Spik

/ah-BOHN/

situated above; at a higher level

“Da hoose is abön da brae.”

/AIR/

Oar for rowing; means tiny amount

“Gie me the aer an I'll lowe ye in.”

/AYT/

restless excitement and eager anticipation

“She's fair aet aboot the new lambs.”

/AHK-AH-dur/

to bear hardship without complaining

“A'll akkadör it.”

/AHK-er/

broken fragments; ruined remains of something

“Da gale left nane but akker.”

/ANG-ker/

traditional Shetland liquid measure about 38 litres

“Gie's an anker o whisky.”

/AP-LOH-suh/

To present or put something forward

“A'll applöse da new rota efter brekfast.”

/AHRK/

very large chest; unusually big thing

“Da farmer's got an ark o a tractor.”

/AR-vee/

small white-flowered common garden weed

“Thar's arvi aal alang da dyke.”

/AT-uh-ree/

bitter and piercingly cold weather

“Da wind's atteri the day.”

/EYE-er/

narrow shingle or sandy beach

“A'm gaen tae the ayre the morn”

/BAY-ess/

domestic bovine animals, cows and oxen

“Da baess's oot oan da brae.”

/BAYN/

heavy leather for shoe soles

“A'll stitch the bain on the shoon”

/BAYT/

tied handful of straw for thatch

“Gie the bait tae the thatcher.”

/BAHL/

to fling or toss something

“He'll bal the stane intae the voe.”

/BAHS/

large open blaze or bonfire

“We hud a bass oan da voe.”

/BAIR/

Blown along by wind; to drift

“Da snaw bears ower da voe.”

/BEEK/

to bathe or bask in sun

“Ah'm gaen tae beek oan t' stanes.”

/BEEST/

first milk from a cow after calving

“Gie the calf a sup o' beest.”

/BEH-GUHD/

Started; commenced; set something in motion

“Da meetin begöd in da kirk”

/BEL-TAYN/

May Day festival marking start of summer

“We gaed ta beltane an danced roon the fyre.”

/BEL-TAYN-REE/

brief stormy spell in early May

“Ah saw a beltane ree this morn.”

/BEN/

main inner room of a cottage

“Coom ben an' hae a cuppa.”

/BERG/

conspicuous rocky outcrop above sea or land

“We steer by da berg when da mist comes”

/BIG/

To build or form a nest

“A'll bigg a neew hoose by the voe.”

/BIG-in/

a house used as a home

“Ah'll bide in the biggin the nicht.”

/BING/

heap of stones or mining spoil

“Yon bing o stanes haes been there sin the war.”

/BIRR/

low buzzing sound; strong excitement

“Da birr frae da wheel gaed on aal nicht”

/BLAHND/

acidic watery liquid after churning

“Gie the pigs the blaand.”

/BLAY/

small spot or stain on surface

“Ther's a wee blae on ma sark.”

/BLOHD-FAST-in/

Not eaten anything during the day

“Blöd fastin disnae suit me”

/BLOHD FREENDS/

People related by blood

“Ma blöd freends'll be heima the nicht.”

/BLOHD-SPRING/

very quickly; in a swift manner

“Blöd spring, da's the ferry!”

/BLOT/

water used for a single wash

“Tak a blot fae the pail an rins the sark”

/BLEUV/

to faint or collapse suddenly

“He blöv aff his seat.”

/BOHGZ/

small crawling or flying creatures

“Da's boags i' the kytchen.”

/BØD/

Small fishermen's hut for storing gear

“Da böd staans by da shore.”

/BUHL/

animal resting spot; also a bed

“Da coo's böl is gey warm.”

/BUL-LEE-MENTS/

assorted small personal belongings

“Da drawer's fu o bölliments.”

/BUHN/

past participle meaning been

“He bön here yestreen”

/BONKS-ee/

large aggressive seabird that steals

“Da bonxie sat on da stack an' skraikit.”

/BOO/

forward part or prow of boat

“Haud the boo straucht.”

/BUR-ep/

rope for boat bow or buoy

“Hae ye tyed the börep tae the bouy?”

/BOOT/

sturdy outdoor footwear covering the ankle

“Ah'll put ma böt on an gang oot.”

/BRAH/

excellent and impressive in quality

“Ye hae a braa hoose.”

