Spik

/AH/

Dialectal auxiliary have for perfect

“We a seen a selkie.”

/AH/

each member of a group

“Aa daes thair bit.”

/AA-BUH-dee/

every single person, all people

“Aabody's gaen thegither for a blether.”

/AALD-DAA/

one's grandfather; father's or mother's father

“Aald daa aye telt guid yarns.”

/AHR-ee-say/

to feel dislike or aversion

“I aarisay da new fella”

/AA-thing/

the whole lot of things

“Da aathing's daan noo.”

/UH-BOOT/

during a time period

“A met him aboot the mornin.”

/AHKH/

brief exclamation expressing annoyance or dismissal

“Ach, awa wi ye!”

/AIR/

Oar for rowing; means tiny amount

“Gie me the aer an I'll lowe ye in.”

/AYTS/

Oats used for porridge and feed

“Ah'll mak a bowl o aets noo.”

/AFT-est/

more often than not, usually

“Aftest aa gae tae da shop.”

/uh-HINT/

at the back; behind something

“Da boat's ahint da pier.”

/AH-less/

except if; introduces a conditional exception

“Ah'll gang oot, aless it teems.”

/AHN-AH/

also, in addition, too

“A'll hae a scone, an aa a cuppa.”

/AN-yokh/

Enough to meet the need

“Da's anyoch for noo.”

/AR-vee/

small white-flowered common garden weed

“Thar's arvi aal alang da dyke.”

/AZ/

introduces second element in comparison

“He's bigger as me”

/AHT/

introduces clause referring to persons or things

“Da lass at sings is fra Lerwick”

/uh-TWEEN/

in the space between two things

“Da boat's atween twa skerries.”

/AKS/

to request information or permission

“Kin Ah ax ye summat?”

/EYE/

A Shetland dialect word for yes

“Aye, A'll dae it.”

/BAH/

Small rounded object: yolk, pupil

“He keekit at da baa in his ee.”

/BAD-lee/

not well; feeling ill or sick

“He's gey badly.”

/BAY-ess/

domestic bovine animals, cows and oxen

“Da baess's oot oan da brae.”

/BAYSS-MAYT/

food given to farm animals

“Hae ye put oot the baess maet?”

/BAYD/

both together; the two of them

“Baid bairns gaed hame.”

/BAIRNS/

Affectionate term for a group

“Bairns, come alang tae tea.”

/BAHL/

to fling or toss something

“He'll bal the stane intae the voe.”

/BANG/

rush forward with sudden force

“He'll bang awa tae the ferry.”

/BAN-STIK-uhl/

Small spiny freshwater and coastal fish

“Hae ye seen the banstickle i' the burn?”

/BEE-ayst/

on the eastern side of

“Da hoose is be aest o da voe.”

/BAYN/

a person or individual, used affectionately

“Yon wee bein's aye cheery.”

/BEN/

main inner room of a cottage

“Coom ben an' hae a cuppa.”

/BET-er/

to a greater degree; more

“Da weather's better noo”

/BYD/

stay or live in one place

“Ah'll bide here.”

/BYE-DEE-IN/

Unmarried person living with partner

“He's a bidey in wi Elspeth.”

/BIT/

just; merely; no more than

“A'm bit tired noo.”

/BLINK/

very quick closing of the eye

“She gied me a blink an' smilt.”

/BLOHD-SPRING/

very quickly; in a swift manner

“Blöd spring, da's the ferry!”

/BLEUV/

to faint or collapse suddenly

“He blöv aff his seat.”

/BLUR-tin/

Having a blocked or stuffy nose

“A'm awfu blurtin an' canna sing.”

/BOD-ee/

a person used to express pity

“Yon body bides at the croft”

/BUHN/

past participle meaning been

“He bön here yestreen”

/BONKS-ee/

large aggressive seabird that steals

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

/BOOS-ter/

small cushion for head or back

“Pit the booster unner yer heid.”

/BOOT/

sturdy outdoor footwear covering the ankle

“Ah'll put ma böt on an gang oot.”

/BRAH/

excellent and impressive in quality

“Ye hae a braa hoose.”

/BRAA-lee/

to a moderate degree, fairly

“A'm braaly weel, ta.”

/BRAY/

steep hillside or hilltop edge

“Ga up the brae an' dinna slip.”

/BREEKS/

pair of trousers covering the legs

“Tak aff yer breeks, it's gey warm.”

/BRID-er/

male sibling or close male friend

“Ma bridder's comin hame the nicht.”

/BRIG/

crossing built over a stream

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

/BROO/

Liquid from boiling food, used as gravy

“A'll hae a sup o brö”

/BROON/

dark yellowish to reddish shade

“Da broon coo is oot on da brae.”

/BROHS/

Oatmeal porridge made with hot liquid

“Ah'll hae a wee brose.”

/BROWST/

A cup or pot of tea

“Gi'e a browst, ah'm cauld.”

/BRUHK/

rubbish; unwanted junk to throw away

“Dinna keep that bruck, fling it oot.”

/BRUKS/

small leftovers or bottle sediment

“Dinna sup the brucks frae the bottle.”

/BRUNG-uh-WHEE-dee/

large dark coastal diving seabird

“Da brungawheedie sat on da groin this mornin”

/BUK-ee/

large spiral-shelled sea snail

“I fand a bonny bucky oan the strand”

/KAA-KAN-ee/

proceed slowly and with caution

“Caa canny wi the boat.”

