Scots Dictionary, What do their words mean?

Actually, in the US, North Carolina had the largest number of Scots immigrants of any state. South Carolina and Georgia also had large numbers, but New York was second.

Yes I do understand that, I was actually meaning if you asked any Scot `today` their perception would be that most immigrants went to Canada, there would be very few if any Scots who don`t have relatives in Canada, of the last few generations.

I was always told that too, Elly, about Canada being the largest Scots immigration. But I lived in the southern states for 16 years and it is amazing how close the words are to what is spoken in Scotland. I found out later it is because of what TheCarolinaScotsman said. My ancestors all settled in North Carolina and Georgia too.

Hehe, I love this topic. It seems there is such a play on words and even though they sound close but spelled differently, them mean the same thing.

Did that make any sense??

It did to me!

i wrote a song in Scots, please read and correct!

Iseabail, the lassie
Oor bonnie hielan rose
Iseabail among the braes gae
She tak her bairn
Wheesht, me wain!
ne'er tae be seen again

Ealasaid, the lassie
Oor bonnie lallan doo
Ealasaid among the braes stand
She girns and grrets
Run me tears!
She ne'er left the toun, ye ken

Ah donae speak scots, but Ah understand most o' it, havin' friends frae a' o' Alba...

I think your poems excellent Eiric.Well done.
As you probably know Scots has many dialects & there are many ways of saying something in Scots, but that doesn't mean to say there are no wrong ways.
Here's how i would say it anyway:-

Iseabail, the lassie
Oor bonnie hielan rose
Iseabail among the braes gae
She taks her bairn
Wheesht, ma wean
ne'er tae be seen again

Ealasaid, the lassie
Oor bonnie lallan doo
Ealasaid among the braes staun
She girns an greets
Run ma tears!
She ne'er left the toun, ye ken

Not too many changes at all Eiric.
Just one thing Scots usually say 'Ma' for 'My' never 'Me'
If you ever hear a 'Scot' in a film saying 'me' for 'my', he's probably not Scottish at all.

Whaur's ma bunnet?
Hiv ye seen ma wallies?
Ma maw's a millionaire...

Me is Irish then???

Thank ye fer the corrections!

Nae bather ataw

Well i'm no expert on Irish accents, but to be honest i think 'me' is stage-Irish. A kind of caricature of the accent. Like all that 'top o the morning to ye' stuff. I never heard an Irishman say that one in my life. They definitely don't say 'me' in the North anyway. But hey like i say i'm no expert.

Just for the record Scots never say any of the following...

Hoot's mon!
See you Jimmy.
Och aye the noo.

Talked tae an Irish friend, and he wanted to kill me when I said Top o' the morning to ye! He says me but he explained that it's actually stage Irish which many Dubliners nowadays use!

Oh I love this! Thank ye Cu Dubh and Eiric. Your poem was really beautiful, Eiric. I learned some things too I am trying to learn Scots as weel. Wish we would do that in here.

I never knew that the Irish never say "Top of the Mornin'" Where did that come from then?

Oh can someone help me? What the heck does "bawbaws" mean? I have looked all over the net and I cannot find it! I may have some other words too if y'all are willing to help. Thanks!

You're welcome!! I love languages and dialects and I think that scottish is so beautiful! Bawbaw??? Ne'er heard that one before. I'll ask me teacher anyway, can you put it in a sentence?

Hi Eiric! If you love languages, come join us in the Scots Gaelic forum then too!

Okay, I copied this from somewhere else and the words in bold are the ones I do not know.

Baw baws, nae yer room as sich.. but whaur micht ye git sent wieoot yer tea/ dinner/ supper etc. Infact wieoot oany type o Scran at aw!!

Ane o the maist infamous Bagnio's in the US cuid verra weel belang tae yon finger lickin officer.

Oanyb'dy guesses these an thae'll git a Snifter!

Ye wuidnae think oanyb'dy wie a Dulce nature wuid gie ye a moothfu o Snash, but jist cause their lips micht drip wie honey disnae mean their tongue wuidnae blister yer Lug.

Help!

I always thought that using the word "me" was used by the English as in England. Am I wrong there?

Thanks for your help!

Baw baw's means - bed CR
Awa ben tae yer baw baws richt noo - Away to bed this minute.
A Snifter is a wee dram
Snash is Cheek
Dinnae gies yer Snash - Don't be Cheeky

I Think in some Northern English accents you might here the word 'me' for 'my' CelticRose.

Here's some Scots words relating to animals:-

Sparrow - Speug
Crow - Craw
Raven - Corbie
Lapwing - Peewee
Starling - Stukie
Seagull - Maw
Ferrel Pigeon - Doo
Wood Pigeon - Cushie
Owl - Houlet
Chaffinch - Shilfie
Blackbird - Blackie
Song Thrush - Mavis
Linnet - Lintie
Cuckoo - Gowk
Mole - Mowdiwarp/Mowdie
Horsefly - Cleg
Dog -Dug
Horse/Donkey - Cuddie
Ewe - Yowe
Ram - Tuip
Cow -Coo
Mouse - Moose
Insect - Beastie
Trout - Troot
Minnows - Baggie Minnies
Frog - Puddock
Gnat - Midgie
Horse Mussel - clabbydhu/Clappydoo

Oh thank you, Cu Dubh! That word bawbaws especially has been bothering me! And yet it was so easy to figure it out and I was like.......duh! The whole time! Thanks for the animals. I added that to my ever growing list. More words, please!