/BRAHND/

smouldering piece of peat fuel

“Tak the braand oot the byre”

/BRAY/

steep hillside or hilltop edge

“Ga up the brae an' dinna slip.”

/BRAHT/

cloth tied at waist to protect clothing

“Dinna forget yer brat.”

/BRIG/

crossing built over a stream

“Tak care ower da brig, it's gey slippy.”

/BRIND/

To mate animals for breeding

“Da rams'll brind wi da ewes.”

/BROO/

Liquid from boiling food, used as gravy

“A'll hae a sup o brö”

/BRUHD/

opening or breach in a barrier

“Mind the bröd i the daik.”

/BRODZ/

stiff front and back book covers

“Da brods on da auld buk are sair scartit.”

/BRUHL/

loud deep roar or shout

“The dug gied a bröl whan the boat cam in”

/BRUN-ee/

Traditional Shetland oat scone

“Gie's a warm brönnie an a cup o tea.”

/BROSS-kee/

piece of nasal cartilage or gristle

“Ther's a bröski in the haddie.”

/BROWST/

A cup or pot of tea

“Gi'e a browst, ah'm cauld.”

/BRUG/

small low mound or shoreline ledge

“Dinna staun on da brug, it's slippy.”

/BUCHT/

coiled fishing line about forty fathoms

“Gie me the bucht frae the stern.”

/BUSK/

Tuft forming the beard of a fly

“He tyed a wee busk oan the flay.”

/BYOH-ags/

Meaning unknown — provide example sentence

“Hae ye seen the byoags?”

/BYURG/

small rocky prominence or crag

“Thar's a wee byurg up the brae.”

/KAST/

method or manner of working

“He's aye got a braw cast wi the net.”

/KLEEV/

horny foot of a hoofed animal

“Da cliv's crackit, gie 't tae the farrier.”

/KLIHV-GENG/

Clatter of hooves; orderly procession

“Aa seen da clivgeng doon by da pier”

/KLOD/

small hard lump of peat

“Mind the clod, it's gey hard.”

/KLOH/

brusque order to be quiet

“He gied a clowe.”

/KOHG/

to look closely, often squinting

“Coag a wee an ye'll ken whit I'm pointin' tae.”

/KAWRN/

a tiny portion or small amount

“Gie me a coarn.”

/KOG/

small wooden boat or tub

“Ah'll row the cog tae the voe.”

/KOOL/

To make or become cool

“Lat da tea cöl a wee”

/KOL-ee/

Pamper or dote to soothe

“Mither cöllied the wee bairn an it soon stopped greetin.”

/KOL-ik/

edible bivalve shellfish found on shores

“Ah fand a cöllik oan the strand.”

/KOO/

Shetland dialect word for cow

“Da coo is oot on da brae.”

/KOOM/

very fine powdery dust particles

“Da coom's aw ower ma claes”

/KOST/

marks possession, origin, or relationship

“Da boat cöst Willie is i da voe”

/KUT/

Ankle; also figurative for brooding

“Mind yer cöt on da stane.”

/KUT-ti-ken/

short sock reaching to the ankle

“Dinna forget yer cöttiken.”

/KRAYG/

the neck or throat area

“Da dug's got a wee nick oan its craig.”

/KRAYGS/

rocky coastal ledges used for fishing

“A wis oot at the craigs yestreen.”

/KRAYG-SAT/

rocky fishing ledge on a crag

“He gaed til da craigsaet tae fish.”

/KRAYG-stayn/

large projecting rock or crag

“A'll meet ye by the craigstane.”

/KREKS/

harsh throat clearing cough sound

“He gied a crex an spat.”

/KRUH/

Stone built pen for sheltering sheep

“Shut the ewes intae the crö.”

/KROEL/

rounded hump on a back

“Da pony hev a wee cröl.”

/KROOG/

squat down close to the ground

“She croog doon by the dyke.”

/KRUB/

small round stone cabbage enclosure

“Yon crub's ful o' kail.”

/KRUG/

crouch down for shelter from weather

“They crug agin the dyke.”

/KUM-mel/

Turn something upside down

“Dinna cummel the boat, ye'll tak in watter.”

/KURN/

small tart berry used for preserves

“Ah'll mak curn jam the morn.”

