Doric Fae North East Scotland

Doric is the dialect of the Scots language spoken in the North East of Scotland and you may hear it when visiting the area. There is a matter of debate, if it a language or a dialect, but with an estimated 30,000 Doric speakers many words have now entered everyday use.

Doric shares linguistic roots with the Scandinavian languages. A Doric-speaker has bairns, goes to kirk, speirs questions and wipes stue (dust). The Norwegian equivalents are barn, kirke, spørre and støv.

There are hundreds more. Although you don’t need to know how to speak Doric to enjoy your travels
around the area, here are some of our favourite words:
 Strushie - untidy, slovenly, disorderly
 Crabbit – grumpy, ill-tempered
 Drookit – drenched
 Cappie – ice cream cone
 Blootered – drunk
 Wifie – woman
 Teuchter – rural dweller
 Swick – cheat
 Skelp – slap
 Scunner – to annoy or irritate
 Puggled – tired, exhausted
 Briks – trousers
 Claik – gossip
 Contermashious – contrary, negative
 Dirl – rotate, spin
 Lum – chimney
 Gype – fool
 Feart – afraid
 Dookers – swimming costume
 Clype – tell tales

 

 

 

Visit the best for less
The Northern Highlights Sightseeing pass will be time sensitive, valid for either 2 or 5 days and comes with an interactive paper map covering North East Scotland. The product offers discounts  to participating attractions, activities, experiences and tours.

You can find out more from the tourism destinations and organisations.

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