OneShetland
Spik
The living Shetland dialect dictionary — thousands of wirds, with meanings, pronunciations and examples.
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- aauxiliary verb
/AH/
Dialectal auxiliary have for perfect
“We a seen a selkie.”
- aadeterminer
/AH/
each member of a group
“Aa daes thair bit.”
- aaberadjective
/AHB-er/
Eager and enthusiastic; keen to join
“He's aaber tae come alang.”
- aaberknotnoun
/AH-ber-not/
knot charged with supernatural power
“She tied an aaberknot roond the bairn's wrist.”
- aabodypronoun
/AA-BUH-dee/
every single person, all people
“Aabody's gaen thegither for a blether.”
- aafiladverb
/AA-fil/
intensifier meaning very or extremely
“Da wind is aafil cauld.”
- aaldadjective
/AALD/
old; lived or existed for long
“Da aald man aye sits bi da voe”
- aald daanoun
/AALD-DAA/
one's grandfather; father's or mother's father
“Aald daa aye telt guid yarns.”
- aalie lambnoun
/AA-lee LAMB/
older
“Did ye see da aalie lamb oan da brae?”
- aamosnoun
/AA-mos/
older
“She gaed an aamos efter the bairn cam hame.”
- aandoonoun
/AHN-doo/
older
“Ah'll aandoo tae the shop.”
- aarinoun
/AAR-ee/
Sharp, unpleasant taste; acrid, biting
“Da jam's aari, I canna eat it.”
- aathingnoun
/AA-thing/
the whole lot of things
“Da aathing's daan noo.”
- abootpreposition
/UH-BOOT/
during a time period
“A met him aboot the mornin.”
- achinterjection
/AHKH/
brief exclamation expressing annoyance or dismissal
“Ach, awa wi ye!”
- achtnoun
/AKHT/
cherished personal possession; treasured item
“Da acht's aye wi' me”
- acquantadjective
/UH-KWANT/
Familiar with; having dealings with someone
“A'm no acquant wi 'im.”
- admireverb
/ad-MY-er/
to astonish or take by surprise
“Da whale admire me, I wis fair stunnit.”
- aertnoun
/AYRT/
ground, soil, the land surface
“Aw'll gie the aert a turn the morn.”
- aert barknoun
/AYRT-BARK/
roots of the tormentil plant
“Ah fand aert bark oan da moor.”
- aert bilenoun
/AIRT-BEEL/
soft, waterlogged patch that gives way
“Mind yer fit, there's aert bile by the burn.”
- aert fastadjective
/AIRT-fast/
firmly fixed into the ground
“Yon stane's aert fast i' the voe”
- aert kentadjective
/AYRT-KENT/
widely known by many people
“Da's aert kent”
- aeshinsnoun
/AY-shins/
inner eaves at top of wall
“Thae aeshins need paint.”
- aestardnoun
/AY-stard/
Direction toward the east; eastward
“Gang aestard noo”
- aesterverb
/AY-ster/
to veer eastward, of wind
“Da wind wull aester by morn”
- aetmellnoun
/AET-mel/
Finely ground oats for porridge
“Gie us a bowl o aetmell noo.”
- aetsnoun
/AYTS/
Oats used for porridge and feed
“Ah'll mak a bowl o aets noo.”
- affadverb
/AFF/
Shetland form of 'off'
“She's aff tae da shop.”
- affbiddenadjective
/AF-bid-en/
uninviting and off-putting in appearance
“That hoose is affbidden, nae wan'll gae near't.”
- affcuttinsnoun
/AF-KUT-inz/
cow's hind leg jointed sections
“Da coo's affcuttins are sair.”
- afflaynoun
/AF-lay/
ready, fluent flow of speech
“She's fu' o' afflay the day.”
- affroadverb
/AFF-rohd/
deter someone from taking action
“Shi affroad me frae takkin the ferry.”
- affrontverb
/uh-FRUNT/
to become ashamed or embarrassed
“Hoo affront an hid hir face”
- affrugnoun
/AFF-rug/
rush of water returning seaward after waves
“Da affrug gaes ower da stane.”
- afftaknoun
/AF-tak/
A cutting, mocking sarcastic remark
“She gied him an afftak”
- aforepreposition
/uh-FOR/
Before in time or order
“He cam afore me tae the fair”
- aftadverb
/AFT/
on many occasions; frequently
“He gangs aft tae da shop”
- aftestadverb
/AFT-est/
more often than not, usually
“Aftest aa gae tae da shop.”
- aggleverb
/AG-uhl/
to make dirty or grubby
“Dinna aggle the new frock; ye've been oot on the peat.”
- agmentnoun
/AG-muhnt/
nervous agitation and mental unease
“He's aye agment afore a meetin.”
- ahintpreposition
/uh-HINT/
at the back; behind something
“Da boat's ahint da pier.”
- aidge o a timeadverb
/AYJ-uh-ah-TYM/
happens now and then; occasionally
“Ah gang tae Lerwick aidge o a time.”
- ajeeadjective
/uh-JEE/
slightly open; not fully closed
“Da door was ajee when Ah cam hame.”
- alannoun
/AL-uhn/
predatory seabird that steals food
“Ah saw alan nabbin fish frae the gulls.”
- alaneadjective
/UH-LAYN/
By oneself; without any company
“A'm alane the nicht.”
- alessconjunction
/AH-less/
except if; introduces a conditional exception
“Ah'll gang oot, aless it teems.”
- almarknoun
/AHL-mark/
sheep that breaks out of fences
“Da almark's aye oot on da muir.”
- ammerswaknoun
/AM-er-SWAK/
restless, unsettled state of agitation
“Ther's ammerswak amang da folk.”
- ampnoun
/AHMP/
tense, watchful, awaiting trouble
“She's aye amp when the wind's up.”
- an aaadverb
/AHN-AH/
also, in addition, too
“A'll hae a scone, an aa a cuppa.”
- annsnoun
/ANZ/
heavier fragments of chaff and straw
“Gie the anns tae the kye”
- anseverb
/AHNS/
obey or carry out instructions
“He'll anse da skipper's ordurs.”
- antverb
/AHNT/
pay attention to; give heed
“Ant whit Ah telt ye.”
- antrinadjective
/AN-trin/
occurring occasionally; not regular
“He cums antrin tae da shop.”
- anunderpreposition
/AN-uhn-der/
down below; beneath; under something
“Da cat's anunder da bed”
- anyatwartadjective
/AN-yuh-twart/
Fickle and contrary; often about weather
“Da weather's aye anyatwart.”
- anyisternoun
/AN-ee-ster/
young female sheep not yet lambed
“Da anyister's aw skairt o' the collie.”
- anyochadjective/adverb
/AN-yokh/
Enough to meet the need
“Da's anyoch for noo.”
- appearancenoun
/uh-PEER-uhns/
a sign indicating presence of something
“Da appearance o' gulls at da pier aye means oor bait's near.”
- apperverb
/AP-er/
to delay or hold back
“Dinna apper him noo, he'll miss the ferry.”
- argie bargienoun
/AR-jee BAR-jee/
noisy, petty quarrel or squabble
“Dey hed an argie bargie aboot the boat.”
- arlverb
/AHRL/
crawl or creep along weakly
“Da crab arl alang da strand”
- asconjunction
/AZ/
introduces second element in comparison
“He's bigger as me”
- asknoun
/AHSK/
thin mist or light coastal fog
“An ask's hingin ower the voe.”
- asoondadjective
/uh-SOOND/
Unconscious, senseless, knocked out
“He lay asoond efter the whallop.”
- atrelative pronoun
/AHT/
introduces clause referring to persons or things
“Da lass at sings is fra Lerwick”
- atfirtsnoun
/AT-FIRTS/
mischievous capers; playful, spirited antics
“Da bairns hae been atfirts aboot da hoose.”
- atweenpreposition
/uh-TWEEN/
in the space between two things
“Da boat's atween twa skerries.”
- atween da bed an da fireprepositional phrase
/uh-TWEEN-da-BED-an-da-FIE-er/
partly incapacitated, not fully well
“She's atween da bed an da fire the noo.”
- avaadverb
/AH-vuh/
in any way; to any extent
“A dinna ken ava o that.”
- axverb
/AKS/
to request information or permission
“Kin Ah ax ye summat?”
- ayeinterjection
/EYE/
A Shetland dialect word for yes
“Aye, A'll dae it.”
- azenoun
/AYZ/
large bright flame or burning fire
“Fowk gaed oot tae see da aze.”
- azinadjective
/AHZ-in/
Burning fiercely; alight and blazing
“Da hoose's azin!”
- baanoun
/BAH/
Small rounded object: yolk, pupil
“He keekit at da baa in his ee.”
- baagienoun
/BAA-gee/
black-backed sea-gull with dark upperparts
“Da baagie satt oan da quay.”
- baaknoun
/BAHK/
A hen's roost or fishing rope
“The hens are oan the baak.”
- baak highadjective
/BAAK-hy/
Extremely excited and eagerly agitated
“He's baak high aboot the new boat.”
- baandnoun
/BAHND/
tethering rope; boat rib; straw band
“Pit the baand roond the stob”
- back bracknoun
/BAK-BRAK/
utter physical and mental exhaustion
“A'm back brack efter da lang shift.”
- back brackinnoun
/BAK-BRAK-in/
Gruelling, physically demanding hard work
“Ah've been back brackin a' day”
- back burdennoun
/BAK-BUR-din/
heavy load carried on the back
“A'll help ye wi' the back burden.”
- backabootadjective
/BAK-uh-BOOT/
Remote place; old-fashioned or behind times
“Da Maggie's a backaboot, keeps to her auld ways.”
- backdraanoun
/BAK-DRAH/
Convulsive gasp like whooping cough
“Da bairn gied a backdraa.”
- backlinsadverb
/BAK-linz/
towards the rear; in a backward direction
“He stept backlins frae the table.”
- badnoun
/BAHD/
main article of everyday dress
“Pit yer bad on, it's cauld oot.”
- badlyadjective
/BAD-lee/
not well; feeling ill or sick
“He's gey badly.”
- baess maetnoun
/BAYSS-MAYT/
food given to farm animals
“Hae ye put oot the baess maet?”
- baffnoun
/BAF/
a quick hit or brief tussle
“We hed a wee baff at da market”
- baffelnoun
/BAF-uhl/
a scuffle or messy confused situation
“Da lads hed a baffel by da quay”
- baffinverb
/BAF-in/
struggling and making little headway
“Da lad's baffin wi the creels.”
- baiddeterminer/pronoun
/BAYD/
both together; the two of them
“Baid bairns gaed hame.”
- bairndomnoun
/BAIRN-dum/
early years of one's life
“Ah'll aye mind ma bairndom.”
- bairnsnoun
/BAIRNS/
Affectionate term for a group
“Bairns, come alang tae tea.”
- bangverb
/BANG/
rush forward with sudden force
“He'll bang awa tae the ferry.”
- banknoun
/BANGK/
moorland patch where peat is cut
“Aa'll gae tae da bank the morn an cut turf.”
- banksnoun
/BANKS/
steep coastal cliffs or bluffs
“Mind the banks, they're sair steep.”
- banks broonoun
/BANKS-BROO/
top edge of a steep bank
“Mind yersel at the banks broo.”
- banks flooernoun
/BANKS-FLOO-er/
coastal pink tufted wildflower
“Da banks flooer is gey braw alang da clifftop”
- banks gaetnoun
/BANKS-GAYT/
narrow cliffside track; risky undertaking
“Dinna gae alang da banks gaet alane.”
- banks girsenoun
/BANKS-GIRS/
Salt-tolerant grass on sea banks
“Da auld mither gaed te pluk banks girse alang da strand.”
- bannocknoun
/BAN-uk/
nickname for someone from Dunrossness
“Yon bannock's juist come intae toon”
- bansticklenoun
/BAN-STIK-uhl/
Small spiny freshwater and coastal fish
“Hae ye seen the banstickle i' the burn?”
- barbernoun
/BAR-bur/
cold sea-mist that freezes nearby surfaces
“Barber's comin' in frae th' voe.”
- bardnoun
/BAHRD/
steep rocky headland into the sea
“We'll gae up the bard an keek oot.”
- barknoun
/BAHRK/
root used for tanning leather
“She keeps a wee bark for da leathers.”
- barnynoun
/BAR-nee/
a loud or violent quarrel
“They hed a muckle barny aboot the croft.”
- basselnoun
/BAS-ul/
a clumsy, difficult struggle or tussle
“Da lads had a bassel gettin the creels up.”
- batnoun
/BAT/
a small puff of wind
“Did ye feel that bat?”
- be aestprepositional phrase
/BEE-ayst/
on the eastern side of
“Da hoose is be aest o da voe.”
- be datadverbial phrase
/BEH-DAT/
At that time; back then
“She cam hame be dat.”
- bedralnoun
/BED-ral/
person confined to bed by illness
“We gaed tae see da bedral.”
- bee bonoun
/BEE-boh/
a trivial or unimportant little thing
“Dinna fash yersel aboot the bee bo.”
- beetleverb
/BEE-tul/
to strike hard with a mallet
“Da man beetled da stone intae bits”
- beetlinnoun
/BEET-lin/
a severe physical beating
“Da storm gae da hoose a beetlin.”
- begruttenadjective
/buh-GRUT-en/
dampened by recent tears
“She cam in begrutten efter the meetin.”
- begunknoun
/bi-GUNK/
a disappointing anticlimax or letdown
“It wis a begunk.”
- beinnoun
/BAYN/
a person or individual, used affectionately
“Yon wee bein's aye cheery.”
- bellverb
/BEL/
to become infected and form pus
“Da wee cut's gaen tae bell.”
- bellinadjective
/BEL-in/
Infected, pus-filled, festering wound or sore
“Yon wee cut's right bellin.”
- bendnoun
/BEND/
complete harness for a peat pony
“Pit the bend oan the pony an we'll awa tae the peat.”
- benkleverb
/BENG-kul/
make a hollow by striking
“Dinna benkle the tin wi the hammer”
- benonadverb
/beh-NON/
in addition or besides; also
“We hae tatties benon the cod.”
- benwarknoun
/BEN-wark/
soreness or aching of muscles
“A'm gey benwark the day”
- betteradverb
/BET-er/
to a greater degree; more
“Da weather's better noo”
- bicknoun
/BIK/
Shetland term for a female dog
“Da bick's aye rinnin roon da hoose.”
- biddableadjective
/BID-uh-bul/
Ready to follow others' directions
“Da bairn's biddable an' minds whit ye say.”
