adverb and affirmative particle
aye
Usually yes in modern conversation; in Scots writing, also always or ever.
Often close to eye; spelling and pronunciation distinctions vary
Pronunciation lab
Hear the word, then check the local meaning.
Browser voice is a convenience, not a replacement for regional speakers. Use it alongside the written pronunciation note and the full usage page.
noun
bairn
A child; sometimes a person's offspring regardless of age.
/bɛrn/ or /bern/; pronunciation varies regionally
adjective
baltic
Extremely cold.
As in standard English Baltic
noun
bampot
A foolish, chaotic, eccentric, or troublesome person.
/ˈbampɒt/
noun
belter
Something or someone outstanding, striking, or exceptionally good.
/ˈbɛltər/
noun
bevvy
An alcoholic drink or a session of drinking.
/ˈbɛvi/
verb
bide
To stay, live, wait, remain, or endure.
Usually /baɪd/
verb and noun
blether
To talk at length, often idly; also a chat, rambling talk, or nonsense.
/ˈblɛðər/; some dialects use a d-like middle sound
adjective, adverb, and noun
bonnie
Pretty, attractive, pleasing, or beautiful.
/ˈbɔnɪ/; vowel quality varies by dialect
adjective and adverb
braw
Fine, excellent, splendid, attractive, or impressive.
/brɑː/; vowel quality varies by dialect
verb form
cannae
Cannot or can't.
Usually /ˈkane/ or /ˈkani/
noun
ceilidh
A social gathering with traditional music, dancing, stories, or entertainment.
Usually /ˈkeɪli/
noun
chancer
A bold opportunist who takes risks or pushes their luck.
/ˈtʃɑːnsər/
adjective
clarty
Dirty, muddy, sticky, messy, or unpleasantly smeared.
/ˈklɑːrtɪ/
noun
close
A shared entrance, passage, or stair in a tenement building.
Usually /kloːs/ in this noun sense
verb and noun
coorie
To nestle, snuggle, or settle closely for warmth and comfort.
Often /ˈkuːri/
adjective
crabbit
Bad-tempered, irritable, cross, or grumpy.
/ˈkrabɪt/
noun
dafty
A silly, foolish, or eccentric person.
/ˈdaftɪ/
verb form
dinnae
Do not.
Usually /ˈdɪne/ or /ˈdɪni/
adjective
dreich
Dreary, bleak, tedious, or unpleasantly long-drawn-out.
/driːx/; the final sound is like the ch in loch
adjective
drookit
Soaking wet or completely drenched.
/ˈdruːkɪt/
pronoun and question word
fa
Who in Doric and north-east Scots.
/faː/ or /fa/
adverb and question word
fan
When in Doric and north-east Scots.
Usually /fan/
verb and noun
fankle
To tangle, entangle, or get into a confused mess.
/ˈfaŋkəl/
adverb and question word
far
Where in Doric and north-east Scots.
Usually /far/ in Doric context
greeting and question
fit like
How are you? or how are things? in Doric.
Often close to fit LIKE
adverb and question word
foo
How in Doric and some north-eastern Scots varieties.
/fuː/
adjective
glaikit
Foolish, vacant-looking, thoughtless, or lacking awareness.
/ˈgleːkɪt/
verb phrase
gonnae
A Scottish form used in requests meaning going to or will you.
Often close to /ˈɡɔnə/
verb and noun
greet
To cry or weep; also crying.
Often /ɡriːt/
adjective
gutted
Deeply disappointed, upset, or devastated.
/ˈɡʌtɪd/
noun and adverb
hame
Home, at home, or toward home.
Usually /heːm/ or /hem/
noun and form of address
hen
A familiar way to address a woman or girl.
As in standard English hen
noun
howf
A favourite meeting place, pub, café, or regular haunt.
/haʊf/
verb and noun
ken
To know, understand, recognise, or be aware of.
/kɛn/
noun
laddie
A boy or young man; sometimes an affectionate term for a man.
/ˈladɪ/
noun
lassie
A girl or young woman; sometimes an affectionate term for a woman.
/ˈlæsɪ/
noun; usually plural in this sense
messages
Shopping, groceries, purchases, or an errand to a shop.
As in standard English messages
noun and form of address
min
A familiar Doric form of address similar to man or mate.
Usually /mɪn/
adjective, adverb, and noun
muckle
Big, large, great, much, or a large amount.
/ˈmʌkəl/; regional variants include forms closer to mickle
determiner and adverb
nae
No, not any, or none, depending on grammar.
/neː/ or /neɪ/
phrase
nae bother
No problem, do not worry, or you are welcome.
Usually close to nay BOTHER
noun
neeps
Turnips or swedes, especially when prepared as food.
Usually /niːps/
noun
numpty
A foolish, incompetent, or clueless person.
/ˈnʌmpti/
interjection
och
An exclamation expressing reaction, dismissal, sympathy, surprise, or mild frustration.
Often /ɔx/
preposition, adverb, adjective, noun, and verb
outwith
Outside, beyond, or not included within a stated limit.
Usually close to OUT-with; pronunciation varies by speaker
adjective
peely-wally
Pale, washed-out, weak-looking, or unwell in appearance.
/ˈpiːli ˈwɑːli/
noun
piece
A sandwich, especially in phrases such as a piece and jam.
/piːs/
adjective
puggled
Exhausted, worn out, or completely tired.
Often /ˈpʌɡəld/
noun and adjective
radge
A wild, aggressive, angry, or unruly person; also furious or out of control.
/radʒ/
adjective and adverb
sair
Sore, painful, tender, severe, or badly.
/seːr/ or /sɛr/
noun
scheme
A housing estate or planned residential area.
As in standard English scheme
noun
scran
Food or something to eat.
/skran/
adjective
scunnered
Fed up, disgusted, tired of something, or strongly put off.
/ˈskʌnərd/
verb and noun
shoogle
To shake, wobble, sway, or move unsteadily.
/ˈʃuːɡəl/
adjective
skint
Having little or no money available.
/skɪnt/
noun
stoater
An excellent or impressive person or thing.
/ˈstoːtər/
noun
tattie
A potato.
Usually /ˈtati/
adjective
wabbit
Tired, weak, unwell, or lacking energy.
Usually /ˈwabɪt/
noun
wean
A child, especially in Glasgow and west-central Scotland.
Usually /weːn/ or /wiːn/, varying by speaker
adjective
wee
Small, little, short, or a small amount.
/wiː/
interjection and noun
wheesht
Be quiet, silence, or a request for quiet.
Usually /ʍiːʃt/ or /wiːʃt/