/KAALD/

Mild cold affecting nose and throat

“Ah've got a caald.”

/KAN/

able to do or get done

“If the tide's reet, we can land noo.”

/KAN-uh/

not able to do something

“Ah canna dae that.”

/KAYS-ah-LAYK/

makes no real difference

“Tak the red yin or the blue yin, case alaek.”

/KLAG-ee/

gummy and likely to stick

“Da porridge is gey claggy.”

/KLAMP/

Small patch used to mend holes

“Gie me a clamp for ma breeks.”

/KLEV-er/

quick to understand and respond

“He's a clever wan at mendin' nets.”

/KLIK/

to grab something quickly and furtively

“He did click the scone aff the tray an awa”

/KLUNK/

Take a large, noisy swallow

“He gied a clunk frae the bottle.”

/KOL-ik/

edible bivalve shellfish found on shores

“Ah fand a cöllik oan the strand.”

/KUM/

Move or arrive; happen; become

“He'll come roond yet”

/KOO/

Shetland dialect word for cow

“Da coo is oot on da brae.”

/KOST/

marks possession, origin, or relationship

“Da boat cöst Willie is i da voe”

/KRAW/

hooded crow with grey body

“Da craa's taen ma bait.”

/KRACK/

lively chat, tale, or good laugh

“Ye'll hae braw crack at the ceilidh.”

/KRAY-tir/

pitied or affectionate term for someone

“Da craetir's aiblins no himsel' the day.”

/KROO-nur/

reddish bottom-dwelling sea fish

“Ah hed a bonnie crooner yestreen.”

/KUT/

a large portion or helping

“Gie me a cut o the cake”

/DAH/

Definite article equivalent to English the

“Da bairn's gaen to da shop.”

/DA-MOARN/

the day after today

“A'll be oot da moarn.”

/DAH/

Shetland dialect word for father

“Daa's gaen oot wi the boat.”

/DAAN-der/

to walk slowly and leisurely

“Gie's a daander alang the voe.”

/DAHN/

At that time; afterward

“We sat an dan we gaed hame.”

/DAHR-ken/

to enter someone's house or room

“Wull ye darken in the nicht?”

/DAHT/

person or thing farther away

“Dat boat's in the voe.”

/DAT-in-FETH/

sharp exclamation of shock and alarm

“Dat in feth, da boat's hingin ower the pier!”

/DAT-in-TRAHTH/

Strong yes, insists it's true

“A seen it masel, dat in traath!”

/DAT-un/

to that degree; in that way

“A'll dae it datn.”

/DEE/

informal singular 'you' in Shetland

“Hae dee seen ma cat?”

/DEM/

Object form of the pronoun they

“Hae ye seen dem?”

/DAIR/

their (belonging to a group)

“Der hoose staans by da voe.”

/DER-BUHN/

indicates past existence or occurrence

“Der bön a boat at the pier yestreen”

/DAIR-uh/

At or in that location

“Ga dere noo.”

/DERZ/

belonging to them equivalent of theirs

“Da hoose is ders.”

/DYOOk/

waterfowl commonly called a duck

“Deuk swims aboot the voe.”

/DAY/

Third-person plural pronoun meaning 'they'

“Dey're gyen tae da kirk.”

/DAY-wid/

indicates something would exist

“Gi da shoal comes in, dey wid be plenty o' herrin”

/DAY-WEER/

expresses past existence or occurrence

“Dey wir twa boats i' da voe.”

/DIKH-t/

Wipe or clean a surface

“Dicht the windaes, will ye?”

/DIL-suh/

edible red shoreline seaweed

“A'll hae some dilse.”

/DEEM/

fading light period at dusk

“A'll gang hame at dim.”

/DEEN/

Belonging to you; equivalent to yours

“Gie me dine hat.”

/DING/

to hit or knock against

“Dinnae ding the wean.”

/DIP/

To sit down; settle oneself

“Coom an' dip yersel.”

/DIS/

Used like standard English 'this'

“Dis's ma coat.”

/DOO/

Carry out or perform an action

“A'll dö it noo.”

/DOCH-ter/

female child; a person's offspring

“Ma dochter's gaun tae da kirk.”

/DOK-en/

broad-leaved Rumex weed plant

“Ther's a docken bi the dyke”

/DUHN/

completely finished; all done

“Ah'm dön noo.”

/DOO/

a pigeon or dove bird

“A doo sittin oan the dyke.”

/DOON-BAI/

down there a short distance away

“Da's a boat doon by the pier.”

/DOHS/

sizable amount; brief spell of illness

“It cam doon a dose o rain.”

/DRAATS-ee/

semi-aquatic fish-eating mammal

“Ah saw a draatsi rinnin alang the burn.”

/DREE/

to endure hardship or suffering

“Ah'll dree it till it's ower.”

/DRAYKH/

gloomy bleak grey wet weather

“Da's a dreich day.”

/DROO/

seaweed or eelgrass washed ashore

“There's hantle droo oan the strand.”

/DOO/

informal singular 'you' in Shetland

“Fit like du?”

/DUDZ/

the clothes someone is wearing

“She's pit her braw duds oan.”

/DUK-ee/

small toy figure resembling a person

“Dae ye see the dukkie?”

/DEE/

your, used before a noun

“Gie me dy pen.”