/DAHL/

low hollow or valley between hills

“A'll meet ye in the daal.”

/DAYK/

wall-like bank of drying peat

“Da daek staans oot on da hill.”

/DAYL/

loose plank or movable floorboard

“Dinna step on the dael, it's rickit.”

/DAHG/

fine persistent drizzle or close mist

“Da dag's hingin aboot.”

/DEE/

informal singular 'you' in Shetland

“Hae dee seen ma cat?”

/DEL/

To root about; search by digging

“A'll dell i' da peat.”

/DIL-suh/

edible red shoreline seaweed

“A'll hae some dilse.”

/DOO/

Carry out or perform an action

“A'll dö it noo.”

/DURL/

deep sorrow or intense mourning

“Shi sat wi döl i her hert”

/DUH-less/

Lacking energy or motivation

“He's döless an winnae lift a haun.”

/DUHN/

completely finished; all done

“Ah'm dön noo.”

/DOO/

a pigeon or dove bird

“A doo sittin oan the dyke.”

/DOON-tum/

sudden heavy rain; torrential shower

“We hid in the hoose till the doontöm passit.”

/DRANG/

Fasten securely by making a knot

“A'll drang the roap roon the stob.”

/EBB/

seabed exposed at low tide

“We gaed oot on the ebb.”

/ELSK/

Feel deep affection or fondness

“Ah elsk ma dug sair”

/EL-skah KRAI/

Final shout uttered at moment of death

“His elska cry skirled ower the voe.”

/ELT/

To soil or handle roughly

“Dinna elt the wee calf, gie it peace.”

/EM-mer-GURS/

large diving seabird, the loon

“Emmer gös dyks deeip intae da voe.”

/FAD-muhl/

very overweight, bulky woman

“Da fadmal sat daan by da fire.”

/FAYL/

block of turf held by roots

“Gie us a fael for the fire.”

/FEL/

knock down or render unconscious

“He gied 'im a sair smack an fell 'im”

/FIS-mul/

a very small amount or portion

“Gie us a fismal o' tatties.”

/FLAHG/

Flutter or flap about untidily

“Her shawl wis flaag aboot.”

/FLEET/

Boat's collection of fishing nets

“A'm gaen tae mend the fleet.”

/FLEE-ter/

flat wooden skimmer for removing scum

“Gi'e me the fleeter, there's a film on the broo.”

/FLUR/

inside surface you walk on

“Gae wipe da flör”

/FOOL/

foolish person lacking common sense

“Da föl gaed oot inna snaw wi nae coat”

/FOR-geng/

A forewarning of something unpleasant

“Ah gat a foregeng afore the storm.”

/FOH-REN-uhn/

period of the day before noon

“A met Jamie forenön at da pier.”

/FURS-day/

day between Wednesday and Friday

“A'll gang tae the kirk försday.”

/FOH-shin/

the essential substance or driving force

“Da föshin o da tale set folk thinkin'.”

/FOH-shin-less/

Dry, flavourless and shrivelled

“A'm no fain o' that föshinless kail.”

/FOY/

festive meal celebrating end of season

“Aw's gaein t' the foy the neet.”

/FRAM/

toward the sea, away from shore

“Da boat's gaen fram.”

/FREMD/

Outsider or person from outside

“Da fremd disna ken oor ways.”

/GAYT/

narrow path or short walk

“Ah'll tak the gaet hame.”

/GAL-der/

a loud, boisterous burst of laughter

“He gied a muckle galder efter the crack.”

/GAL-duh-ree/

large farm building for livestock

“Da moonlicht lookit bonnie on the galdery last nicht.”

/GAV-uhl/

triangular end wall beneath pitched roof

“Yon gavel needs new slates afore winter.”

/GENG/

to walk or to fit clothing

“A'm geng alang tae da shore”

/GIRS/

green turf or pasture vegetation

“We'll tak da kye tae da girse.”

/GIR-see/

Covered in grass; grassy or turf-covered

“Da brae's aw girsy.”

/GLAHR/

Sticky, muddy, sludgy untidy mess

“Mind yer step, da path's glaar.”

/GLOED/

gentle steady warmth or soft radiance

“Da glöd frae da fire gae hir face a douce licht”

/GUD/

Good; of satisfactory or high quality

“Da cake is göd.”

