Glaswegian Dictionary

Glaswegian Dictionary

Our Glaswegian dictionary is a comprehensive collection of words and phrases used in the Glaswegian dialect of the Scottish language.

We want to provide a comprehensive understanding of the unique linguistic traits of this amazing city and its people. This dialect has been shaped by the city’s history, including its working-class roots, and has evolved over time to reflect the changing cultural, social and political landscape. The Glaswegian dictionary serves as a useful tool for both native speakers and outsiders looking to understand the language used in Glasgow. It includes explanations of words and phrases, as well as their origins and meanings, making it a valuable resource for anyone interested in the language and culture of Glasgow.

Letters A – F

Aboot About
Aff: Off
Ah/Ah’ll/Ahm: I/I’ll/I’m
Ain: Own, as in my own, which would be “Ma ain”.
Anaw: Aswell, also, too, in addition to.
Arsed: Bothered, as in “Ah cannae be arsed”, meaning I can’t be bothered.
Auld/Aul’: Old
Aye: Yes
Backie: A ride on the back of someones bike.
Bahookie: Buttocks, bum, bottom, arse, erse, ass, butt.
Baltic: Very cold, normally used to describe a particularly cold day, as in “It’s bloody baltic the day”.
Bampot: Idiot, crazy person, silly or stupid person. Bampot is a dissaproving word normally used after someone has done something particularly stupid.
Banter: Lively and humourous chat or conversation. Banter is a term used to describe lively humourous conversation, usually between friends. But in Glasgow you will hear banter from many people you don’t know or have just met, e.g. a Glaswegian taxi driver, or a wee old lady waiting in the queue for her messages. (Definition of “messages” is below).
Barras: The Barras, or Barrowlands; a location in Glasgows East End where there is a street market.
Barrbru: Irn Bru; the fizzy, orange coloured drink that the Scot’s love. I can’t describe the taste. You have to taste it yourself to discover how delightful it is. Also recommended as a brilliant hangover cure by many Glaswegians.
Bawbag: Can be used in the literal sense, meaning scrotum. Can also be used as a derogatory term, normally towards a male, meaning asshole or dick.
Beamer: Red face caused by Embarresment. e.g. James had a beamer when realised his fly was down. A beamer is not a BMW in Glasgow!
Belter: A very good thing, for example “That goal was a total belter!”
Bile: Boil, often used in the phrase “Away an’ bile yer heid” which is a cheeky way of saying no to someone.
Boabie: Male genitals, penis, willy, wangdoodle, knob, cock, dick, johnson.
Boak: Vomit, would most likely be heard in the phrase “That gies (gives) me the boak” which translates as finding something particularly disgusting.
Boggin: Very dirty, manky, mockit, mingin’.
Bookies: Bookmakers
Boozer: If someone is talking about going to the boozer, it means they are going to the pub.
Brass neck: Impudence, shameful boldness, embarrassing behavior. This phrase is normally used to highlight someones bold cheel or unwittingly embarrassing behavior in company of others.
Breed: Bread, as in “breed an’ butter”.
Bucky: Buckfast; a tonic wine which is particularly popular among the Glasgow neds.
Bufter: Homosexual
Bunnet: Hat, any type of hat. Sometimes can also mean a tweed hat.
Burds: Females
By-the-way: This is a phrase used to accentuate or draw draw attention to a particular point. Can also mean aswell, also or too.
Cannae: Can’t
Cauld: Cold (Pronounced like the word called).
Chibbed: Cut with a sharp object, normally a knife. A term used mainly in terms of stabbing someone.
Clatty: Dirty, manky, mingin’.
Clatty pats: The affectionate name for a nightclub in Glasgows West End called Cleopatras.
Connel: Candle
Coo: Cow, as in the milk producing domestic animal. You might hear the term “Highlan’ coo” which is the breed of cow found mainly in the Scottish highlands.
Copper crack: Dirty bum
Coupon: Face, as in “What’s up wi’ your coupon?”
Croanie: Old friend
Da Dad, father
Dae: Do
Daftie: Idiot, halfwit. Generally an endearing term used when someone does something a bit silly.
Dancer, Ya: An expression of joy. When something particularly great happens then the phrase “Ya dancer” may be shouted.
Dancin: Used when talking about a nightclub, as in “Ahm going tae the dancin’ the night”.
Diddies: Breasts, Boobs
Dinjy: Dark and dirty
Diz: Does
Dobber: A derogatory term similar to calling some a dick, but perhaps a bit more friendly.
Dod: A dod of something just means a bit something.
Doin’/Doing: A beating or fight. Might be heard from someone who angry with someone else and to whom they are “Going to give a doing”.
Donner: A walk, as in “A wee donner round the park”.
Doon: Down, as in “Lets go doon the pub the night”.
Dug: Dog
Eejit: Silly person, normally not used in a derogatory way.
Emdy: Anybody, as in “Is emdy in the lavvie the noo?”
Erse: Arse, bottom, bum, buttocks, ass, as in “Sit on yer erse and listen tae me”.
Fae: From
Faimly: Family
Fanny-bawz: A derogatory term (similar to dobber).
Fartsack: Bed
Fiver: A five pound note
Flittin’: Moving house
Fly: Illicit
Fud: A name for female genitalia. Normally used as an insult, in which case it means the same as idiot or fanny.
Fugly: Fucking ugly
Fur: For