- bideverb
/BYD/
stay or live in one place
“Ah'll bide here.”
- bide you!interjection
/BYDE-YOO/
sharp command telling someone to wait
“Bide you! Mind yer tung.”
- bidey innoun
/BYE-DEE-IN/
Unmarried person living with partner
“He's a bidey in wi Elspeth.”
- billienoun
/BIL-ee/
contemptuous term for a man
“Yon billie is nae use at a'.”
- birkernoun
/BIR-ker/
short, sharp spell of cold
“Dinna tak the boat, tis a birker.”
- birlverb
/BURL/
spin quickly on the spot
“Come birl wi' us the nicht.”
- birlernoun
/BIR-luh/
person who spins or twirls objects
“Yon birler aye maks folk laff.”
- birlinverb
/BIR-lin/
To spin or whirl around quickly
“She wis birlin aboot the kitchen.”
- birsenoun
/BIR-se/
Coarse short bristles; brief irritation
“She's in a birse aboot nowt.”
- birsieadjective
/BIR-see/
Shaggy; covered in hair or fur
“Da coo's gey birsie efter da winter.”
- birzeverb
/BIRZ/
To squeeze or press firmly
“Birze the cloot oot noo.”
- bismarnoun
/BIS-mar/
wooden balancing beam used in scales
“Gie me the bismar tae weeg the butter.”
- bitadverb
/BIT/
just; merely; no more than
“A'm bit tired noo.”
- bittelnoun
/BIT-ul/
malformed or misplaced tooth
“He haes a bittel i' da mooth”
- bitternessnoun
/BIT-er-ness/
state of being bitter or resentful
“The bitterness o the north wind bites reet through ye.”
- bittersieadjective
/BIT-er-see/
very cold, raw and stormy
“It's aw bittersie oot.”
- bizzienoun
/BIZ-ee/
straw or litter used for bedding
“Put mair bizzie in the byre.”
- bizzie wappitadjective
/BIZ-ee-WAP-it/
hair tangled into tight matted clumps
“Her heid's aw bizzie wappit efter the gale.”
- black affrontitadjective
/BLACK-uh-FRUNT-it/
deeply ashamed, intensely abashed
“Ah'm black affrontit aboot it”
- blaegitadjective
/BLAY-git/
white sheep marked with dark patches
“Yon blaegit yow's aye easy tae see.”
- blashyadjective
/BLASH-ee/
damp, blustery weather with driving rain
“It's blashy oot.”
- blashy blinksnoun
/BLASH-ee BLINKS/
brief sudden flashes of lightning
“Blashy blinks dancit ower da voe at hairst.”
- blateadjective
/BLAYT/
shy, reserved, easily embarrassed
“Da lass is blate an' aye keeps hissel tae da side.”
- blatterverb
/BLAT-er/
flutter or quiver repeatedly
“Da sail blatter in da gust.”
- bledderverb
/BLED-er/
chatter senselessly for a long time
“Dinna bledder ower lang.”
- bleddicknoun
/BLED-ik/
Sour liquid remaining after churning butter
“Gie's a sup o' bleddick.”
- bleddick spootnoun
/BLED-ik SPOOT/
Informal nickname for someone from Tingwall
“Da bleddick spoot is gey braw.”
- blennoun
/BLEN/
a light, gentle seaside breeze
“There's a blen frae the voe”
- blettnoun
/BLET/
small patch of distinct ground
“Ther's a wee blett by the dyke.”
- blibenoun
/BLEE-b/
small air bubble in liquid
“Ah saw a wee blibe in ma tea.”
- blinknoun
/BLINK/
very quick closing of the eye
“She gied me a blink an' smilt.”
- blinkienoun
/BLINK-ee/
small handheld battery-powered torch
“Haud the blinkie, A cannae see.”
- blinndnoun
/BLIHN-d/
faint glimmer or short nap
“Ah'll tak a blinnd efter tea.”
- blinnd moorienoun
/BLINND-MOO-ree/
whiteout snowstorm with zero visibility
“Bide hame, da's a blinnd moorie.”
- blinndanoun
/BLINN-duh/
mixed low-quality grains for feed
“Gie's the blinnda tae the kye.”
- blissitadjective
/BLISS-it/
Marked by white forehead stripe
“Yon blissit coo's aye easy tae spot.”
- blue finksetadjective
/BLOO-FINK-set/
covered in bluish mould from damp
“Da breid's blue finkset, awa wi' it.”
- blue littnoun
/BLOO-lit/
deep indigo dye for cloth
“A'll daub the sark wi' blue litt.”
- blue meltnoun
/BLOO-MELT/
bluish bruise from a knock
“He's gitten a blue melt oan his leg.”
- blue meltetadjective
/BLOO-MEL-tet/
blue-black bruise from a blow
“He cam hame blue meltet efter a fa'.”
- blue niledadjective
/BLOO-nild/
Pale, sickly with bluish complexion
“Da bairn's lookit blue niled.”
- blugganoun
/BLUG-uh/
marsh plant with yellow cup-shaped flowers
“There's blugga oot by da loch.”
- bluntienoun
/BLUNT-ee/
a disappointment; a dud or letdown
“Da wis a bluntie”
- blurtinadjective
/BLUR-tin/
Having a blocked or stuffy nose
“A'm awfu blurtin an' canna sing.”
- blusternoun
/BLUS-ter/
mossy turf or peat from bogs
“A'll heave the bluster intae the cart”
- blydeadjective
/BLYD/
cheerful, pleased, content feeling
“Ah'm blyde wi the news.”
- blyde maetnoun
/BLEE-DE-MAIT/
first meal after childbirth
“We gied her a blyde maet whan she was up an aboot.”
- blyde spokkenverb phrase
/BLYD-SPAWK-en/
Praise others and speak favourably
“Da auld mither aye blyde spokken o her neebors.”
- blydenessnoun
/BLEE-duh-ness/
cheerful, contented happiness and pleasure
“Da bairn's blydeness fillt da hoose.”
- boadynoun
/BOH-dee/
a lump or tangible mass
“Da boady lay doon by da burn.”
- boannieadjective
/BOH-nee/
Visually pleasing; pretty and attractive
“Da boannie boat lay in da voe.”
- boddamnoun
/BOD-um/
ground beneath the sea floor
“Da tang is fast on da boddam”
- böddienoun
/BUR-dee/
Small woven shoulder basket for carrying
“A'll tak the böddie tae market.”
- bodynoun
/BOD-ee/
a person used to express pity
“Yon body bides at the croft”
- bokynoun
/BOK-ee/
bogey or oddly dressed person
“Dae ye see da boky wi' them queer claes?”
- bonfrostnoun
/BON-frost/
period of exceptionally severe freezing weather
“Yon bonfrost haes frozen the burn clean oot.”
- bongverb
/BONG/
To strike and make a deep sound
“Da bell bongs ower da voe.”
- bonhoganoun
/BON-hoh-gah/
childhood home or native locality
“A'll gang back tae ma bonhoga.”
- boo stanenoun
/BOO-STAYN/
stone fixed in a building's foundation
“Da hoose is built oan an auld boo stane.”
- booceverb
/BOOS/
to bustle about with energetic effort
“He booce aboot doon the pier.”
- boocinadjective
/BOO-sin/
Lively, restless, constantly on the move
“Da bairn's aye boocin aboot da hoose.”
- booel crampnoun
/BOO-uhl KRAMP/
acute intestinal cramping, severe pain
“Ah hed a sair booel cramp the nicht.”
- booel rivinnoun
/BOO-uhl RIV-in/
very filling, hearty, satisfying meal
“A wis fair ful efter the booel rivin.”
- boofnoun
/BOOF/
dull heavy thud when landing
“Da box gaed a boof oan da floer.”
- boofelverb
/BOO-fel/
To beat or batter repeatedly
“Da storm began tae boofel da windaes a' nicht”
- boolnoun
/BOOL/
Arched carry-handle for kettle or pail
“Grip the bool an haud it weel.”
- booliknoun
/BOOL-ik/
small inflamed bump or pustule
“Da boolik on ma cheek is sair.”
- boosternoun
/BOOS-ter/
small cushion for head or back
“Pit the booster unner yer heid.”
- bördlyadjective
/BOR-dlee/
Stout, solid, hardy in build
“Da bairn's grown bördly.”
- borenoun
/BOOR/
hole in boat gunwale for rope
“Aw'll mend da bore afore we sail.”
- borrowin daysnoun
/BORR-uh-in DAYZ/
last three days of March
“Borrowin days'll gie us a bit o' sun”
- bosienoun
/BOH-zee/
front of torso over the heart
“His bosie wis sair efter the fall.”
- bowenoun
/BOH/
Buoy; also a large sack of meal
“Mind the bowe when ye gang past the skerry.”
- braalyadverb
/BRAA-lee/
to a moderate degree, fairly
“A'm braaly weel, ta.”
- braand ironnoun
/BRAAND-EYE-run/
Grate for cooking over open fire
“Pit the braand iron ower the fyre.”
- braandernoun
/BRAAN-der/
horizontal bar joining chair legs
“Da braander on da stoal's brokken.”
- bracenoun
/BRAYSS/
shelf or ledge above fireplace
“Dinna leave yer teacup on the brace, it'll fae.”
- bracknoun
/BRAK/
waves breaking on rocky shore
“Da brack cam reet ower da stanes.”
- brack da brödverb phrase
/BRAK-da-BREHD/
make a new path through vegetation
“She brack da bröd throo the heather”
- brack onverb
/BRAK-on/
Loosen and break apart turf
“Ah'll brack on the peat the morn.”
- brack oottransitive verb
/BRAK-oot/
Break up uncultivated land for planting
“A'll brack oot the faal the morn.”
- brack upphrasal verb
/BRAK-up/
introduce a topic in conversation
“A'll brack up the tack at the meetin.”
- brannoun
/BRAHN/
fleshy back portion of lower leg
“Ma bran's sair etter daancin.”
- branksnoun
/BRANKS/
mumps; leather nose halter for calves
“A've put the branks oan the wee calf.”
- breek baandnoun
/BREEK-BAHND/
cloth band at top of trousers
“Dinnae lat yer breek baand slipp.”
- breeksplural noun
/BREEKS/
pair of trousers covering the legs
“Tak aff yer breeks, it's gey warm.”
- breengeverb
/BREENJ/
dash or surge forward violently
“He breenge throo the hoose an' tuik the table ower.”
- breernoun
/BREER/
new spring shoots of a crop
“Da breer's awfy fine the noo.”
- brennastyoochnoun
/BREN-uh-STYOOCH/
fine sea spray from crashing waves
“Ah got brennastyooch on ma face doon by da voe.”
- bretshnoun
/BRET-sh/
crashing surf against rocky shore
“Da bretsh rams agin da stane.”
- briddernoun
/BRID-er/
male sibling or close male friend
“Ma bridder's comin hame the nicht.”
- briederplural noun
/BREE-der/
More than one male sibling
“Ma brieder are oot fishin.”
- brigdinoun
/BRIG-dee/
large slow pelagic filter-feeding shark
“Aw saw a brigdi oot by the voe.”
- briggistanesnoun
/BRIGG-ih-STAYNS/
stone doorstep or small paved path
“Haud yersel on the briggistanes, it's slippy.”
- brimtudnoun
/BRIM-tud/
roar of waves breaking on shore
“Ah loe da brimtud.”
- broagnoun
/BROH-g/
pointed hand tool for making holes
“Gi'e me the broag, Ah'm gaun tae mend the harness.”
- brochennoun
/BROKH-en/
oatmeal based hot restorative drink
“A'll hae brochen noo”
- brodditadjective
/BROD-it/
Covered with its lid; closed pot
“Da pot's broddit on da hob.”
- brongienoun
/BRONG-ee/
large dark coastal seabird, the cormorant
“Yon brongie sittin oan the stane at da voe.”
- broonoun
/BROO/
ridge or front of the head
“We gaed up da broo”
- brookverb
/BRUK/
past form of 'break'
“He brook da aul chair yestreen.”
- broonadjective
/BROON/
dark yellowish to reddish shade
“Da broon coo is oot on da brae.”
- brootshverb
/BROOTSH/
Smash or press flat by force
“Dae nae brootsh the mussels intae bits.”
- brosenoun
/BROHS/
Oatmeal porridge made with hot liquid
“Ah'll hae a wee brose.”
- browdenedadjective
/BROW-dened/
shamelessly bold and presumptuous
“He's browdened, taks the last bit o' fish.”
- brucknoun
/BRUHK/
rubbish; unwanted junk to throw away
“Dinna keep that bruck, fling it oot.”
- brucklyadjective
/BRUK-lee/
crumbly and easily broken
“Dinna lean on that bruckly dyke.”
- brucksplural noun
/BRUKS/
small leftovers or bottle sediment
“Dinna sup the brucks frae the bottle.”
- bruntadjective
/BRUHNT/
Slightly burned or singed by heat
“Da loaf's brunt”
- brunt riftnoun
/BRUHN-RIFT/
burning chest or throat pain
“Ah've got a brunt rift efter da tea”
- buckleverb
/BUK-uhl/
To tangle or wind up clumsily
“Da pony buckle 'roun da peg an' coudnae get oot.”
- buckynoun
/BUK-ee/
large spiral-shelled sea snail
“I fand a bonny bucky oan the strand”
- buggienoun
/BUG-ee/
small pouch made from sheepskin
“Tak the buggie alang when ye gang oot”
- buggiflayverb
/BUG-ee-FLAY/
skin a sheep in one piece
“Ah'll buggiflay the sheap the morn”
- buggiflooernoun
/BUGG-ee-FLOO-er/
coastal white-flowered campion plant
“Da's buggiflooer alang the clift.”
- buksverb
/BUKS/
plod or trudge through deep snow
“Ah buks hame throu the snaw”
- buldernoun
/BUL-der/
loud roaring or gurgling water sound
“Da burn's a sair bulder.”
- bulderitadjective
/BULD-er-it/
awkward, stubborn, rash in behaviour
“Da man is bulderit an winna listen.”
- bultverb
/BULT/
Push forward with head or horns
“Da coo bult at me.”
- bulwaaververb
/BUL-WAY-vuh/
roam without clear direction or purpose
“He aye bulwaaver aboot da toon.”
- bummelverb
/BUM-mel/
to flounder or act clumsily
“He made a bummel at the meetin.”
- bummernoun
/BUHM-er/
large heavy unwieldy person or object
“Da bummer's oot o haun tae lift”
- bunglenoun
/BUNG-gul/
large lump of earth or turf
“Hae a keek at the bungle.”