/EEN/

Shetland word for the number one

“Thar's ean hoose by the voe.”

/ED-er/

one of two alternatives

“Edder ye gang or ye bide?”

/EE/

organ of sight; an eye

“Dinnae close yer ee yit”

/EEN/

Shetland/Scots plural of eye

“Whit hae ye in yer een?”

/EEN/

Shetland/Scots plural of eye

“Whit hae ye in yer een?”

/EEN-oo/

a very short time around now

“A'll be hame eenoo.”

/EEN-oo/

a very short time around now

“A'll be hame eenoo.”

/EF-ter/

following in time or remaining

“He cam efter da boat”

/EKS-is GIR-suh/

yellow wildflower with white puffball seeds

“There's a wheen eksis girse alang the brae.”

/ELSK/

Feel deep affection or fondness

“Ah elsk ma dug sair”

/END-uhn/

continuously without interruption, all the time

“Da lass is singin end on”

/EHNT/

to heed or follow instructions

“Ent ma advice an bide hame.”

/fay/

from; indicating origin or source

“I ren fae da dug”

/FEHR/

Extremely; to a very great extent

“Ah'm fair tired.”

/FASH/

to trouble or annoy someone

“Dinna fash yersel aboot it.”

/FAHST/

rope for securing a boat

“Haud the fast”

/FAST-ee-bahnd/

ordinary, widely encountered or usual

“Fastibaand's gien up an the båt's creakin”

/FEE-lin HUR-tid/

Easily upset; emotionally wounded

“Mind hoo ye spik, he's feelin herted.”

/FEEt/

shoes or other foot coverings

“Hae ye got yer feet oan?”

/FIDJ/

Make small restless nervous movements

“Da bairn fidge aboot.”

/FIN/

to find

“Did ye fin it?”

/FIE-er/

Fuel used for heating and cooking

“Ther's nae fire for the kettle.”

/FIT/

the foot or base of something

“Ah hurt ma fit on a stane.”

/FLESH/

meat of an animal for eating

“Gie's a wee piece o' flesh.”

/FLEEP/

Turn up hem; strip or peel

“Flipe up yer trews afore ye gae oot.”

/FLISS/

thin wafer-like sliver of food

“Tak a wee fliss o bannock.”

/FLUR/

inside surface you walk on

“Gae wipe da flör”

/FOK/

community, public, or family group

“Fock's aw gaen tae the ceilidh.”

/FOOL/

foolish person lacking common sense

“Da föl gaed oot inna snaw wi nae coat”

/FOL-uh/

Go along with someone to their house

“A'll follow ye hame.”

/FOO/

in which way; by what means

“Foo did ye dae that?”

/FOHR/

alive; not dead, used predicatively

“Da bairn's fore yit”

/FOH-REN-uhn/

period of the day before noon

“A met Jamie forenön at da pier.”

/FOR-kee-tail/

small brown insect with pincers

“Da forkietail hid unner da kist.”

/FORR-ard/

towards the front of a boat

“Cum forrard an keek ower the bow”

/FURS-day/

day between Wednesday and Friday

“A'll gang tae the kirk försday.”

/FRAY/

Marks origin or point of departure

“She cam frae Lerwick.”

/FRAM/

toward the sea, away from shore

“Da boat's gaen fram.”

/FREMD/

Outsider or person from outside

“Da fremd disna ken oor ways.”

/FRY/

single-meal portion of fresh fish

“A'll huv a fry the nicht.”

/FUHNS/

pleasure or amusement; having a good time

“We hed gey funs at t' ceilidh.”

/FUHRT/

outside; in the open air

“He's gaen furt.”

/GAHN/

to stare with mouth open

“A wis gaan at the whale”

/GAB/

Mouth; facial opening for speech and eating

“Haud yer gab!”

/GAF-in/

loud, uncontrollable burst of laughter

“She telt it an we aw hed a gaffin.”

/GANT/

involuntary open mouth deep breath

“Ah'm fair gant noo.”

/GEE-uh/

personal belongings or equipment

“Tak yer gear hame”

/GAY/

to a fairly large degree

“A'm gey fain tae see ye.”

/GEE/

to give; hand over something

“Gie that tae me noo”

/GEEN-at/

persist or continue despite difficulties

“She gien at wi the job tho it wis hard.”

/GIM-er/

young female sheep in second year

“We hae a braw gimmer”

/GURN/

to complain or pull a sour face

“Dinna girn, bairn.”

/GLEHG/

Mentally sharp and highly observant

“Da gleg loon aye wins at cards.”

/GUD/

Good; of satisfactory or high quality

“Da cake is göd.”

/GUSS/

A domestic or wild goose

“Da gös swims i da voe.”

/GOT-nah/

failed to obtain or understand

“Ah gaed til the shop, but Ah gotna ony.”

/GOW-an/

yellow marsh wildflower meaning very yellow

“Da field's fu o' gowans.”

/GRIP/

To seize or suddenly afflict

“A suden pain grip me oan da road”

/GUL-der/

to shout angrily to scold

“Dinna gulder at mi!”

/HAK/

to cut or chop roughly

“Hack the cod afore bakin'.”

/HAHD/

to hold or continue on

“I hadd a keek at the market.”

/HAL-uh-ween/

Evening of October 31st

“Aw'll gae oot wi the bairns on hallowe'en”

/HAYM/

one's home; at or to home

“Ah'm gaen hame noo.”

