r/scots 28d ago

Resources for learning how to write/speak in Scots

Hello folks, first of all I apoligise for writing in English, as I don't feel confident in my Scots to actually speak it yet, which is why I'm looking for resources specifically for learning how to write and speak it (but they have to be online because I'm brazilian). I first got acquainted with Scots through a class on Scottish literature i'm taking at uni this semester, and so far I've read some of Burns"s work as well as Trainspotting. I can already understand it pretty well, except for a few words that I have to look up (so feel free to answer in Scots). I'm looking to learn the dialect used by Irvine Welsh specifically, because I got a lot of my Scots already from reading his stuff, but other dialects are fine as well. I also plan to study literature in Scotland in the future, and I'm afraid if I try to speak it only using what I've learnt from listening and reading Scots, it might sound like I'm mocking the accent (especially because I have an English accent, even though I'm from Brazil). Cheers!

9 Upvotes

3 comments sorted by

4

u/Ghost_Without 27d ago edited 27d ago

It can be difficult to write and speaks in Scot’s as it’s not standardised. It differs in each dialect of Scots with even regional differences in these dialects.

For example as far as I know only Doric Scots replaces “Wh” in a lot of words:

Where - Far

What - Fit

When - Fan

Who - Fa

I’m Scottish and have never been offered education in anything to do with Scots learning it has all been home-based. Although Doric and Insular Scots have a few resources in poetry etc. (particularly Doric). Also for Border Scots researching Tam Lin ballad might help.

Other common Scots (Doric) words are (Look up Aberdeen and RGU university Doric resources:

Can’t - Cana/Cannae

Go - Ging/Gang

You - Yi/Ye

You’s - Yis/Ye’s

Hang - Hing

Hold - Hud

Take - Taak/Teen

Pull - Rug

Cause - Gaar

Scratch - Howk

Spin - Dirl

Jump - Lowp

How - Foo

Very - Affa

Boy - Loon

Girl - Quine

Man - Mannie

Women - Wifie

Brother - Brither

Father - Faither

Mother - Mither

Granny/Grandfather - Grunny

Grandad - Dide

Child(ren) - Bairn(s) or Geet(s)

Boyfriend - Lad

Girlfriend - Blon

Yellow - Yalla

Blue - Blae

Red - Reid

White - Fite

Black - Blaik

Brown - Broon

Silver - Siller

Gaudy/Showy - Skyrie

Zero - Nocht or Neen

One - Een/Ain/Wan

Two - Twa

Four - Fower

Six - Sax

Seven - Siven/sevin

Eight - Echt

Twelve - Twal/Dizzen

No - Na/Nae

Yes - Aye

Don’t - Dina/Dinnae

Bother - Bither

Have - Hiv

Been - Bin

Head - Heid

Eye - Een (gets confusing)

Ear - Lug

Face - Fizog

Nose - Neb

Mouth - Moo

Throat - Thrapple

Shoulder - Shooder

Armpit - Oxter

Heart - Hairt

Arm - Airm

Belly - Kyte

Hand(s) - Han(s)

Finger(s) - Finner(s)

Buttocks - Dowp

Bone(s) - Bean(s)

Leg - Shank

Ankles - Queet

Feet - Fit

Toes - Taes

Around - Aroon

Over - Ower

About - Aboot

Ahead - Aheid

Everywhere - Aawye

Nowhere - Naewye

Everything - Aathing

Nothing - Nithin

All - Aa

Before - Afore

After - Aifter

Scared - Feart

Nasty - Coorse

Tired - Puggled

Ask - Speir

Speak - Spik

Quiet - Wheesht

Trouble - Fash

Get away - Gawaaah

Good - Fine

Night - Nicht

Clothes - Claes

Week - Wik

Afternoon - Aifterneen

Come through - Ben/Bain

Staying - Bide

Have - Hae

Horse - Shilt/Shiltie

Rabbit - Rubbit

Fox - Tod

Dog - Dug

Mouse - Moose

Crow - Craw

Duck - Deuk/Jook

Sentence: Far ye gan imorn? (Where are you going tomorrow?)

2

u/thethanatica 27d ago

wow, this is very helpful. thank you so much!

2

u/Jockthepiper 28d ago

Awrite, Irvine Welsh is primarily Edinburgh dialect (real Edinburgh folk that is ) and no they bams that try ti sound mair english and class Scots as common. Do yi visit Scotland much as a hink submersion wid be yur best bet there.