- burdnoun
/BURD/
young bird, recently left nest
“Yon burd's nae fleyed o me.”
- burranoun
/BUR-ruh/
Small tufted rush plant clump
“Yon wee burra bides oan the muir.”
- bursinadjective
/BUR-sen/
burst open; broken and split
“Da balloon's bursin.”
- burstennoun
/BUR-sten/
coarsely toasted ground corn cereal
“Gie me a bowl o bursten.”
- bursten brönnienoun
/BUR-sten-BRUN-ee/
nickname for someone from Sandness
“Da bursten brönnie aye brings da best tatties.”
- bussnoun
/BUSS/
soft bedding inside a bird's nest
“Da wee bird hed a buss o' feathers”
- but endnoun
/BUHT-end/
Main front room of a croft house
“Coom intae the but end.”
- byelsitadjective
/BYEL-sit/
White wool 'collar' around neck
“Da byelsit yow stans oot fae da flock.”
- caanoun
/KAA/
a driven group of animals
“A'm drivin the caa tae da hill”
- caa cannyverb phrase
/KAA-KAN-ee/
proceed slowly and with caution
“Caa canny wi the boat.”
- caa tönoun
/KAA-TUH/
a noisy commotion or fuss
“A caa tö gaed oan efter the match.”
- caain timenoun
/KAYN-tym/
Season for bringing hill sheep home
“Noo's caain time, aa'll hing tae the brae.”
- caaldnoun
/KAALD/
Mild cold affecting nose and throat
“Ah've got a caald.”
- caald rifeadjective
/CAWLD-REEF/
Bitingly cold; frosty social mood
“Da caald rife at da meetin made me gan hame”
- cabbi labbinoun
/KAB-ee LAB-ee/
noisy jumble of overlapping voices
“Da hoose was fu' o' cabbi labbi.”
- caddelnoun
/KAD-uhl/
coloured thread used to mark sheep
“Hae ye put the caddel on the new lamb?”
- cadgeverb
/KAJ/
Beg or sponge off someone
“He's aye cadgin' frae the neebors”
- cadgernoun
/CAD-juh/
person who habitually asks for alms
“Da cadger's aye at da kirk door.”
- caerdnoun
/KAYRD/
hand tool for combing wool fibres
“Mi mither aye keeps the caerd clean.”
- caerdinnoun
/KAIR-din/
women's social visit for carding wool
“A'm gaen til caerdin the morn”
- caffnoun
/KAF/
dry flaky husks from threshed grain
“Da farmer piled the caff by the midden.”
- cam o da kindverb phrase
/KAM-uh-da-KYND/
to be of that sort
“Da lad's cam o da kind.”
- camshiousadjective
/KAM-shus/
Prone to being contrary and critical
“Da lass is aye camshious at the table.”
- canmodal verb
/KAN/
able to do or get done
“If the tide's reet, we can land noo.”
- cangleverb
/KANG-gul/
To argue or bicker with someone
“Maggie an Jock cangle ower da fish”
- cannamodal verb
/KAN-uh/
not able to do something
“Ah canna dae that.”
- cannynoun
/KAN-ee/
skipper's steering seat on a sixareen
“Skipper sat in the canny haudin the helm alang his shooder.”
- cantnoun
/KANT/
a person's general mood or spirits
“He's in a reet cant the noo.”
- cantyadjective
/KANT-ee/
cheerful, lively, in good spirits
“Da auld man sat canty by da fire.”
- cappienoun
/KAP-ee/
small wooden bowl or fishing sinker
“Gie's the cappie, I'm gaun oot tae cast.”
- carvy seedsnoun
/KAR-vee SEEDZ/
Aromatic seeds used to flavour food
“Pit a wheen carvy seeds oan the bannocks.”
- case alaekadverbial phrase
/KAYS-ah-LAYK/
makes no real difference
“Tak the red yin or the blue yin, case alaek.”
- cassenadjective
/KAS-en/
slightly spoiled, beginning to go off
“Da fish is a wee cassen, dinna eat it.”
- cat aetnoun
/KAT-ayt/
Lively fuss or excited commotion
“Dinnae mak sic a cat aet.”
- cat waanoun
/KAT-WAH/
low partial interior dividing wall
“Pit da kettle on da cat waa.”
- catticloonoun
/KAT-ik-loo/
raucous, unruly, boisterous crowd
“Yon catticloo's makin' sic a skirl.”
- cautionnoun
/KAW-shun/
amusing, eccentric, droll local character
“Yon caution aye maks a'body lauch wi his daft ways.”
- claaverb
/KLAH/
scratch or scrape with the nails
“Da cat claa da doo”
- claagintransitive verb
/KLAAG/
sharp clucking of a hen
“Da hen startit tae claag when Ah cam hame.”
- clachternoun
/KLAKH-ter/
group of eggs laid at once
“Da hen laid a clachter at da back o' da byre.”
- clagverb
/KLAG/
to stick or make things stick
“Da mud'll clag oan ma boots.”
- claggyadjective
/KLAG-ee/
gummy and likely to stick
“Da porridge is gey claggy.”
- clairadjective
/KLAIR/
Ready or set up for use
“Da boat is clair tae gae.”
- clampnoun
/KLAMP/
Small patch used to mend holes
“Gie me a clamp for ma breeks.”
- clapverb
/KLAP/
Briefly close or rest the eyes
“Ah'll clap ma een on yon boat.”
- clashverb
/KLASH/
chat informally, exchange local gossip
“A'll clash wi her efter tea”
- clashmeltnoun
/KLASH-melt/
a filthy, untidy squalid muddle
“Da hoose's a pure clashmelt.”
- clashpienoun
/KLASH-pee/
gossip who betrays confidences
“Dinnae mind her, she's a clashpie.”
- clatchnoun
/KLATCH/
Sticky lump; also clumsy person
“There's a clatch oan da pan.”
- cleeknoun
/KLEEK/
curved hook for catching or pulling
“Gi'e me the cleek an I'll tak the lobster oot”
- clertverb
/KLERT/
smear or soil with sticky substance
“Dinna clert yer boots wi mud.”
- clesterverb
/KLES-tuh/
smear with sticky or greasy substance
“Dae nae clester the table wi yer hauns”
- cleveradjective
/KLEV-er/
quick to understand and respond
“He's a clever wan at mendin' nets.”
- clewnoun
/KLOO/
Wound ball of yarn for knitting
“Haud the clew, the cat's playin' wi't.”
- clewballnoun
/KLOO-bawl/
tangled mass of rope or yarn
“Ther's a clewball i' t' net.”
- clicktransitive verb
/KLIK/
to grab something quickly and furtively
“He did click the scone aff the tray an awa”
- clinkverb
/KLINK/
bend over nail end to secure
“Gie me the hammer an A'll clink that nail.”
- clinkinadjective
/KLIN-kin/
Extremely good or impressively excellent
“Dat's clinkin!”
- clipnoun
/KLIP/
Long handled pole with a hook
“Gie's the clip an' Aw'll snag thon cod oot.”
- clipenoun
/KLEEP/
a tattler or informer
“Yon clipe's nae welcome here”
- clocknoun
/KLOK/
small hard-shelled beetle insect
“Thar's a wee clock in da jam jar”
- clockinadjective
/KLOK-in/
Inclined to sit and hatch eggs
“Da hen's clockin an winna leave”
- clocks middernoun
/KLOKS MID-der/
mother hen with her brood
“Da clocks midder is mindin her wee brood.”
- clookyadjective
/KLOO-kee/
Sly, prone to cunning and deceit
“Da's a clooky yin, mind yersel.”
- cloorverb
/KLOOR/
To scratch with nails or claws
“Da cat cloor da soffa.”
- clootnoun
/KLOOT/
Sheet of fabric, often a sail
“We'll gie da cloot a guid mend afore we gang oot.”
- clooternoun
/KLOO-ter/
noisy, clumsy heavy footed tread
“She cam intil da hoose wi a clooter”
- clossnoun
/KLOSS/
short narrow lane between houses
“Tak the closs tae the ferry”
- clumpverb
/KLUMP/
to walk with heavy thudding steps
“He aye clumps alang da shore.”
- clumpseverb
/KLUMPZ/
stun or overwhelm into speechlessness
“That clumpse me clean awa.”
- clunkverb
/KLUNK/
Take a large, noisy swallow
“He gied a clunk frae the bottle.”
- clushitadjective
/KLUH-shit/
Very awkward and prone to stumbling
“He's clushit, aways stumblin aboot.”
- clyersnoun
/KLEE-erz/
small glands in a sheep's stomach
“Gie the clyers a keek in the buik.”
- cockieverb
/KOK-ee/
to empty one's bowels; defecate
“Da dug went oot tae cockie.”
- cockiesnoun
/KOK-eez/
informal plural term for faeces
“Dinna trample da cockies, bairn.”
- coftverb
/KOHFT/
bought; obtained by payment
“A've coft a wee loaf frae the bake-hoose.”
- colenoun
/KOHL/
compact mound of drying cut hay
“Aa'll tak the cole hame.”
- collnoun
/KOL/
glowing ember or coal fragment
“Dinna throw da coll awa, it micht licht da heather.”
- coll slockadjective
/KOL-SLOK/
completely extinguished or out
“Da fire is coll slock noo.”
- collcoomedadjective
/KOL-KOOMD/
completely charred, turned to ash
“Da hoose is collcoomed.”
- collynoun
/KOL-ee/
small shallow iron oil lamp
“Da colly's fair gaein oot.”
- collyshangnoun
/KOL-ee-SHANG/
loud, disorderly argument or quarrel
“A collyshang brak oot at da ferry tiday.”
- comeverb
/KUM/
Move or arrive; happen; become
“He'll come roond yet”
- coorseadjective
/KOORS/
Rough, stormy weather; unsettled conditions
“It's coorse oot.”
- coosenoun
/KOOS/
Heap or mound of things
“Ther's a coose o kelp on the strand”
- cootchverb
/KOOTCH/
coat fishing nets with tar or oil
“Ah'll cootch da net the morn”
- corbienoun
/KOR-bee/
raven; guttural rolled r sound
“Da corbie's sittin on the dyke”
- corpnoun
/KORP/
dead human body; a corpse
“They brung the corp hame yestreen”
- coseverb
/KOHZ/
swap goods or services without money
“Ah'll cose ma tatties for his herrin.”
- coshadjective
/KOSH/
friendly and warmly welcoming in manner
“She's gey cosh tae visitors.”
- cottsnoun
/KOTS/
Traditional women's petticoats or skirts
“Shi hed her cotts on.”
- coupverb
/KOOP/
To tip over; boat overturning
“Mind da tide, or da boat wull coup.”
- couplenoun
/KUP-uhl/
one of a paired roof rafter
“Haud the couple while A nail the boards.”
- craanoun
/KRAW/
hooded crow with grey body
“Da craa's taen ma bait.”
- craa's treadnoun
/KRAWS-TRED/
Very small hen's egg, seasonal sign
“Ah foond a craa's tread i' t' nest, sae the hen's stoppit layin'.”
- craaheadnoun
/KRAH-HEED/
Chimney head projecting above roof
“Da craahead's spittin oot verra black soot.”
- crabbitadjective
/KRAB-it/
bad-tempered, easily annoyed and sullen
“Da auld man is crabbit tiday”
- crachtlessadjective
/KRAKT-less/
lacking strength or power
“He wis crachtless efter da fever.”
- cracknoun
/KRACK/
lively chat, tale, or good laugh
“Ye'll hae braw crack at the ceilidh.”
- crackernoun
/KRACK-er/
Person from Bressay in Shetland
“Yon cracker's aye ready for a blether.”
- craetirnoun
/KRAY-tir/
pitied or affectionate term for someone
“Da craetir's aiblins no himsel' the day.”
- cramverb
/KRAM/
Scratch or rake with claws
“Da puss aye cram oan da door.”
- crammicksnoun
/KRAM-iks/
sharp nails on a cat's paws
“Mind the crammicks on da cat.”
- crampernoun
/KRAMP-er/
quirky, amusing or eccentric local person
“He's a richt cramper, ken.”
- crangnoun
/KRANG/
remains of a dead animal
“Yon crang's fair stinkit.”
- crappinnoun
/KRAP-in/
Seasoned fish livers cooked in head
“Mither's crappin is aye braw”
- creeksnoun
/KREEKS/
Aching, stiff legs after much walking
“Aw'm creeks efter da lang walk”
- creeksitadjective
/KREEK-sit/
Physically weak; in poor health
“Da auld man canna mak da brae, he's creeksit.”
- creepienoun
/KREE-pee/
low three-legged wooden stool
“Pit the creepie by the ingle.”
- creeshnoun
/KREESH/
Greasy fatty substance used for cooking
“Pit the creesh oan the pan”
- creeshyadjective
/KREE-shee/
Oily and slippery; covered in fat
“Mind ye, da pier's creeshy.”
- crimverb
/KRIM/
short cough to show disapproval
“She gied a wee crim at him.”
- crimpadjective
/KRIMP/
Tight-fitting or small in size
“Da tee's crimp oan me.”
- cringnoun
/KRING/
pair of lambs joined by ring
“Ah saw a cring at da pen this morn”
- cronoun
/KROH/
small enclosed cupboard-like storage nook
“Gie me the candles frae the cro”
- crooelsnoun
/KROO-uhlz/
Oozing tubercular skin ulcers
“He haes crooels oan his leg.”
- crooknoun
/KRUK/
hook for pot; sheep ear mark
“Da crook's missin frae the beam.”
- crook baaknoun
/KRUK-BAAK/
Beam over hearth for hanging pots
“Hing the pot oan the crook baak.”
- croon ida liftnoun
/KROON-EE-dah-LIFT/
Point directly overhead in sky
“Luk up tae da croon ida lift.”
- croonernoun
/KROO-nur/
reddish bottom-dwelling sea fish
“Ah hed a bonnie crooner yestreen.”
- crooseadjective
/KROOS/
Cheerful, lively; in good spirits
“Da bairn's croose wi' his new toy”
- croppenedadjective
/KROP-uhnd/
shrunken and puckered out of shape
“Ma jumper's croppened efter bein left oan t' line.”
- crubbitadjective
/KRUB-it/
kept in a small cramped space
“Da bairn's aw crubbit i' that sma room.”
- crugsetverb
/KRUG-set/
Drive animals into a confined spot
“Ah'll crugset the lamb intae the pen.”
- crumpverb
/KRUMP/
crunching underfoot on ice or snow
“I heerd a crump unner ma shuin.”