/GUL-BROOL/

deep, booming roar or bellow

“Da coo gied a gölbröl an aw da bairns hid”

/GUL-griv/

shallow livestock waste channel

“Dinna step intae da gölgriv.”

/GUSS/

A domestic or wild goose

“Da gös swims i da voe.”

/GUT/

Doorstep; low strip at a doorway

“Mind the göt when ye come in.”

/GOZ-ren/

bird's muscular grinding stomach

“Da hen haes a sair gözren.”

/GREEST/

a short period or little while

“Bide a greest, A'll be back”

/GREF/

base of a peat bank

“Dinna gang near the greff”

/GRAYN/

urgent craving or strong hunger

“A'm grein efter a plate o fish.”

/GRETH/

bodily liquid waste expelled as urine

“Dinna lea' greth oan the floor.”

/GRIND/

movable barrier marking entrance between fields

“Hae ye shut the grind?”

/GRIP/

To seize or suddenly afflict

“A suden pain grip me oan da road”

/GROF-siv/

coarse strainer with widely spaced holes

“Gie me the groff siv, aw'll rins it.”

/GRAW-flins/

on hands and knees; on all fours

“Da wean lay gröflins on da floo”

/GROP/

to rain in misty fine drops

“Da's grop nou.”

/GROT/

oily, sludgy residue from fish oil

“Dinna tak yer hauns intae da gröt.”

/GRUNDZ/

Coarse sediment at water bottom

“Dinna leave grunds in da bukkit.”

/GUD-ik/

riddle; to quiz with riddles

“She gied me a guddick last nicht”

/GEE-zer-YARL/

chief leader of Up-Helly-Aa guizers

“Da guizer jarl telt us tae folla.”

/GUL-brol/

to give a loud, prolonged roar

“He gied a gulbröl.”

/GIL/

steep narrow hollow at valley head

“A'll gang up the gyill the morn.”

/GEE-oh/

narrow steep-sided rocky sea inlet

“Dinna gaen near the gyo”

/GYOH-lah/

thin slightly sour buttermilk from churning

“Gie's a wee sup o gyola.”

/HAH/

main house or laird's manor

“He's awa at da haa”

/HAHF/

deep open sea, offshore fishing grounds

“Us'll gae oot tae the haaf the morn.”

/HAG-mark/

Boundary marker between grazing areas

“Meet me at the hagmark afore we gang the sheep.”

/HAIRST-muhn/

autumn full moon marking the harvest

“Wi sat doon unner the hairst mön”

/HAIR-ee-MOHL-dit/

covered in fuzzy green growth

“Dinna eat da, it's hairy möldit.”

/HAH-mar/

steep rocky hill or crag

“Da bairn clamb da hamar an' keekit ower”

/HAYM-TROH/

on the way home

“Ah'm gaun hame trowe.”

/HANK/

Coil rope for stowing or handling

“Will ye hank the line noo?”

/HEG-ree/

heron; nickname for a lanky person

“Hegri, ye're late agin.”

/HELL-ee MURLD/

graveyard or cemetery; 'holy earth'

“Ah'll gang tae the helli möld.”

/HENT/

Pick up and gather items or people

“Hent the weans hame noo”

/HERT-sten/

flat stone forming the hearth

“Pit the kettle on da hert sten.”

/HESP/

Skein of yarn prepared for spinning

“Ah maun win the hesp afore Ah kin spin.”

/HETH/

mild exclamation for surprise or annoyance

“Heth, ye canna dae that!”

/HIL-GRYND/

gate to communal hill pasture

“Ah'll meet ye at the hill grind.”

/HIMST/

petulant, flighty, easily offended person

“He got himst ower a wee thing.”

/HIR-da/

utter disorder; scattered, broken pieces

“Da hoose is hirda efter da party”

/HOHLD/

Kept or grasped; held in place

“Ah'll höld the boat fir ye.”

/HOHM/

small low-lying islet near shore

“Da bairns gaed oot tae da holm.”

/HOO-min/

dim light just after sunset

“We'll be hame afore hömin.”

/HUV/

to throw or heave forcefully

“Shi höv the sack intae the boat”

/HUH-vee/

Shallow woven bait-carrying basket

“A'll tak the hövi doon tae the voe.”