Letters G- L

 
Gaff Boss or another person in charge. Can also be used by a person talking to someone older.
Geesa: Give me a, as in “Geesa wee dod a that”.
Get it up ye: Loosely translated, this means “Ha Ha”.
Gies: Give
Ginger: Fizzy juice, particularly pertaining to Irn Bru.
Gonnae: Will you or can you, as in “Gonnae gies a wee dod a that?”
Greetin: Normally means crying, but can also mean moaning.
Gub: Mouth, gob
Hackit: Ugly, someone with a weathered face.
Hairy (Hairy Mary): A female ned, normally one who is particularly loud and mouthy.
Hameldaeme: Home
Haudin’: Holding
Haw: Generally an expression used to catch someones attention, particularly someone a distance away, for example across a street.
Hawd: Hold
Hawfwit: Halfwit, idiot, silly or stupid person. Generally not derogatory.
Hawn: Hand, as in “Will ye hawd ma hawn?”
Heavy: Can be used instead of the word very, but can also be used to describe bad news.
Hee haw: Nothing, as in “He’ll be getting’ hee haw aff me”.
Heid: Head
Heid case: Head case, idiot. Can be derogatory. Normally used to describe someone who has done something particlarly stupid.
Heid the baw: Halfwit, idiot, silly or stupid person. Generally not derogatory.
Heider: Header
Hen: A term used to refer to or greet a female, as in “Hiya hen, how are ye?”
Here you: An expression used to attract someones attention.
Hing: Can mean hang, but is also the slang way of saying thing.
Hoachin’: Very busy
Honkin’: Smelly, horrible or disgusting.
Honnel: Handle
Hudnae: Had not
Hunner/s: Hundred/s, as in “There were hunners a folk there this mornin”.
Huv: Have
Intae: Into
Isnae: Isn’t
Jake Can mean cheap booze, but is more commonly to refer to a tramp or homeless person. Can also be used to describe someone who looks messy.
Jessie: If someone is described as a “big Jessie” it normally means that they are a bit soft.
Jimmy Riddle: Piddle, pish, pee, wee, urine.
Jist: Just
Jobby: Poo, faeces, shit.
Kerry oot: Carry out. Generally refers to buying alcohol from an off licence, but can also mean take-away food.
Keys/Keyses: If you call keys/keyses, you are calling a truce. Normally used by children when playing tig or something similar.
Kin: Can, as in “Kin ye pass me that book ower please?”
Lassie: Girl, female.
Lavvie: Toilet
Lecky: Electricity, normally used when referring to an electricity bill.
Lift: A ride in vehicle, normally a car. Would normally be heard in the context of “Do you need need a lift to school?”, or something similar.
Loupin: Very sore, as in “Ma heid wis loupin when ah got up this mornin”.