- cruttlenoun
/KRUT-ul/
soft throaty bubbling gurgle
“Da kettle mek a wee cruttle.”
- cryverb
/KRAI/
to call out or proclaim
“He gied a wild cry at da harbour”
- cry reckadverbial phrase
/KRAI-REK/
Close enough to be heard
“I shoutit frae da shore an Fergie wis cry reck on da pier”
- cuddienoun
/KUD-ee/
small hanging basket for holding salt
“Pit the cuddie oan the ingle.”
- cuddynoun
/KUD-ee/
small cabin or sheltered nook
“He sat i' the cuddy wi a wee lamp.”
- cuggleverb
/KUG-uhl/
to make sway or wobble
“Dinnae cuggle the cradle, the bairn's near asleep.”
- cugglyadjective
/KUG-lee/
Unsteady on one's feet; slightly tipsy
“He cam hame cuggly.”
- cüriousadjective
/KYUR-ee-us/
eager and keen to learn
“A'm cürious fit ye'll dae.”
- curl dodienoun
/KURL-DOH-dee/
Shetland name for wild orchid
“Ah saw a bonnie curl dodie on the brae.”
- curn loffnoun
/KURN-LOF/
Sweet yeast loaf with dried fruit
“Tak a slice o curn loff, it's gey braw.”
- curny puddinnoun
/KUR-nee PUD-in/
Shetland steamed pudding with currants
“We'll hae curny puddin efter tea.”
- currieadjective
/KURR-ee/
Causing affection; charming and lovable
“Da wee bairn is pure currie.”
- curry raagnoun
/KUR-ee-RAHG/
Someone's business or social dealings
“Dinna meddle wi the curry raag o' the neebors.”
- cussienoun
/KUS-ee/
affectionate name for a small cow
“Ah'll aye keep the cussie wi' me.”
- cutnoun
/KUT/
a large portion or helping
“Gie me a cut o the cake”
- cuttynoun
/KUT-ee/
short stubby clay tobacco pipe
“Gie me ma cutty”
- dadefinite article
/DAH/
Definite article equivalent to English the
“Da bairn's gaen to da shop.”
- da moarnadverb
/DA-MOARN/
the day after today
“A'll be oot da moarn.”
- daanoun
/DAH/
Shetland dialect word for father
“Daa's gaen oot wi the boat.”
- daa nettlenoun
/DAA-NET-ul/
low-growing wildflower related to nettles
“Da bairns made a posie o' daa nettle.”
- daalamistnoun
/DAA-luh-mist/
low ground fog in valleys
“Yon daalamist lay i' the glen this morn.”
- daamishverb
/DAA-mish/
tire someone with constant chatter
“Dinna daamish me wi yer blether.”
- daanderverb
/DAAN-der/
to walk slowly and leisurely
“Gie's a daander alang the voe.”
- dadnoun
/DAHD/
solid lump or heavy blunt blow
“He gied it a guid dad.”
- dadderynoun
/DAD-er-ee/
tedious, monotonous menial tasks
“Am fair sick o' the daddery.”
- dadditadjective
/DAD-it/
Extremely tired from hard physical work
“Aw'm daddit efter a lang day o wark.”
- daek endnoun
/DAYK-end/
seaward end of a stone dyke
“A'll meet ye at the daek end.”
- daevverb
/DAYV/
to deafen with loud noise
“Dinna keep the telly sae loud, ye'll daev me.”
- daffiknoun
/DAF-ik/
small wooden pail for water
“Tak the daffik tae the burn.”
- danadverb
/DAHN/
At that time; afterward
“We sat an dan we gaed hame.”
- dan a daysadverbial phrase
/DAN-uh-DAYZ/
in former times; back then
“Dan a days, folk kent the tides.”
- dangverb
/DAHNG/
flung or knocked to the ground
“Da gail dang da gate fae its hingis”
- darkenverb
/DAHR-ken/
to enter someone's house or room
“Wull ye darken in the nicht?”
- darkeninnoun
/DAR-ken-in/
dimming time at dusk
“A'll be hame at darkenin.”
- dartverb
/DAHRT/
stamp one's foot in anger
“Da lass gied a dart wi her fit.”
- dastreenadverb
/da-STREEN/
on the night just past
“Dastreen da gale blew sair.”
- datdemonstrative determiner/pronoun
/DAHT/
person or thing farther away
“Dat boat's in the voe.”
- dat in feth!interjection
/DAT-in-FETH/
sharp exclamation of shock and alarm
“Dat in feth, da boat's hingin ower the pier!”
- dat in traath!interjection
/DAT-in-TRAHTH/
Strong yes, insists it's true
“A seen it masel, dat in traath!”
- datnadverb
/DAT-un/
to that degree; in that way
“A'll dae it datn.”
- daysetnoun
/DAY-set/
Onset of twilight and nightfall
“We'll gae hame at dayset.”
- dead man's mittensnoun
/DED-MANZ-MIT-uns/
local name for blue gentian
“I seen dead man's mittens alang da brae”
- dead traacompound noun
/DED-TRAA/
final convulsive struggles at death
“That wis jist his dead traa.”
- debaetlessadjective
/deh-BAYT-liss/
completely worn out and weak
“A'm debaetless efter da lang dae.”
- deerverb
/DEER/
to strongly affect or impress someone
“That'll deer me sair.”
- dellinnoun
/DEL-in/
small plot set aside for crops
“A'll lat ye hae the dellin for yer tatties.”
- dempronoun
/DEM/
Object form of the pronoun they
“Hae ye seen dem?”
- demaloorieadjective
/DEH-MAH-LOOR-ee/
dull and dreary in appearance
“Da toon felt gey demaloorie efter the mist.”
- demlaneadverb
/DEM-layn/
on their own, without assistance
“Da mendit the net demlane.”
- demmelverb
/DEM-mel/
to splash or fill with water
“Da boat demmel i da swell”
- demselspronoun
/DEM-selz/
plural reflexive pronoun meaning themselves
“Demsels ken whit tae dae.”
- denkienoun
/DEN-kee/
small shallow hollow in the ground
“Dinna fa' intae the denkie.”
- depooperitadjective
/de-POO-per-it/
made poor; lacking any money
“Depooperit, he set aff tae find wark.”
- derpossessive determiner
/DAIR/
their (belonging to a group)
“Der hoose staans by da voe.”
- der bönverb phrase
/DER-BUHN/
indicates past existence or occurrence
“Der bön a boat at the pier yestreen”
- dereadverb
/DAIR-uh/
At or in that location
“Ga dere noo.”
- dere's a loss!interjection
/DAIRZ-uh-LOSS/
Dismisses something as unimportant
“He telt me "dere's a loss!" an I didna fash.”
- dereeshionnoun
/DEER-EE-shun/
Person regarded as a fool
“Yon dereeshion's da talk o da toon.”
- derspossessive pronoun
/DERZ/
belonging to them equivalent of theirs
“Da hoose is ders.”
- dessnoun
/DESS/
Heap of hay in the field
“Yon dess's gey heich this year.”
- deuknoun
/DYOOk/
waterfowl commonly called a duck
“Deuk swims aboot the voe.”
- deypersonal pronoun
/DAY/
Third-person plural pronoun meaning 'they'
“Dey're gyen tae da kirk.”
- dey widmodal auxiliary phrase
/DAY-wid/
indicates something would exist
“Gi da shoal comes in, dey wid be plenty o' herrin”
- dey wirverb phrase
/DAY-WEER/
expresses past existence or occurrence
“Dey wir twa boats i' da voe.”
- dibeverb
/DYEB/
dip briefly; toil or work hard
“Dibe, lad, dibe, we've nae time.”
- dichtverb
/DIKH-t/
Wipe or clean a surface
“Dicht the windaes, will ye?”
- dillintransitive verb
/DIL/
To lessen in force or intensity
“Da wind'll dill e'en noo”
- dill bellsnoun
/DIL-bels/
matted wool clumps on sheep hindquarters
“A'll clip the dill bells aff the ewes the morn.”
- dimnoun
/DEEM/
fading light period at dusk
“A'll gang hame at dim.”
- dimrivnoun
/DIM-riv/
first light before the sunrise
“A keekit at da dimriv ower da voe.”
- dinepossessive pronoun
/DEEN/
Belonging to you; equivalent to yours
“Gie me dine hat.”
- dingverb
/DING/
to hit or knock against
“Dinnae ding the wean.”
- dinkverb
/DINK/
Dress or smartly clothe someone
“She'll dink the lass up braw for the kirk.”
- dipverb
/DIP/
To sit down; settle oneself
“Coom an' dip yersel.”
- dippleverb
/DIP-uhl/
Plant potato sets using a dibble
“Aw'll dipple the tatties the morn.”
- dipplin treenoun
/DIP-lin-TREE/
Pointed tool for making planting holes
“Gie me the dipplin tree, a'll set the tatties.”
- dirlnoun
/DIRL/
sudden sharp jolt or rush
“Da boat gied us a wee dirl.”
- dirrverb
/DIRR/
slight rapid trembling movement
“Da laamp dirr in da draug”
- dirtinterjection
/DURT/
Exclamation meaning nonsense or rubbish
“Da's dirt, a'll nae hae it”
- disdemonstrative
/DIS/
Used like standard English 'this'
“Dis's ma coat.”
- disjaskitadjective
/DIS-JAS-kit/
completely exhausted, drained of energy
“A'm fair disjaskit efter da lang day o' wark.”
- distressnoun
/dis-TRESS/
very severe storm at sea
“Dinnae gae oot, there's a richt bad distress on da voe.”
- divvishverb
/DIV-ish/
Tidy up or neatly prepare items
“A'll divvish the table afore the fowk come”
- dochternoun
/DOCH-ter/
female child; a person's offspring
“Ma dochter's gaun tae da kirk.”
- dockennoun
/DOK-en/
broad-leaved Rumex weed plant
“Ther's a docken bi the dyke”
- doggitadjective
/DAWG-it/
harried by persistent annoyance or pressure
“Ah'm doggit wi the hoosework an' the wee bairn.”
- doitverb
/DOYT/
to feel bewildered and mentally muddled
“A'm fair doit efter da blaw.”
- doitinadjective
/DOY-tin/
Dazed and not thinking clearly
“A'm doitin efter the news.”
- dookverb
/DOOK/
quickly lower head to avoid strike
“He gied a dook as the lad swung.”
- doon apon itadjective phrase
/DOON-uh-PON-it/
feeling low and dejected
“He's been doon apon it sin yestreen.”
- doon byadverbial phrase
/DOON-BAI/
down there a short distance away
“Da's a boat doon by the pier.”
- dooncomenoun
/DOON-kum/
a fall in luck or spirits
“He thocht he'd get the job, but it wis a dooncome.”
- doondrappinadjective
/DOON-DRAP-in/
Collapsed, falling apart; ruined condition
“Da auld hoose is doondrappin.”
- doontaknoun
/DOON-tak/
an occasion causing shame and disgrace
“Awbody kent it wis a doontak ta her.”
- doorknoun
/DOORK/
short pleasurable outing or little trip
“Aw'm gaen on a wee doork.”
- dooseverb
/DOOS/
sharp snatching kick with foot
“He gied a doose at it.”
- dootverb
/DOOT/
suspect with apprehension or unease
“A'm doot it's gaun tae blaw the nicht”
- dörkableadjective
/DURK-uh-bul/
tolerably good weather for outdoor work
“It's dörkable enow tae wark the croft.”
- dortnoun
/DORT/
small lump or clump of matter
“Mind the dort oan the floor”
- dortsnoun
/DORTS/
a bout of sulking or gloom
“Da lass's in the dorts efter the bairn taen her dolly”
- dortyadjective
/DOR-tee/
sullen and ill-tempered, silently sulking
“She's been dorty aw day.”
- dosenoun
/DOHS/
sizable amount; brief spell of illness
“It cam doon a dose o rain.”
- dovenverb
/DOHV-en/
to numb or deaden sensation
“Da cauld hes doven ma han.”
- doververb
/DOH-vur/
to nod off briefly
“Ah had a wee dover i da chair”
- doweverb
/DOW/
to droop and become limp
“Da flowers hae dowe efter da hot day”
- draanoun
/DRAH/
shore spot for hauling boats
“Tak the boat tae the draa”
- draachtnoun
/DRAAKHT/
It could also be about feeling dry
“A've bin deein the draacht a' day.”
- draignoun
/DRAYG/
heavy rake for dredging mussels
“A'm gaen doun tae the voe wi the draig.”
- draveverb
/DRAYV/
past tense of drive; guided or operated
“Ah drave the boat tae the voe.”
- dreachnoun
/DREEKH/
provisions or food that sustain life
“We hae dreach aneuch for the week.”
- dreeverb
/DREE/
to endure hardship or suffering
“Ah'll dree it till it's ower.”
- dreelverb
/DREEL/
forcefully expel or drive away
“He dreelt the gulls aff the pier.”
- dreepverb
/DREEP/
fall slowly in small drops
“Da tap aye dreep i da sink.”
- dreichadjective
/DRAYKH/
gloomy bleak grey wet weather
“Da's a dreich day.”
- dreidverb
/DRAYD/
to suspect, often with anxiety
“A'm dreid the ferry winna come.”
- drittleverb
/DRIT-uhl/
move slowly and wander aimlessly
“Dae ye see him drittle aboot the pier?”
- drochtnoun
/DROKHT/
strong dry wind; drying weather
“The drocht'll dree the claes fine”
- droonoun
/DROO/
seaweed or eelgrass washed ashore
“There's hantle droo oan the strand.”
- drookverb
/DROOK/
to drench; make thoroughly wet
“We got drook on da way hame.”
- drookinnoun
/DROO-kin/
a thorough drenching from rain
“He cam hame drookin.”
- drookleverb
/DROOK-ul/
to drip or dribble slowly
“Da tap drookle a wee.”
- droothnoun
/DROOTH/
habitual drunkard; frequent heavy drinker
“Da drooth's oot by da pier again.”
- drummie beenoun
/DRUM-ee BEE/
large fuzzy bee that pollinates
“Yon drummie bee's humman aboot the clover.”
- drushnoun
/DRUHSH/
light drizzle or small loose fragments
“Dinnae lea drush aboot the pier.”
- druttlenoun
/DRUT-ul/
watery, diluted form of buttermilk
“Gie's a sup o druttle.”
- dupersonal pronoun
/DOO/
informal singular 'you' in Shetland
“Fit like du?”
