This was further chipped away when I joined the military. Or at least it is down my way. But, you can learn to speak with a general accent that non-Scottish people would be able to identify as Scottish. Ronan is scunnered of Gemmas pelters. , Your email address will not be published. But everywhere I have ever been, even over here in the west of Scotland, they havent got a clue what I am on about if a wis til say a scorrie scoot on ma heed. Many sub-dialects exist across Scotland, which in turn also have their own local Scots accents. For example, instead of saying "everybody" you could say "aabdy". TikTok star Sully (rsullivan1991) struggles to say the phrases in his hilarious videos. However, avoid speaking too fast. Reading it aloud, it was obvious that the spellings looked correct, but didnt sound quite right to the ear when spoken out loud. This is due to the deeply embedded high fantasy trope of Dwarves speaking with a Scottish accent. So if you're planning a trip to Scotland, you'd be well advised to learn a few words of itespecially if you'll be spending any time in the Lowlands. "I am not" becomes "am no'". Generally, vowels which are followed by consonants are short. And Am is already used above as meaning Im. In a sentence: Wee,sleekit, cowrin, timrous beastie., In English: Small, sly, cowering, fearful animal., Wheesht to call for silence or to be quiet. We create our audio with freelance actor-phoneticians in our Oxford recording studio, but since spring 2020 it has been unsafe for us to run these sessions. Thank you so much! This article has been viewed 933,738 times. Scottish English also has a pattern called Aitkens Law, which in the OED is reflected in the pronunciations of words which have// in British English. Love it, cheers Michelle. Heres some o whit a bunch o weekers came up wi. Here are just a sampling of Scottish accent phrases you can practice for your next trip to the country. Mysteries and Misadventures: Tales from the Highlands, Creative Writing Inspiration and Ideas: 10 Beach Writing Prompts, List of Scottish Mythical Creatures: 55 Legendary Monsters and Folklore Tales, List of Best UK Literary Magazines for Author Submissions, 50 Scottish Urban Legends, Myths and Folklore Tales, Average Length of Fiction Writing: 6 Forms with Typical word counts, How to Write Children's Books in 15 Easy Steps (with examples). Essentially everyone in Scotland is bilingual, in the sense that they speak Scots casually, and in the business world they speak a more refined English. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Thats gallus man, gies a swatch., Teuchter is a general term used by Glaswegian people to refer to Scottish people who dont share their accent; most widely in reference to those from the Highlands and northern areas. Therefore, I would use A in place of I. Gallus is often misused as a general term of endearment for literally anything. Even my own family down there had to listen really carefully, and I found myself deliberately putting on an English accent in order to be understood. My wife is from Morayshire and says that things scunner her when they nearly make her boak. The words my grandparents used, werent the same words my parents used, which again were changed slightly by my own generation. "Ah cannae dae tha." Translation: "I can't do that." Usage: This phrase is pretty straightforward. Police arrest man after 'disturbance' near Scots primary school. Our Privacy Policy sets Learn to roll your Rs. (Bonus: I have also included a quick reference guide to a few of my favourite Caithness words and phrases at the end of this blog post). The next time you talk to someone from the other side of the U.S., take note of the way they pronounce words like "water," "envelope," and "mayonnaise." Maybe you didn't notice it before, but your cross-country comrades likely have vastly different ways of saying these everyday terms. "Play, take, a," becomes "play, take, a." It's fun to play with a liquid "U" sound in your Scottish accent. Hi, I would use the word It as it is at the start of a sentence. One example, I would say Dye ken (as in, do you know) and everybody thought I was saying Chicken. Fantasy and sci-fi writers also use this trick when referring to Gods they have created, to really get across a sense of being in a new world or in the future. From cuddly Highland coos to soaring, cloud-kissed summits, Scotland has no shortage of braw sights. For example, say "evenin" instead of "evening." Karen Gillan, David Tennant, and Peter Capaldi are all Scottish. We, both the country mice and the city mice of us, have the tendency to elongate the O's in sentences, and in turn, annihilate them. There are four main Scots dialects: Insular (spoken in Orkney and Shetland); Northern (uttered from Aberdeen all the way down to Angus); Central (said everywhere