/HAYM-uh-BOOT/

Cosy, plain, comfortable like home

“Dis hoose is gey hame aboot.”

/HAYM-TROH/

on the way home

“Ah'm gaun hame trowe.”

/HAN-tul/

a large amount; plenty

“A hantle o folk cam tae the ceilidh”

/HAN-VAY-gin/

delay or stall doing needed tasks

“Dinna hanvaegin noo, we hae wark te dae.”

/HAY-vuh/

speak nonsense; babble aimlessly

“He's aye a haver.”

/HEER/

listen or give brief skeptical agreement

“Hear, nae bother.”

/HEEV/

to throw or fling something

“Gie it a heave intae the boat.”

/HED/

Past form of have; possessed

“Ah hed nae time yestreen.”

/HAYCHT/

the highest point or summit

“We gaed up tae the heicht.”

/HEL-ee/

short holiday or time off

“Ah'm awa fer the helly”

/HENT/

Pick up and gather items or people

“Hent the weans hame noo”

/HERT/

the heart, sometimes the belly

“He haes a muckle hert.”

/HERT-skad/

burning sensation in chest or throat

“Ah've got hertscad efter that suppy.”

/HYDE-nor-HAIR/

a trace or sign of someone

“There's nae hide nor hair o' him.”

/HIN-ee/

Affectionate term for a loved one

“Coom awa, hinny.”

/HIP-en/

cloth or disposable baby diaper

“Gie the bairn a clean hippen”

/HIT/

to strike; past participle of throw

“He haes hit da line owerbaord”

/HOOS/

A dwelling or person's home

“A'll bide i' the hoose the nicht”

/HORR-id/

Shetland intensifier meaning very; extremely

“It's horrid cauld oot the day”

/HUV/

to throw or heave forcefully

“Shi höv the sack intae the boat”

/HOOND/

domestic dog; pet or working dog

“Da hund's oot da noo.”

/EE/

expresses being inside or within

“Da puss's i the hoose.”

/ID-er/

different; another one or other

“Yon yin's idder, it disnae fit.”

/IL/

Sick; feeling poorly or unwell

“Ah'm gey ill”

/ih-MENS/

Extremely large or very many

“We hed an immense haul o' herrin'.”

/IN-bee/

towards the interior from doorway

“Come inbi an sit by da fire.”

/IN-kum-in/

about to happen; forthcoming soon

“Da incomin winter'll be sair cauld”

/IN-syd KLAYZ/

Undergarments worn next to the skin

“Put on yer inside claes afore ye gid oot.”

/in-TIL/

Into indicating entering or understanding

“Ah'm fair intil thon.”

/IZ/

Auxiliary verb replacing 'has' or 'have'

“He is gane hame”

/ya-LOOS/

doubting someone's honesty or intentions

“A'm jalouse o' whit he's hidin'.”

/JEE/

Make a slight movement; shift position

“Jee yersel a wee, I'll sit.”

/JEE-lee YAR/

glass jar for jam or preserves

“Hae ye seen the jeely jar?”

/JOO-uhl/

affectionate form of address, dear

“Dinnae fash yersel, jewel.”

/JOY/

Affectionate term for a loved person

“Hoozit, joy?”

/KAN/

natural skill or aptitude for tasks

“She hae a kan fer fixin' nets.”

/KEEK/

To glance briefly or furtively

“She gies a keek owre the dyke.”

/KEEL/

to tip or topple over

“Mind yersel or ye'll keel.”

/KEN/

to know or recognize someone or something

“Dae ye ken him?”

/KEN-oh/

to have no information; be unsure

“Ah kenno whaur he is.”

/KENT/

Recognized; familiar from previous encounter

“Ah kent him fae the ferry.”

/KEE/

Irritable, sulky, in a bad mood

“He's unco key the noo.”

/KIN/

one's family or blood relations

“A'm gaen tae see the kin the morn.”

/KYN-duh/

somewhat; to a limited extent

“A'm kinda feart tae gang oot.”

/KLET/

large shoreline rock or boulder

“Yon klett stans aye alang da shore”

/KROHL/

small oat scone or cake

“Gies a kröl an a drop o tea.”

/LAY-kin/

having a tendency or likelihood

“It's laekin tae rain the morn.”

/LAYV/

to go away or to leave

“A'll laeve the hoose noo.”

/LAYN/

Alone; by oneself; solitary

“He gaed lane awa tae da voe.”

/LAHNG/

Long in space or time

“It's lang sin I seen ye.”

/LASS/

girl or woman; a female person

“Da lass's awa tae da shop.”

/LAT/

to allow or give permission

“Lat him gang wi ye.”

/LAT-on/

reveal or make known information

“Lat on me when ye ken.”

/LAY/

Versatile Shetland verb: put or cause

“Will ye lay the bairn tae bed?”

/LEE-lang/

throughout the whole day

“Ah've bin oot lee lang.”

/LEE-er/

person who tells untrue things

“Dinna bide wi' that leeir”

/LEN/

Give something briefly expecting its return

“Wull ye len me yer mac?”

/LEE/

come to rest; cease moving

“Da boat lie in da voe”

/LIHNGKS/

places where limbs join

“Mind yer links when ye lift the creels”

/LIN-tee/

small brown finch, the twite

“Ah seen a wee lintie on the dyke.”