- dubnoun
/DUB/
small muddy pool or bog
“Mind the dub ower by the gate.”
- dudderedadjective
/DUD-erd/
worn and tatty in appearance
“Da auld hoose's fair duddered.”
- dudsnoun
/DUDZ/
the clothes someone is wearing
“She's pit her braw duds oan.”
- duffnoun
/DUF/
soft spongy mossy peat bedding
“Gie the duff tae the kye for the nicht.”
- dukkienoun
/DUK-ee/
small toy figure resembling a person
“Dae ye see the dukkie?”
- dumbanoun
/DUM-bah/
fine floating chaff-like dust in air
“Thar's dumba hingin aboot.”
- dumbitadjective
/DUM-bit/
Worn looking, ragged and neglected
“Da auld boat's gotten richt dumbit.”
- dumpisedadjective
/DUMP-izd/
feeling low and disheartened
“A'm dumpised the noo.”
- dunderverb
/DUHN-der/
to roar or rumble like thunder
“Da storm dunder alang da coast.”
- dungeonadjective
/DUN-jən/
Very knowledgeable, well-informed person
“She's a richt dungeon aboot croftin'.”
- duntnoun
/DUNT/
Hard, forceful strike or knock
“He hed a reet dunt oan his heid”
- dunternoun
/DUN-ter/
Shetland name for the eider duck
“Yon dunter's sittin' on da strand.”
- dussverb
/DUHS/
Lower or reduce a sail's set
“Duss the sail noo, the wind's shiftin'.”
- dwaamnoun
/DWAHM/
brief fainting spell; foolish person
“He fell intae a dwaam efter he cloutit his heid”
- dwineverb
/DWINE/
to waste away, fade, or decline
“Da croft's dwine awa.”
- dypossessive determiner
/DEE/
your, used before a noun
“Gie me dy pen.”
- dyselreflexive pronoun
/DEE-sel/
reflexive pronoun meaning you
“Tak care o' dysel.”
- eancardinal numeral
/EEN/
Shetland word for the number one
“Thar's ean hoose by the voe.”
- eanspronoun
/EENZ/
Plural pronoun meaning those
“Eans bairns bide hyar.”
- ebb sleepernoun
/EBB-SLEEP-er/
Shetland name for a small sandpiper
“Yon ebb sleeper's aye pickin at the strand”
- edderdeterminer
/ED-er/
one of two alternatives
“Edder ye gang or ye bide?”
- eenoun
/EE/
organ of sight; an eye
“Dinnae close yer ee yit”
- ee breernoun
/EE-BREER/
one eyelash, single eyelid hair
“Da's an ee breer oan yer ee.”
- ee wharmnoun
/EE-warm/
a hair on the eyelid edge
“Tak the ee wharm oot o' ma e'e.”
- eel towenoun
/EEL-TOH/
cord set in shallow inshore water
“Ah set the eel towe at the mou o the voe.”
- eemagenoun
/EEM-ij/
a frail, run-down person
“He's a richt eemage the noo.”
- eennoun
/EEN/
Shetland/Scots plural of eye
“Whit hae ye in yer een?”
- eennoun
/EEN/
Shetland/Scots plural of eye
“Whit hae ye in yer een?”
- eenceadverb
/EENS/
once; formerly; on one occasion
“I eence saw twa seals oot in the voe”
- eence a errantadverbial phrase
/EEN-suh-uh-ERR-unt/
with that aim in mind
“Eence a errant, A'll set da creels noo.”
- eenooadverb
/EEN-oo/
a very short time around now
“A'll be hame eenoo.”
- eenooadverb
/EEN-oo/
a very short time around now
“A'll be hame eenoo.”
- eetchnoun
/EETCH/
Right-angled blade for shaping timber
“Da auld joiner aye taks his eetch tae wark.”
- eetimtationnoun
/EE-tim-TAY-shun/
an extremely tiny amount
“There's nae eetimtation o milk in da jug.”
- eevernoun
/EE-vur/
An exceptionally large physical object
“Awbody's keekit at da eever by da pier.”
- eftadverb
/EHFT/
towards the stern of a boat
“Haud her eft, John, gie us room.”
- efterpreposition
/EF-ter/
following in time or remaining
“He cam efter da boat”
- efterklapsnoun
/EF-ter-klaps/
consequence following an earlier event
“Ef ye dae that, efterklaps kin be sair.”
- eidentadjective
/EYE-dent/
Habitually industrious and diligent
“She's eident at her wark.”
- elbucknoun
/EL-buk/
joint where the arm bends
“Ma elbuck's gey sair.”
- emmersnoun
/EM-ers/
glowing coals in a dying fire
“We sat roon the emmers an telt tales.”
- endnoun
/EHND/
short waxed thread for shoemaking
“Gie me the end, a'll mend the shoon.”
- end onadverb
/END-uhn/
continuously without interruption, all the time
“Da lass is singin end on”
- enknoun
/ENGK/
young animal kept for a child
“Da enk gangs efter da bairn ilka day”
- entverb
/EHNT/
to heed or follow instructions
“Ent ma advice an bide hame.”
- eredastreenadverb
/EH-reh-da-STREEN/
the night before last
“Ah hed a dreem eredastreen.”
- errandsnoun
/AIR-uhndz/
Stored food and household supplies for use
“We hae plenty errands i' the kist.”
- ertnoun
/ERT/
well known, recognised, and familiar
“Gae that ert.”
- essnoun
/ESS/
An ash tree or its wood
“Da ess stans at da kirkyaird.”
- essibacketnoun
/ESS-ee-BAK-it/
small metal pail for ashes
“Tak the essibacket oot.”
- essikertnoun
/ESS-ih-kert/
cart for collecting household rubbish
“Da essikert hes a dint on its side.”
- essimiddennoun
/ESS-ih-MID-en/
heap or pit for depositing ashes
“The auld essimidden's fu' the noo.”
- etterscabnoun
/ET-er-skab/
spiteful, annoying, mean-spirited troublemaker
“Dinna trust da etterscab, he'll aye be teasin folk.”
- faanoun
/FAH/
entrails removed at animal slaughter
“He fand da faa by da byre.”
- faadernoun
/FAH-der/
Shetland word for God the Father
“We pray tae faader each nicht”
- faaseadjective
/FAHSS/
Not genuine; false or deceptive
“He's a faase fella.”
- faase facenoun
/FAAS-FAYS/
face covering for disguise or costume
“She tuk on her faase face.”
- faatnoun
/FAHT/
physical harm or loss inflicted
“Da boat's got faat efter da storm.”
- faddomnoun
/FAD-um/
Nautical depth unit equal six feet
“Da angor's set at twa faddom”
- faepreposition
/fay/
from; indicating origin or source
“I ren fae da dug”
- faelly daeknoun
/FAY-lee DAEK/
low turf wall made of sods
“We mended the faelly daek afore lambin'.”
- faerdie maetnoun
/FAIR-dee MAYT/
Packed provisions for travelling
“Tak yer faerdie maet alang.”
- fainverb
/FAYN/
gladly welcome and accept with approval
“Ah'm fain tae hae ye here.”
- fainlyadjective
/FAYN-lee/
Pleasant, attractive in manner or look
“Yon wee hoose is fainly.”
- fairadverb
/FEHR/
Extremely; to a very great extent
“Ah'm fair tired.”
- fairdadjective
/FAYRD/
Easily frightened; feeling fear or apprehension
“Dinna be faird.”
- fairlienoun
/FAIR-lee/
remarkable surprising occurrence; a wonder
“Da's a fairlie!”
- fairnticklenoun
/FAIRN-TIK-ul/
Small brownish spot on the skin
“Da bairn haes a fairntickle oan her cheek.”
- fairy's cairdnoun
/FAIR-eez KAIRD/
large fern, especially common bracken
“Da sheep canna get through da fairy's caird.”
- faizeverb
/FAYZ/
To loosen and separate rope strands
“Faize the line afore ye stow it.”
- faksinnoun
/FAK-sin/
Foamy white crests on rough sea
“Da faksin breeks ower da shore.”
- famsnoun
/FAMZ/
unnecessary fuss or overblown ado
“Dinna mak sic a fams ower naething.”
- fannnoun
/FAN/
Heap of snow formed by the wind
“Da fann's blawn agen da hoose.”
- fantverb
/FAHNT/
to feel extremely hungry, near starving
“A'm fair fant, gie me somethin tae eat”
- fantationnoun
/FAN-TAY-shun/
extreme gnawing hunger, severe starvation
“He's fair gaun oot o' his heid wi' fantation.”
- farnoun
/FAHR/
small local fishing skiff
“A'll tak the far oot the morn.”
- farlinnoun
/FAR-lin/
large wooden trough for gutting herring
“Pit the herrin i' the farlin noo.”
- fashverb
/FASH/
to trouble or annoy someone
“Dinna fash yersel aboot it.”
- fastnoun
/FAHST/
rope for securing a boat
“Haud the fast”
- fastibaandnoun
/FAST-ee-bahnd/
ordinary, widely encountered or usual
“Fastibaand's gien up an the båt's creakin”
- fastin hertadjective
/FAS-tin HERT/
not eaten anything this morning
“Gie's a bite, A'm fastin hert.”
- fechtverb
/FEKHT/
to fight or struggle violently
“He'll fecht noo.”
- feddernoun
/FED-er/
sharpened edge of a Shetland knife
“Mind the fedder, it's gey sharp.”
- feekyadjective
/FEE-kee/
Fussy about trivial, minor details
“Da bairn's feeky wi her duds.”
- feelin hertedadjective
/FEE-lin HUR-tid/
Easily upset; emotionally wounded
“Mind hoo ye spik, he's feelin herted.”
- feerienoun
/FEER-ee/
contagious disease causing severe diarrhoea
“Da feerie's rinnin roond the toon.”
- feetnoun
/FEEt/
shoes or other foot coverings
“Hae ye got yer feet oan?”
- feetiksnoun
/FEE-tiks/
small fringe hairs over the eyes
“Ye've got feetiks i' yer een.”
- feevilnoun
/FEE-vil/
brief, light fall of snow
“Da feevil wis awa afore ye kent.”
- feftadjective
/FEFT/
already promised or reserved for someone
“Ah've feft the seat fer Da.”
- fegsinterjection
/FEGZ/
brief exclamation of surprise or emphasis
“Fegs, da's a braw sight!”
- fendyadjective
/FEN-dee/
Seaworthy in rough, wavy conditions
“Da boat's fendy, she'll haud i' a rough sea.”
- fetchverb
/FETCH/
take a sudden laboured breath
“He stuid an' did fetch efter da brae.”
- fethnoun
/FETH/
Trust, especially religious belief
“Ah hae feth i' him.”
- feyadjective
/FAY/
teasingly calling someone foolish or bewitched
“Ach, ye fey, ye hed some nerve!”
- feynessnoun
/FAY-ness/
sight of a ghostly omen
“He telt us he saw feyness on the muir last neet”
- fidgeverb
/FIDJ/
Make small restless nervous movements
“Da bairn fidge aboot.”
- fierdyadjective
/FEER-dee/
fit for use and seaworthy
“Da boat is fierdy noo.”
- fillverb
/FIL/
move backwards and forwards repeatedly
“Da cradle aye fill when da bairn slept”
- finadjective
/FIN/
to find
“Did ye fin it?”
- firpreposition
/FEER/
Up to a certain time or event
“Ah'll bide fir the boat comes in.”
- firbyeadverb
/FIR-BYE/
besides, moreover, in addition
“He's nae comin, firbye he's sair ill.”
- firenoun
/FIE-er/
Fuel used for heating and cooking
“Ther's nae fire for the kettle.”
- firnenstpreposition
/FIR-nuhnst/
on the other side of
“Da croft bides firnenst da burn.”
- first fitnoun
/FURST-FIT/
initial entrant into a home on New Year
“Da first fit's aye welcome efter midnicht.”
- firyatverb
/FIR-yat/
failed to remember; did not recall
“A firyat tae brung the tatties.”
- fishy fleenoun
/FISH-ee-FLEE/
metallic blue blowfly, a bluebottle
“Da fishy flee's buzzin aboot da table.”
- fitnoun
/FIT/
the foot or base of something
“Ah hurt ma fit on a stane.”
- fit rignoun
/FIT-rig/
turning area at field end
“Pit the ploo roond the fit rig.”
- fit strampnoun
/FIT-STRAMP/
a single step of the foot
“He gied a fit stramp intae the hoose.”
- fitchverb
/FITCH/
to fidget or move uneasily
“Dinnae fitch, sit ye daan.”
- fitlessadjective
/FIT-luhs/
prone to trip or lose balance
“Da auld man gaed fitless on da stanes”
- fitlinnnoun
/FIT-lin/
wooden foot brace inside rowing boat
“He set the fitlinn firm an' rowt awa”
- fittynoun
/FIT-ee/
short sock covering only the foot
“A put a fitty intae ma shoe”
- flaanoun
/FLAH/
sod of heather or peat turf
“Pit a flaa oan the roof.”
- flaachtnoun
/FLAHKT/
sudden brief burst of light
“Da flaacht lichtit up da voe.”
- flaachterverb
/FLAHK-ter/
to flap wings in quick motions
“See hoo da gull flaachter her wings.”
- flaachter spadenoun
/FLAHKH-ter SPAYD/
sharp spade for slicing peat turf
“Gie me da flaachter spade fae the stack.”
- flaeverb
/FLAY/
strip and cut peat turves
“A'll flae the peats the morn.”
- flannoun
/FLAHN/
brief sudden gust or squall
“Mind yersel, a wee flan jist cam ower.”
- flannyadjective
/FLAN-ee/
sudden gusts and brief heavy showers
“Tak yer coat, it's flanny oot.”
- flatshverb
/FLATSH/
press down to make flat
“A'm gaun tae flatsh the bannocks.”
- flatshienoun
/FLAT-shee/
Temporary bed laid on the floor
“Ah'll mak up a flatshie for ye.”
- flechnoun
/FLEKH/
tiny biting insect; teasing small person
“Och, ye're jist a flech.”
- fleckitadjective
/FLEK-it/
spotted with large dark blotches
“Yon fleckit coo's gey bonnie.”
- fleckynoun
/FLEK-ee/
Affectionate name for speckled cow
“Ma flecky bides i' the byre.”
- fleenoun
/FLEE/
artificial fishing lure shaped like an insect
“Gie me the flee, Ah'll dae a cast.”
- flegnoun
/FLEG/
brief sudden fright or alarm
“I hed a fleg whan the boat cam in”
- flenkverb
/FLEHNK/
Playful teasing to show romantic interest
“He's aye flenk wi' her.”
