Doric: A Surprise in Aberdeenshire

 
 

Relocating to Scotland there were many things to consider but a language barrier was not one of them, I expected to struggle with some accents and a few colloquialisms and then I encountered Doric.

A beautiful language (not just a dialect) local to parts of Aberdeenshire and being lost generation upon generation.  There is a local campaign to have Doric recognised as a true language like Gaelic is here in Scotland and I wanted to share some of the wonderful phrases that are starting to creep into my lexicon.

  • Nae Bother - No worries

  • Piece - Sandwich

  • Bosie - Cuddle

  • Blether - To talk foolishly or in a trivial way; to prattle, speak boastfully; a chatterbox

  • Quine A young woman, a girl

  • Loon - A young man, boy

  • Scurries - Seagulls

  • Wheesht - Be quiet, shut up , hush

Phrases

  • Fly cup and fancy piece - Surreptitious cup of tea and cake

  • Fit Like? - How are you? Which leads to a wonderful example of discussion in a shoe shop

  • “Fit fit fits fit fit?”

  • Translation - Which foot fits which foot?”

Weather word that I use the most

  • Dreich -  dreary, bleak

Robert Gordon University published a book (sold out now) and some artists are using the words and phrases to inspire their work thus keeping this wonderful language alive.

Link to my Quine series

Beautiful Doric Gifts at MelabellaGifts

Doric for Beginners

 
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