The dialect of Shetland and Orkney has been greatly influenced by the islands’ history. Most English speakers shouldn’t have any problems understanding what Shetlanders say, but we have compiled a list of some more unusual words below you may hear when visiting the islands! Once a land of the Picts, the language used by these people has been lost, especially after the Vikings arrived in the islands during the 9th Century. The Vikings took their own language, Old Norse, and Shetland and Orkney became part of Scandinavia from 875AD to 1472AD. During this time the language was used most commonly around the islands slowly changed from Old Norse to Norn. The replica Viking ship, the Skidbladner in Unst, Shetland photo © Copyright Victoria Dixon Shetland and Orkney became part of Scotland in the 15th century and Norn began to be used less and less, dying out by the 18th Century. In the present day the Scots language is spoken in Shetland and Orkney, but there are a smattering of words (some used in both island groups) heavily influenced by Norn. Most English speakers shouldn’t have any problems understanding what Shetlanders say, but we have compiled a list of some more unusual words below you may hear when visiting the islands! Click here for a list of Orkney Words to know before visiting! Lerwick street photo © Copyright Victoria Dixon Shetland WordMeaning Aforebefore Ahintbehind Airtdirection of wind Atweenbetween Bairnchild Bidestay, live Biggbuild Birlspin around Blethergossip / talk Blydehappy / glad Boanniepretty Braalypretty, fairly. Braeslope Brakbreak Breekstrousers Broo(top of) slope Bruckrubbish Byrecowshed Caald, Cowldcold Claesclothes Coopturn over, upside down Crabbitbad tempered Creepiestool Creepie Crawliesinsects dathe Da Daytoday Da Moarntomorrow Daedo dan or denthen Dastreenlast night datthat dee or duyou Dingstrike, knock disthis Dookdook dip (in water) Doondown Dootdoubt Dreichdreary (mainly in relation to weather) Drookledsoaked dy or dineyour or yours Eenoojust now Elt Messmess Faafall Faertafraid Fantto be very hungry, to famish. Filsketfrisky, highspirited Finfind Fledflew The car park and start of the walk at Hermaness in Unst photo © Copyright Victoria Dixon Shetland WordMeaning Gaddergather Gafflaugh Genggo Gluffa fright Greetcry Guttermud Gyaangoing Haadhold Haalhaul Hivhave Hoidhide Kaenknow Kentknown Kyecows Lassgirl Makmake memy Middlinreasonably well. Mindremember Mirknendusk, twilight Monymany Mucklelarge Noo Nownow Owerover Peeriesmall / little Peerie-wyescarefully, cautiously Pleepwhine or complain Reestitsmoke dried Saatsalt Scoitlook Shilpitsour Simmer Dimthe twilight of a Shetland summer evening Sindryasunder SirpinSoaking wet Sleekitsly Spaegiemuscle soreness caused by over exertion Stooriedusty Straestraw Tammy Norriepuffin Tattiepotato Trowa mischievous fairy Twatwo; a few Unkanstrange / unfamiliar Vexedsad whawho whaarwhere Wheeshta call for silence whinwhen whitwhat wirour or were or we are Yarnchat By Magnus DixonOrkney and Shetland enthusiast, family man, loves walks, likes animals, terrible at sports, dire taste in music, adores audiobooks and films, eats a little too much for his own good. Pin it! Header image: Boats at Sandwick in Shetland photo © Copyright Victoria Dixon