/HOW/

loosen soil with a hoe

“A'll howe the tatties the morn.”

/HOOND/

domestic dog; pet or working dog

“Da hund's oot da noo.”

/IL-ska-KREE/

sudden loud shout expressing anger

“She lett oot an ilska cry.”

/IN-BUHS/

Likely to be met with hostility

“He telt them an they gied him inbös.”

/KEEL/

to tip or topple over

“Mind yersel or ye'll keel.”

/KEE-ar/

Coarse fibrous material for ropes

“He tied da creel wi kiarr.”

/KIRN/

disorderly, jostling crowd or group

“Dinna gang near da kirn at da quay.”

/KIR-nin/

one act of churning milk

“A'll dae ane kirnin the morn wi new milk.”

/KISH-ee/

small woven straw carrying basket

“Ah'll pit the eggs i' the kishie.”

/KLET/

large shoreline rock or boulder

“Yon klett stans aye alang da shore”

/NOILT/

quick, sharp knuckle hit

“He gied me a knoilt oan the shulder.”

/NOH/

small rounded hill or mound

“Thar's a wee knowe by the burn.”

/KRING/

a pair of lambs tethered together

“Da kring's oot on da lee.”

/KROHL/

small oat scone or cake

“Gies a kröl an a drop o tea.”

/KRON/

moan or whine when unwell

“Da bairn'll kron if she's nae feelin weel.”

/LAAG/

a pull, especially hauling a boat

“Gie's a laag, lads.”

/LAFT/

Upper storey used for storage

“Da laft's fu o auld claes an kist.”

/LEE/

to tell a deliberate falsehood

“Dinna lee tae me.”

/LAY/

grass-covered fallow meadow left to rest

“Da ley's braw the day”

/LIFT/

sky and sea rising or swelling

“Da lift's fu o starns the nicht.”

/LIF-teen/

cow so weak must be lifted

“Da lifteen coo cannae gang oot on her ain.”

/LIN/

to stop or cease activity

“Lin noo, there's nae mair tae say”

/LING/

Native of the Skerries, Shetland

“Yon ling kens a' the best spots.”

/LINK/

short chain for hanging pot-hook

“Haud the link sae the pot hangs ower the ingle.”

/LIHNGKS/

places where limbs join

“Mind yer links when ye lift the creels”

/LIN/

plank used to haul boats ashore

“Set the linn oot alang the strand.”

/LIS-pund/

Old Shetland weight for grain and butter

“He gied me a lispund o butter.”

/LEETH/

Soft, pliable; having gentle quality

“Da bannock is lith noo.”

/LOH/

Strain one's ears to hear closely

“Lö noo, ye'll hear the ferry.”

/LUHD/

a person's mood or a tune

“She's aye hummin a löd.”

/LOHD-BEH-ree/

Lerwick waterfront house built over sea

“We hae auld nets in da lodberrie.”

/LOH-dee-pipe/

oat straw whistle toy making music

“Da bairn blew his lödi pipe an made a bonny tune.”

/LUF/

flat inner surface of the hand

“Gie me yer löf.”

/LUHF-AH-LEN/

entirely alone; with nobody else

“A'll bide löf alenn the nicht.”

/LOHM/

shallow enamelled dish; oily water sheen

“Gie's the löm, A'll wash it.”

/LUH-na-brack/

surging, breaking motion of waves

“Lönabrack cam in an' shuk the quoy.”

/LOO/

slightly warm; lukewarm in temperature

“Da tea's a wee bit loo.”

/LOO-der-horn/

bullock's horn used as signal

“The looderhorn blaws an' a' the boats cam in.”

/LOOM/

to look, stare, or seem

“She looms oot the windae.”

/LUR-uh-GUB/

thick frothy sea-foam in strait

“Da boat couldna pass da voe o löragub.”

/LOH-ren-SHOON/

archaic Shetland word for shoes

“Tak aff yer loren shön afore ye come in”

/LYO-ag/

small damp hollow on hillside

“Mind yer step roon the lyoag.”

/MAK-uh-DOH/

a false, affected show meant to deceive

“His freendship wis pure makadö.”

/MERK/

Traditional Shetland land measure

“Da merk's nae muckle, but it keeps twa kye.”

/MIRK/

dark and gloomy; little light

“Da's mirk oot the nicht.”

