29 Scottish Phrases and Words that True Edinburgh Locals Will Understand!
It’s hard to find a voice more pleasant to listen to than a Scotsman’s. However, you’d be wrong to think that local slang is the same everywhere. There are many different accents and dialects in this country of more than 5 million people, and each has its own jargon. A visit to cosmopolitan Edinburgh, on the other hand, brings it down to some of the biggest and most common phrases. Here are some of the most common Scottish words and phrases you’ll hear in the city’s center.
Laddie/Lassie
Usually a boy and a girl who aren’t too old. Often said to show love.
Skite
To go out on the skite means to have a night out, usually with alcohol. Some of the most famous nights on the skite happen in the busy bars, pubs, and clubs of Edinburgh.
Aye
Aye means “yes” and is often used instead of “yes” in everyday life in Scotland. On the other hand, “aye, right” is used to show that you don’t believe something (think of it as the Scottish version of “yeah, right”).
Braw
Braw is a well-known Scottish word. In the famous comic strip Oor Wullie, the main character, Oor Wullie, often uses this phrase to describe things that are nice, brilliant, or fantastic. Someone may have “braw banter,” or they may have a great view from their hotel room.
Banter
Conversations that are exciting, funny, or full of quips and wisecracks are all just good chat.
Blether
Having a blether is a general term for catching up, talking about other people, and talking for a long time. It’s best to do this with a cup of tea or a shot of whisky.

Chancer
A chancer is someone who takes risks and asks for unreasonable things in order to “try their luck.” This is usually said with a bit of self-aware cheekiness. That person who asks to borrow cigarettes over and over but never buys any? Chancer.
Chore
To take without permission. If someone else did your chores, you could say goodbye to it.
Dinnae
Don’t. Like, “Don’t forget to bring an umbrella.”
Dreich
It’s not a lie that Scotland has a lot of rainy days. The word “dreich” is a good way to describe days that are dull and gray.
Fae
From. You can be fae in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, or pretty much anywhere.
Fizzy juice
Soda, soft drink, or sugar water with bubbles. Scots would tell you that a can of Irn-Bru is the best fizzy juice you can get.
Get tae
Meant to tell someone to leave (sometimes followed by the F-word in particularly heated circumstances). It can also be used to make fun of someone who is lying or making up a story.
Haud yer wheesht
Used to tell someone to shut up or to stop talking. The mark of a Scottish mother since the beginning of time.
Ken
To learn. “I know Moira from down the road.” “dinnae ken,” on the other hand, means “I don’t know.”

Messages
Items from the store or grocery store. Nothing to do with mail carriers.
Mony a mickle maks a muckle
This old saying gives good business advice by saying that small amounts of money can grow into a lot of money if they are invested well. Scrooge McDuck would agree with this. It’s fun to say out loud, too.
Peely-wally
Looks pale and sick. It’s also used to make fun of people who don’t have a tan.
Pie
To deliberately not pay attention to someone. Most Scots don’t like being pied in the face, but they don’t mind the delicious pastries that can be found in their bakeries.
Pure barry
Amazing and wonderful to the max. Braw 2.0.
Radge
A person who is rowdy or aggressive. “That’s well radge” is used to say that something is crazy or unfair.
Rank
Disgusting and vile. Not the same as taxi stands, where people wait in line to get a ride home.
Scran
Food, dishes, or things to eat. Cullen skink, mince and tatties, and the ever-popular haggis are all examples of traditional Scottish scran.
Shan
Unfair. For instance, if someone jumped the line or if a bacon roll only had half a piece of bacon inside. In this situation, you have every right to use “well shan” to talk about how unfair things are.
Skedaddle aff
To hurry along as you please. It can also be used to say “don’t bother me.”

Steaming
Very, very drunk. Synonym: reeking.
Tidy
The highest form of praise that shows how much someone likes something. As in, “That was a pretty good rant.”
Wur tearin’ the tartan
To be really interested in a conversation. In other words, “having a good old chat.”
Yer heid’s full o’ mince
It’s not good to have a “head full of mince” because it means that the words coming out of a person’s mouth make no sense.
Topic: 29 Scottish Phrases and Words that True Edinburgh Locals Will Understand!
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By: Travel Pixy