Prior to my arrive in Scotland, I was aware that living in new countries means getting used to new accents. Many do realize that the Scottish accent can be quite strong, especially when its an accent from the highlands, or perhaps a Glaswegian accent.

However, I live in Aberdeen. The third largest city in Scotland with a population just over 200 000.  Aberdeen is an old shipping town with a language all of it's own - and that language is called Doric. Okay perhaps a bit of an exaggeration. Not everyone speaks Doric, nor is it a distinctly different language. A better description of Doric is that it is a dialect. You will see what I mean...

While living in Aberdeen, I've taken on a few different temp jobs. I remember with my first position, which I started only a couple weeks after arrival, I was quite enthused when I started hearing "aye" instead of "yes" or "yeah" or "uhhuh". A wonderful little Scottish phrase to indicate an affirmative response, or merely just that they're listening.

Now It's time to learn Doric

We'll start with some question words.

faa? who, whom?
faan, fin? when?
faar? where?
faas? whose?
fit? what?
fit wye? why, (sometimes) how?
foo? how, (sometimes) why?

Dinna get yir dander up!
Keep calm!

Ye dinna tell me!
How remarkable!

As thick in the heid as dirt in a bottle
Lacking intelligence

He jist opens his moo an lets his belly rummle
He talks nonsense

Faan's she better?
When is her baby due?

Foo's yirsel; fit like; foo are ye deeing?
How are you?

Nae bad. Fit like yirsel?
Well, thank you. How are you?

Gie's yir craak
Tell me your news

Fit's aa the claik
What's the tittle tattle

We'll need tae hae a newse
We must have a chat

Came awaa intae the body o the kirk
Come and join the rest

A phrase to translate into English - post your responses in the Comments section!

Fowk bide in hooses. Is your hoose a big hoose? Ay, it is. Oor hoose is an affa big hoose. Is the Toon Hoose a smaa hoose? Na, it's nae. 'E Toon Hoose is nae a smaa hoose.  'E Toon Hoose is nae a hoose avaa. 'E Toon Hoose is faar ye get a cooncil hoose. Fit's mair, it's faar 'e cooncil sets.  The kirk is God's hoose. It's teem maist o the wik, bit only half teem on a Sunday. A shoppie is faar ye get yir messages. Ye pit yir messages intae pokes an pit 'e pokes intil a plastic buggie.