/MOHLD/

Top layer of natural ground

“A'm gaen oot tae pit the tatties in the möld.”

/MURLD-DROCHT/

intense thirst in dying person

“She haes möld drocht an rins aal day”

/MOHLD-rich/

extremely wealthy; possessing great riches

“He's möld rich, ken ye?”

/MOHL-dee BLET/

bare spot on hillside pasture

“Mind the kye aff the möldie blett.”

/MOHL-dee KOOS/

heap of dried peat for cattle bedding

“Gi'e the möldie coose i' the byre for the kye.”

/MUN/

Earth's natural lunar satellite

“Da mön gars the sea glimmer”

/MUN-BROKH/

luminous ring around the moon

“Yon mön broch's fair bonnie the nicht”

/MUR-nee/

bundle of nerves along backbone

“A hae a sair pain in ma möni.”

/MOOR/

snow heavily forming deep wind-driven drifts

“It wull moor the nicht, sae bide at hame.”

/MOOT/

very small animal or insect

“Dinna fash yersel aboot the moot.”

/MOESS/

become bewitched; rendered ineffective

“Da auld lass mös an nivver budgit.”

/NEEP/

edible root vegetable, a turnip

“Pit the neap intae the pot.”

/NED-er/

neither of two options

“Nedder o them wanted tae gang.”

/NES/

headland projecting into the sea

“We gaed oot tae da ness.”

/NOHN/

to hum or softly warble a tune

“A nön masel whey A de knit.”

/NOOP/

steep cliff-like headland into sea

“A'll gae up tae the noop the morn.”

/NOOST/

hollow for drawing up small boat

“Ah set the boat in the noost.”

/NORN/

Extinct North Germanic island language

“Auld folk spak norn afore.”

/OHG/

crawl slowly on hands and knees

“Da bairn oag alang da floor.”

/URB-dee/

toward the outside, outwards direction

“Turn the boat öbdee tae sea.”

/UR-LEE-KLOHR-um/

slightly ill; looking weak or feeble

“He's no hissel', a bit öliklörum.”

/UHN/

Muggy, stuffy oppressive warm air

“It's gey ön in the hoose.”

/OOS-ter/

talk over someone to dominate conversation

“Dae nae ooster me”

/OOT-DUHN/

Completely worn out, utterly exhausted

“He cam hame ootdön”

/UHS/

to make use of something

“A'll ös the boat the morn”

/URZ-wal/

customary; occurring as normally expected

“It's öswal da hoose smells o' bannocks on Sunday mornin.”

/OHT/

ate, consumed food in past

“Ah öt ma tea.”

/OET-nuh/

very small broken pieces; tiny fragments

“Mind yer step, there's ötna on t' floor.”

/OW-SKER-ee/

hand scoop for bailing boat water

“Gi'e me the owskerri, the boat's fillin' wi' watter.”

/OY/

male child of one's sibling

“Mi oy's oot playin.”

/OY-ger/

very large sea wave breaker

“Da öyger swep ower da stane pier.”

/PAHL/

Dig in feet to steady oneself

“Paal yer fit oan the brae.”

/PIL-tuk/

young pollack; Whalsay islander nickname

“Da piltock hid alang da reef.”

/PLOHT/

complain in a whining, persistent way

“Dinna plöt, lass.”

/PURR/

person with a physical disability

“Da pör gans aboot wi a stikk.”

/PURR-tuh/

state of being poor

“He's fair pörta the noo.”

/POT-er-stah/

a period of idle waiting

“A've bin in a lang pottersta frae mornin.”

/KOY/

enclosed cultivated plot of common land

“Da quoy's fur the tatties this year”

/RAYM/

thick fatty dairy layer skimmed from milk

“Gie's a dub o raem on the bannock.”

/RAYN-GOHS/

small diving loon with red throat

“Ah seen a rain gös at da voe.”

/REE/

short squally storm with strong winds

“Da ree's comin', bun up the boat.”

/REEST/

preserve mutton by drying in smoke

“A'll reest the mutton the nicht.”

/REES-tit/

smoked and preserved for flavour

“A'll tak a wee piece o da reestit.”

/RIG/

narrow strip of land or backbone

“Ah'll tak da wee rig for the tatties.”