- fleshnoun
/FLESH/
meat of an animal for eating
“Gie's a wee piece o' flesh.”
- flipeverb
/FLEEP/
Turn up hem; strip or peel
“Flipe up yer trews afore ye gae oot.”
- flissnoun
/FLISS/
thin wafer-like sliver of food
“Tak a wee fliss o bannock.”
- flitverb
/FLIT/
change residence; shift grazing animal
“A'm gaun tae flit the morn”
- fliteverb
/FLYTE/
to scold or rebuke someone
“Dinna flite him noo.”
- flittinnoun
/FLIT-in/
moving one's household to a new home
“Wir flittin tae the new hoose the morn.”
- flittin stanenoun
/FLIT-in STAYN/
stone used to free tethered animal
“Mind da flittin stane or da coo'll be aff.”
- floamienoun
/FLOH-mee/
Flattened spread out mass; sudden torrent
“He gied a floamie o words an' left.”
- flossnoun
/FLOSS/
grass-like wetland plant; common rush
“Da marsh's aw fu o' floss.”
- foallynoun
/FOH-lee/
playful harmless prank done in good spirits
“It wis jist a foally an awbody laffit.”
- focknoun
/FOK/
community, public, or family group
“Fock's aw gaen tae the ceilidh.”
- followverb
/FOL-uh/
Go along with someone to their house
“A'll follow ye hame.”
- fooadverb
/FOO/
in which way; by what means
“Foo did ye dae that?”
- foolnoun
/FOOL/
a bird; a domestic fowl
“Da fool's oot on da croft.”
- foothnoun
/FOOTH/
a very large number or amount
“We hae a footh o herrins at da quay”
- forbypreposition
/FOR-bee/
in addition to or besides
“Forby da fish, we hed tatties”
- fore (tae da fore)adjective
/FOHR/
alive; not dead, used predicatively
“Da bairn's fore yit”
- fore owreadverb
/FOR-OW-ruh/
headfirst, with head foremost
“She fell fore owre intae da watter.”
- foreroomnoun
/FOHR-room/
Forward compartment of a sixern boat
“Gie me da lamp frae da foreroom.”
- foresidenoun
/FOR-syd/
Front part; time just before event
“The bairns sat on the foreside o the pier an watched the boats come in”
- foretaftnoun
/FOR-taft/
forward bench in a boat
“He satt i the foretaft an keekit oot”
- forfochenadjective
/FOR-FOKH-en/
completely exhausted and worn out
“Ah'm fair forfochen.”
- forgieverb
/FOR-jee/
to pardon or excuse someone
“Forgie him, he didnae mean it”
- forkietailnoun
/FOR-kee-tail/
small brown insect with pincers
“Da forkietail hid unner da kist.”
- forlegenadjective
/FOR-leg-en/
Utterly confused and completely worn out
“Ah'm forlegen efter the lang day.”
- forrardadverb
/FORR-ard/
towards the front of a boat
“Cum forrard an keek ower the bow”
- forsmonoun
/FORS-moh/
deliberate insulting or offensive remark
“He gied me a forsmo.”
- fozieadjective
/FOH-zee/
Soft and limp from freezing vegetables
“Yon neep's aw fozie efter da frost.”
- frachtnoun
/FRAHKT/
a load or cargo carried
“Da boat hed a fracht o fish.”
- fraepreposition
/FRAY/
Marks origin or point of departure
“She cam frae Lerwick.”
- freendnoun
/FREEND/
family member; relation by blood or marriage
“Yon freend's ma mither's brither.”
- freksitadjective
/FREK-sit/
easily irritated, sulky and complaining
“Da freksit auntie startit owae o' nowt.”
- frimsenoun
/FRIMZ/
petulant pout or brief sulky look
“She gied a frimse an' keekit aff.”
- froadnoun
/FROHD/
bubbly foam on liquid surface
“Da's a wee froad on the tay.”
- frugaladjective
/FROO-gul/
generous in amount; ample, plentiful
“Hoo made the frock frugal, nae skimpin' on cloots.”
- frushverb
/FRUsh/
Short, sharp sprays of saliva
“Da puss'll frush if ye fash her”
- frynoun
/FRY/
single-meal portion of fresh fish
“A'll huv a fry the nicht.”
- funverb
/FUN/
Past participle of find; discovered
“A've fun it in the hoose”
- funsnoun
/FUHNS/
pleasure or amusement; having a good time
“We hed gey funs at t' ceilidh.”
- furrnoun
/FURR/
narrow trench made by a plough
“Aa'll nae step in da furr.”
- furtadverb
/FUHRT/
outside; in the open air
“He's gaen furt.”
- fyaarmverb
/FYARM/
insincere flattery for personal gain
“He's aye fyaarm tae the laird.”
- gaanoun
/GAW/
bitter bile; bright spot by sun
“See the gaa? It's nae a braw sign.”
- gaa bursenverb
/GAH-BUR-sen/
Become breathless from hard exertion
“Ah'm gaa bursen efter rinnin doon the brae.”
- gaa girsenoun
/GAA-GIRS/
stonewort alga used as cattle remedy
“Mam aye boils up gaa girse for the kye.”
- gaanverb
/GAHN/
to stare with mouth open
“A wis gaan at the whale”
- gaaseverb
/GAAZ/
force someone to act against will
“Nae try tae gaase me”
- gaatnoun
/GAHT/
castrated male pig; Weisdale nickname
“Yon gaat aye helps wi da boat.”
- gabnoun
/GAB/
Mouth; facial opening for speech and eating
“Haud yer gab!”
- gabbordnoun
/GAB-BORD/
plank along a boat's keel
“A'll hae tae mend the gabbord.”
- gabsplural noun
/GABZ/
brief violent gusts or squalls
“Gabs cam in an' fair skelpit the windaes.”
- gadderienoun
/GAD-uh-ree/
Informal gathering; small group or crowd
“We gaed til a wee gadderie yestreen.”
- gadgeinterjection
/GADJ/
short exclamation showing disgust or revulsion
“Gadge!”
- gaepnoun
/GAYP/
person who spreads others' business
“Dinna tell yon gaep owt”
- gaepshotadjective
/GAYP-shot/
lower jaw protruding beyond upper jaw
“Da bairn's gaepshot, but he's a bonny wee yin.”
- gaeslinnoun
/GAYZ-lin/
young domestic goose, juvenile bird
“A'll tak the gaeslin ben.”
- gaevilnoun
/GAY-vil/
end wall forming a roof gable
“Da gaevil needs patchin afore winter”
- gaffnoun
/GAHF/
a loud, hearty burst of laughter
“He hed a gaff at that.”
- gaffinnoun
/GAF-in/
loud, uncontrollable burst of laughter
“She telt it an we aw hed a gaffin.”
- gaggitadjective
/GAG-it/
feeling irritated or put out
“He's fair gaggit noo.”
- ganselledadjective
/GAN-seld/
completely fed up; intensely annoyed
“A'm ganselled o' the hale thing”
- ganseynoun
/GAN-zee/
traditional Shetland fisherman's wool sweater
“Tak on yer gansey, it's cauld oot.”
- gantverb
/GANT/
involuntary open mouth deep breath
“Ah'm fair gant noo.”
- garronnoun
/GAR-run/
small sturdy working horse or pony
“Yon garron daes braw wark at the croft.”
- gearnoun
/GEE-uh/
personal belongings or equipment
“Tak yer gear hame”
- geelnoun
/GEEL/
small wavelet on water surface
“Yon geel rinns alang the voe.”
- gennernoun
/JEN-er/
adult male goose, a gander
“Da genner's gaen doon tae da voe.”
- gertannoun
/GER-tan/
band to hold up stockings
“Haud yer gertan or the stockins'll fa'.”
- geyadverb
/GAY/
to a fairly large degree
“A'm gey fain tae see ye.”
- gieverb
/GEE/
to give; hand over something
“Gie that tae me noo”
- gien atphrasal verb
/GEEN-at/
persist or continue despite difficulties
“She gien at wi the job tho it wis hard.”
- gien inadjective
/GEEN-in/
Become smaller after washing or wear
“Ma jumper's gien in efter washin.”
- gimmernoun
/GIM-er/
young female sheep in second year
“We hae a braw gimmer”
- girdnoun
/GIRD/
circular hoop originally from barrel band
“Yon bairn's playin wi a gird oan da strand”
- girnverb
/GURN/
to complain or pull a sour face
“Dinna girn, bairn.”
- girnalnoun
/GIR-nal/
granary or grain storehouse
“Ah'll gang tae the girnal wi the cairt.”
- girnyadjective
/GUR-nee/
peevish and sulky, easily upset
“Da wee bairn's gey girny the day”
- gizzenverb
/GIZ-en/
Wood drying, shrinking and becoming porous
“Da boat's a' gizzen efter twa summers oan da beach.”
- glaepverb
/GLAYP/
To gulp down food or drink
“He glaep his suppie in nae time.”
- glafteritadjective
/GLAF-tuh-rit/
Rowdily cheerful and noisily exuberant
“Da bairns wur glafterit efter da fair.”
- glaiketadjective
/GLAY-kit/
foolish, irresponsible, lacking common sense
“A'll nae gie him the keys, he's glaiket.”
- glansinadjective
/GLAN-sin/
brightly shining, glossy, sparkling appearance
“Da skiff is glansin i da sun”
- glantnoun
/GLANT/
lively, noisy bout of merry-making
“Da glant i' da toon is the morra nicht”
- gleernoun
/GLEER/
faint shaft of sunlight through mist
“A wee gleer lichtit da brae.”
- gleersplural noun
/GLEERZ/
sudden loud bursts of laughter
“She telt a daft tale an the hoose was fu o' gleers”
- glegadjective
/GLEHG/
Mentally sharp and highly observant
“Da gleg loon aye wins at cards.”
- glegnessnoun
/GLEG-ness/
sharpness of mind and perception
“Da lad haes glegness aboot him.”
- glerlitadjective
/GLAIR-lit/
Glassy, glossy surface or glassy expression
“He stuid thar glerlit, nae sayin a wurd”
- glimnoun
/GLIM/
brief faint flash of light
“Thare wis a glim o licht i' the nicht.”
- glinderverb
/GLIN-der/
to squint or peer with narrowed eyes
“She began tae glinder throo the mirk.”
- glinkverb
/GLINK/
shine briefly; small sudden flash
“The sun gied a glink ower the voe.”
- glisknoun
/GLISK/
a brief, fleeting glance or sight
“Ah hed a glisk o a seal in the voe”
- gloornoun
/GLOOR/
dim twilight glow at dusk
“Da gloor is hingin ower da voe.”
- glowerverb
/GLOW-er/
stare fixedly with sullen anger
“She gies me a glower.”
- gloweritadjective
/GLOW-er-it/
Glaringly vivid; gaudily coloured
“Da sky's gey glowerit the nicht.”
- gluffnoun
/GLUFF/
Sudden fright; field scarecrow effigy
“Da gluff stuid at the rig wi an auld hat.”
- glumsenoun
/GLUMS/
short blunt rude retort
“She gied him a glumse an turnt awa”
- glunshverb
/GLUNSH/
To gulp food down eagerly
“He glunsh his suppa an' awa he gaed.”
- glyverb
/GLAI/
cast a sidelong squinting glance
“Dinna gly, lass.”
- glyedadjective
/GLYD/
Eyes misaligned; squinting or turned aside
“Da bairn is glyed in yin ee”
- gocknoun
/GOK/
foolish, easily fooled person
“Da gock fell for yon aul tale.”
- göd claesnoun phrase
/GUD KLAYZ/
Finest garments for special occasions
“A'll put on ma göd claes tae gang tae kirk.”
- göd's maknoun
/GURDZ-MAK/
A living being made by God
“Yon göd's mak hes a bonny smyl.”
- gödablyadverb
/GOD-uh-blee/
Done easily with little effort
“He learnt the sang gödably”
- gödlessadverb
/GUHD-less/
used before adjectives to intensify
“It's gödless cauld.”
- gogienoun
/GOG-ee/
small parasitic insect on hair
“Da bairn's heid haes a wee gogie.”
- gomerilnoun
/GOM-uh-ril/
a foolish or simple-minded person
“He's a gomeril, aye.”
- goomnoun
/GOOM/
sticky resinous substance; natural adhesive
“Da's goom oan the table.”
- gooselnoun
/GOO-sel/
short blustery gusting breeze
“Hae ye felt that goosel?”
- gorstienoun
/GORST-ee/
narrow uncultivated ridge between fields
“Mind ye dinna pit muck oan the gorstie.”
- gorstie girsenoun
/GOR-stee GEERs/
turf grass on ridge tops
“Da gorstie girse aye grows oan da hummocks.”
- gotnaverb
/GOT-nah/
failed to obtain or understand
“Ah gaed til the shop, but Ah gotna ony.”
- gowannoun
/GOW-an/
yellow marsh wildflower meaning very yellow
“Da field's fu o' gowans.”
- gowlverb
/GOWL/
utter loud, prolonged cries
“Da bairn gowlit a' nicht.”
- gowsterverb
/GOW-ster/
Speak loudly and pompously
“Da gowster aye telt folk whit tae dae.”
- gowsteritadjective
/GOWS-TER-it/
loud, pushy, boastful, domineering person
“Da's a gowsterit, aye.”
- graavnoun
/GRAHV/
soft slimy sediment on seabed
“Da graav stuks tae da keel.”
- graimverb
/GRAYM/
to grumble; express dissatisfaction or complaint
“Da auld man graim when da ferry's late.”
- grainnoun
/GRAYN/
a very small amount
“Gie it a grain o salt.”
- gravitnoun
/GRAH-vit/
woollen neckcloth worn for warmth
“Haud yer gravit roond yer neck, it's gey cauld oot.”
- greenoun
/GREE/
Rendered fish fat or oil
“Da gree's reddy tae fry da fish.”
- greeknoun
/GREEK/
first light of the morning
“A'll be oot by the greek”
- greemitadjective
/GREE-mit/
greyish, sootied or streaked face
“He cam hame wi' a greemit feace.”
- greenbowenoun
/GREEN-boh/
scouring in sheep after pasture change
“Da ewes got greenbowe efter they cam doon frae the heather.”
- greetverb
/GREET/
to cry or sob loudly
“Da auld man sat greetin' by the quay.”
- greetie gowlienoun
/GREET-ee GOWL-ee/
pejorative term for a crying child
“Da bairn's aye a greetie gowlie.”
