Doric Language and English Translation

By
, Staff Writer
Updated November 14, 2016
Aberdeen city centre
  • DESCRIPTION
    Aberdeen city centre
  • SOURCE
    skarau / iStock / Getty Images Plus

Doric is a dialect of the Scottish language, which you may notice in both how some of the words are written and pronounced, as well as the reference to Glasgow. The particular part of the country where Doric is spoken is in the Northeastern region of Scotland, particularly around the County of Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City. Learn words from the Doric language and what they mean in English.

Doric Words and English Translations A-C

You might notice some of the Doric words are quite similar to the English translation, while some of them are entirely different. Additionally, the Doric language has a wonderful rhythm to it that makes it great for ballads, songs and poems. Find out words from a to c and their translations like ‘aathing’ and ‘coorse’.

  • aabody - everybody
  • aathing - everything
  • aaf - off
  • affa - awfully
  • aifter - after
  • aneth - underneath or below
  • anither - another
  • atween - between
  • aye - yes
  • aye-aye min - hello
  • baith - both
  • bairn - a baby or young child
  • banter - gossip/chat/tease
  • bawbee - half penny
  • ben - down or through
  • bide - stay
  • biodag - dagger or dirk
  • birl - spin
  • birling - drinking match
  • bitcallant - lad
  • black affrontit - embarrassed
  • bosie - cuddle or hug
  • brakk - break
  • bratch - female dog
  • braw - good or great
  • brawly - well
  • cantrips - magic spells or incantations
  • caul - cold
  • clachneart - putting stone
  • claik - gossip
  • claes - clothes
  • clamjamfry - company or mob
  • clarsach - harp
  • clarty - dirty
  • coorse - coarse
  • craiter - creature

Doric Words and English Translations D-M

While the Doric dialect has its roots in farming, the rolling r’s of the language give it a nice gentle flow. Dive into more exciting Doric words covering d through m like ‘deray’ and ‘moulds’.

  • died - dead
  • deray - uproar
  • dhe - god
  • dinna - don't
  • dirdum - tumult
  • dirled - vibrated
  • div - do
  • doited - foolish
  • doon aboot the mou - depressed
  • douche - kind or gentle
  • drookit - drenched or soaking
  • eese - use
  • eneuch - enough
  • fa's - who
  • fash - trouble
  • feart - afraid
  • feel - daft
  • ficher - fumble
  • fin - when
  • fit - how
  • fitbaa - football
  • fit wye - why
  • fleg - fright
  • flitt - to remove
  • foostsie - stale or rancid
  • gads - horrible
  • gangrel - tramp or vagrant
  • gash - grim or dismal
  • guan - going
  • ging - go
  • gipe - stupid
  • glunching - frowning
  • grapt - wept
  • hale - whole
  • heid - head
  • hirpling - limping
  • ingins - onions
  • jis - just
  • ken - know
  • loanings - bypath
  • loon - boy
  • lugs - ears
  • maist - most
  • mare - more
  • mear - a mare
  • messages - shopping
  • min - man
  • mony - many
  • moulds - graves
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Doric Words and English Translations N-Z

Finish off the alphabet by exploring, these Doric to English translations covering n to z. You’ll be speaking like Merida from Brave in no time flat!

  • nae - no
  • neen - none
  • neep - turnip
  • nivver - never
  • puckle - a few
  • quine - girl
  • richt - right
  • riped - searched
  • riving - raging
  • routh - abundance
  • sair - sore
  • scowp - run
  • scutter - delay
  • sillver - silver coin
  • spotter - mess
  • spik - speak
  • spikin - speaking
  • sotter - mess
  • steen - stone
  • stocious - drunk
  • stot - to bounce
  • stotter - beautiful
  • swicking - cheating
  • telt - told
  • toom - empty
  • tumshie - an idiot
  • tossue - ruffle
  • trachled - exhausted
  • trig - active
  • twaa - two
  • waabit - tired
  • wanchancy - wicked
  • glesga - glasgow
  • wifie - woman
  • wintit - wanted
  • yersel - yourself
  • yett - a gate
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Doric Scots Phrases to Remember

Doric has a few fun short phrases too. Nivver fash! These doric definitions are going to be fun to learn.

  • bleeter - to talk without an aim
  • bogle wark - ghostly action
  • corrie fister - left-handed person
  • dinna fash yersel - don't fuss yourself
  • dreich - cold, wet, and windy
  • far hiv ye ben - where have you been?
  • fit like - hello, how are you?
  • flitting - to move home
  • glisk - passing glance
  • hech - cry of surprise
  • leesome lane - quite alone
  • mockit - needs a good wash
  • nivver fash - do not worry
  • plat - plot of grounds
  • pucklie - a small amount
  • the morn - tomorrow or in the morning
  • thirled - under obligation

Translations are courtesy of About Aberdeen.

Diving Into the Scots Language

Scottish languages are unique. Not only is the accent and cadence of the language almost whimsical, but the history is fun too.

Ready to learn more Scots languages? Fill your language learning needs by looking at Irish and Scottish Gaelic language basics