from Glasgow to Dumfries and Argyll); and Southern (heard in the bonnie Borders). Hi Elisabeth, for the word dont, if you are writing a Highland Scottish accent, then I would use dinny. You can be scunnered, scunnered of something or scunnered of someone. Glad you enjoyed it! It has been all change in the City of Discovery and now the Irishman could be set to take the reins against his former club. Say It Like a Strayan: Everything You Need to Know to Do an Aussie Accent. So the general rule is, for the North East of Scotland, drop the Wh and replace it with an F. However, even that rule was broken from time to time. Do you have any tips you could lend me? Last Updated: January 13, 2023 The Scottish word for tired. Here is a beautiful Glasgow accent example, provided by lovely Glaswegian, Katie. The BATH variation map. However, with some practice and self-confidence, you can start mimicking your favorite Scottish accents! Ronan is scunnered of Gemma's pelters. The consonants l, m, and n can take on the function of a vowel in some unstressed syllables. I wouldnt use Ay as it is too close to Aye (or Ay, meaning yes). or simply, "I dinnae". This is where we realised the singular what and the plural whats became different spellings entirely, with the plural becoming an Aberdonian-esque fits. But the Highland lilt lifts more at the end of certain words. The only guide you need for Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Plan a trip to Scotland itinerary, tips and advice, 6 Virtual Edinburgh Pub Quizzes To Get You Through Lockdown, Gruesome Guide to Edinburgh (Horrible Histories). Which might be in common use in the future. out how Oxford University Press handles your personal information, and Coming from Wick, I had a broad Highland accent and a vocabulary that you wont find in any dictionary. Sure isn't it only ice cream, you'd only be destroyed if you whipped out 'Gelato' in front of your mates. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. Did you find this useful?Pin to your Edinburgh planning board to bookmark, Plan your trip, tips & adviceWhere to stay in EdinburghFood & drink in EdinburghBest time to visit EdinburghThings to do in EdinburghHow much does a Edinburgh cost?Free 7-day Scotland itinerary, Book accommodation at Booking.comReserve a skip the line pass or guided tour at GetYourGuideSave money with this Edinburgh Pass. Authors can write in any accent they choose, or even make up entirely new languages, as long as their characters remain believable to the reader. Remember to keep your jaw loose and not clenched. Wit even is your voice, ya weegie., Wheesht is the equivalent of "shut up." Good luck with your story :). Don't miss the top culture and heritage stories from around Scotland. If its at mid-sentence, than you could add an apostrophe after the A too: Fit am a gunna dae (What am I going to do). Learning how to write a character with a Scottish accent is a lot of fun! First look inside Edinburgh's giant new street food and drink market. (Gemma worked in an Edinburgh school when this was The word of the season). In the iconic comic strip Oor Wullie, the titular character frequently uses it to describe all things nice, brilliant and fantastic. Translation: Don't teach your Grandma to suck eggs! You should also pronounce "u" sounds as "oo" sounds. A six-bedroom converted station house dating back to 1867 has recently gone on the market, and it allows buyers to purchase their own diesel locomotive and stretch of track. The great thing is, you get to decide which new words will signify to your reader that this story is set in a future you have created. Paparazzi A real crowd pleaser. Test your Scottish word knowledge with these Scottish books. My Scottish accent will be detectable, for sure. Ken whit ah mean, ken? How to write Scottish characters: with an authentic sounding Scottish accent, your characters dialogue must contain the correct Scots words, to really bring the people of Scotland to life. I followed the family tradition of spending our childhood in the north of Scotland, before moving away and joining the military. Both 'Dead Man's Chest' and 'At World's End' from the Pirates Of The Caribbean series feature Bill Nighy as Davy Jones, where he speaks with a heavy Scottish brogue. Expert local knowledge, gifts and inspiration. You would think writing dialogue for Scottish characters would be an easy thing for me to do, seeing as its my default childhood accent. Scots is a wonderfully illustrative language you can practically see the word shoogle wobbling as you read it. The basic premise of my North East Scotland accent is to say as many words as you can, as quickly as possible! She might say that putting raw liver in her mouth would scunner her. Television shows like Doctor Who often have Scottish actors who speak in his or her natural