Language sometimes has a funny way of transcending cultures. What may be typical for native speakers in a particular country could come out comically bewildering to outsiders.
Scottish English is an excellent example, which you will see in full display in the following social media posts. We’ve gathered these screenshots from the Scottish People Twitter subreddit, where over 900,000 members showcase their unique brand of humor.
Enjoy the quick laughs, although some of these may confuse you. But that is, after all, part of the fun.
#1 Say It How You See It
Image credits: marlene4719
#2 Waheyyyy
Image credits: TheAlmightySquirrel
#3 Howlin’
Image credits: TheAlmightySquirrel
Reading through these tweets may make you wonder, “What about Scottish humor makes it work?” Could it be the delivery combined with the unique accent?
Scottish comedy writer Jenny Colgan provided some insight in an article for The Guardian. She says it’s about the innate ability to make a joke about everything, “from train stations to funerals,” adding that it is particularly a British trait.
“The reflex of making a joke out of absolutely everything, all the time, and valuing your friends for how funny they are is peculiar to Britain,” Colgan wrote.
#4 Glasgow Responds
Image credits: doolitt1e
#5 The Difference Between London And Glasgow
Image credits: seanmcdonald01
#6 Ye Nugget
Image credits: MrFilmkritik
Colgan adds that Scottish humor is “fundamentally working class,” making it relatable to a broader audience. As she noted, people see no point in being embarrassed about their social class, for example, because they know they are “all in it together.”
#7 Nice Try Hittler
Image credits: planksmomtho
#8 Buckle Up…
Image credits: GuybrushThreekwood
Colgan likewise described Scottish humor as “self-deprecating humor of the self-declared underdog.” Comedian and Glasgow native Larry Dean agrees, given what Scotland is known for.
“Being from the nation that’s credited with the invention of the deep-fried whatever, the man-skirt, and bad weather, I’d say we’re pretty good at taking a joke,” Dean wrote in an article for The Herald Scotland.
#9 Ye Muppet
Image credits: dipdapflipflap
#10 Sorry Bout That
Image credits: 123_jamiebell
#11 Scottish Tinder
Image credits: melat0nin
#12 New IKEA Range
Image credits: m444nsn
You’ve likely seen the usual stereotypes (kilts, bagpipes, and haggis), primarily thanks to pop culture and movies. Dean says that while not everything is 100% accurate, Scottish people don’t mind being the butt of the joke.
“We’d probably laugh louder than anyone else,” he stated, adding they aren’t attached to any specific idea of themselves.
#13 Old But Gold
Image credits: PachaFerrera
#14 I'm Rooting For The Kiddo Here.
Image credits: justmadethisaccountx
#15 Pure Buzzin'
Image credits: jamescameron79
Both Colgan and Dean also agree that there are differences between Scottish and English humor. Colgan described English humor as “manifestly middle class,” mostly about “the difficulties of fitting in.”
For Dean, the directness of Scottish humor gives them a “comedic gruffness” that their counterparts in England don’t have. As he explained, they don’t overcomplicate their means of self-expression.
“Nor do we waste time trying to make things sound prettier than they are.”
#16 The Scottish Version Of ‘Dude, Where’s My Car’
Image credits: The_Chuckness88
#17 Festive Duke Of Wellington Is 🔥
Image credits: meenmachimanja
#18 Throwback
Image credits: mycelliumvision
#19 Seeing Aye Dug
Image credits: doolitt1e
#20 Sad
Image credits: TheAlmightySquirrel
#21 Alexa, I Am Tryin Tae Talk Tae Ye Hen
Image credits: meenmachimanja
#22 Save Our Barry’s
Image credits: Saltire_Blue
#23 Not Sure They Thought That One Through
Image credits: buckfastbadlad
#24 Must Be Bad
Image credits: TheAlmightySquirrel
#25 Taken By Surprise
Image credits: TheAlmightySquirrel
#26 A Very Scottish Memorial
Image credits: Superbuddhapunk
#27 Classic Scottish Local Group
Image credits: Findme_elsewhere
#28 Roses Are Red, Ted Bundy’s A K****r…
Image credits: SappeninBitton
#29 Tamata Soup
Image credits: TheAlmightySquirrel
#30 Have A Great Time Guys X
Image credits: jmac035
#31 Selling The Car
Image credits: fuckaduckmagoo
#32 What I Wanna See
Image credits: TheAlmightySquirrel
#33 :(
Image credits: TheAlmightySquirrel
#34 We’ve All Been There Ma Man
Image credits: TheAlmightySquirrel
#35 #notmyking
Image credits: JohnTheWegie
#36 Succinctly Destroyed
Image credits: TrolleybusGus
#37 Too Right We Would
Image credits: bulkybanana69
#38 Am No Willy Stealer Lass
Image credits: GhastlyCain
#39 Congratulations To Celtic Fc. Back To Back League Champions
Image credits: The_Chuckness88
#40 Scottish Twitter Dump
Image credits: YogurtclosetSharp426
#41 Uncanny…
Image credits: STVNews
#42 Patter
Image credits: meenmachimanja
#43 Bless You
Image credits: JohnTheWegie
#44 With Lashings Of Heavily Buttered Toast
Image credits: meenmachimanja
#45 Daylight Robbery
Image credits: Nobrien95
#46 Jesus Man
Image credits: doolitt1e
#47 No Words Needed
Image credits: Spaced-In
#48 'tis A Silly Place
Image credits: Nearby-Story-8963
#49 Wonder If He Likes Peepholes
Image credits: scotty4917
#50 This Is Democracy Manifest
Image credits: aliblk
