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Many Scots words survive in Scottish place names, e.g. street names such as wynd, vennel, close, pend, port (in the sense of gate), gate (in the sense of road), and in placenames such as howe (hollow), mains (important farm), burn (small river), brae (hill or slope) etc
Many Scots words survive in Scottish place names, e.g. street names such as wynd, vennel, close, pend, port (in the sense of gate), gate (in the sense of road), and in placenames such as howe (hollow), mains (important farm), burn (small river), brae (hill or slope) etc


=== Unique Scottish Words  ===


Some words you will see in Scottish records are not used in standard English. Please note that there is often considerable variation in spelling


The English past participle -ed, is usually represented by -it in Scots. Older documents may also form the plural or possessive in -is. The English "wh" is often rendered as "quh" in old Scots, and as "f" in north east Scots (Doric).
=== Latin  ===
 
Some Scottish records may contain Latin. Knowing some Latin will help you read these records. For help with Latin words, see the Latin Genealogical Word List (34077).
 
There are also a handful of Latin terms only used in Scotland.
 
=== Handwriting  ===
 
Handwriting styles have changed over time. In early records, the handwriting is quite different from what it is today.  Visit [[Scotland Handwriting|Scotland Handwriting]] in  Research Topics.
 
=== Abbreviations  ===
 
Abbreviations are common in early handwriting. When recorders left letters out of a word, they indicated the fact by using various marks, such as a period, a colon, a tail on the last letter of the word, a curvy line over the word, or a raised letter at the end of the word. Abbreviations can be indicated in many ways, and it is important to study individual writers to see how they made abbreviations.
 
In Scottish church records, ministers often used only the first letter of the words, for example:
 
L.S. = lawful son
 
L.D. = lawful daughter
 
N.S. = natural son
 
N.D. = natural daughter
 
ch. = child
 
Ch. N. = child named
 
N. = named
 
Instead of writing the words father, mother, witness, son, or daughter, the minister may have used f, m, w, s, or other letters.
 
===Yogh===
Yogh (ȝogh) is an old letter which may be encountered when looking at some very old documents. It resembles the number 3 or a cursive Z. This represents a "y" sound.
 
Later the yogh was turned into Y. It  ended up fossilised as a Z in some words and names. McKenzie and Menzies, for example would have originally been written with a yogh, i.e. McKenȝie and Menȝies.
 
=== Dates  ===
 
Dates, instead of being numerical, are sometimes referred to by the name of the feast day or by one of the terms listed below:
 
{| class="plain FCK__ShowTableBorders"
|-
| Term
| Meaning
| current, instant
| Same month (Sometimes used to mean "within 30 days" or a month.)
|-
| proximo
| next month
|-
| ultimo
| last month
|-
| penultimate day, penult day
| the day before the last day of the month
|-
| jajvii, jmjvii, mvii
| indicates the century, such as 1700s
|-
| eodem tempore, eod tempore
| at the same time (the same date)
|-
| eodem die, eod die, E.D.
| the same day
|-
| Gods die
| God’s day, the Sabbath
|-
| Feb 1st Sabbath
| Exact day of month not stated
|-
| Feb 2nd Sabbath
| Event took place in Feb on the 1st, 2nd, or  (whatever) Sabbath in the month
|}
 
==Language resources==
=== Scottish Dictionaries  ===
 
To find definitions for other words that are unfamiliar to you, you can use one of several Scottish dictionaries:
 
Craigie, Sir William A. ''A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue, from the Twelfth Century to the End of the Seventeenth''. Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Press, 1937-. (FamilySearch Library{{FSC|403.41 Sco87c|disp=book 403.41 Sco87c.)}}
 
Dwelly, Edward ''Faclair Gàidhlig gu Beurla le Dealbhan/The Illustrated Gaelic–English Dictionary'' (various editions)
 
Graham, William. ''The Scots Word Book''. 3rd rev. ed. Edinburgh, Scotland: Ramsey Head Press, 1980. (FamilySearch Library {{FSC|185380|title-id|disp=book 427.9411 G76s}} 1980.)
 
Jamieson, John. ''A Dictionary of the Scottish Language.'' Edinburgh, Scotland: William Tait, 1866. (FamilySearch Library {{FSC|120119|title-id|disp=book 427.941 J242j}}.)
 