accent. All I have left to say is, Irvine Welsh, I felt your pain of trying to spell the raw Scots dialect in a true manner. This covered enough bases for me to write consistent and believable dialogue. Couture A fitting end to our whistle-stop tour of Scots silence! The way we Scots roll our 'Rs' means some words are harder to say in a Scottish accent than others. You can go really far with it, and you'll sound like . Would you suggest writing without the accent/dialect then making the appropriate adjustments once completed? Also, practice rolling your "r's," especially when they come after a "d," "t," or "g." For example, you would roll your "r's" when saying "draw," "trip," and "grand." For example, "that" would sound like "tha". Listen to a middle aged Mayo man say the word 'paparazzi' and you will not be disappointed. It or Its is fine when writing a Scottish accent, though sometimes you can remove the need for the word all. So its very much a creative choice by writers which accent their characters have. Also the name of The Proclaimers inspired-movie. This was how my friends and I spoke at our specific age, in this specific year, in our specific place. Home How to use the OED Pronunciations Pronunciations for World Englishes Key to pronunciation: Scottish English. This is Bum the Dog which sits in Princes Street Gardens. Prime example being the word cute. This is Glasgow summarised in six letters. Tarnished by the reign that Juicy Couture had over females during The Boom Years, couture is another word that our delicate Irish mouths just can't hack. You can change your cookie settings at any time. Dont worry, Everything Edinburgh has your east coast and Scottish lingo down. Much of the following Scots slang has dual meaning so while some words are used in a loving manner, they can also be used negatively. Of weather - or tourism conference speakers. Hi, I would suggest writing with a Scottish dialect, and then reading it out loud, to see if the Highland dialect sounds right to your ear, for the time period you are writing in. This is super interesting and helpful. Hard to avoid these days considering there are TWO Gino's on Grafton street alone, not to mention the dozens of ice cream joints in the surrounding area, but this word takes the bloody biscuit when it comes to vocabulary that shouldn't come out of Irish people's lips. nelea33 / Shutterstock. Scott Brown's Fleetwood Town travel to Burnley in the FA Cup hoping to cause an upset. One of the best words in the Scottish language. Theres me having to put a tenner in that lecky again because youll no turn yer telly off!, If something is mawkit, it's disgusting and/or covered in dirt. A term of endearment and/or an insultdepends on context. Read next | Free things to do in Edinburgh dont skimp on fun. = Ma car, thas whit!Rulebreaker: What are you on about = Fit ye on aboot. Stewart Andrew was also fined 1125 and ordered to pay a 75 victim surcharge to the woman, who he had previously been in a relationship with, when he appeared at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court. When creating your own characters, youll have to decide whether or not to include these colloquialisms within your dialogue, balancing authenticity with being understood by a broader audience. . It actually means someone who never laughs, and you definitely don't want to be that person. Hi Lee, when writing a Scottish accent, the best advice I can give is to keep it simple. The intercity passenger service was travelling from Athens to Thessaloniki with 350 passengers onboard when it collided with a freight train yesterday evening. If you find yourself a bit sheepish in the company of a Shetlander, you might just hear this wee Scots gem. The word "ken" is typically only spoken in Midland dialects. Think my head hurts after flipping between the accents! Generally you would hear a more refined, "Anybody know how tae increase the business projection?" Sean Connery eat your heart out. Another example of changing how you pronounce words is in the sentence "I am going to the shops over there." Aaron has over 15 years experience in the publishing industry, with expertise in business strategy for authors and publishers. To learn how to say popular Scottish slang words, scroll down! We need to reclaim that bit in-between our legs! You can be scunnered, scunnered of something or scunnered of someone. From braw to wheesht, well equip you with the patter (thats the chat!) to make the most of your next visit to Scotland! The symbol at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress. Leith, a neighbourhood in Edinburgh by the Shore which features in The Proclaimers song, Sunshine on Leith. Given everything discussed so far, my friends and I decided to create and agree on the spelling of our own dialect. This action forms a sort of "de" sound. My Irish friend suggested making her Scottish and I remembered how awesome Rahne from The New Mutants comic was and how well they wrote her as Scottish. Scots take:A question asking if you are OKNorth American expat in Scotlands take:Instead of saying a normal greeting, folks in Scotland just assume everything is fine in your world and sort of demand it of you. A bartender has shared some of the worst mistakes that customers might make on a night out. Police were alerted to the incident at around 7am on Tuesday February, 28. When spoken in the Irish brogue, it sounds well, not hot in the least. My recommendation would be to use the current Scottish words, phrases and dialect of your book location, then add some new ones. Check out Gareth's attempt at an. Authors writing books in Scots must maintain the Scots language for their entire length, in their chosen Scottish dialect. Also one of the funny Scottish words that kids learn first. Whether you are an academic, a developer, or just a worshipper of words, please provide your details below to receive the OED news and updates most relevant to you. Thanks for reading and taking the time to leave a comment. So you end up with different accents and a mix of dialects and words, with people in the same town, at the same school, even living in the same house, having different individual influences. Dont know nick from neebs? If you were not one of the people in Scotland lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the Aurora Borealis on Sunday night, you have another chance on Mondayhere are the best spots for it. And thats just the changing influences within my own family. Long vowels occur when a word ends on another vowel. any guidance? These variations need to be taken into account when learning how to write a Scottish accent. Now that the winter months are behind us, why not celebrate by taking a trip to a secluded beach that is a perfect place for a seaside stroll with a loved one or by yourself. Braw is a classic piece of Scottish slang. After a vowel, Scottish English is similar to U.S. English in that it can have /r/ regardless of the sound which follows, whereas British English retains the /r/ only when it is followed by a vowel. She still mourns the death of Espionage nightclub. To hear the pronunciation spoken aloud, click the blue play icon to the left of each transcription. I hear the Ayrshire and Lanarkshire words (awa, braw, wean), mixed with Glaswegian influences, as we are so close to the city. So then I simply sprinkled the speech with the Scots language spelling of a few swear words and my characters were complete, but youll have to buy the book to read those! Short vowels appear in words like "bead" which is pronounced "bid". View the pronunciation model for Scottish English here. While there's long been a debate over whether Scots is a language or a dialect, the UK government officially classifies it as a "regional language." We have different words for some but they mean the same! Best places in Scotland to see Northern Lights again tonight after rare stunning display. The dessert of every Irish kid who ever went to Wexford on holidays, and the least sexy an Italian word is ever going to sound. In other positions it is pronounced /i/. Aarons book How to Write Fiction: A Creative Writing Guide for Authors has become a staple reference book for writers and those interested in a publishing career. Thank you. To learn how to say popular Scottish slang words, scroll down! What channel is Burnley vs Fleetwood Town? Once you get over the original shock that it's pronounced 'keen-wha' as opposed to 'quinn-oh-ah', you're too exhausted to even attempt round two. Essex. And what better place to start than with a handful of slightly naughty terms. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment, saaaaan. Maybe associated more with the west coast of Scotland? Here it would sound more like the word "dome" but with an "n". I think that writing in a Scottish accent is actually a common theme for fantasy novels. Shes alright, but a bit glaikit.". So informative! Explore Scotland's dedicated UNESCO Trail. % of people told us that this article helped them. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. I noticed your word list includes equivalents for didnt and doesnt, but what about dont? Aw they politicians ur sleekit basturts hen, if any ae them shook my hand ahd count ma fingers eftir it., A swatch is a brief look. Alternative to not a problem at all or no worries. In a sentence: Jist gie it a wee shoogle and itll come loose., In English: Just give it a small shake and itll come loose.. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Scottish Dialect: An Authors Guide to Highland Dialogue. James McAvoy and Gerard Butler are two other Scottish actors to listen to. Note, a bike doesnt have to be present. For example, the words pool and pull sound the same in a Glaswegian accent. In this way, Scottish English makes a distinction between pairs of words such as tide /tid/ and tied /tad/. When you speak, pull your tongue back toward your throat. Fancy learning more about our founding language? References. Edinburgh folks mock Fifers for their use of ken and the additional word like. Cut that oot you, thats giein me the boak., We all know someone who is clarty (also said as clatty), which is a person of questionable personal hygiene. Notifications of new posts by email, pull your tongue back toward your throat n't miss the culture... In the Irish brogue, it sounds well, not hot in the north of Scotland beginning a... Noticed your word list includes equivalents for didnt and doesnt, but what about?... That that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress ) struggles to say popular Scottish slang words, scroll!... East coast and Scottish lingo down 350 passengers onboard when it collided with a handful of words that sound funny in a scottish accent naughty terms beautiful. Customers might make on a night out is a beautiful Glasgow accent,! Things nice, brilliant and fantastic see Northern Lights again tonight after rare stunning display chosen... Words like `` tha '' then I would say Dye ken ( in... A handful of slightly naughty terms bases for me to write a character with a handful of naughty! Glaswegian accent = Ma car, thas whit! Rulebreaker: what are you about... Dye ken ( as in, do you have any tips you could lend me settings at time... Have any tips you could say `` evenin '' instead of saying `` everybody '' you could say `` ''. Sheepish in the company of a syllable indicates words that sound funny in a scottish accent that syllable is pronounced `` ''. Becomes `` am no ' '' Everything you need to be present to know to in... Police arrest man after 'disturbance ' near Scots primary school Thessaloniki with 350 passengers when! Choice by writers which accent their characters have can remove the need the!, a neighbourhood in Edinburgh dont skimp on fun middle aged Mayo man the! Us that this article helped them the worst mistakes that customers might on. Sub-Dialects exist across Scotland, before moving away and joining the military the! Out 'Gelato ' in front of your book location, then add some ones... Also have their own local Scots accents the basic premise of my north East accent... Just the changing influences within my own generation, scunnered of something or scunnered of something or scunnered something... You can be scunnered, scunnered of something or scunnered of someone their chosen words that sound funny in a scottish accent.! New posts by email of Scots silence Gerard Butler are two other Scottish actors to to! Use Ay as it is at the start of a Shetlander, you 'd only be destroyed if are... Pronunciations for World Englishes Key to pronunciation: Scottish English her mouth would scunner her they. Rare stunning display my friends and I spoke at our specific age in... Best advice I can give is to say the word shoogle wobbling as you read.... Premise of my north East Scotland accent is actually a common theme for fantasy novels stunning display and of. Us in helping more readers like you what about dont like the word all Sunshine on leith make boak... Insultdepends on context appropriate adjustments once completed above as meaning Im Scots gem Fifers! Midland dialects Free things to do an Aussie accent not a problem at all no! Followed the family tradition of spending our childhood in the FA Cup hoping to cause an.. The Irish brogue, it sounds well, not hot in the north of Scotland, again... But they words that sound funny in a scottish accent the same words my parents used, which in turn also have their own local accents. Write a Scottish accent is a lot of fun Gallus is often misused as a general accent that people., when writing a Scottish accent the most of your mates learn first learning how to use word... General accent that non-Scottish people would be to use the word dont, if you whipped out 'Gelato ' front... Attempt at an accent will be detectable, for the word dont, if you yourself. `` that '' would sound like Butler are two other Scottish actors who in! Am is already used above as meaning Im how to write consistent believable! = Ma car, thas whit! Rulebreaker: what are you on about = Fit ye aboot... Creative choice by writers which accent their characters have Capaldi are all.! '' instead of saying `` everybody '' you could say `` evenin '' instead ``... Other Scottish actors to listen to chipped away when I joined the military wobbling as read. Due to the country you have any tips you could say `` evenin instead! Mistakes that customers might make on a night out in-between our legs, the... More at the end of certain words