Letters M- R

 
Mad wi’ it Very drunk
Maest: Most
Mah: Used to refer to ones mum/mother, but also means my.
Massehl: Myself
Maw: Mum, mother
Menshy: Grafitti
Mental: Normally used when referring to someone who has tried to be tough, but has also been a bit of an idiot.
Messages: Shopping, groceries.
Mibbe: Maybe
Middin’: Bin, rubbish dump. Can also refer to a mess, for example “This hoose is like a middin”.
Midge: Bin
Mince: Rubbish or crap, as in “He played mince the day”.
Mingin: Horrible, disgusting, manky, dirty.
Mockit: Dirty, manky, mingin’, disgusting, horrible.
Motur: Car, as in “Ahm going tae pick up the motur fae the garage”.
Muntered: Very drunk.
Nae: No
Nae-borra: Literally means “No bother”. Translated, this means no problem at all.
Napper: Head
Naw: No
Ned: Ned stands for Non-Educated Delinquent. It means the same as chav.
Nip: To kiss or to “get off” with. Normally used by teenagers, as in “Will you nip mah pal?”
Nugget: Halfwit, idiot, silly or stupid person. Generally not derogatory.
Ower: Over
Pat and Mick Rhyme and slang for sick.
Pee: Piddle, pish, wee, urine.
Piece: A piece is a sandwich.
Pish: Piddle, pee, wee, urine.
Plook: Acne. Normally used to point out a particularly large spot.
Poacket: Pocket
Poke: Paper bag, as in when in the chippie, “Kin ah get a poke a chips please?”
Pokey hat: An ice cream cone.
Puggy: Slot machine.
Pun: Pound, not normally used in terms of money. More often used when talking about weight.
Punter: Customer or consumer.
Pure: A descriptive word which means the same as really. See “pure dead brilliant”.
Pure dead brilliant: A very Glaswegian phrase. Used to enthusiastically describe something that is really great.
Randan: If someone is going out on the “randan” it means that they are going out for a drink, particularly to a nightclub.
Reekin: Smelly or disgusting, but can also mean very drunk.
Rid neck: Embarassed, particularly when a persons face gets very red.
Riddy: If someone “takes a riddy”, it means that their face has gotten very red, most likely because they are very embarassed.
Rocket: An idiot, someone who doesn’t really have a good grip on reality.
Rotton: This can mean that something or someone is really bad, as in “That dinner we had the other night was rotton”.
Rubbered: Very drunk.

Letters S-Z

 
Sannies Shoes, normally refers to trainers or plimsoles.
Scadge: To obtain something, for example, a lift or a cigarette.
Scooby: A clue, normally used in the phrase “I don’t have a scooby” meaning I don’t have a clue.
Scran: Food
Scratcher: Bed
Scud: To hit or smack.
Scunnered: Devastated
Shoot the craw: Go to bed, go home.
Single fish: Is rhyming slang for pish, but is also used when ordering a piece of battered fish from a chippie.
Skank/skanky: Generally talking about a female who perhaps sleeps around, or a person/place that is a bit dirty.
Skelp: To hit or smack someone.
Skite: To slide or slip.
Slash: To cut
Smidgeon: A small piece.
Sook: Suck
Spanner: Halfwit, idiot, silly or stupid person. Generally not derogatory.
Square go: Someone who is asking you to fight them will ask for a square go. The question would simply be phrased “Square go?!?”
Stoat: If someone is “stoating” they cant walk in a straight line without falling over. This would generally refer to someone who is inebriated.
Stoater: This can either be a very nice looking person, or something very good such as “a stoater of a goal”.
Stooky: A plaster, such as the type on a broken bone in the body.
Swagger: A specific type of walk, tending to be an over-confident and rather manly walk.
Tadger: Male genitals, penis, boabie, willy, wangdoodle, knob, cock, dick, johnson.
Tae: To or too.
Tan: This can mean either smash, as in “Tan a windae”, or can mean to drink quickly.
Tap: This means loan or borrow, but will often be heard in the phrase “Gonnae tap us a fag” in which case the person asking will not be giving it back.
Taxed: If someone “taxes” something it means that they have claimed it for their own.
Telt: Told
Teuchter: Someone from Scotland, but not from Glasgow, normally in reference to someones accent.
The day: Today
The morra: Tomorrow
The night: Tonight
The noo: At the moment, just now.
Toatey: Small, little, wee.
Tod: If somone is on their tod, this would mean that they were “on their own”.
Toley: Poo, jobby, shit, faeces.
Tom tit: Poo, jobby, shit, faeces.
Tool: Halfwit, Idiot, Tube, Spanner
Toon: Town, used generally when talking about going into “The Toon”, which would mean going into the centre of Glasgow.
Trackies: Tracksuit, generally referring the tracksuit trousers.
Troops: Friends
Tube: Halfwit, idiot, silly or stupid person. Generally not derogatory.
Waddin’ Wedding
Wallies: False teeth, dentures.
Wan: One
Wee: Small, little. Probably one of the best known Glaswegian words.
Wee man: Friend, mate. This phrase is generally used in a friendly and endearing way. Is often used in place of excuse me.
Weegie: Glaswegian
Whit: What
Whitey: Sick, normally after drinking too much.
Wide-o: Someone who is getting a bit too big for his boots.
Winch: To kiss or to “get off” with. Normally used by those in their thirties or above. Not really used by teenagers.
Windae: Window
Wis: Was
Wisnae: Wasn’t
Wummin: Woman
Ye: You
Yer budgies deed: Literally means “Yer budgie’s died”, but actually means that someones trousers are too short.
Yersel: Yourself
Youse: You guys, this would normally be used in the same context as the American Y’all.