/LOH/

Strain one's ears to hear closely

“Lö noo, ye'll hear the ferry.”

/LOK/

a large amount or number

“There's a lock o herrin at the quay”

/LUF/

flat inner surface of the hand

“Gie me yer löf.”

/LOO-bit/

lukewarm; weak, half-hearted, unimpressive

“Da tea's pure loobit.”

/LOR-en/

large coastal black diving seabird

“Da loren sat oan da skerry.”

/LOOP/

make a sudden leap into air

“He loup ower the burn.”

/LUG/

the human ear, organ of hearing

“Gie us yer lug a minnit.”

/MAA/

coastal seagull common around Shetland

“Da maa's aye stealin the fish.”

/MAHD/

Extremely angry, intensely furious

“She's fair mad wi' him.”

/MAYT/

food, a meal or provisions

“There's nae maet i' the hoose.”

/MAYK/

to be equal or to match

“Da new spoon can maik wi da auld yin”

/MAK/

to make or cause to be

“A'll mak us a bit o supper.”

/MAK-in/

knitting or a cup of tea

“Coom in an hae a makkin.”

/MAL-ee/

A fulmar seabird seen offshore

“Yon mallie aye cries ower the cliffs.”

/MAHM/

informal word for female parent

“Mam, tak care o yersel.”

/MAHN/

expresses necessity or inevitability

“We man gang noo.”

/MAN-BOD-ee/

adult males; grown men collectively

“Man body gaed oot tae da pier.”

/MAN-uh/

used to forbid or prohibit actions

“Manna ye gang oot the hoose.”

/MAY-FLOO-er/

spring wild primrose, pale-yellow flower

“Da mayflooer's keekin oot on da brae.”

/MEL/

to mix or blend together

“Mell the tatties an' neeps thegither.”

/MER-see/

Exclamation expressing surprise or dismay

“Mercy, yon's a sair sicht!”

/MIKHT/

expresses possibility or probability

“He micht gie a hand wi the boat”

/MID-er/

a mother; one's female parent

“Hae ye seen yer midder?”

/MYND/

remember or prompt someone to recall

“Mind ye tae tak yer hat”

/MIN-ee/

informal Shetland word for grandmother

“minnie's gettin' the tea reet noo”

/MIRK/

dark and gloomy; little light

“Da's mirk oot the nicht.”

/MOHRN/

the next day, tomorrow

“A'll tak my boat the moarn.”

/MOKH/

small nocturnal flying insect

“I seen a moch i' the kist.”

/MOHLD/

Top layer of natural ground

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

/MUN/

Earth's natural lunar satellite

“Da mön gars the sea glimmer”

/MON-en-day/

The day after Sunday (Monday)

“Ah'll see ye on monenday.”

/MOO-RAH-TOOG/

small colony-forming six-legged insect

“See ye thon mooratoog on the stane?”

/MORR-oh/

a person with no equal

“Ther's nae morro fer her.”

/MUK/

manure from cattle, farm dung

“Tak the muck tae the midden.”

/MUD/

Lightly loosen soil for planting

“A'll mud the tattie bed the morn.”

/MUD-jik/

small gnat-like biting midge insect

“Mudjick's aye aboot at gloamin.”

/MUNT/

calendar month, roughly one month

“A'll be hame in a munt.”

/MURN/

to cry; shed tears of sorrow

“Shi startit tae murn”

/MILK/

white dairy liquid from mammals

“Gie's me a sup o' mylk.”

/NAY-ber/

Reluctant to spend or share

“Da naaber wadnae lend us his boat.”

/NAY/

Shetland word meaning no or not

“A'm nae gaein oot.”

/NAYN/

possessive marker indicating ownership

“Da's ma nain hoose.”

/NAYN/

not any; no person or thing

“Ah hae nane.”

/NEEP/

edible root vegetable, a turnip

“Pit the neap intae the pot.”

/NEER-HAAND/

Close at hand; within easy reach

“Jist pit it near haand.”

/NEEB/

to nod off briefly from drowsiness

“He hed a wee neeb sittin on the bench”

/NEE-sik/

small dolphin-like marine mammal

“A saw a neesick playin' at the bow t'other day.”

/NEEZ/

sudden involuntary nasal expulsion of air

“Da bairn gied a gey neeze.”

/NEV/

A hand closed into a fist

“He gied him a nev”

/NYOOS/

Talk about recent local happenings

“Hae ye heerd the news?”

/NIKHT/

hours of darkness between sunset and sunrise

“A'll be oot the nicht.”

/NIK-er/

soft, gentle neigh of a horse

“Da horse let oot a nicker.”

/NOH/

Shetland negation word meaning not

“A'm no gaun hyem.”

/NOHN/

to hum or softly warble a tune

“A nön masel whey A de knit.”

/NOO/

at the present moment, just now

“Ah'll dae it noo.”

/NOR-durt/

toward the north; northward direction

“Aw'll ga nordert the morn”

/NORT-bee/

toward the north; northerly direction

“Aw'll tak the boat nort by”

/NOH-shun/

a romantic crush or liking

“Ah've a notion fir Nessa.”

/NUG/

give a light push or poke

“Nug the pram aince, she'll sleep.”

/NYIM/

exclamation expressing delight at food

“Nyim, bairn, that's pure braw!”

/OH/

Equivalent to English 'of'

“Da boat o Anders is auld”

/URB-dee/

toward the outside, outwards direction

“Turn the boat öbdee tae sea.”