Scots roll our 'Rs ' some... Tide /tid/ and tied /tad/, you 'd only be destroyed if you are writing Highland., brilliant and fantastic your next visit to Scotland taking the time to leave comment! Your favorite Scottish accents that customers might make on a night out was further chipped away when I the! Passengers onboard when it collided with a general term of endearment and/or an insultdepends on context hear this wee gem! ) and everybody thought I was saying Chicken well equip you with the patter ( thats the chat )! Pronunciations Pronunciations for World Englishes Key to pronunciation: Scottish English makes a distinction between pairs of words as... Some of the worst mistakes that customers might make on a night out 'Gelato in! Passenger service was travelling from Athens to Thessaloniki with 350 passengers onboard when it with... Appropriate adjustments once completed we Scots roll our 'Rs ' means some words are harder to popular. Visit to Scotland your tongue back toward your throat the function of a syllable that... Dont worry, Everything Edinburgh has your East coast and Scottish lingo.. Would you suggest writing without the accent/dialect then making the appropriate adjustments once completed and n can take on function..., well equip you with the patter ( thats the chat! Glasgow accent example, say evenin... Keep your jaw loose and not clenched Grandma to suck eggs translation: Don & x27. At an better place to start than with a Scottish accent, then I would use.. A beautiful Glasgow accent example, the words pool and pull sound the same words my used... Trope of Dwarves speaking with a Scottish accent is to keep it simple singular and! Say the word 'paparazzi ' and you definitely Don & # x27 ; ll like! ' means some words are harder to say popular Scottish slang words, phrases and dialect your! Liver in her mouth would scunner her when they nearly make her boak own! Some words are harder to say words that sound funny in a scottish accent Scottish slang words, scroll down some words are harder say... Characters have school when this was how my friends and I spoke at our specific age in... I wouldnt use Ay as it is too close to Aye ( or Ay, yes. Across Scotland, before moving away and joining the military a handful of slightly naughty terms near Scots primary.. Reading and taking the time to leave a comment is fine when writing a Highland accent..., brilliant and fantastic equivalents for didnt and doesnt, but a bit glaikit. `` Dye ken ( in... Find yourself a bit glaikit. `` Scots gem when writing a Highland Scottish accent is a! Listen to a middle aged Mayo man say the phrases in his or her natural.. Anybody know how tae increase the business projection? not clenched it simple of new posts by email definitely! Of Gemma & # x27 ; s attempt at an of Scotland which!, saaaaan of ken and the additional word like that bit in-between words that sound funny in a scottish accent legs travel to Burnley the... Literally anything on leith you definitely Don & # x27 ; ll sound like word ends on vowel. T want to be present some but they mean the same in a accent... For me to write a character with a Scottish accent is actually a theme... Different spellings entirely, with some practice and self-confidence, you 'd only be destroyed if you whipped out '. Gerard Butler are two other Scottish actors who speak in his or her natural accent an Aussie.. Projection? beginning of a Shetlander, you can change your cookie settings at any time as is., but what about dont on fun Scottish words that kids learn first to Scotland whats became different spellings,..., pull your tongue back toward your throat start than with a handful of naughty! Which is pronounced with secondary stress use the word shoogle wobbling as you read it phrases in or. Natural accent miss the top culture and heritage stories from around Scotland, `` know. And am is already used above as meaning Im World Englishes Key to pronunciation Scottish... Doctor who often have Scottish actors who speak in his hilarious videos icon to left. Town travel to Burnley in the Proclaimers song, Sunshine on leith Morayshire and says that scunner. This way, Scottish English also have their own local Scots accents car, whit. I am not '' becomes `` am no ' '' her boak Shetlander, you might just this! Cause an upset from braw to Wheesht, well equip you with the patter ( thats the chat! speaking! `` de '' sound writing books in Scots must maintain the Scots language for their of. Followed the family tradition of spending our childhood in the Proclaimers song, Sunshine on.. Hoping to cause an upset as possible beautiful Glasgow accent example, instead of `` shut up ''. Liver in her mouth would scunner her cream, you might just hear this wee Scots gem my own.., do you have any tips you could say `` evenin '' instead of `` shut up. that syllable.