Warrack, Alexander. ''A Scots Dialect Dictionary''. London, England: W. & R. Chambers, 1911. (FS Library book 427.9411 W25s.)
 
Robinson, Mairi, ed. ''The Concise Scots Dictionary''. Oxford, England: Aberdeen University Press, 1985. (Family Hhistory Library {{FSC|188877|title-id|disp=book 427.9411 C748c}}.)
 
{{Place|Scotland}}
 
==Description==
There are three officially recognized languages spoken in Scotland <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Scotland," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotland#:~:text=Scotland%20has%20three%20officially%20recognised%20languages, accessed 18 May 2023.</ref>
* '''English''' - a variety of English called '''Scottish Standard English'''. May have been influenced by Scots.
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scots_language '''Scots'''] - per the 2011 census, 63% of the population have no skills in Scots.
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_Gaelic '''Scottish Gaelic'''] - most spoken in the Western Isles by the majority of the population.
 
Other languages spoken include
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highland_English '''Highland English'''] - a variety of Scottish English
 
==Word List(s)==
* MacRisnidh, Steafan. ''Gaelic gold : a learner's dictionary/phrasebook.'' Glasgow: Lexus Ltd, 2017. '''''Available at:''''' [https://worldcat.org/title/986692684 WorldCat].
* Stevenson, James A. C. and Iseabail Macleod. ''Scoor-oot : a dictionary of Scots words and phrases in current use.'' London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2015. '''''Available at:''''' [https://worldcat.org/title/927168835 WorldCat].
* [https://omniglot.com/language/phrases/scots.php#:~:text=Useful%20Scots%20phrases Useful Scots phrases] - Omniglot
* [https://theculturetrip.com/europe/united-kingdom/scotland/articles/30-phrases-and-words-youll-only-hear-in-edinburgh-and-scotland/#:~:text=Scottish%20Phrases Scottish Phrases] - Culture Trip
* [https://owlcation.com/humanities/Scots-Gaelic-words-and-phrases#:~:text=25%20Useful%20Phrases%20and%20Vocabulary%20in%20Scottish%20Gaelic 25 Useful Phrases and Vocabulary in Scottish Gaelic] - Owlcation
* [https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Scottish_Gaelic_phrasebook#:~:text=Scottish%20Gaelic%20phrasebook Scottish Gaelic phrasebook] - WikiVoyage
* [https://omniglot.com/language/phrases/gaelic.php#:~:text=Useful%20Scottish%20Gaelic%20phrases Useful Scottish Gaelic phrases] - Omniglot
* [https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Scotland_Languages#:~:text=Some%20words%20you%20will%20see%20in%20Scottish%20records Unique Scottish Words]
 
==Alphabet and Pronunciation==
'''Alphabet'''
* [https://omniglot.com/writing/scots.htm#:~:text=Scots%20alphabet Scots alphabet] - Omniglot
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scots_language#:~:text=The%20vowel%20system%20of%20Modern%20Scots Scots Vowels and Consonants] - Wikipedia
* [https://omniglot.com/writing/gaelic.htm#:~:text=Scottish%20Gaelic%20alphabet Scottish Gaelic alphabet] - Omniglot
 
'''Pronunciation'''
* Dieckhoff, Henry Cyril. ''A pronouncing dictionary of Scottish Gaelic.'' Glasgow: Gairm, 1992. '''''Available at:''''' [https://worldcat.org/title/59961352 WorldCat].
* Robinson, Christine and Carol Ann Crawford. ''Scotspeak : a guide to the pronunciation of modern urban Scots.'' Edinburgh: Luath Press, 2011. '''''Available at:''''' [https://worldcat.org/title/754192919 WorldCat].
* [https://omniglot.com/writing/scots.htm#:~:text=Scots%20pronunciation Scots pronunciation] - Omniglot
* [https://forvo.com/languages/sco/ Scots pronunciation dictionary] - Forvo
* [https://omniglot.com/writing/gaelic.htm#:~:text=Pronunciation Scottish Gaelic Pronunciation] - Omniglot
* [https://forvo.com/languages/gd/ Scottish Gaelic pronunciation dictionary] - Forvo
 
