Name some words and phrases that are distinctive to Scotland
Bairn or wean – child
Dour – dull
Feart – scared
That’s a sin – overused in Glasgow for anything that’s a shame, unfair or out of order
Besom - (pronounced bissim) is what you call a girl if she is acting spoilt, like a wee madam
Eejit - Idiot
Poke - bag
Crabbit - grumpy
Jake- tramp
Dinnae ken – east coast phrase which means ‘I don’t know’
Steamin’ – very drunk
Scrounger – someone who keeps all their money for themselves and doesn’t buy a round of drinks!
Canny – good
Hawd your weished - shut it! (i.e. keep quiet)
Hen and doll - both terms of endearment
A piece – a sandwich
Och – as in ‘och I the noo!’
Wee – small
Dreich – dull/damp/dismal
Language activities: read all the information about England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, which can be accessed from the Living in the UK home page, and then do comparison activity (1) and comparison activity (2), which look at different icons and typical things from the four regions.The United Kingdom’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities.
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