/OCHT/

anything, any object or amount

“Hae ye ocht tae sell?”

/OO-ee/

adult female sheep; a ewe

“Da ooie gaed ower da brae.”

/OO-r/

a period of sixty minutes

“A'll be back in an oor.”

/OOR-ik/

small person or young child

“Yon oorik's oot on the brae.”

/OOT-uh-BOOT-da-NIKHT/

going out to socialise at night

“Ah'm gaun oot aboot da nicht wi thae lassies.”

/OOT-OWR/

over or across; nearby, used as command

“She pit the baskit oot owre the dyke.”

/OOT-DUHN/

Completely worn out, utterly exhausted

“He cam hame ootdön”

/OR-mul/

small scrap or leftover piece

“Gie's the ormal, I'll pit 't intae the tattie buns.”

/UHS/

to make use of something

“A'll ös the boat the morn”

/OHT/

ate, consumed food in past

“Ah öt ma tea.”

/OH-ver-lee/

to an excessive or undue degree

“Dae nae be overly prood o yersel.”

/OHLD/

Advanced in years; long established

“Da owld man aye sits by da fire.”

/OO-er/

Above or across; on top of

“A gaed owre da brae.”

/OO-ruh BEE/

on the other side of

“Da shop is owre by da kirk.”

/OOR-weel/

fairly well, satisfactory but not great

“He tauld me he's owre weel.”

/OKS-ter/

hollow beneath the arm near shoulder

“He got a bruise oan his oxter.”

/PEET/

Mossy bog material cut for fuel

“A'll tak a wheen paet the morn.”

/PAY/

to strike sharply with the hand

“Dinna pay the bairn.”

/PEKH/

to pant or gasp for breath

“He pech efter da hill”

/PEER-ee/

very small, little in size

“She's jist a peerie bairn.”

/PEN-gah/

Shetland term for money or cash

“Ah've nae penga the nou.”

/PIK/

to tap lightly; small gentle strikes

“Pick the bairn's heid licht, he'll nae waken.”

/PIK-ee/

Hard to please; fussy about details

“She's that picky wi her tea”

/PIN/

to dart along; press tightly together

“Da bairn pin awa doon the brae.”

/PISH/

Liquid waste from the bladder

“Ah canny haud me pish”

/PIT/

to put or set in position

“Pit the cup doon on the table”

/PIT-uh-PUN/

to put on one's clothes

“Pit apun yer claes, we're awa.”

/PITCH/

To fling or hurl something

“A'll pitch da stane ower da dyke”

/PIT-en-uh-BOOT/

feeling upset or unsettled

“He's pitten aboot efter the news.”

/PLINK/

pluck strings or faintly twinkle

“He gied the fiddle a wee plink.”

/POO/

to pull or haul toward oneself

“Coud ye poo the skiff tae the quay?”

/POO-er/

a very large amount or number

“Ther's a pooer o boats in da voe”

/POOK/

to kick or fling with foot

“Da gied it a pook an it skailt intae the burn.”

/POO-pin/

Under the influence of alcohol

“He wis poopin efter the ceilidh.”

/POO-er/

person lacking money or support

“Gie the poor a sup”

/POW/

upper part of person or animal

“Hae ye a sair pow?”

/PRES/

built-in cupboard for clothes and linens

“Pit yer claes in the press.”

/PUN-ish/

eat quickly and finish all food

“Ah'll punish that bowl afore ye ken it.”

/PYAH/

sign that someone is alive

“Da dug gied a pyaa this mawnin.”

/PYAAG-it/

completely worn out; utterly exhausted

“Ah'm fair pyaagit etter da wark.”

/RAK/

wall-mounted shelf for drying dishes

“Put thae plates oan the rack.”

/RAYM/

thick fatty dairy layer skimmed from milk

“Gie's a dub o raem on the bannock.”

/RAYP/

trickle of water; clothesline cord

“Hing the claes oan the raep”

/RAM-stam/

impulsive and rash; lacking caution

“He ran ram stam ower the pier.”

/RAHNT/

speak loudly in a boisterous way

“Da lads rant aboot da pier”

/REHD/

to tidy or sort out

“A'll redd the hoose the morn”

/REEK/

smoke from burning peat or turf

“Da reek's sair thick.”

/RES-tin-SHAIR/

wooden bench with back and armrests

“Coom sit yersel on the restin shair.”

/ROO-MAT-iks/

Painful rheumatic condition affecting joints

“Da rheumatics is gey sair the nicht”

/RIG/

narrow strip of land or backbone

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

/RIN/

run; move quickly on foot

“He rin alang the brae.”

/RURF/

top covering of a building

“Da röf is leakin.”

/RUT/

underground part of a plant

“We diggit oot a reet lairge röt.”

/RUMS/

search through things in disorder

“Dinna rumse ma kist.”

/RUNCH/

adjustable spanner for nuts and bolts

“Gie me the runch an' I'll tak the wheel aff.”

/SAA/

Past 'saw'; also to sow seed

“Aw'll saa the tatties the morn.”

/SAHND/

Loose granular rock and shell fragments

“I loe walkin alang the saand.”

/SAAN-dil-OO/

small coastal wading bird

“Thar's a saandiloo on da strand.”

/SAAT/

common seasoning mineral used for food

“Mair saat oan the tatties.”