- greetyadjective
/GREE-tee/
Prone to crying; easily brought to tears
“Da wee bairn's greety, greetin at every tale.”
- grethy clootsplural noun
/GRETH-ee KLOOTS/
cloth bibs or napkins for babies
“Gie's da grethy cloots, da bairn's awfy muckit.”
- grethy potnoun
/GRETH-ee POT/
bedside portable toilet container
“Grethy pot's aye bi me bed.”
- gricenoun
/GRISS/
young swine; small farm piglet
“Da grice's a bonny wee yin.”
- grice ingannoun
/GRIS-IN-gan/
small coastal blue blooming spring flower
“Ah saw grice ingan bei da stane dyke”
- grice mitesplural noun
/GRAIS-MYTS/
tiny potatoes used as pig feed
“Gie da grice mites tae da hoggies.”
- grindinnoun
/GRIN-din/
cat's soft contented rumbling sound
“Da kit lay on ma lap wi a wee grindin.”
- gritadjective
/GRIT/
Notably large; of great bulk
“Da's a grit boat.”
- groffadjective
/GRAWF/
Coarse, rough in texture or voice
“She spak wi a groff voas.”
- grointintransitive verb
/GROYNT/
to make a low guttural sound
“Da auld man groint an sat doun”
- grötti barrelnoun
/GROT-ee BAR-rel/
barrel for storing fish-liver oil
“Da grötti barrel stuid in da loft.”
- grottie buckienoun
/GROT-ee BUK-ee/
small glossy cowrie sea shell
“Ah fand a wee grottie buckie on da strand.”
- grovelverb
/GROV-uhl/
search by touch in darkness
“Ah hud tae grovel aroond the soofa for ma keys”
- gruelnoun
/GROO-ul/
Thin porridge or sloppy mixture
“A'll no hae da gruel.”
- gruel treenoun
/GROOL-tree/
wooden stirring stick for porridge
“Ga an fetch da gruel tree.”
- gruelly bagnoun
/GROO-lee BAG/
Nickname for someone from Whiteness
“Yon gruelly bag aye kens us aw.”
- grumlieadjective
/GRUM-lee/
water cloudy from silt or particles
“Da voe's grumlie efter da spate o' rain.”
- grummelverb
/GRUM-uhl/
make water cloudy by stirring
“Dinna grummel the voe wi yer oars”
- gubnoun
/GUB/
bubbly surface layer on liquid
“Da gub cam in wi da tide.”
- guffnoun
/GUHF/
brief unpleasant puff or whiff
“A guff o smoke cam in fae da fire.”
- guggleverb
/GUG-uhl/
to smear with filth or grease
“Dinna guggle yer hans wi grease.”
- guideshipnoun
/GUYD-ship/
manner in which someone is treated
“Yon man's guideship tae the bairns is braw”
- guizeverb
/GUYZE/
Dress in disguise for festival
“Ah'm gaun tae guize the neet”
- guizernoun
/GUY-zer/
person wearing disguise for festivities
“Da guizer cam raond wi a bonnie mask.”
- gulderverb
/GUL-der/
to shout angrily to scold
“Dinna gulder at mi!”
- gulmogetadjective
/GUL-moh-get/
dark-backed animal with pale belly
“Da gulmoget's gey easy tae pick oot o' the herd.”
- gulsa girsenoun
/GUL-suh GIR-suh/
marsh plant used for cattle jaundice
“Hae ye seen gulsa girse doon by the loch?”
- gunnienoun
/GUN-ee/
small parasitic insect on mammals and birds
“Da hen haes a gunnie.”
- gurrnoun
/GURR/
crusty, sticky discharge in eye corners
“Wash yon gurr oot o yer een.”
- gyurdnoun
/GYURD/
a gift given willingly to someone
“Ah hid da gyurd in ma kist.”
- haaf mannoun
/HAAF-man/
offshore fisherman working far out at sea
“Da haaf man gaes oot ilk mornin.”
- haand's turnnoun
/HAANDZ-TURN/
short stint of manual labour
“Aye, it's ma haand's turn tae mend the net.”
- haandigripsnoun
/HAAN-dee-grips/
Blows delivered by the hands
“Da lad gied Jamie haandigrips.”
- haandlessadjective
/HAAND-less/
lacking skill with the hands
“He's awfy haandless at peelin tatties.”
- hackverb
/HAK/
to cut or chop roughly
“Hack the cod afore bakin'.”
- haddverb
/HAHD/
to hold or continue on
“I hadd a keek at the market.”
- haddibaandnoun
/HAD-ee-bahnd/
Transverse timber securing a boat's frames
“He set the haddibaand unner the thrawt”
- hailverb
/HAYL/
Haul in fishing gear; sweat streaming
“Hae ye hail the net in yet?”
- hailin kabenoun
/HAY-lin-KAYB/
wooden pin for guiding fishing line
“Haud the hailin kabe an' we'll heeze her up.”
- haily pucklenoun
/HAY-lee PUCK-uhl/
small lump of hailstone ice
“Da road wis aal white wi haily puckle.”
- hainverb
/HAYN/
Hold back; use sparingly; economise
“Hain a bit o' fish for the bairn.”
- hairnoun
/HAIR/
tiny particle; slightest visible trace
“Nae hair o' the bannock left”
- hair rivinnoun
/HAIR-RIV-in/
sudden strong gust of wind
“A hair rivin cam ower the voe an snatched ma hat.”
- hairseadjective
/HAIRS/
Rough, husky, strained-sounding voice
“Da auld man's hairse aye maks folk listen.”
- hairstnoun
/HAYRST/
autumn harvest; gathering of crops
“Hairst's here an' the fowk's oot at the rigs.”
- hairst blinksnoun
/HAYRST-BLINKS/
distant heat-lightning flashes on warm nights
“A sat an watched hairst blinks t' nicht.”
- hairst rignoun
/HAIRST-RIG/
strip of land being reaped
“Da hairst rig's near doon noo.”
- haleadjective
/HAYL/
whole and not damaged
“Da auld boat cam hame hale.”
- hale an haddenadjective
/HAYL-an-HAD-en/
completely intact and undamaged
“Da auld boat cam hame hale an hadden.”
- half gaetsadverb
/HAF-GAYTS/
Partway between two places or stages
“A'm half gaets hame.”
- half oot aforenoun
/HAF-OOT-uh-FOR/
upper half of sheep's ear cut
“Ah seen da lamb wi a half oot afore on't”
- half oot ahintnoun
/HAF OOT ah-HINT/
ear notch indicating sheep ownership
“Ah gied the lamb a half oot ahint.”
- halligetadjective
/HAL-ih-get/
rowdy, disorderly, uncontrolled behaviour
“Da bairns war richt halliget.”
- hallonoun
/HAH-lo/
tied bundle of straw for cattle
“Gi'e the hallo tae the coos noo.”
- hallowe'ennoun
/HAL-uh-ween/
Evening of October 31st
“Aw'll gae oot wi the bairns on hallowe'en”
- halversnoun
/HAL-vurz/
a person's half when splitting
“Gie me ma halvers o' the catch.”
- hamenoun
/HAYM/
one's home; at or to home
“Ah'm gaen hame noo.”
- hame abootadjective
/HAYM-uh-BOOT/
Cosy, plain, comfortable like home
“Dis hoose is gey hame aboot.”
- hamefirnoun
/HAYM-FEER/
bride's first homecoming celebration
“We gaed tae the hamefir efter the weddin.”
- hanselnoun
/HAN-suhl/
token gift for an inaugural occasion
“A'll gie the bairn a hansel the morn.”
- hanspernoun
/HAN-spuh/
Sore, tired legs after exertion
“A hae hansper efter da lunt.”
- hantlenoun
/HAN-tul/
a large amount; plenty
“A hantle o folk cam tae the ceilidh”
- hapnoun
/HAP/
Traditional knitted shoulder-wrap, typically handmade
“Tak the hap, it's gey cauld.”
- hap lacenoun
/HAP-lays/
Knitted border or edging of shawl
“Da hap lace's awfy braw.”
- happerverb
/HAP-er/
to block or hold back progress
“Da tide happer yer boat”
- hard darkeninnoun
/HAARD-DARK-en-in/
last light before nightfall
“Coom oot, the hard darkenin's gey braw”
- harkverb
/HAHRK/
speak in a low private voice
“Hark intae ma lug”
- harlverb
/HAHRL/
shuffle along with faltering steps
“A'll harl hame noo.”
- harnedadjective
/HARN-ed/
Made hard by use or exposure
“Ma haans are richt harned.”
- harnpannoun
/HARN-pan/
bony skull casing protecting the brain
“Dinnae ding yer harnpan oan the beam.”
- harnsnoun
/HAHRNZ/
the brain; mental capacity or intelligence
“Da bairn's got braw harns.”
- harrnoun
/HAHR/
upper plate of a door hinge
“The harr o' the dor's a' worn.”
- harskadjective
/HARSK/
Severe, cold and stormy weather
“Da wind's gey harsk.”
- haslocknoun
/HAS-lok/
soft wool beneath a sheep's neck
“Gie's the haslock for the bairn's bonnet”
- hassnoun
/HAHS/
Throat; specifically the windpipe
“Da bairn near choked his hass wi a bit o' fish.”
- hassensplural noun
/HAS-enz/
Planks beside the keel on a boat
“Aw'll pit new nails in the hassens the morn”
- haste deeverb phrase
/HAST-ee-DEE/
leave quickly; hurry away
“Haste dee, da ferry's gaun.”
- hatterverb
/HAT-er/
bully or handle someone roughly
“Dinna hatter the wee bairn.”
- haververb
/HAY-vuh/
speak nonsense; babble aimlessly
“He's aye a haver.”
- headnoun
/HED/
Yarn measurement and single animal count
“A hae a head o waul tae spin the morn.”
- head rignoun
/HED-RIG/
field strip used for turning plough
“Aw'll till the head rig efter the feeld's dun.”
- headicraanoun
/HEH-di-KRAH/
a head-first flip or roll
“He gied a braw headicraa intae da sea”
- headlichtadjective
/HED-likht/
feeling dizzy or lightheaded
“Ah'm a wee headlicht efter da kirk dance”
- headlinsadverb
/HED-LINZ/
headfirst in a reckless hurry
“Da laddie gaed headlins intae da burn.”
- heads ta traasadverbial phrase
/HEDS-TA-TRAAS/
alternating heads and feet arrangement
“Pit the bairns heads ta traas on the bed.”
- hearverb
/HEER/
listen or give brief skeptical agreement
“Hear, nae bother.”
- hearinnoun
/HEER-in/
a surprising reported tale or rumour
“There's a queer hearin gaun roond.”
- heaveverb
/HEEV/
to throw or fling something
“Gie it a heave intae the boat.”
- hecknoun
/HEK/
stick used to aid walking
“He leanit on his heck an' gaed alang.”
- heckleverb
/HEK-uhl/
to move slowly with difficulty
“He heckled up the brae wi' the cart”
- hedverb
/HED/
Past form of have; possessed
“Ah hed nae time yestreen.”
- hedder kowenoun
/HED-er KOH/
large bushy clump of heather
“Da bairns hid in da hedder kowe.”
- hedimoonoun
/HED-ih-moo/
shimmering mirage caused by heat
“Ah seen a hedimoo ower da brae.”
- heeldverb
/HEELD/
Lean or tip over; cause to capsize
“Da boat heeld ower in da gale.”
- heesieadjective
/HEE-see/
sent away; made to leave abruptly
“He wis heesie efter the meetin.”
- heftnoun
/HEFT/
Handle or prized personal possession
“Mind the heft, it's auld an' dear tae me.”
- heichtnoun
/HAYCHT/
the highest point or summit
“We gaed up tae the heicht.”
- hellerynoun
/HEL-uh-ree/
worthless stuff or nonsense
“A'll hae nae use fer that hellery.”
- hellicknoun
/HEL-ik/
broad flat rock sloping to sea
“Set the boat on the hellick an haud her fast.”
- hellisomadjective
/HEL-iss-um/
Friendly, easy to get on with
“She's a hellisom lass, aye up for a blether.”
- hellynoun
/HEL-ee/
short holiday or time off
“Ah'm awa fer the helly”
- helsininterjection
/HEL-sin/
exclamation used to greet arrivals
“Helsin, braw te see ye!”
- helyernoun
/HEL-yer/
sea-filled coastal cave at high tide
“We hid the boat in the helyer afore the storm”
- hemsnoun
/HEMZ/
wooden triangular collars for sheep
“Aw hae put hems oan the yow”
- henchnoun
/HENCH/
upper thigh or buttock area
“Mind yer hench, da floor's slippit.”
- hench bennoun
/HENCH-BEN/
bone from an animal's hip
“Gie us the hench ben.”
- hench headnoun
/HENCH-hed/
upper part of an animal's haunch
“Mind the hench head when ye lift the sheep”
- henkverb
/HENGK/
to walk unevenly; limp or hobble
“Da auld man henk hame.”
- hentinsnoun
/HEN-tins/
leftover grain gathered after harvest
“Da bairns hev bin pickin the hentins.”
- herald deuknoun
/HER-uld DYOOK/
red-breasted diving sea duck
“I seen a herald deuk oot by da voe.”
- herlaneadverb
/HUR-layn/
by oneself; without any company
“Da auld mither sat herlane at neet.”
- herselpronoun
/HER-sel/
reflexive form of the pronoun her
“She telt the bairn a story hersel.”
- hertnoun
/HERT/
the heart, sometimes the belly
“He haes a muckle hert.”
- hert hollnoun
/HERT-HOLL/
the exact middle or core
“Da kirk stans i da hert holl o da toon.”
- hertscadnoun
/HERT-skad/
burning sensation in chest or throat
“Ah've got hertscad efter that suppy.”
- hiddleverb
/HID-uhl/
Hide or tuck away out of sight
“Hiddle the keys in the kist.”
- hidenoun
/HYDE/
animal skin or pelt
“Da's a bonnie hide frae the seal”
- hide or hairidiomatic noun phrase
/HYDE-nor-HAIR/
a trace or sign of someone
“There's nae hide nor hair o' him.”
- hidmostadjective
/HID-mohst/
last in a group or line
“He bides hidmost o' the lot.”
- hill gaetnoun
/HIL-GAYT/
path across a hill or ridge
“A'll tak the hill gaet”
- himlaneadverb
/HIM-layn/
by himself; without any company
“He cam himlane hame”
- hinderverb
/HIN-der/
Prevent or obstruct; exclamation of surprise
“Hinder, ye wadnae dae that!”
