| | The following is a 'Rough Guide' to the Ayrshire Dialect.
It is not my intention to attempt to translate the works of Robert Burns - much
of the language used by him is too obscure even for me! However, I have
attempted to compile a list of words and phrases which a visitor to the area
might encounter. Questions or comments relating to this section of the site should be
sent to me, Hazel Rae
See
this before you email me!
Some of these
words are not used frequently, others are still in use, to a greater or lesser
extent. The frequently used ones will be highlighted with *. Some of the
commonly used words are now considered 'slang'. To add to confusion, some words
have more than one meaning, depending on the context in which they are used. For
example:
If you are 'humphy backit', then you have a slouch. Yet backit is listed here
as meaning backwards......that's because it does! Ye bumbazed yit? Just
for fun, I have placed some phrases between some of the tables, showing usage of
some of the words - with translations, of course! There's
more.........
This is not a complete list of words and phrases, this website
would not be large enough to accommodate all of the dialect. Please be patient
there are some largish tables loading. This section of the site is as complete
as I will ever make it.
Before
all the academics out there get on their high horses and start emailing me
claiming I have misspelled or wrongly translated something - don't bother! The
spelling is irrelevant and we could argue about this all day long, but I won't.
Even within Ayrshire itself there will be differences in translation,
pronunciation and spelling. I live here, I hear this dialect everyday and
contrary to popular belief, it is not widely spoken anymore.
It is more likely that visitors to the area will hear well spoken Queens English,
with the odd Ayrshire word thrown in! Resulting in something of a hybrid
dialect.
- A to B
- C to D
- E to G
- H to J
- K to N
- O to R
- S to T
- The rest of the
Alphabet
| * a' = all |
abread = abroad |
* a'day = day-long, all day |
| * albeit = although |
abreed = in breadth |
adle = putrid water |
| abeigh = at a distance |
acquent = acquainted |
* adled = putrified, soured |
| aboon = above |
acqueesh = between |
ado = to do |
| * aff = off |
* afore = before |
* aft = often |
| * ahin = behind |
* ain = own, mine |
akwart = awkward |
| * alane = alone |
* alang = along |
* aneath = beneath |
| * an' = and |
* ance = once |
* ane = one |
| * anither = another |
* a's = all is |
* atween = between |
| * auld = old |
* Auld Reekie = Edinburgh |
* awa = away |
| * awfa' = awful |
* awffie = awful |
* ay = always |
| * aff = off |
* aye = yes |
|
| * ba' = ball |
* babi = baby |
* backit = backwards |
| * baillie = magisrate/official |
* bairn = child |
* baith = both |
| * bamboozle = to trick |
* bane = bone |
* bannock = thick cake |
| barley-bree = whiskey |
barm = yeast |
Bartie = Devil |
| * bauld = bold |
bawbee = halfpenny |
bearded-bere = ripe barley |
| beastie = animal,vermin etc |
* belang = belong |
bellum = assault |
| * ben = into, within |
bere = barley |
bestead = provided |
| bethankit = God be thanked |
* bide = stay |
* bing = heap |
| * bit = place E.g. "ma
bit" (my place) |
*blather/blether = chatter |
* blaw = blow or exaggerate |
| * bocked = vomited |
* boke = vomit |
blythe = cheerful |
| * bonnie = beautiful |
bogles = hobgoblins |
* brae = hillside |
| * brang = brought |
* brung = brought |
* braw = handsome |
| breastie = breast |
* breeks = trousers |
* brig = bridge |
| brither = brother |
* brer = brother |
brose = oatmeal dish |
| bumbazed = confused |
bunker = window seat |
* bunker = coal house/room |
| * burdie = bird |
* burn = stream |
* breed = bread |
| |
* but an ben = small cottage |
|
' Wheesht wi yer blawin' =
Stop exaggerating!
| * ca' = call |
* cadger = hawker |
* caller = colder, bracing |
| * canna(e) = cannot |
* cannie = cautious |
* careerin' = rushing |
| * care na = care not |
carle = old man |
carline - old woman |
| * cauld = cold |
chancy = fortunate, lucky |
chanters = bagpipes |
| chap = liquid measure |
* chap = knock,rap |
chimla = fireplace |
| chuffie = fat faced, chubby |
clachan = village |
* claes = clothes |
| * clatty = dirty, mucky |
clavers = tales, stories |
cleek = clutch |
| cleekit = linked arms |
* cleeky = secretive, aloof usually
referencing groups of people |
clinkumbell = bell ringer |
| clinty = stony |
* clish-ma-claver = nonsence |
corbie = crow |
| cotter = cottage dweller |
couthie = loving, pleasant |
* cowpit = knocked over |
| * crabbit = irritable, surly |
* crack = conversation |
* craig = rock |
| * craw = crow |
creel = basket |
* creeshie = greasy |
| * cronie = friend |
* croon = hum |
crummock = crooked staff |
| * cry = tell, call |
* champit = mashed |
curple = buttocks |
| |
* claggy = sticky, thick |
|
| daidlin = waddling |
* daunner = walk, stroll |
* daur = dare |
| * daurs = dares |
* dawd = lump,clump |
delvin = digging |
| * diddle = con, mislead |
* dinnae = do not |
* dizzen = dozen |
| * dochter = daughter |
* doo = dove |
* douk = duck |
| * dour = sullen, miserable |
* do'tin = doddering |
* drap = drop |
| * dreeping = dripping |
* droukit = drenched, soaked |
* drouth = thirst |
| dud = puddle |
* duddies = ragged/old clothes |
* dyke = dry stone wall |
Ya dour faced git! = You miserable person!