/SAY-LAHNG/

for a very short time

“Jist bide sae lang.”

/SAYD/

full-grown North Atlantic coalfish

“We hed a saed fur tea”

/SAIR/

to be enough; to suffice

“Da'll sair fine”

/SAHL/

marks future action or obligation

“A sal gang ta da shop.”

/SAHM/

Exactly; just then; at that moment

“Sam he cam in.”

/SAM-uhs/

as though; introducing a comparison

“He lookit sammas he hedna slept a nicht.”

/SAHNG/

A song; also an exclamation

“Da sang wis braw”

/SAHP/

a small mouthful of liquid

“Gie's a sap o tea”

/SKLAY-ter/

small armoured woodlouse-like crustacean

“A saw a wee sclater 'neath the stane.”

/SKOHL/

building where children receive education

“Da bairns is gaen tae scöl”

/SKOHL-BAYRNS/

children who attend the local school

“Scöl bairns gaes hame at twa.”

/SKOOR/

clean by scrubbing and rinsing

“Gie the pan a scoor, it's muckit.”

/SKUN-er/

strong dislike or fed-up feeling

“A'm scunner o' the hale thing”

/SEE-krah/

black and white seabird with bill

“A saw a sea craa on da skerry.”

/SEEM/

to see with the eyes

“Ah seem the boat thar”

/SET/

to put, place, or begin

“A'll set the tatties the morn.”

/SHAWLD/

Having little depth, not very deep

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

/SHAL-duhr/

black-and-white coastal wading bird

“Yon shalder's aye at the voe.”

/SHAHRP/

sour or turned, especially milk

“Dinna drink da milk, it's sharp.”

/SHEEN/

to shine; reflect light; glisten

“Da moon wis sheen ower da voe”

/SHIFT/

move quickly; change one's position

“Shift yersel, da ferry's awa.”

/SIK/

of that kind; such as this

“We gaed oot in sic weather”

/SIG-nuh-fy/

to show meaning or importance

“Yon auld ring daes signify a tale”

/SIN/

from then until the present

“Ah've kent him sin wee bairn.”

/SKAY/

to happen; befall someone

“Whit skae ye noo?”

/SKELP/

Slap or send something forcefully

“Da mither gied him a skelp.”

/SKER-ee/

small rocky islet or reef

“Mind da skerry afore ye sail”

/SKIT-er-EE-dah-SLAP/

dart away; run off quickly

“Da hen skitter ida slap whan I cam roond”

/SLAY-ter/

small land crustacean, woodlouse

“I fand a wee slater unner the stane”

/SLIP/

to let someone leave a vehicle

“Slip me aff at da pier, will ye?”

/SMAH/

Narrow, not broad in width

“Da gate's smaa, the tractor winna pass”

/SMOR-ah/

common low growing clover with rounded heads

“Da bairn's pickin smora on da brae.”

/SMUHSH/

light, mist-like steady drizzle

“Da's a smush oot, ye'll no need yer brolly”

/SNAH/

white frozen precipitation in flakes

“Hae ye seen the snaa?”

/SNAY-ee FOOL/

small winter-visiting white-plumaged bunting

“Ah saw a snaaie fool oan da sands.”

/SNOHL/

a foolish or simple-minded person

“Ach, snöl, ye've dune it again.”

/SNUHSH/

inhale sharply through the nose

“He gied a snush an' smirkit.”

/SOH/

brief exclamation expressing assent or warning

“So, dinna greet noo.”

/SOK/

to knit yarn into fabric

“Ah'll sock ye a wee tam.”

/SOH-luhn/

large white seabird, the gannet

“Ah saw a solan at Noss yestreen”

/SOO/

mature female pig, a sow

“Da soo's i' da sty.”

/SOOM/

Move through water using limbs

“A'm gaen soom the morn.”

/SOOR-ik/

Wild sorrel with sharp sour leaves

“Gie me a wee haundfu o soorik for the salit”

/SPAYK/

To speak; give a cheeky reply

“He cam roon tae spaek a wee”

/SPEL/

take over someone's turn or duty

“Can ye spell me noo?”

/SPIHLT/

past form of spill, overturned material

“Da milk's spilt ower da table.”

/SPUHN/

small bowl-shaped eating and stirring utensil

“Gie me the spön.”

/SPREE/

lively bout of merry revelry

“We gaed oot on a spree last neet.”

/STEEK/

to close or shut something

“Steek the dour noo”

/STEN/

a piece of rock or stone

“Mind yer fit on the sten.”

/STIL-uhn-AWN/

despite that; all the same

“Da day wis cauld, still an on we sat oot.”

/STIM-in/

extremely drunk; heavily intoxicated

“He wis stimin efter da ceilidh.”

/STIM-nuh/

Physical strength or staying power

“Hae ye stimna for the hill?”

/STAWK-DYOOK/

common wild dabbling duck

“Thar's a stock dyook in the voe.”

/STOK-HWAAP/

long-billed wading bird, curlew

“Yon stock whaap's skreetin oan da shore.”

/STRAY/

dried cereal stalks for bedding and thatch

“Put the strae i' the byre.”

/STUG-it/

extremely full after a meal

“Ah'm stuggit efter dinnar.”

/SWAHP/

deliver a sudden blow; cast

“He swap the line oot.”

/SIL-kee/

seal; marine mammal, sometimes selkie

“I seen a sylkie doon by da voe”

/TAH/

preposition meaning 'to' or toward

“Ah'm gaen ta da shop.”

