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Do You Speak Scots?

While English is the spoken language in Scotland, there are many words that the Scots use which are unfamiliar to us. Sometimes the same word has a different meaning in Scotland. Here are a few variations, but there are many more not listed here One fun aspect of international travel is learning a new language and using it when you an. Good Luck!

Accommodation

En suite - Private bathroom
First Floor - Second floor
Flannel Face - cloth
To let - For hire
Twin beds - Two singles

Food and Drink

Afters - Dessert
Ashlet - Plate
Bangers ‘n Mash - Sausage and Mashed potatoes
Bannock - Oatcake (a savory biscuit/cookie)
Boiling - Boiled candy
Bucks Fizz - Mimosa
Biscuit - Cookie
Champit tatties - Potatoes
Chips - French Fries
Clapshot - Turnip and potato mashed together
Courgettes - Zucchini
Crisps - Potato chips
Faggots - Meat balls
Gigot - Leg of mutton
Haggis - Scotish National Dish
Jacket - potato Baked potato
JamJelly
Jelly - Jello
My shout - My round (my turn to pay for drinks)
Neeps and Tatties - Traditional vegetable accompaniment to Haggis
Pud - Dessert
Slider - Ice-cream between 2 wafers
Spotted dick - Steamed sute pudding
Tablet - Rectangular block made of butter, sugar and condensed milk
Tomato Sauce - Ketchup

In the car, on the road

Give way - Yield
Return - Round Trip
Coach - Bus
Bonnet - Hood
Boot - Trunk
Lorry - Trunk
Petrol - Gas

Out sightseeing and traveling around Scotland

Ben - Mountain
Bonny - Pretty
Burn - Stream
Clachan - Village
Croft - Small Holding
Factor - Estate Manager
Finnock - Young Trout
Glen - Valley
Haar - Mist
Haugh - Meadow
Highland Coo - Native Scottish cow with long horns and thick shaggy coat
Hoolit - Owl
Loch - Lack
Tup - Ram
Wynd - Lane

Miscellaneous

Chemist - Drug store
Engaged - Busy
Inch Tape - Tape Measure
Jumper - Sweater
Naught - Zero
Plaster - Band-Aid
Way out - Exit

Other interesting tidbits

Auld Lang Syne - Poem by Scotland’s national potem Rabbie (Robert) Burns which has become the world’s most traditional song of farewell
Auld Reekie Edinburgh (literally ‘old smokey’)

Ceilidh - Gathering for dance, songs and stories

Gaelic - The native language of Scotland, most commonly used in the western isles

Scotland - Ancient kingdom, part of the island of Great Britain (along with Wales and England) and a member state of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, In this context the misuse of the generic term “England” causes offense!

Scotsman - A proud citizen of the ancient kingdom of Scotland. Most definitely not English!

Tartan - The plaid, Scotland’s major contribution to the world’s fashion industry along with tweed and wool

Tattoo - A signal by drum or bugle ordering the military to return to barracks

Whisky - Scotland’s national drink, from the Gaelic “usige beatha” - the water of life

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