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Common Terms (Reference)
Many different cultures have contributed to the make up of modern day Scotland and each has left its influence, nowhere more so than in language.
The first time visitor to Scotland can easily be baffled by the vernacular and there are a wide range of accents and dialects to contend with. Below is a fairly random selection
of words you may come across, particularly in relation to place names.
Gaelic is the traditional language of the Highlands, Scots of the Lowlands, Norse of the Vikings and Brythonic of the indigenous Celtic peoples.
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Word/Place Name |
Gaelic/Scots/Norse/Brythonic |
English |
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Dun |
G |
Fort |
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| |
Eilean |
G |
Island |
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| |
Glen |
G |
Valley |
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| |
Kyle |
G |
Water straits/narrows |
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| |
Uig |
G |
Bay |
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| |
Strome |
N |
Water straits |
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| |
Ness/Nish |
N |
Headland or Point |
|
| |
Elgol |
G |
Holy Place |
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| |
Aber |
B |
River Mouth |
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| |
Inver |
G |
River Mouth |
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| |
Strath |
G |
Broad Valley |
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| |
Brae |
S |
Hill or Slope |
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| |
Bonnie |
S |
Pretty |
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Righ |
G |
King |
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Haund |
S |
Hand |
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| |
Hae |
S |
Have |
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| |
Tae |
S |
Too or As well |
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| |
Chroisd |
G |
Christ |
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| |
Cille |
G |
Church |
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| |
Skye |
N |
Cloudy Island |
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| |
Eilean A Cheo |
G |
Misty Island (Skye) |
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| |
Uisge beath |
G |
Whisky |
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| |
Failte |
G |
Welcome |
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| |
Tiaraidh An Drasda |
G |
Bye for now |
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| |
Pibroch |
G |
Bagpipes |
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| |
Abaid |
G |
Abbey |
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| |
Abhainn |
G |
River |
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| |
Bheinn/Beinn/Ben |
G |
Mountain |
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Craig |
S |
Crag/Cliff |
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| |
Clach |
G |
Stone |
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Mhor |
G |
Big, Great |
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| |
Slainte Mhor |
G |
Great Health |
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Aird |
G |
Height or Promontory |
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Aiseag |
G |
Ferry |
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| |
Alba |
G |
Scotland |
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| |
Allt |
G |
Stream |
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Burn |
S |
Stream |
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Aonach |
G |
Steep or Heath |
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Bealach |
G |
Pass or Gap |
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Ceilidh |
G |
Gossiping/visiting but know used as a term for a night of Scottish Highland dancing |
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Nevis |
G |
Clouds or Venomous |
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Beag |
G |
Small |
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