Scottish English is English… sort of. It’s like the language popped up north, grabbed a can of Irn-Bru, and decided the rules were optional.
If you’ve ever heard someone say “Ach, I’m fair scunnered” and your brain quietly gave up—that’s normal. The accent’s just the warm-up. It’s the phrases that really mess with you.
They’re punchy. They’re weird. They’re brilliant. And they make even the grumpiest complaint sound like poetry yelled through a wind tunnel.
So if you’ve been told to “gie it laldy” or “haud yer wheesht” and had no idea whether to say thanks or call the police, you’re in the right place.
1. “Dinnae fash yersel”
This phrase sounds like it could be either very soothing or a polite threat. Good news—it’s the former. When a Scot tells you “dinnae fash yersel,” they’re basically saying: “Calm down. Don’t worry. No need to combust internally over this.”
“Fash” comes from Old French se fâcher, meaning to get upset or angry. But leave it to the Scots to adopt it and give it a practical, gently exasperated twist. Now it lives on in daily life as a kindly “stop fretting” aimed at anyone who looks like they’re about to lose the plot over something silly—like running out of teabags or accidentally recording “Antiques Roadshow” in German again.
If you’re looking for a phrase that combines centuries of linguistic history with the emotional reassurance of a biscuit and a cuppa, this is the one.
Examples:
- “Dinnae fash yersel, hen—it’s just a wee scratch.”
- “I told her I’d be late and she started panicking, so I said, dinnae fash yersel.”
2. “Gie it laldy”
This one sounds like something you’d shout during a sword fight, but “gie it laldy” isn’t about violence—it’s about effort. All in. No half-measures. Belt it out. Throw your whole back into it. Whether you’re singing, dancing, or arguing about whose turn it is to do the dishes, this phrase tells you to go full throttle.
What’s “laldy”? Good question. No one really knows. Some say it might come from words for shouting or singing. Others think it just sounds like the noise you make when you’re really going for it. Whatever its origins, the meaning is clear: don’t hold back. This is Scotland’s unofficial motto for enthusiasm, noise, and possibly mild chaos.
If you’re doing something—and doing it timidly—someone is going to shout this at you. And you’ll know it’s time to stop being shy and start giving it some welly.
Examples:
- “She was giein it laldy on the karaoke—neighbours three streets away heard her.”
- “The crowd was giein it laldy after the winning goal.”
3. “Messages”
This one’s a classic trap for non-Scots. When someone says they’re “away for the messages,” they don’t mean they’re checking their voicemail or picking up handwritten notes from mysterious strangers. They’re just going to the shop. For milk. Maybe eggs. Possibly biscuits, if it’s been a long week.
In Scotland, “messages” is code for grocery shopping. It’s charming, misleading, and very much still in use. The likely origin? Back in the day, errands really did involve carrying and delivering written messages. Over time, “messages” came to mean the things you fetched while doing that—like sugar, or a pound of mince, or 14 random items that weren’t on your list.
So the next time someone says they’re off for the messages, resist the urge to check your phone. They’ll be back with groceries, not gossip.
Examples:
- “I’ll need to do the messages after work—we’re out of everything except ketchup.”
- “She was away for the messages and came back with three plants and no bread.”
- “Can you grab the messages while you’re out? I’ve made a list. Sort of.”
4. “Glaikit”
If someone calls you “glaikit,” don’t assume it’s a trendy skincare compliment. It’s not. This wonderfully sharp Scottish word is used to describe someone who’s looking a bit vacant—eyes glazed over, brain clearly on holiday, possibly trying to remember what day it is and why they walked into the kitchen.
“Glaikit” captures that dazed, dopey look we’ve all worn at some point—especially on a Monday morning before caffeine has done its thing. It’s not necessarily an insult (though it definitely can be). More often, it’s used to poke fun at someone whose brain seems to be buffering. You know the look: open mouth, blinking slowly, not a thought behind the eyes. Classic glaikit.
