30 Scots Words to Know Before Visiting Scotland

Scots is a special language, a sister to English, but more like a distant cousin for the untrained ear. 

If you’re journeying to our beautiful land of mountains and malts, be prepared to discover some Scots words and phrases you’ll be quoting long after you’re home. When you’re travelling across a country with places called Ecclefechan and Auchenshuggle, you’re guaranteed to find a little entertainment from our unique dialects, slang and phrases. 

Here are 30 Scots words, where you’ll hear them, what they mean and a wee bit of context. 

1. Glasgow 

Wee

Meaning: Small.

Example: Fancy a wee dram before dinner?

Wean

Meaning: A baby or young child.

Example: That wee wean's having the time of their life!

Cannae

Meaning: Can't.

Example: Sorry, I cannae recommend just one whisky!

Gonnae

Meaning: Please / Are you going to...

Example: Gonnae grab us bread from the shop?

Pure

Meaning: Very or completely.

Example: That sunset over Glencoe was pure magic.

Scunnered

Meaning: Exhausted.

Example: I'm absolutely scunnered after climbing Arthur's Seat.

Mockit

Meaning: Dirty.

Example: Your boots are mockit after that Skye walk.

2. Edinburgh & the East Coast 

Puggled

Meaning: Out of breath.

Example: I'm puggled after walking up to Edinburgh Castle!

Chum

Meaning: To accompany someone.

Example: I'll chum you along to the whisky shop.

Shan

Meaning: Unfair or disappointing.

Example: That's a bit shan—the rain started just as we arrived!

Nash

Meaning: Hurry up.

Example: We'd better nash if we're going to catch the tour.

3. Ayrshire & West Coast

Ken

Meaning: Know.

Example: D'ye ken where we're heading next?

Chankin'

Meaning: Freezing cold.

Example: It's pure chankin' at the Quiraing!

The morn's morn

Meaning: Tomorrow morning.

Example: We'll head for Turnberry the morn's morn.

Fleg

Meaning: Fright

Example: That gave me a fleg. 

4. Borders & Southern Scotland 

Deek

Meaning: Take a look.

Example: Deek at that view!

Yow

Meaning: You.

Example: Where are yow visiting from?

Fasm

Meaning: Hair.

Example: The Highland wind's made a right mess of your fasm!

Barrie

Meaning: Great or excellent.

Example: That was a barrie day for exploring.

Mang

Meaning: Talk.

Example: We had a good mang over a cup of tea.

5. Northern Scotland & Aberdeenshire

Loons & Quines

Meaning: Boys & girls.

Example: The loons and quines are enjoying the Highland Games.

Fowk

Meaning: People.

Example: The fowk here are incredibly welcoming.

Clarty

Meaning: Muddy.

Example: Your boots are looking clarty after that hike.

Wabbit

Meaning: Tired or exhausted.

Example: I'm fair wabbit after today's adventure.

6. Shetland 

Bairn

Meaning: Child.

Example: That bairn spotted the puffins before anyone else!

Bide

Meaning: Stay or live.

Example: I'd happily bide here all summer.

Sirpin

Meaning: Absolutely soaking wet.

Example: We got sirpin walking back from the lighthouse!

Breeks

Meaning: Trousers.

Example: You'll want waterproof breeks if you're walking today.

Yarn

Meaning: A long chat.

Example: Pull up a chair—we'll have a yarn over a dram.

Haste Ye Back

You'll often see "Haste Ye Back" on signs as you leave towns, castles and visitor attractions.

It's Scotland's way of saying:

"Come back soon."

A fitting farewell, and hopefully the start of planning your next Scottish adventure.