Dae Ye Talk Scots?

Dae ye talk Scots? 

Depending on who you ask, Scots is a language, a dialect of English, or slang. 

But I think Scottish English is best summed up as being an accent that is the perfect combination of Gaelic roots, Scots phonology and an English lexicon. And, linguistically speaking, the fact that Scottish English only developed three centuries ago makes this accent one of the “newest” accents in the British Isles.

In any case, it is an important part of Scotland's culture and heritage, appearing in songs, poetry and literature, as well as in daily use in the community. 

To me, Scottish English makes a strong case for being one of the coolest accents in the UK – but mastering the accent is no walk in the park! 

The mixture of Scots and English means that Scottish English has a massive number of phrases that you won’t hear anywhere else in the world. Here are just a sampling of Scottish phrases you can practice for your next trip to the country. 

“Ah cannae dae tha”. 

Translation: “I can’t do that”. 

Usage: This phrase is pretty straightforward. It shows off how the Scottish accent handles vowels a little differently than other accents, but it means exactly what it sounds like it means. 

“What dreich weather!” 

Translation: “What lousy weather!” 

Usage: This looks similar to the English version of the phrase, but there’s a word you may not have encountered before: dreich. Pronounced somewhat like “dreek”, it’s one of the most iconic words of Scots, describing weather that’s dull and gloomy. It will probably give you some insight into the climate of Scotland. 

“Lang may yer lum reek”. 

Translation: “Long may your chimney smoke”. 

Usage: When you want to wish someone health and prosperity, this phrase can come in handy. The idea behind it is that a chimney smoking implies someone has warmth throughout the winter. The word lum is Scots for “chimney,” and reek means “smoke”. 

Here’s a video to give you additional insights into Scottish English:

 

To be honest, I do miss my time in Scotland – and this video is a good way to relive my special memories of the country.