Great for describing someone else. Less fun when it’s directed at you—especially by your granny.
Examples:
- “He just stood there looking all glaikit while the fire alarm was going off.”
- “You’ve a glaikit look about you—did you forget your own birthday again?”
- “She gets glaikit every time the waiter asks her to pick a side dish.”
5. “Haud Yer Wheesht”
If someone in Scotland tells you to “haud yer wheesht,” you are absolutely not being offered food. This is not a regional snack. This is a very direct, very Scottish way of saying: be quiet. Or, if you want the translation with a bit more edge: shut it.
“Haud” means “hold,” and “wheesht” is that glorious shushing sound that cuts through noise like a librarian with a mission. Put them together, and you’ve got a phrase that can stop a toddler mid-tantrum or make an entire pub hush during the final penalty kick.
It’s sharp, it’s funny, and it works wonders when someone’s about to say something ridiculous. Just maybe don’t use it on your boss. Unless you don’t need the job.
Examples:
- “Haud yer wheesht—I’m trying to hear the telly!”
- “He was mouthing off again so I told him to haud his wheesht.”
- “Haud yer wheesht and let me think for two minutes, will ye?”
6. “Haver”
If someone tells you you’re “havering,” don’t take it personally. Well, maybe take it a little personally. It means you’re talking nonsense—rambling, waffling, nattering on without saying anything remotely useful.
This word made international waves thanks to The Proclaimers, those lovely bespectacled Scots who promised to walk 500 miles and then 500 more. “And if I haver,” they sang, “I know I’m gonna be the man who’s havering to you.” That’s not a love poem—it’s a man pledging to babble in your general direction for all eternity. Romantic, in a very Scottish kind of way.
To haver is human. To keep doing it after being called out? That’s commitment.
Examples:
- “You’re havering again—just get to the point.”
- “He sat there havering on about aliens and the price of cheese.”
- “She does love a good haver after a glass of wine.”
7. “Yer Man” / “Yer Wan”
If you’re in Scotland and someone starts talking about “yer man” or “yer wan,” don’t panic—you’re not being dragged into a family drama. These phrases are just delightfully vague ways of referring to someone. Anyone. Literally anyone.
“Yer man” is for males, “yer wan” for females. It’s how Scots keep conversations moving when names either don’t matter or have gone completely out the window. It could be your best friend, a stranger on the bus, or someone you just saw on the news. Doesn’t matter. It’s yer man. Or yer wan.
The tone does all the heavy lifting—friendly, gossipy, outraged, amused. Context will usually clue you in. Usually. If you’re still confused, nod knowingly and hope for the best. It’s what the rest of us are doing too.
Examples:
- “Yer man at the chippy gave me extra chips today. Legend.”
- “I saw yer wan from the office heading into the pub at noon.”
- “Remember yer man who used to DJ at school discos? He’s on the radio now!”
Scottish English: Where Logic Goes to Take a Nap
Scottish English isn’t just a regional flavor of English—it’s more like English that ran off into the hills, had a few pints, and came back wearing tartan and shouting about messages and wheeshts. The phrases don’t just tell you what’s going on—they slap character and comedy onto everyday life like it’s second nature.
And the best part? You don’t have to understand every word to enjoy it. Half the fun is being confused and still somehow getting the gist through tone, volume, and facial expressions. Scottish English is proof that language isn’t just about meaning—it’s about attitude, context, and delivering your point with maximum flair and possibly a side-eye.
If someone tells you to “gie it laldy” or moans they’ve been “pure scunnered since Tuesday,” you won’t be totally lost. You might still be confused—but in the charming, shared-experience kind of way.
Slàinte, ya glaikit legend.
Hey fellow Linguaholics! It’s me, Marcel. I am the proud owner of linguaholic.com. Languages have always been my passion and I have studied Linguistics, Computational Linguistics and Sinology at the University of Zurich. It is my utmost pleasure to share with all of you guys what I know about languages and linguistics in general.