| e'ebrie = eyebrow |
* ee = eye |
* een = eyes |
| * en' = end |
ettercup = spider |
* evermair = evermore |
| |
|
|
| * fa' = fall |
* fae = from |
Fasten- e'en = Shrove Tuesday |
| * farl = small oatcake |
* faut = fault |
* fear't = frightened, afraid |
| * fecht = fight |
feerie = sturdy |
feil = many |
| * fidgit = restless |
findy = substantial |
* fit = foot |
| * flit = move |
foggage = coarse grass |
* forbye = besides |
| forfairn = worn out |
* forgie = forgive |
* forrit/furrit = forward |
| * fu' = drunk |
foul-fa'-ye = ill befall you, a curse |
frae = from |
| * fud = backside |
fustit = decayed |
* foosty = mouldy |
| * footer = fidget, meddle |
* foggy bummer = bee |
|
| * gub = mouth |
* gab = chatter |
gae = go |
| * gang = go |
gangrel = vagrant |
* gaun = going |
| * gawky = awkward |
* gear = possessions |
* gie = give |
| gilpey = young woman |
* girdle = griddle |
* girn = moan, snarl |
| * glaikit = dim,foolish |
* gled = glad |
* gloaming = twighlight |
| * grannie = grand mother |
* greet = cry, weep |
grumphie = pig |
| * grun = ground |
gruntle = snout |
guddle = mangle |
| * guddle = state of chaos |
* gid = good |
gully = large knife |
| gumlie = muddy |
* gumption = common sense |
|
| * ha' = hall |
habber = stutter |
* haddie = haddock |
| * hadnae = had not |
* hae = have |
* hae't = have it |
| * hairum-scarum = wild |
hale = hearty |
* hale = whole |
| * hame = home |
* hankers = desires |
harkit = listened, heard |
| hassock = large amount |
* haud = hold |
* hurl = roll |
| * hersel = her self |
* heelan' = highland |
* heelan's = highlands |
| * himsel = himself |
* hing = hang |
* houlet = owl |
| howdie = midwife |
* howk = dig |
* howker = digger |
| * hunkers = knees, haunches |
* hurdies = haunches |
* hure = whore |
| |
* howf = shed, hut |
|
| ingle = fireplace |
inlyin' = child bearing |
* ither = other |
| * itsel' = itself |
izles = embers |
|
| |
|
|
| * jag = pin prick |
jawpish = tricky |
jillet = jilt |
| * jinglan = jingling |
jo = sweetheart |
* jeely = jam |
| kae = jackdaw |
* kail = cabbage |
katy-handit = left - handed |
| kebbuck = cheese |
* keek = peep |
keekin' glass = miror |
| * kelpies = water spirit |
* ken = know |
* kent = knew |
| ket = fleece |
* kirk = church |
kirn = harvest supper |
| kist = chest |
kith = acquaintance |
* knowe = hillock |
| knurl = dwarf |
kyte = belly |
|
| |
|
|
| lady-landers - ladybird |
laigh = low |
lairing = sinking |
| laith = loath |
lammie = lamb |
landlowper = vagabond, tramp |
| lang = long |
lang syne = long ago |
langsum = tedious |
| * lea' = leave |
* len' = lend |
* luck = look |
| linn = waterfall |
lint = flax |
loan = lane |
| * lug = ear |
* lum = chimney |
|
| |
|
|
| * mair = more |
* maist = most |
* maister = master |
| mak = make |
mantie = gown |
mashlum = mixed grain |
| maskin pot = tea pot |
meikle = large |
* men' = mend, repair |
| menzie = follower |
merk = old Scottish coin |
middin = dung heap |
| * middin = mess |
* mind = remember |
* mirk(y) = gloom(y) |
| * mither = mother |
* monie =many |
muckle = great |
| * masel' = myself |
|
|
| |
|
|
| * na = no |
nack = trick |
*naebody = nobody |
| * nane = none |
* neebor = neighbour |
*neednae = need not |
| newlins = lately |
* nicht = night |
* nick = cut |
| * no = not |
* nocht = nought |
* noddle =brain |
| o'boot = gratis |
* ocht = ought |
* o'erlay = overlay |
| o'erlay = smock |
* onie = any |
ourie = shivery |
| * oursel = ourself |
* oursels = ourselves |
* ower = over |
| * oxter = armpit |
* oose = fluff |
|
| |
|
|
| pang = cram |
pawkie = cunning |
pechan = stomach |
| pechin = out of breath |
peltry = rubbish, trash |
penny-fee = wages |
| penny-wheep = small beer |
* pickle = tiny amount |
* pit = put |
| pliver = plover |
pooch = pouch |
* pook = pluck |
| poussie = cat, hare |
* pownie = pony |
* presses = cupboards |
| * pu' = pull |
pussie = hare |
* pooder = powder |
| |
|
|
| raff = plenty |
ragweed = ragwort |
ramfeezl'd = exhausted |
| rampin' = raging |
raploch = homespun |
* rattle = strike, hit |
| raucle = fearless |
reek = smoke |
* reek = odour, smell |
| * richt = right |
rive = split |
* roon = round |
| * rummle = stir, mix about |
* runckle = wrinkle,crease |
ruth = sorrow |
'Ye cannae gie oot lik that ! Luck et
the runcles on they claes!' = You cannot go out like that! Look at the creases
on those clothes!