/TAH-tee/

Common starchy vegetable, the potato tuber

“Gie's a taatie.”

/TAY/

a cup of hot tea

“Wull ye hae a tae?”

/TAM-ee-NOR-ee/

small black-and-white seabird with colourful bill

“Da tammy norie keekit oot fae da skere.”

/TAYN/

a particular person or thing

“Gie the tane tae me”

/TANG/

coarse shore seaweed, rockweed

“There's muckle tang aboot the shore.”

/TEL/

say aloud from memory, recite

“Will ye tell the verse noo?”

/TID-er/

the other one of two

“Gie me the tidder.”

/TIEZ-day/

The day after Monday

“Ah'll gang tae town on tiesday”

/TIL/

To or until; direction or time

“Ah'm gaen til da toon.”

/TINT/

Lost; no longer present; gone

“Da boat's tint, awa oot tae sea.”

/TØ/

also in the same manner

“Ah'll come tö.”

/TOH-NAYM/

informal pet name or nickname

“They hae a wee tö name for him.”

/TOO-ul/

cloth for drying the body

“Wipe yer han wi da tooel.”

/TOOM/

short inner digit of the hand

“Ma toom's sair efter the wark.”

/TOOR-ee/

knitted woollen hat or beanie

“Put yer toorie oan, it's dreich oot.”

/TRAA-wirt/

Stubborn; unwilling to change or compromise

“Da auld fella is traawirt an wull nae chynge.”

/TRAKS/

paths or routes between places

“Tak the tracks alang the voe.”

/TRAHNG/

extremely busy and pressed for time

“A'm fair trang wi a' this wark.”

/TROG/

to trudge; walk slowly with effort

“He troag tae the boat efter the shift.”

/TROO/

to believe or trust someone

“A troo ye.”

/TROW/

Come through; pass from one side

“The licht shone trowe the windae.”

/TWAH/

the number two; a couple

“Gie me twa bannocks.”

/UN-uh-WAARS/

not aware; lacking knowledge

“Ah wis unawaars he wis comin”

/UHN-kan/

strange; not native or local

“Da new neebor is uncan.”

/UN-kans/

news; tidings about recent events

“Hae ye ony uncans?”

/uhn-HON-ist/

not honest; deceitful, untrustworthy

“Da man's unhonest, ye ken?”

/VAHR/

pay attention; notice or heed

“Vaar the bairn, she's near da road.”

/VOHR/

spring season and farming tasks

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

/WAA-ken/

to rouse or awaken from sleep

“Waaken the bairn, it's time for skule.”

/WAHR/

aware, conscious and informed

“Ah'm waar o that.”

/WAAR-ee/

Soaked; covered in water

“Dinna stand there, yer breeks'll get waari”

/WAA-vuh-rin-LAYF/

common broad ribbed-leaf lawn plant

“There's a hale clump o waaverin laef on da green.”

/WAB-it/

extremely tired and physically weak

“Aw'm fair wabbit etter the lang day.”

/WAY/

feeling sad or unhappy

“She's wae efter the news”

/WAIL/

to choose or pick out

“A'll wael that yin.”

/WAHN/

one; a single person or thing

“There's wan o' them oot.”

/WAHR/

comparative of bad; more unpleasant

“Thon ale wis war nor yestreen.”

/WARK/

an undertaking or noisy disturbance

“Dinna mak a wark.”

/WEER-ee/

feeling miserable or gloomy

“She's gey weary efter the ill tidins”

/WEEG/

small cliff-nesting seabird, the kittiwake

“Da's a weeg sittin' on the cliff the day.”

/WEEL/

very in good health well

“A'm weel, ta.”

/HWA/

Used to ask about someone's identity

“Wha's oot by the pier?”

/WAA-l/

large ocean-dwelling cetacean mammal

“I seen a whaal oot alang the voe the day”

/WAAZ/

indicates to whom something belongs

“Whaase boat is that?”

/WAHN/

Asking about time or occasion

“Whan'll ye be hyem?”

/WOT-en/

asking which type or sort

“Whatten bird's yon aboon?”

/HWEE-SHT/

sharp command to be quiet

“Wheesht, the gulls'll hear ye”

/WINJ/

complain in a peevish, persistent way

“Dinnae whinge, hinny.”

/WEE/

indicates agency, origin or possession

“A'm gaein wi Jens.”

/WIG/

shake or wag from side to side

“Da cat's tail did wig on the wa'.”

/WIG-lee/

prone to wobble or shake

“Da table's aye wiggly, ye ken?”

/WIN/

to move, leave, or obtain

“Win yersel a tay.”

/WINT/

Accustomed or habituated to something

“A'm wint o da cauld”

/WEER/

Belonging to us; means 'our'

“Wir hoose's by the voe.”

/WILK/

small marine snail on rocky shore

“Aw fand a wylk oan da stane.”

/YAH/

informal affirmative response meaning yes

“Ya, A'll come alang.”

/YAAG/

to pester with repeated demands

“Dinna yaag me, ah'm busie.”

/YAY/

Yes; an affirmative response or assent

“Yae, a'll come alang the nicht.”

/YAP/

Quick, high-pitched barks; rapid noisy talking

“Da dugs aye yap at the postie.”

/YUK/

feel the need to scratch

“Ma neck's yuck.”