Aberdonian Doric phrases and words from the North East of Scotland commonly heard around Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire with an English translation from this Scots language
Doric is the dialect spoken in the North East of Scotland, commonly heard in Aberdeen and around Aberdeenshire and Moray. Here we give you a comprehensive guide to this Scots language. Below you can see a Doric word of the day and in our A-Z section you can read through them or click above for a random word. Have fun using our Scottish Translator Tool.
Phrase of the day...
Our favourite Doric phrases are coppit bonnie, foos yer doos, foggietoddlers, spewin feathers and ill-tricket. Dinna ken fit they mean? Look them up in our easy to use Doric Dictionary.
If you know of a Doric phrase or word that we have not listed then it would be great if you let us know by submitting it.
During your visit to the website you may notice that many words end in ie. This is common throughout Aberdeen and the rural areas like Buchan and Banffshire. So a drop of water would be a drappie o watter and a run out in the car would be a runnie oot.
The funniest bit of Doric can be heard in this Flying Pigs comedy sketch:
Aberdonians have a long association with agriculture and you will note many words such as backeyn, heow and hackstock have farming associations. Though these may be seldom used more modern ones such as atween, far hiv ye bin and teuchter are commonplace around the Grampian region.
The Drummer Boy is my latest novel about the ghost of a Gordon Highlander Drummer Boy from the Battle of Waterloo who haunts a modern day army nurse.
Chapters take place in modern day Aberdeen, at the Noose & Monkey bar and restaurant as well as His Majesty’s Theatre and Garthdee. Other scenes take place at Tidworth and during the Napoleonic War.
I’ve put in many Doric words and phrases into the novel, my favourite being “Mmm oxters o an Aberdeen loon, cannae beat it!” As with all my novels and short stories (my author name is CG Buswell) it includes the Doric, scenes from Aberdeen and famous ghosts from our area.
Read the first three chapters for free on most devices.