| 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 |
Och, yer heid’s beef! – you are talking rubbish
A big favourite of my dad’s. ๐
“Wheesht the Noo”
Be quiet the now.
Skedaddle ya twat
Hamilton area used to mean get out of here ya idiot
Thingy ma jiggy.
A phrase used when someone is trying to remember something while talking.
Ragin
Anger, used in the expression โa wis absolutely ragin so a wisโ
I cannee remember what I said. Best to keep quitt
“Dinnae fash yersel”, Said all the time in the Outlander series. Two of the three words seem to be missing.
I’ve never heard anyone say it, ever – except in Outlander.
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.
Nae gallus? (Arrogant)
Glaikit (clumsy and stupid looking)
away an pull yer pud
ur yeh a Proddie ur a Tim?
Whit a kerfuffle,
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”
Hoachin can also mean full of beasties
My grandfather would always say to crying kids: “Don’t be such a greetintini !”
Not sure if it was two words or just one.
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
NO numpty???
git yersel tae fuck pal, a coudlny gee a fuck hen.. is also good phrases to use lol
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.
“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? ๐
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”.
How do you say peace in Glaswegian
Sandwich
a sanny or sannie
“PEACE” Perhaps you mean peace as in a “part”
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.
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.
So whats a ‘walloper’ if that’s how its spelt!? Been watching still game and they use this word a lot too!
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.
Nipping ma heid….
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
Back of:
As in back of 9
i.e. After 9 o’clock
Peck- kiss “gies a peck”
Pull- make out “Aye, they pulled”
Dead- very/Really “it wis dead brill”
Gaff- house party
Yer clock is fugly
Clock meaning yer face!
Surprised its nae in there my dad always used it!