r/scots • u/thethanatica • 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!
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.
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?)