Scotland has three native tongues; English, the Scots Language and Scottish Gaelic. As a language endangered in its heartland, Gaelic has been at the forefront of the national conversation and even found its place in pop culture with Gaelic phrases appearing in Outlander and over 1.5 million new students signing up to learn it on Duolingo.
Examples of Scots Leid are also not too hard to come by as the language has been popularised by the likes of Robert Burns who has received worldwide acclaim for his works like Auld Lang Syne. However, as with most languages, Scots also has dialects which may be lesser known such as Doric in the north-east.
Dubbed Scotland’s “little known fourth language” by the BBC, they said: “This “mither tongue” (mother tongue) is spoken widely from Peterhead in Aberdeenshire to Nairn in the Highlands, where one in two people speak it, according to the University of Aberdeen.”
Let’s shift things away from ‘lesser known’ to ‘better known’ with these 25 Doric words and phrases that will give beginners a ‘guid’ idea of how to speak it.
Dubbed Scotland’s “little known fourth language” by the BBC, they said: “This “mither tongue” (mother tongue) is spoken widely from Peterhead in Aberdeenshire to Nairn in the Highlands, where one in two people speak it, according to the University of Aberdeen.”
![Popularised by the phrase “Dinna Fash, Sassenach” in Outlander, to tell someone to “Dinna Fash Yersel” means “don’t fuss yourself” or “don’t trouble yourself”. It’s said to reassure someone that it’s not worth worrying about.](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOmJjZmVlM2NjLWMxMDItNDIzZS05OGI3LTVlY2QwN2E2MmY0ZjpiNzIyOTIzOC0yZGIxLTRjZjMtYTI2MC0xOTlkMTI1NTY3NjA=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
13. Dinna Fash Yersel
Popularised by the phrase “Dinna Fash, Sassenach” in Outlander, to tell someone to “Dinna Fash Yersel” means “don’t fuss yourself” or “don’t trouble yourself”. It’s said to reassure someone that it’s not worth worrying about. Photo: Submitted
![Literally translated, the phrase “like snaa aff a dyke” means “like snow off a wall”. The expression is used to describe something disappearing very quickly just as snow on a wall melts away in no time at all.](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjcxODhiMWM0LTVjMWMtNDhkOC1hMmM2LTA3NDcxYjNhNDlkZTo0ZmMyOTVmYS02OTJhLTQ4MWItYTc3NS03YzQzZGQxYTQ4MjA=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
14. Like Snaa Aff a Dyke
Literally translated, the phrase “like snaa aff a dyke” means “like snow off a wall”. The expression is used to describe something disappearing very quickly just as snow on a wall melts away in no time at all. Photo: 00one on Canva Pro
![Another useful expression which is similar to “I’m Fair Trauchled”, to say “I’m Pechin” is to say that you’re out of breath.](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOmM5MDQ1NDFkLWU2MDctNGNiMi04MGYxLWJmOGRkZTg2M2NkYjpkZWJmMjMyOC1jOTlkLTQ0MDMtODA1YS0xOTE3Yzc3ZDMzNmQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
15. I’m Pechin
Another useful expression which is similar to “I’m Fair Trauchled”, to say “I’m Pechin” is to say that you’re out of breath. Photo: Victor Freitas on Canva Pro
![If you try to sound this phrase out loud you can probably guess what it means right away. It is the Doric equivalent of saying “You’re a sight for sore eyes.”](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjg2YjA3YjU0LWVjNGItNGE3OS05ODI1LTIzMTA3N2YxZmNlYzoxMjUxMmMwYS02MmQ0LTQ4YmEtYTY1Ni0zZGZlOTAwMGE1MmI=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
16. Ye’re a Sicht Fer Sair Een
If you try to sound this phrase out loud you can probably guess what it means right away. It is the Doric equivalent of saying “You’re a sight for sore eyes.” Photo: Ivan Babydov on Canva Pro