Dundee talk · Languages in Dundee
All Destinations | Europe | Asia | North America | Africa | South America | Oceania | Hotels
Languages in Dundee
Languages in Dundee
Dundonians have their own slang, a quick crash course strongly influenced by both Doric (from the North East) and Lowland Scots. Note that some of these are not necessarily restricted in use by Dundonians, rather Scots folks 'affen hae a wye o' spikin thit cin affa confuse ony English spikin fowk' [rather people from Scotland often speak in a manner which tends to confuse people who speak English]. Here's some examples:
Ane/Ain = One
Bairn = child (probably from Scandinavian)
Buroo = Jobcentre / unemployed (On the broo/My broo just came through) (from bureau)
Bump = To 'bump' something is to steal it.
Bridie = A Meat filled Pastry, in the shape of a semi-circle, a delicacy from near-by Forfar
to chib = to stab (Origin unknown, may be from Romansch for 'blade') (Or to punch)
'The Cash' = nickname for NCR (ATM manufacturer), one of the city's largest employers.
Circle = roundabout / rotary junction
Cribby = A game where you have to hit a ball on the edge of the pavement from the otherside.
Cundie = Drain (apparently from 'conduit')
Dub = A puddle
Eh! = Yes
Eh? = What
Eh (sounds like the 'e' at the beginning of 'elephant') = Aye/Yes
Eh = I (pronoun). The fact that 'yes' and 'I' are the same in Dundonian is a source of common bafflement for visitors.
With Eh it's important to listen to the intonation to get the meaning, it is entirely possible for a local to complete a conversation using only Eh.
Fleg = Fright/Scare
Gie's = Give me (from 'give us', 'us' usually meaning 'me')
Green = Can be used for any open grassy space, but also specifically means the shared back garden of a block of tenements.
Jessie = An effeminate or weak man (Literally it is a Scots form of the name 'Janet')
Ken = Know
Kent = Knew/Known
Lift = To 'lift' something is also to steal it. To be "lifted" means to be arrested or apprehended by the police.
Midden = a bin (common Scots) or a mess.
Minging = smelly/disgusting
to pan (in) = to break (as in 'Eh panned in a wundie') or to beat up
Peh = a meat pie (pronunciation shift ie->eh, similarly my->meh, high->heh, etc)
Pochle = To steal
Puss (short 'u', rhymes with 'bus') = Face (If someone is going to 'bang your puss', find a way to make a sharp exit...)
Schemie = A resident of one of the outlying suburbs (or 'schemes'). Often used in a disparaging fashin.
Tatties = potatoes
Teuchter (pron. 'choochter') = A resident of the countryside, chiefly to the north. Often used in a disparaging fashion. (Also - someone may be referred to as being from Auchterteuchter)
Tube/Choob = Stupid person, usually heard in the phrase 'you tube' (This usage predates the now-famous video sharing website ...)
Belter = Something that was very funny or entertaining
Belter (When describing someone) = Prat, Idiot etc.
Minter = The process of blushing or feeling embarrassed
A scajy = a state of anger or craziness ("Dunny tak' a scajy at as")
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Dundee
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Dundee - updated May 2024
SAVE up to 75% on Last Minute deals! Search for discount Dundee hotels, motels, apartments, hostels, guest accommodations and vacation resorts. Book now and pay at the hotel. Instant email confirmation!
>>> SEARCH FOR DEALS <<<
WHERE TO TRAVEL NEXT IN 2020
Dundee Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.