| * sae = so |
saebins = since it is so |
* saft = soft |
| * sair = sore,hard |
sairie = sorrowful |
sall = shall |
| sark = shirt |
saumont = salmon |
* saut/sot = salt |
| scantlins = scarcely |
*scunner = disgust |
scrievin = moving along |
| * scrimpit = short,frugal |
*scrimpin = being frugal |
sculduggery = fornication |
| seelfu = pleasant |
* shanks = legs |
*shanna/shinni = should not |
| shavie = prank |
shawpit = shelled |
sheugh = ditch |
| * sheil = shed |
* shoon/shin = shoes |
* shouldna = should not |
| * sich = such |
sidelins = sideways |
siller = silver |
| * sin = since |
* shin = soon |
* skelp = smack, strike |
| * skelpin = smacking |
* skelpin = rushing |
skinking = watery |
| skinklin = small |
* skrimmish = skirmish |
skurrivaig = vagabond, tramp |
| * skyte = lash out |
slae = slow |
* slee = sly |
| * sleekit = sly, cunning |
smeddum = powder |
* smiddie = smithy |
| smirtle = coy smile |
* smoor = smother |
*smirr = fine drizzle |
| smurr = fine drizzle |
* snash = abuse, cheek |
* snaw = snow |
| * snick/sneck = door latch |
snirtle = snigger |
* sodger = soldier |
| * sole = sill |
sonnet = song |
sonsie = pleasant |
| * soor = sour |
* sook/souk = suck |
souter = cobbler |
| speal = climb |
* shpeel = long winded |
* spunk = spirit, character |
| spunkie = will o' the wisp |
* stan/ston/stun = stand |
* stane = stone |
| * steer = stir |
* swall'd/swallt = swelled |
* stirk = young cow |
| studdie = anvil |
stumpie = stout |
swankie = fine fellow |
| * sweet = sweat |
* sweetin = sweating |
*swither = hestitate/muse |
| |
* swally = swallow |
|
| tackits = shoe nails |
*tackitty bits = heavy boots |
* tae = toe |
| * taen = taken |
taigle = hinder |
* tak = take |
| * tap = top |
tapetless = thoughtless |
tapsalteerie = topsy turvy |
| * telt = told |
* teat/tate = small quantity |
* thae = they |
| * thankit = thanked |
* thegither = together |
* themsel,themsels = themselves |
| * thocht = thought |
* thole = endure,tolerate |
* thon = that |
| * thowe = thaw |
thrang = crowd |
* thrapple = throat |
| * threed = thread |
threep = maintain |
timmer = timber |
| tittle = whisper |
* tittle tattle = gossip,tale |
Tod Lowrie = fox |
| * toon = town |
* tummle = tumble,knock over |
* twa = two |
| |
|
|
This is a lullaby my grannie and mother used to sing and I
have sung to my own children, translating it makes no sense at all :-))
'Wee chookie burdie, toe low low. Laid an egg on the winda
sole.
The winda sole, began tae crack, an wee chookie burdie
said...Quack Quack!!'
My children have always loved it and regarded it as their
job to chorus the 'Quack, Quack!'
| unco = strange |
unfauld = unfold |
* unner = under |
| * uptae = up to |
|
|
| |
|
|
| vauntie = proud |
verra = very |
vittles = food |
| vogie = concieted |
vowt = vault |
* vowt = vowed |
| |
|
|
| *wa' = wall |
wabster = weaver |
* waddin = wedding |
| *wadnae/widnae = would
not |
* wan = one |
warnae = were not |
| * wurnae = were not |
* wat = wet |
*water fit = river mouth |
| * wean = child |
* weel = well |
* wha = who |
| * whalpit = whelped |
* whar = when |
* wheen = quantity, lots |
| whirligiggums = useless things |
*whisht/wheesht = quiet,silence |
* whup = whip |
| * whit = what |
* wi' = with |
* winna = would not |
| * widnae = would not |
* win = wind |
* win's = winds |
| * wunner = wonder |
* wid = wood |
* wrang = wrong |
| |
|
|
| * yaird = yard |
* ye = you |
* ye'd = you would |
| * ye'll = you will |
* yer = your |
* yersel = yourself |
| * yersels = yourselves |
* yince = once |
* yon = that |
| * yonner = yonder |
younker = youth |
* yowe = ewe |
| |
yowie = lamb |
|
| |
|
