Talking to locals using their unique slang will open up many opportunities for you–plus the chance to make new friends as you travel across Scotland! It’ll be a skoosh learning these unique phrases – they’ll think you’re pure dead brilliant (see what we mean?).   

If you want to know more, then let’s dive right in and look at some of the most helpful Scottish slang you can use while travelling in Scotland!

Bonnie

How to Pronounce: Bon-ee

“Bonnie” in Scottish slang means beautiful, pretty, attractive, fair, fine, excellent, or even nice. It’s mostly used when referring to women but you can also use it if you want to refer to a good-looking man, a great situation, or a fantastic event.

Aye

How to Pronounce:  Ai

One of the easiest slang words you can ever use, “aye” is a Scottish word denoting something in the affirmative or simply saying “yes”. While it’s a direct translation of “yes”, Scots will also use it to agree with someone else’s idea or statement. 

It also means “always” or “habitually” especially if placed or said before a verb. If you want to sound like a local, though, use it at the beginning of your sentences rather than at the end like “Aye, I think she’s a bonnie lass.”

Tassie

How to Pronounce: Ta- see

“Tassie” translates to “cup” in Scottish slang. So if ever you’re in Scotland, you can use the term when ordering some tea or wine in a pub or cafe.

Scots also use “tassie” to refer to any kind of drinking vessel. You’ll often hear the locals say this when ordering Scottish staple beverages like some Scottish whisky or gin.

Guttie

How to Pronounce: Guh-ti

When Scots say “gutties,” they mean “shoes”–  more specifically those with rubber or plastic soles. These are footwear considered plimsolls or those commonly used for sports.

Gutties are usually associated with school children as they commonly use these types of shoes during their Physical Education (PE) classes.                                                                   

Hoachin’

How to Pronounce: Hoe-chin

“Hoachin” means “busy” or “heaving”. Being busy like this points to a situation or an area that is unpleasant and is best avoided if you want a calm or chill vibe.

Scots will also use “hoachin” to refer to one’s state of mind. If you’re head’s full of hoachin’ details, then maybe it’s time to step back and take a wellness break from whatever it is that’s bothering you (like work or school).

Crabbit

How to Pronounce: Kra-bit

You don’t want to be called a crabbit as this word usually means a person who is ill-tempered or grumpy. What’s worse is that it can also mean that someone is out of humour, cantankerous, or even perverse!

If you hear a local say that a pub in Scotland has a crabbit bartender or some crabbit patrons, maybe it’s best to visit other establishments to avoid the negativity.

Bampot

How to Pronounce: Bam-pot

Don’t use this word if you don’t want to get in trouble as it means someone is an idiot, a foolish individual, or a nutjob.

Also, be wary when a local warns you that there’s a bampot hassling people in the area as this can also mean that there’s someone shady nearby. 

Ken

How to Pronounce: Ken

This slang term means “know” but it’s also used by the locals in a very specific and unique way. They use “ken” at the end of their sentences to punctuate them and are usually paired with the word ye resulting in “y’ken”.

Translated, it’s like a direct equivalent to the often-used English phrase “you know”. You can use this if you want to ask locals if they understand what you’re trying to explain.

Hen

How to Pronounce: Hen

In Scotland, when you hear the slang “hen”, it doesn’t mean chicken but rather a young lady. Its equivalent in the US (especially in the South) is the word honey or sweetheart, both of which are used as terms of endearment.

Aside from “hen,” you might also hear locals referring to females as “tidy” (women) and bonnie lass (pretty or beautiful ladies). So if you meet a beautiful woman, you can go beyond the word “hen” and simply call her a bonnie lass.

Messages

How to Pronounce: Meh-suh-juhz

No, “messages” in Scottish slang don’t automatically mean the ones we receive on our cell phones. Instead, it can mean “getting groceries” and you might be surprised when locals say this while unloading their supplies from their cars.

You’d have to rely on this for context though, as messages (in its common use) still mean “messages”. If the situation clearly points to a grocery-run, then expect that the said term is being used to refer to items they purchased from the grocery.

Haste ye back

You can bid someone goodbye when in Scotland by saying “Haste ye back!”. It’s not just bidding farewell though as it also signifies that you wish that person to “come back soon” or “be seeing you soon”.

While travelling across the country, you’ll often spot this phrase on a sign before leaving shops, attractions, or locations. It’s a nice gesture and often means they want you (and your business) to come back soon.

Whit’s fur ye’ll no go by ye

Older Scots will usually say “Whit’s fur ye’ll no go by ye” which translates to “what’s meant to happen, will.” It’s as if they’re saying that you can’t stop destiny but it can also be encouraging a positive outlook– that things meant for you will happen in time.

The phrase can be a bit philosophical but you can look at it this way– if you hear someone say this to you and you agree with them, you can smile and respond “Aye!”

Haud yer wheesht

“Haud yer wheesht” is a phrase that means “be quiet” but the way it’s delivered and the situation when it is uttered will determine how rude you want it to be. If you say it softly, it just means pause and listen.

Saying this loudly and aggressively though can be construed by locals as “shut up!” so it’s best to say it in a calm and soothing tone to let the other person know that you just need their undivided attention without having to talk over each other.

Yer lookin’ a bit peely wally

“Yer lookin’ a bit peely wally” may seem like a fun phrase to utter but it’s anything but. It means you look pale or ill and it’s something you don’t want to hear from the locals while you’re making your way across Scotland.

If someone does say this to you, look yourself in the mirror to check if you need medical attention. You may also just need to relax a bit to relieve some of that stress.

Gonnae no’ dae that

During your travel, you might encounter situations where you want someone to immediately stop what they’re doing. For this, you can use the Scottish expression “Gonnae no’ dae that” which translates to stop doing that.

This is especially useful if someone is about to do something strange or silly or if someone is about to be a bampot and do something dangerous.

Pure dead brilliant

“Pure dead brilliant” is a great Scottish phrase that you can use to compliment something during your trip. It means excellent and you can say this to any kind of amazing service you received while in Scotland.

Often reserved for the most extraordinary things, using this slang will grab the attention of locals and make the praise you heaped upon them much more genuine.

Am pure done in

Travelling to different destinations across Scotland can be quite exhausting and if you’re extremely tired, you can say “Am pure done in”. This phrase means you’re “dead tired” and will usually let locals know that you need some well-deserved rest.

Some Scots may also use “ah’m richt knackered” to mean they’re very exhausted. You can use either of these phrases to justify a free day of relaxation during your tour of the country.

It’ll be a skoosh

“It’ll be a skoosh” is like Scots saying “This is easy peasy” or “This is going to be simple.” It could also mean “don’t worry” as it’s a task or activity that the locals can easily do or accomplish. 

You’ll probably hear this during those days of your trip when hiking or other physical activities are involved. Once locals tell you it’ll be a skoosh, then it’s probably going to be manageable and you won’t be “pure done in” once the day is through!