| 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 |
I was with a Glesga fella fae 7 years up until 4 years ago and can still speak fluent Glaswegian its pure dead brilliant man
Loupin I always took to mean very busy, jumping, packed full “the dancin’ wis loupin”
Gowpin Is the term For sore – “ma feet were fair gowpin efter fitba”
Loupin has always been slang for sore as in my heid is loupin.
same word used in your second phrase.
We still say the chair/stool/table is shoogily (unstable, shakey)
My great grandparents came from Dundee and Montrose and this summer (2014) we came from the USA. We found the church that they were married in and the house that they lived in (1882). We traveled to other countries but Scotland was our favorite. We went to the highlands and saw the coos & the beautiful scenery. Thanks for the memories.
Hi all, i was born in East Kilbride ans when i was a 4yo we moved to Australia, our acsents came with us, but they grew into Australian as time moved on, i remember so many words that you all are writing here, wow, memories, but i have a question: ”is this another language completely or is it a slang that came from the english language? is it Gallic or just a language invented by Glaswegian’s? I think its great, i’m married to a beautiful german woman (don’t mention the war) and she thinks its great as well. tyvm
Haw big man – geez a swally ae yer ginger.
Translated into English as: Hello my fine man, may I have a drink of pop.
I always hated it when wan ae yer pals asked ye for a drink ae yer skoosh and they put their whole mooth roon the rim as ye watched wee floaters faw back intae the bottle.
Dont forget my favourite “dinny gie us yer waaash” – dont talk rubbish!!!
Or “dinny gie us ony o yer snash” – dont talk back to me!!!
Wazzock – plonker
A friend from Glasgow repeatedly asked me: “Will ye stop yer greetin?” when we were on holiday during an unbearably hot period. It was ages before I plucked up the courage to ask him what it meant and discovered he simply meant: “Will you stop your moaning?” So I did!
Love it lmao
You missed my favourite one ‘Walloper’ meaning male genitalia. Best used as an insult eg ‘watch where you’re going you walloper’.
Midgie Raker ….. Person who looks through bins and refuse to find something useful or reusable. These days, it would be known as a “recycling enthusiast” !
Midin Raker .
Stank : a street drain cover which was sometimes used for games of jorries(marbles).
” ah’ve drapped ma keys doon the stank”
Sannies also meant sandwich…as did piece…geez a piece n banana! And where’s gallus ?
BRILL
1. Scunner- ye dirty wee scunner! (Disapproval)
2. Hooligan- see youse? ye gonnae get a wallop if ye don’t stop acting like a bunch a hooligans! Now sit doon an eat yer tea!
3. Bairns- young children/babies. Wee Williy Winkie: ” are all the bairns in the beds?, it’s past eight o’clock”
Wow.. funny how that mention just took me back nearly 30 yrs to hear what I haven’t heard since… With a heavily accented voice, my Nana would tell me all about that…… WEE WILLY WINKIE you mentioned… he’d be RUNNIN’ THROUGH THE TOOOOON… UPSTAIRS, DOOOONSTAIRS, IN HIS NIT-GOOOON…. then something about him.. KEEKIN’ THROUGH THE LOCKS…. (aww. miss her! Growing up in Chicago, people never understood why I always thought ‘peeking’ started with a ‘k’ … now, i get why! LOL) =) …. thanks for taking me back for those loving warm memories. Oooh, & there was another too…. who is “Baldy Bain”? <3 …. Scotland Forever.
I AM LOOKING FOR A SLANG WORD FOR GIVEN SOME ONE A DO IN JUST
ONE WORD THANKS GEORGE
Surely the word you are looking for is “Doin” as in “I’m gonna give you a doin”
tankin
Bleachin
the word you may be looking for is “tankin'”, he gave him a real tankin’
Bammed up- ‘ he jist bammed us up er’ meaning ‘ that chap just told us a porky’.
Brilliant!
its a unique language and I’m proud to be fluent….
Also, a less common word, Zoomer, meaning pretty much the same as Tube or Nugget, a halfwit or idiot in a jovial or mocking term.
Loupin’ can also mean the same as boggin’, i.e something is a mess or is disgusting, Also the word Cowp is missing, another word that can have a dual meaning, either to tip over or as another word to describe a mess, to wit; ‘at place is a pure cowp, meaning this place is a mess or extremely untidy.
A semi (m) for the beginnings of sexual arousal
or a half-hard erection known in London as a lazy-lob
heelin coo-not highlin coo
dreepy- meaning to “dreepy doon a waw”
scud-also means naked she is in the scud or “geezaswatch eh yer scuddy book ya bawbag”
pish- also means “that is not very good my good man” or “that is a work of fiction old chap”………ie.”thats pish” often used with”by the way”
Podger-to make love…….”did you geehur the podger last night wee man”
oos -the fluff you find under beds in cheap hotels
and lets not forget “skitin” like he came skitin roon the corner,
“insteed” and “bawheid” but i suppose that one got covered with “heid the baw”
My mother Margaret (sadly now deceased) was from Glasgow and used to say we were looking “peely wally” if we were pale and not feeling well!
Has anyone heard of this saying?
Other words and phrases to consider:
Stairheed Dynamite; Coal gas filtered through a pint of milk then drunk
Yer teas oot:: To inform a person about their upcoming demise.
Cludgie/bog :Toilet
Pus: Face eg .Aww shut yer pus
How about stonner or stoaner for an erection!
Nae stonners upstairs. Cry from bus conductress.
i love this section just realized how many of these words i say lmao
(which is most of them)