- hinnynoun
/HIN-ee/
Affectionate term for a loved one
“Coom awa, hinny.”
- hinny spotnoun
/HIN-ee-SPOT/
Triangular wooden block for boat stem
“Hae ye set the hinny spot?”
- hintverb
/HINT/
slip in and out unseen
“He hint aboot the toon, nae ane saw him”
- hipverb
/HIP/
leave out or skip over
“Dinna hip her frae the list.”
- hippennoun
/HIP-en/
cloth or disposable baby diaper
“Gie the bairn a clean hippen”
- hirdverb
/HURD/
Reap and gather harvest crops
“We'll hird da tatties the morn.”
- hirpleverb
/HUR-pul/
move along with a limp
“Da auld dug hirpled hame.”
- hiss hassnoun
/HISS-HASS/
a confused fuss or noisy commotion
“Dinna mak a hiss hass aboot it.”
- hitverb
/HIT/
to strike; past participle of throw
“He haes hit da line owerbaord”
- hitselreflexive pronoun
/HIT-sel/
reflexive for things or animals
“Da dug lickit hitsel”
- hivvetnoun
/HIV-vet/
Raised localized swelling or small lump
“Ah've got a hivvet oan ma arm.”
- hochnoun
/HOKH/
Back part of the upper leg
“I hae a sair hoch efter da fae.”
- hochbendtransitive verb
/HOK-bend/
Tie cord above animal's hock
“Gie the coo a hochbend afore ye staart tae milk.”
- hockverb
/HOK/
to dig or make a hole
“A'll hock the tattie bed the morn.”
- hockinadjective
/HOK-in/
Extremely hungry; ravenous and starving
“Ah'm hockin, gie me a bit o scran.”
- hoenoun
/HOO/
small dogfish and Lunnasting nickname
“Da hoe swam near da boat”
- hoe moothedadjective
/HOH-MOOTHD/
projecting upper jaw with snout-like profile
“Da dug's a bit hoe moothed.”
- hoidverb
/HOYD/
To hide; put out of sight
“Hoid it awa in ma drawer.”
- hoidie hollnoun
/HOY-dee-HOLL/
small concealed spot used for hiding
“Da cat sleepit in da hoidie holl doon by da dyke.”
- hoilternoun
/HOIL-ter/
bulky, awkward, clumsy person
“Ye hae tae gie da hoilter plenty o' room”
- holtryadjective
/HOL-tree/
Rough, uneven ground with hummocks
“Mind yer fit, da brae's holtry”
- hoochnoun
/HOOCH/
short loud shout to attract attention
“Gie's a hooch!”
- hookersnoun
/HOOK-ers/
bent knees or leg joints
“Mind yer hookers when ye stoop.”
- hoorkleverb
/HOOR-kul/
crouch low close to the ground
“Hoorkle doon bi da dyke, bairn.”
- hooronoun
/HOO-roh/
loud noisy commotion or disturbance
“Fit a hooro at da pier yisterday.”
- hoosenoun
/HOOS/
A dwelling or person's home
“A'll bide i' the hoose the nicht”
- hoosomeverconjunctive adverb
/HOOS-uh-MEV-er/
Introduces contrast: yet, nevertheless
“He telt me nae tae come, hoosomever A juist gaed alang.”
- hooterverb
/HOO-tuh/
Intimidate someone into keeping quiet
“Dinnae let him hooter ye”
- hornnoun
/HOARN/
projecting tip of a boat
“Ah tied a wee flag tae the horn.”
- horn towesnoun
/HORN-TOHZ/
rope tether used to secure cow
“Pit the horn towes oan the coo i' the byre.”
- horridadverb
/HORR-id/
Shetland intensifier meaning very; extremely
“It's horrid cauld oot the day”
- horse gocknoun
/HAWS-GOK/
small marsh wading bird
“Aa saa a horse gock i' the moss.”
- hostnoun
/HOHST/
a sudden bout of coughing
“Da bairn hed a sair host.”
- houbnoun
/HOOB/
shallow tidal lagoon at voe head
“Wi gaed oot tae fish in the houb.”
- howdienoun
/HOW-dee/
local woman assisting childbirth
“Da howdie coom an' helpit wi da bairn.”
- hubbelskyunoun
/HUB-uhl-SKYOO/
A loud, chaotic, noisy commotion
“Dinna gang near da hubbelskyu.”
- hubbitadjective
/HUB-it/
Shunned or driven away after accusation
“He wis hubbit fae the toon.”
- hufsinoun
/HUF-see/
home-baked cake made without recipe
“Gie us a bit o that hufsi.”
- huggistaffnoun
/HUGG-ee-staf/
Sturdy long-handled hook for landing fish
“Gie's the huggistaff, I'll houl the cod aboord.”
- hullverb
/HUL/
scoop out to make a cavity
“Kin ye hull the neep?”
- hulternoun
/HUL-ter/
large irregular solitary mass of stone
“Yon hulter staans on the strand.”
- humlibaandnoun
/HUM-lee-BAHND/
looped rope holding an oar
“Set da humlibaand oan da gunnel”
- hummelledadjective
/HUM-meld/
smoothed and scoured by the sea
“Yon hummelled driftie lyis oan the strand.”
- hundiclocknoun
/HUN-di-klok/
Large winged beetle, the maybug
“A hundiclock's oan the windae.”
- hunklenoun
/HUNK-ul/
brief shoulder lift expressing indifference
“I axed him aboot it, an he gied a hunkle an didna ken.”
- hunkseverb
/HUNK-suh/
Lift or heft onto one's shoulder
“Gie's a haand, I'll hunkse the creel.”
- hunseverb
/HUNS-uh/
poke through to find something
“Gie't me an' I'll hunse the bag.”
- hurdnoun
/HURD/
large shoreline rock or boulder
“Da hurd stans oot oan da strand.”
- hurlverb
/HURL/
to push or haul on wheels
“Gi'e the barrow a hurl alang the pier”
- hurl borronoun
/HURL-BOR-uh/
one-wheeled handcart for carrying loads
“Tak the hurl borro oot tae the croft.”
- hurlessadjective
/HUR-less/
Utterly exhausted; drained of energy
“A'm hurless etter da lang wark.”
- hurrverb
/HURR/
steady low hum or soft whirr
“Da wheel aye hurr alang.”
- hushnoun
/HUSH/
low steady murmur of the sea
“Da hush o' sea fills da voe.”
- hushie baainterjection
/HUSH-ee BAA/
soft lullaby phrase to soothe child
“Gie the wee bairn a hushie baa.”
- hyocklebanenoun
/HYOK-uhl-BAYN/
broad shoulder blade, the scapula
“He brakkit his hyocklebane on da boat.”
- hyooknoun
/HYOOK/
Curved hand sickle or fishing tool
“He gaed oot wi' the hyook an' a line.”
- hystverb
/HIST/
pull up or lift into position
“Hyst the sail noo.”
- ipreposition
/EE/
expresses being inside or within
“Da puss's i the hoose.”
- idderadjective
/ID-er/
different; another one or other
“Yon yin's idder, it disnae fit.”
- idderspronoun
/ID-erz/
the others; remaining people or things
“Gi'e idders a chance noo.”
- idle sitnoun
/EYE-dul sit/
Period when work is at standstill
“It's an idle sit the noo.”
- iggverb
/IGG/
Urge someone on; encourage action
“Dinna igg him oan, he'll dae it.”
- illadjective
/IL/
Sick; feeling poorly or unwell
“Ah'm gey ill”
- ill affadjective
/IL-af/
Poor and financially disadvantaged
“She's ill aff the noo”
- ill bestadjective
/ILL-best/
in a very bad temper
“Da bairn's been ill best aal day.”
- ill bistetadjective
/IL-BIS-tet/
Noticeably stained or discoloured
“Da guidwife's apron is ill bistet efter da bakin'.”
- ill döernoun
/IL-DUR/
person who commits harmful acts
“Da ill döer set da hoose oan fire.”
- ill faaredadjective
/IL-FAIRD/
Worn, shabby, or poorly treated
“Da boat's ill faared eftir a' the storms.”
- ill heltadjective
/IL-HELT/
Not in good health; unwell
“Han been ill helt sin yestreen.”
- ill laekadjective
/IL-LAYK/
Seeming unwell or not quite right
“He's ill laek the noo”
- ill luckitadjective
/IL-LUK-it/
Marked by bad luck or misfortune
“He's aye been ill luckit wi' his boats.”
- ill naiteredadjective
/IL-NAY-turd/
Having a nasty, vindictive temper
“Da man's ill naitered, mind ye.”
- ill pairtedadjective
/ILL-PAIR-tid/
unsuitably matched; poorly paired or incompatible
“Thae twa's ill pairted.”
- ill spaekinadjective
/IL-SPAY-kin/
Speaking in a rude, impolite way
“He's aye ill spaekin wi the fowk.”
- ill sunsenoun
/IL-SUNS/
Sour temper; resentment toward someone
“He's aye ill sunse agin me.”
- ill trickitadjective
/ILL-TRIK-it/
Sly, deceitful or badly behaved
“Da man's ill trickit, mind yer pockets.”
- ill trift!interjection
/IL-TRIFT/
Expression of pity for misfortune
“Ill trift! The boat's lost i' t' storm.”
- ill trivvenadjective
/IL TRIV-vən/
Sickly and failing to thrive
“Da plant's fair ill trivven.”
- ill vaanditadjective
/il-VAHN-dit/
Poorly raised, rude child
“Och, ye ill vaandit, bide awa!”
- ill vicketadjective
/IL-VIK-it/
Extremely wicked and mean-spirited
“Bide awa frae that ill vicket.”
- ill williedadjective
/IL-WILL-yed/
Mean-spirited and deliberately malicious
“He's an ill willied yin, best keep awa.”
- imenoun
/EEM/
black sooty crust on pots
“Da kettle's black wi ime”
- immenseadjective
/ih-MENS/
Extremely large or very many
“We hed an immense haul o' herrin'.”
- imperverb
/IM-per/
make a brief, faint vocal sound
“She let oot a wee imper.”
- inbiadverb
/IN-bee/
towards the interior from doorway
“Come inbi an sit by da fire.”
- inbiggitadjective
/in-BIG-it/
Sullen, stubborn; refuses to converse
“Da lass sat inbiggit an wadnae blether.”
- incominadjective
/IN-kum-in/
about to happen; forthcoming soon
“Da incomin winter'll be sair cauld”
- infieldnoun
/IN-feeld/
fertile ground around dwelling for crops
“A'll pit the tatties in the infield the morn.”
- inhadadjective
/IN-had/
only just sufficient for purpose
“Da stool's inhad tae reach th' loft.”
- innadaeksadverb
/IN-uh-daks/
within township dykes; near home
“Ah'll bide innadaeks the nicht.”
- inside claesnoun
/IN-syd KLAYZ/
Undergarments worn next to the skin
“Put on yer inside claes afore ye gid oot.”
- intilpreposition
/in-TIL/
Into indicating entering or understanding
“Ah'm fair intil thon.”
- isauxiliary verb
/IZ/
Auxiliary verb replacing 'has' or 'have'
“He is gane hame”
- ithootpreposition
/IH-THOOT/
not having; in the absence of
“Ah canna dae it ithoot yer help”
- jalouseverb
/ya-LOOS/
doubting someone's honesty or intentions
“A'm jalouse o' whit he's hidin'.”
- jampverb
/JAMP/
jumped or leapt suddenly
“Da cat jamp aff da dyke.”
- janderverb
/YAN-der/
female animal becoming receptive to mate
“Da ewe's jander the noo.”
- japnoun
/YAP/
brief sharp chop on sea
“Ther's a wee jap on the voe.”
- jappleverb
/JAP-uhl/
Paddle or trample in shallow water
“Da bairn wad japple i da stank.”
- jeeverb
/JEE/
Make a slight movement; shift position
“Jee yersel a wee, I'll sit.”
- jeelynoun
/JEE-lee/
sweet cooked fruit spread, like jam
“Gi me a wee bit o' jeely.”
- jeely jarnoun
/JEE-lee YAR/
glass jar for jam or preserves
“Hae ye seen the jeely jar?”
- jewelnoun
/JOO-uhl/
affectionate form of address, dear
“Dinnae fash yersel, jewel.”
- jimpverb
/JIMP/
to spring or hop off the ground
“Da cat can jimp frae stane tae stane.”
- jocktalegnoun
/JOCK-tuh-leg/
sizable folding pocketknife for everyday use
“Da lad sharpit the jocktaleg afore they went oot”
- johnsmas foynoun
/JONZ-MAS-FOY/
Midsummer feast by Dutch fishermen
“Ah'm gaen tae the johnsmas foy.”
- johnsmassnoun
/JAWNZ-mass/
Midsummer day observed on June 24
“A'm gled for johnsmass.”
- johnsmass floornoun
/JONZ-mass-FLOR/
wild ribwort plantain with narrow leaves
“I seen a clump o' johnsmass floor by da burn.”
- jookerie packerienoun
/JOO-kuh-ree PAH-kuh-ree/
sly, dishonest tricks or dealings
“Dinna hae his jookerie packerie here.”
- jorumnoun
/JOR-um/
lively social gathering; bout of revelry
“A'll gae tae da jorum the nicht.”
- joynoun
/JOY/
Affectionate term for a loved person
“Hoozit, joy?”
- julkverb
/YULK/
to trample through wet, squelchy ground
“Da moss julk unner ma shuin.”
- kaamnoun
/KAHM/
Mould for making fishing lead sinkers
“Gie's the kaam, Ah'll pour the leid.”
- kabenoun
/KAY-bee/
Pin holding oar in a boat
“Lash da kabe fast afore we row.”
- kamenoun
/KAYM/
a comb or narrow crest-like ridge
“Gie me ma kame.”
- kannoun
/KAN/
natural skill or aptitude for tasks
“She hae a kan fer fixin' nets.”
- kappnoun
/KAP/
Wooden bowl for eating or serving
“Gie me the kapp, Ah'm wantin' some broth.”
- karrantadjective
/KAR-rant/
noisy, boisterous and great fun
“Da bairns wur fair karrant yisternicht.”
- kassenadjective
/KAS-en/
having a sharp, sour taste
“Da milk's kassen noo”
- kavvelin treenoun
/KAV-vuh-lin TREE/
short wooden stick for guiding animals
“Mam hauds her kavvelin tree when she gaes up the brae.”
- kecksienoun
/KEK-see/
tall wild umbellifer with white flowers
“Yon kecksie is gey heich.”