The Scots language has a few different ways to say “woman” depending on the context. In this article, we’ll take a look at the most common Scottish words for woman and how they are used.
The Most Common Scottish Words for Woman
Here are some of the main Scottish words for woman:
- Quine – This is the most common everyday Scottish word for a young woman or girl. It comes from the Gaelic word “cuin” meaning daughter or maiden.
- Carlin – This refers to an older woman, sometimes in a negative or derogatory sense. It comes from the Old Norse word “kerling” meaning old woman.
- Wifie – A more informal or affectionate term for a woman, similar to “wife” in English. It can refer to any woman regardless of marital status.
- Lassie – A young woman or girl, similar to “lass” in English. This is a softer, more endearing term.
- Hen – A familiar or informal term for a woman, similar to “bird” in English slang. It’s often used vocatively, like “alright hen?”
Breaking Down the Differences
While all these words refer to women in Scottish slang and dialect, there are some differences in how they are used:
- “Quine” refers specifically to young, unmarried women. It would be unusual to call a married woman or older lady a quine.
- “Carlin” can be derogatory and tends to refer to older, sometimes disagreeable women. It should be used with caution.
- “Wifie” is a softer, more affectionate term that can apply to women of any age or relationship status.
- “Lassie” connotes youth and innocence. A quine would be considered a type of lassie.
- “Hen” is very informal and should only be used conversationally with friends. It would be odd to call a stranger “hen.”
Examples in Context
Here are some examples of how these Scottish words for woman could be used in practice:
- “Look at that bonnie wee quine over there.” (Referring to a pretty young woman)
- “Aye she’s an auld carlin, but she means well.” (Referring to a somewhat disagreeable old lady)
- “What can I get ye, wifie?” (A shop assistant addressing a female customer affectionately)
- “That lassie’s got a lovely smile.” (Referring endearingly to a young woman)
- “Alright hen, how’s your day going?” (Greeting a female friend informally)
Usage in Gaelic vs Scots
It’s worth noting that words like “quine,” “carlin,” and “lassie” come from the Scottish Gaelic language originally. However, they have been adopted into the Scots language over time. Here are some details on their Gaelic vs Scots origins:
| Word | Gaelic Origin | Scots Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Quine | Cuin | Young woman, maiden |
| Carlin | Cailín | Old woman, hag |
| Lassie | Lasg | Girl, young woman |
As you can see, these common Scottish words for women have their roots in Gaelic but became part of the Scots lexicon over time.
Scottish Words for a Wife or Girlfriend
There are also some distinct Scottish terms to refer to a wife, girlfriend, or female romantic partner. These include:
- Wife – Typically just “wife” or “the wife.” Less commonly “the missus.”
- Girlfriend – “Burd” or “bird,” coming from the English slang term. Sometimes spelled “birde.”
- Fiancée – “The wifie-to-be” or “the missus-to-be.”
- Partner – “Her/the indoors” or “her/the partner.” Sometimes “the good lady.”
So an Scottish man may affectionately refer to his spouse as “the wife” or “the missus” rather than using her first name. The term “burd” for girlfriend is also commonly used, such as “she’s my burd.”
Related Scottish Terms and Expressions
There are also some other colorful Scottish expressions related to women and romance:
- “Aye she’s a braw lassie” – She’s a lovely girl
- “That quine’s well braw” – That young woman is very pretty
- “She’s a right bonnie wee hen” – She’s a very cute/attractive woman
- “He’s been courting his new burd” – He’s been dating his new girlfriend
- “Oh he’s a ladies man” – He’s flirtatious with and popular with women
So in Scottish slang, women can be described as “braw” (great/attractive) or “bonnie” (pretty/cute) to compliment their appearance. The courting and ladies man expressions give a sense of Scottish dating culture too.
Conclusion
To summarize, there are many diverse Scottish terms to refer to a woman depending on context. “Quine,” “lassie,” and “hen” are commonly used in everyday Scottish speech, while “carlin” and “wifie” connote older women. Romantic terms like “burd” for girlfriend are also popular in Scottish slang.
So in different situations, you could address a Scottish woman as:
- Quine – Hello there quine! (To a younger woman)
- Hen – How you doing hen? (To a female friend)
- Wifie – Can I help you with that, wifie? (To any woman respectfully)
- Burd – Congrats on the new burd! (To a male friend with a girlfriend)
With its mix of Gaelic and Scots influences, the modern Scottish lexicon contains a diverse array of terms to reference the women. From bonnie lassies to old carlins, knowing the nuances helps you speak like a true Scot!