104 thoughts on “Glaswegian Dictionary

  1. Thingy ma jiggy.
    A phrase used when someone is trying to remember something while talking.

    Ragin
    Anger, used in the expression โ€œa wis absolutely ragin so a wisโ€

  2. “Dinnae fash yersel”, Said all the time in the Outlander series. Two of the three words seem to be missing.

  3. Cowp is missing from this list, it is a dual meaning word depending on the context in which it is used, it can mean a messy or dirty place, or it can mean to tip over.

  4. Scud also means naked “Runnin aboot in the scud or scuddy”
    Piece also means any packed lunch taken to work “Ah’m bein healthy the day so Ah’ve broat a salad fur mah piece”

  5. My grandfather would always say to crying kids: “Don’t be such a greetintini !”
    Not sure if it was two words or just one.

  6. Does anyone remember being called a sammy by your friends if you were seen collecting ginger bottles? This was in Barrhead, about 7 miles outside Glasgow

  7. Heid the baw has the wrong description. It’s football for ‘Head the ball’

    Also, for ‘Hen’, you can be seen as being cheeky using it in some cases. Use that one with caution. lol.

    1. “head the ball” may be the literal translation, but the description in the article is correct. Alex are you from the posh part of Glasgow? ๐Ÿ™‚

    2. Even us lot from Edinburgh use “heid the baw” in the way listed above and I’ve never known of any offended ladies when using the term “hen”.

  8. Och yer arse!
    You are telling lies or exaggerating.

    Yer heids wasted.
    state of being confused or having a brainstorm.

    Gettin’ yer hole.
    Having carnal relations with someone.

  9. Claize.
    Clothing, attire etc. Sometimes used by older generation to describe underwear.
    (ie) Mah Maw fell doon the stair an’showed aff a’ her claize.

    Keich, or Keech.
    As in jobby, poo, shite etc.

    Hackit, As in Fugly, Mingin’ etc.

    Blootered.
    Pished, Very drunk, Steamin’.

    Ba’ (ball) Heid.
    Someone with a big round face.

    Lum.
    Chimney.

    Nae Borra.
    No trouble or ” it’s quite alright, think nothing of it”. OK.

    1. A walloper is a dick (penis). In Chewin’ The Fat there’s a sketch with two painters about things that go the gither with ‘n like fish ‘n chips, bawsack ‘n walloper. Followed by ‘hawl, you’ve taken ‘at too far’. My absolute favourite sketch.

  10. I note the word Brokie is not included, This was a term for waste ground during the 1940s-50s. I think it referred to all the broken bricks and ash etc

  11. Peck- kiss “gies a peck”
    Pull- make out “Aye, they pulled”
    Dead- very/Really “it wis dead brill”
    Gaff- house party

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