awa’ an bile yer heid – Away and boil your head.
• Am pure done in – I’m feeling very tired.
• Am a pure nick – I don’t look very presentable.
• Ah umnae – I am not.
• Ah let wan go – I broke wind.
• Int it – Isn’t it.
• Ma heid’s mince – My head’s a bit mixed up.
• Ma heid’s loupin’ – My head is sore.
• Yer oot yer face! – You’re very drunk.
• Yer aff yer heid – You’re off your head – a little bit daft.

For sayings sent in by visitors see the Your Sayings page.

Some Scottish words and slang….

Note: For pronunciation we tend to drop the G from words that end “ing” example… walkin, runnin, stayin, leavin, waitin, sayin, workin, singin, drinkin, stoppin, etc.

Aboot – About

Ain – Own

Auld – Old

Aye – Yes

Bahooky – Backside, bum

Bairn – Baby

Baw – Ball

Bawface – Describes someone with a big round face.

Ben – Mountain, or through

Bide – Depending on the context, means wait, or stay.

Blether – Talkative, when referred to a person. To “have a blether” is to have a chat.

Boke – Vomit. “He gies me the boke”. He makes me want to vomit.

Bonnie – Beautiful

Bowfin – Smelly, horrible

Braw – Good, or brilliant

Breeks – Trousers

Chap – Knock (the door)

Coo – Cow

Crabbit – Bad tempered

Cry – Call, as in what do you cry him?

Dae – Do

Dauner – Walk – “I’m away for a dauner”

Didnae – Didn’t

Dinnae – Don’t

Drap – Drop

Dreep – Drip

Drookit – Soaking wet

Dug – Dog

Dunderheid, Eejit, Galoot, Numptie – All mean idiot

Dunt – Bump

Em – Them

Emdy – Anybody

Fae (or Frae) – From

Feart – Afraid

Gallus – Bravado, over-confident

Gang – Go

Gaunnae – Going to

Geeza haun – Give me a hand (help me).

Geggie – Mouth, as in “shut your geggie”

Glaikit – Stupid, slow on the uptake

Gled – Glad

Goonie – Nightgown

Gubbed – A broken device “it’s gubbed”, Your footbal team lost “we got gubbed”

Gumption – Common sense, initiative

Hae – Have

Hame – Home

Haud – Hold

Haver – Talk rubbish

Hing – Hang

Hoachin’ – Very busy

Hokin’ – Rummaging

Honkin’, Hummin’, Howlin’ – Bad smell

Hoose – House

How no – Why not

Hunner – Hundred

Huvnae – Haven’t

Keek – A little look

Ken – Know

Lum – Chimney

Ma – My or Mum

Mair – More

Merrit – Married

Mockit, Manky, Mingin’, Boggin’ – All mean dirty

Mon – Come on

Moose – Mouse

Nane – None

Naw – No

Neep, Tumshie – Turnip

Noo – Now

Oot – Out

Pap – Throw

Peely Wally – Pale

Piece – A sandwich

Poke – (to poke – to prod) (a poke – a paper bag)

Reek – Smell, emit smoke

Riddy – A red face, embarrassed

Roon – Round

Sassenach – From the Gaelic word sasunnach, meaning Saxon, and used to describe non-Gaelic speaking Scottish Lowlanders (and our English friends).

Screwball – Unhinged, mad

Scullery – Kitchen

Scunnered – Bored, fed up

Shoogle – Shake

Shoogly – Shaky, wobbly

Simmet – Gents singlet

Skelp – Slap

Skoosh – Lemonade (or fizzy drink)

Sleekit – Sly, sneaky

Stookie – Plaster cast (for a broken bone)

Stour – Dust

Tae – To

Tattie – Potato

Telt – Told

Thon – That

Toon – Town

Totie – Very small

Wan – One

Wance – Once

Wean – Child

Wellies – Wellington boots

Wha – Who

Wheesht – Quiet

Whit – What

Widnae – Would not

Willnae – Will not

Windae – Window

Wummin – Women

Yappy dug – Wee barking dog

Ye – You

Yer – Your

Yin – One

Thanks to Sarah Moffat from Glasgow, UK for these:

• Maw – Mum.
• Mad wi’ it – Drunk.

Thanks to Stevie Gibson for this:

• Hell mend ye – In other words “it serves you right”!

Thanks to Jenna Smith from the UK for these:

• Slitter – To spill food stuff down yourself.
• Scunner – Describes someone as being irritating as in: “oh you’re a right scunner”.
• Gowk – Daft.
• Dighted – Also means daft.
• Tattyboggle – Scarecrow.
• Dicht – To dust, or wipe.

Thanks to Isobel, Canada for this:

• Clyping – To tell tales on someone.

Thanks to Marjory, London for these:

• Baffies – Slippers.
• Bubbly Jock – Turkey.

Thanks to Tracey Perry, UK for this:

• Wallies – False teeth.

A classic Scottish saying combining a few words is :

“Whit dae ye cry thon yin?” …..

Translates to : “What do you call that one?”

One I’ve been asked about is:

“Och aye the noo”

Translates to: Oh yes, right now.

The truth is, it’s highly unlikely you’ll hear anyone use those four words together, other than in a comedy sketch. But you WILL hear people say “och aye” and you WILL hear people say “the noo”, but not usually together.

The one I’m asked most often about is:

“It’s a braw bricht moonlicht nicht the nicht”

Translates to: It’s a brilliant bright moonlight night tonight. I have heard it sung by the great Harry Lauder, but outside of that, I’ve never heard anyone actually say it.

Here are some words that describe being drunk ……

Blootered, Steamin, Wrecked, Bladdered, Hammered, Smashed.

This one cracks me up….

The question… What’s that about?
In some parts of Scotland it sounds like one word… Sataboot

Here is my favourite of all the old Scottish sayings ……

When you have just said something to someone that they don’t quite believe, they are very likely to reply by saying – Aye, Right!!

Perhaps one of the most used Scottish sayings is “Auld Lang Syne” the famous song penned by Robert Burns, and sung throughout the world, especially at New Year.

The translation can be taken as “old long since” or “old long ago”.

This list is by no means comprehensive, there are hundreds of old Scottish sayings, and you’ll find many more that were sent in by visitors on the Your Sayings page.

If you enjoyed these Scottish Sayings, you’ll just LOVE the Scottish Humour page.