/ROHD/

jabber on senselessly; ramble at length

“Da auld yin aye röd at da shoop.”

/RURF/

top covering of a building

“Da röf is leakin.”

/RUR/

young horse or shedding pony

“Da röl's oot i' da field.”

/RON-ee/

mound of stones or rocky outcrop

“I gaed by the rönnie yestreen.”

/ROO-duh-ree SKER-ee/

small rocky sea outcrop with barnacles

“Mind the roodery skerry oot by the Ness; it'll snare yer keel.”

/ROOST/

fast, rough tidal current

“Dinna gang oot in the skiff when the roost's on.”

/ROES/

to praise; speak well of someone

“Aw'll rös ye fer da braw wark.”

/RUT/

underground part of a plant

“We diggit oot a reet lairge röt.”

/RØV/

metal washer used on boat planks

“Mend the röv afore da plank lowses.”

/SAAN-dil-OO/

small coastal wading bird

“Thar's a saandiloo on da strand.”

/SKAT-uld/

Communal pasture allotted to crofts

“Aw'll pit the kye intae the scattald.”

/SKOHL/

building where children receive education

“Da bairns is gaen tae scöl”

/SKOEP/

small hand scoop for bailing

“Gi'e me the scöp noo.”

/SKOH/

wooden stave of a barrel or cask

“A scowe wis loosed frae the kask.”

/SEG/

marsh plant, yellow-flag iris

“Ah seen seg alang da burn.”

/SHAWLD/

Having little depth, not very deep

“Ye kin gang ower da voe, it's shaald.”

/SHOH/

third-person feminine pronoun meaning 'she'

“Shö's haulin the creels.”

/SHOHL/

Scoop out or shuffle along

“A'll shöl the snaw aff the step.”

/SHUH-LEE-BROD/

old shabby object falling apart

“Dinna tak the shölibrod intae the hoose.”

/SHOON/

Pairs of footwear; plural of shoe

“Tak yer shön oan afore ye gae oot.”

/SIL-uk/

juvenile coalfish in first year

“Ah seen a sillock at da pier.”

/SIM-uhnds/

plaited straw cords for binding

“A'll fetch the simmonds frae the byre.”

/SIKS-ern/

six oared open fishing boat

“A'm gaen oot in the sixern the morn”

/SKAHP/

bed or colony of sea mussels

“Da skaap cling tae da stane.”

/SKAAR/

a very small portion

“Mum aye gies me a skaar frae the jam.”

/SKAY/

to happen; befall someone

“Whit skae ye noo?”

/SKAIR-taft/

rear seat in a small boat

“A'll sit i' the skaer taft.”

/SKAHL-vah/

To fall in large, loose snowflakes

“It's skalva oot.”

/SKAY-oh/

small stone shed for drying fish

“We'll bide in da skeo da nicht”

/SKER-ee/

small rocky islet or reef

“Mind da skerry afore ye sail”

/SKRUF/

thin surface layer of the sea

“A skröf lay ower the voe”

/SKROL/

loud, grating shriek or screech

“A heerd a skröl frae da clif”

/SKURT/

bundle held against the chest

“Shi set the skurt doun at the door.”

/SKY-ug/

Crouch to shelter against a bank

“Ah skyug ahint the brae”

/SLOO/

lazy, untidy, slovenly person

“Da sloo nivver keps hir hoose tidy.”

/SNOOD/

spiral twist of a rope's strands

“Da auld man haes a snöd aboot him.”

/SNOHL/

a foolish or simple-minded person

“Ach, snöl, ye've dune it again.”

/SNYURSK/

noisy petulant sniff or snort

“He gied a snyösk an gaed oot”

/SOH-luhn/

large white seabird, the gannet

“Ah saw a solan at Noss yestreen”

/SOR-moos/

sign that something is alive

“Yon wee calf gie's a sörmoos yet.”

/SPOEL-ee/

Roughly toss, break, and make a mess

“Da bairn spölli his toys aboot da flure.”

/SPUHN/

small bowl-shaped eating and stirring utensil

“Gie me the spön.”

/SPURR/

ask for marriage, bring whisky bottle

“He gaed tae hir faither wi' the spör.”

/STANG/

sudden sharp stabbing pain

“Ah got a stang i ma side.”

