Scots are known for their canny use of words and phrases, as well as their sharp wit.
With a range of accents and dialects across this small country of ours, discovering them can be a lot of (though sometimes confusing) fun.
From obscure words to surprising terms, there are many phrases only Scots will know - most of them still in use today.
Here are 25 of those words and phrases only Scots (or those who spend a lot of time around them) will understand.
1. Doocot – The shortened Scots form of a dovecot hole - this Scots word refers to a wee hole, pocket or slot you place something in.
"Here, stick this form in that doocot over there for me will you?"
2. Breenge – The perfect descriptor for confidently pushing (or should that be barging) your way in or through a crowd.
"Hey! That guy just breenged right in."
3. Drouth – A heavy thirst, most usually at the start of the day when you need a drink most. Sometimes used when you really fancy a pint or a drink with friends.
"I tell you what, all that hard work has left me with a real drouth, fancy a pint?"
4. Nyaff – Someone who is extremely annoying, and in particular is fond of their own voice.
"See that yin, he's a right wee nyaff."
5. Sling your bahookie – A colourful way of saying 'beat it', with bahookie referring to someone's behind.
6. Gallus – Usually used in reference to someone who is overconfident or thinks they are the bee's knees.
Supposedly derived from a word meaning someone who is a bit of a rascal (fit for the gallows).
"That Claire's new boyfriend is a bit gallus eh?"
7. Smirr - That light rain that you can barely even see or feel but gets you very, very drenched.
8. Outwith – Beautiful in its simplicity and usefulness, this means outside of a given thing.
"Did you know, no one outwith Scotland uses the word 'outwith'?"
9. Dram - a measure of whisky.
"Gies a wee dram of that new whisky you bought eh?"
10. Stramash - This is a favourite way to describe anything from a small commotion to an all-out brawl.
"Did you hear about the game at the weekend, there was a brawl and three players were sent off."
"Aye, I heard it was a bit of a stramash."
11. Baffies – A Scots word for slippers, this is still mainly used on the east coast and in particular Fife.
"Can you bring me my baffies over son?"
12. You're on a shoogly peg – A Scots term meaning you're on your last warning (shaky peg).
13. Bowfing/Bogging – two words that mean something isn't nice or smells or tastes bad.
"Ooft, that coffee was bowfing, where did you get it from?"
14. Away with the fairies – This refers to someone who is a bit spaced out or who has a tendency to daydream.
15. Plook – A brilliant-sounding word for a spot or a boil.
"He's got a big plook on his nose."
16. Dinna fash yersel – A Doric expression that means don’t trouble yourself.
17. Beastie - An affectionate term for an animal or insect.
"Get that wee beastie out of here!"
18. Clipe - someone who tells tales or alerts the authorities.
19. Glaikit - someone that is Stupid, foolish, thoughtless or irresponsible.
"Wipe that glaikit look off your face, you know what you did!"
20. Haverin - To talk in a foolish or trivial manner, speak nonsense or gossip.
"I've no idea what he was haverin aboot, I still don't understand what we are meant to do."
21. Sleekit – a name for a person that is sly or cunning.
"He's as sleekit as a fox that yin."
22. Up to high doh – All worked up/all riled up.
23. Clamjamfry – An older word for a rabble or a mob.
24. Fair trauchled – A Doric phrase for exhaustion.
25. I'm no as green as I am cabbage looking – This translates as I'm not as new to this as you think I am.
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