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.
17. If Yer Bradie’s Ower Het, Ye’ll Hae Tae Blaa It
The literal meaning of this one is “if your bridie (pie) is too hot, you’ll have to blow on it.” As the Scottish Scran website reports: “A Scottish Bridie is a simple hand-held meat pie made in a horseshoe shape. It usually contains beef, and sometimes onion, and a few various seasonings.” Photo: MarkGillow on Canva Pro
18. Fit a Loon
If you’ve ever seen a fine gentleman and wanted to exclaim your appreciation of his looks then this is the Doric phrase for you. “Fit a loon” is like saying “what a man/boy”. Photo: joaoscarceus on Canva Pro
19. Oxter
For people who have been slacking in the hygiene department or neglecting to pick up their Lynx Africa then you may want to let them know that their “oxter” (armpit) is absolutely “reeking” (stinking). Photo: Rachata Stock on Canva Pro
20. Feart
Used throughout Scotland and not just the north-eastern portion, the meaning of “feart” is “to be afraid”. If, for example, you’re scared of the dark you could say “ah’m feart o’ the dark” to express that. Photo: TRAVELARIUM on Canva Pro