/STEN-BEE-ter/

a whiskered, bottom-dwelling catfish

“Aw saw a stenbiter in da voe.”

/STOHLS/

cut lower ends of corn stalks

“Aw'll stack the stöels in the byre”

/STUR/

small coin originally a Dutch penny

“Gie me a stör.”

/STROH-dee-ment/

sudden lively surge of excitement

“We hed a strödiment efter the reel.”

/SWAWRT/

Very dark, intensely black in color

“Da sky gaed swart afore da storm.”

/SIGH/

Long-handled curved blade for harvesting

“A'm gaen oot wi the sye.”

/SIND/

rinse a vessel repeatedly after washing

“Gie's the cup a synd afore ye put it awa.”

/TAH-tee MOELD/

small plot for growing potatoes

“A'll gang an keek at the taatie möld.”

/TAFT/

crosswise bench for oarsman in boat

“Set ye oan the taft an grip the oar.”

/TANG/

coarse shore seaweed, rockweed

“There's muckle tang aboot the shore.”

/TIDE-lumps/

sudden localized surges of sea

“Mind da tide lumps by da skerries”

/TØ/

also in the same manner

“Ah'll come tö.”

/TOL-ee/

to argue angrily or fight

“Da twa fell oot intae a töllie by da quay.”

/TOOM/

tilt a container to pour out

“Töm the kettle afore ye gae oot.”

/TOH-mald/

sudden heavy fall of rain

“A tömald set in when we wiz oot.”

/TOH-MIH-KINS/

Hand tool for twisting fibres

“He tuk da tömikins an sat by da quay.”

/TUHN/

a short traditional melody or air

“Da lass sang a bonnie tön.”

/TRAHN/

Contrary and difficult in manner

“He's traan, aye daes it his ain road.”

/TRAL-dum/

a heavy hardship or burdensome experience

“That tralldom brocht him doon.”

/TROG/

to trudge; walk slowly with effort

“He troag tae the boat efter the shift.”

/TRUH-nee/

the snout of a pig

“Gie's the tröni a wee rub.”

/TROT-el/

sulkily mutter or grumble under breath

“He tröttel as he gied oot the door.”

/TROW/

Shetland goblin or mischievous sprite

“Da trow's hid ma keys agen.”

/TROW/

Come through; pass from one side

“The licht shone trowe the windae.”

/TROW-pit/

industrious, enthusiastic eagerness for work

“She's trowe pit at the croft.”

/TIS-tee/

small black-and-white coastal seabird

“Da tystie sat on da skerry”

/OOD-ul/

ancestral allodial freehold land

“Da udal gaes frae faither til son.”

/OO-DAL-er/

Owner holding land under udal tenure

“Da udaller's hoose stans bi da voe.”

/UN-DOH-mee-us/

Extremely large or strikingly impressive

“Thon's undömious, I ne'er saw the like”

/UP-HEL-ee-AH/

Lerwick's annual torchlit Viking festival

“Ah'll gae tae the up helly aa”

/VAHM/

short bout; unpleasant smell

“It wis jist a vaam o' rain.”

/VAHR/

pay attention; notice or heed

“Vaar the bairn, she's near da road.”

/VAYG-uh/

to wander without a set direction

“Da vaege aboot the haill day.”

/VAIR-dee/

old traditional folk or superstitious belief

“Mam aye had a vaerdi aboot selkies.”

/VAHRG/

to make dirty or foul

“Dinnae varg the pan”

/VASS/

tie yarn to lamb for ID

“A'll vass the lamb wi a bit o yarn.”

/VIN-stur/

Sheep stomach inflammation disease

“Da ewe haes vinster an winna tak ony feed.”

/VOHR/

spring season and farming tasks

“Voar's come, an we maun big the tatties.”

/VOD/

empty; a house not lived in

“Da auld hoose is vod.”

/VOH/

narrow sea inlet or bay

“Da's a braw voe alang the shore.”

/WAHR/

aware, conscious and informed

“Ah'm waar o that.”

/WILK/

small marine snail on rocky shore

“Aw fand a wylk oan da stane.”

/YOHL/

Six-oared Shetland rowing boat

“Aw'll tak the yoal oot the morn.”

/YOOL/

Yule season; small Christmas celebratory drink

“Yöl's aboot an da hoose's pyntit.”