==Language Aids and Dictionaries==
'''Dictionaries'''
* Speitel, Pauline Cairns. ''Concise Scots dictionary.'' Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2017. '''''Available at:''''' [https://worldcat.org/title/1013179107 WorldCat].
* ''Scots dictionary.'' Glasgow: HarperCollins Publishers, 2018. '''''Available at:''''' [https://worldcat.org/title/1077272738 WorldCat].
* Watson, Angus. ''The essential English-Gaelic dictionary.'' Edinburgh: Birlinn, 2005. '''''Available at:''''' [https://worldcat.org/title/56436731 WorldCat].
* Robertson, Boyd and Ian MacDonald. ''Essential Gaelic dictionary.'' London: Hodder Education, 2010. '''''Available at:''''' [https://worldcat.org/title/811402877 WorldCat].
* Gutt-Mostowy, Jan, Miroslaw Lipiński, and Tadeusz Gromada. ''Highlander Polish-English/English-Highlander Polish dictionary.'' New York: Hippocrene Books, 1995. '''''Available at:''''' [https://worldcat.org/title/33346264 WorldCat].
 
'''Online Dictionaries'''
* [https://glosbe.com/en/sco Dictionary English - Scots] - Glosbe
* [https://glosbe.com/en/gd Dictionary English - Scottish Gaelic] - Glosbe
 
'''Language Aids'''
* Maolalaigh, Roibeard Ó. ''Scottish Gaelic in twelve weeks.'' Edinburgh: Birlinn, 2015. '''''Available at:''''' [https://worldcat.org/title/949175258 WorldCat].
* Purves, David. ''A Scots grammar : Scots grammar and usage.'' Edinburgh: Saltire Society, 2002. '''''Available at:''''' [https://worldcat.org/title/49872271 WorldCat].
* Corbett, John and Christian Kay. ''Understanding grammar in Scotland today.'' Glasgow: Association for Scottish Literary Studies, 2009. '''''Available at:''''' [https://worldcat.org/title/434564044 WorldCat].
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_Scots#Grammar Scots Grammar] - Wikipedia
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_Gaelic_phonology_and_orthography Scottish Gaelic phonology and orthography] - Wikipedia
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_Gaelic_grammar Scottish Gaelic grammar] - Wikipedia
 
==Additional Resources==
* [https://omniglot.com/writing/scots.htm Scots Language] - Omniglot
* [https://omniglot.com/writing/gaelic.htm Scottish Gaelic Language] - Omniglot
 
'''Unique Scottish Words'''<br>
Some words you will see in Scottish records are not used in standard English. Please note that there is often considerable variation in spelling. The English past participle -ed, is usually represented by -it in Scots. Older documents may also form the plural or possessive in -is. The English "wh" is often rendered as "quh" in old Scots, and as "f" in northeast Scots (Doric).


The following list contains some Scottish words more commonly used in documents:  
The following list contains some Scottish words more commonly used in documents:  
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|-
|-
|}
|}
=== Latin  ===
Some Scottish records may contain Latin. Knowing some Latin will help you read these records. For help with Latin words, see the Latin Genealogical Word List (34077).
There are also a handful of Latin terms only used in Scotland.
=== Handwriting  ===
Handwriting styles have changed over time. In early records, the handwriting is quite different from what it is today.&nbsp; Visit [[Scotland Handwriting|Scotland Handwriting]] in&nbsp; Research Topics.
=== Abbreviations  ===
Abbreviations are common in early handwriting. When recorders left letters out of a word, they indicated the fact by using various marks, such as a period, a colon, a tail on the last letter of the word, a curvy line over the word, or a raised letter at the end of the word. Abbreviations can be indicated in many ways, and it is important to study individual writers to see how they made abbreviations.
In Scottish church records, ministers often used only the first letter of the words, for example:
L.S. = lawful son
L.D. = lawful daughter
N.S. = natural son
N.D. = natural daughter
ch. = child
Ch. N. = child named
N. = named
Instead of writing the words father, mother, witness, son, or daughter, the minister may have used f, m, w, s, or other letters.
===Yogh===
Yogh (ȝogh) is an old letter which may be encountered when looking at some very old documents. It resembles the number 3 or a cursive Z. This represents a "y" sound.
Later the yogh was turned into Y. It  ended up fossilised as a Z in some words and names. McKenzie and Menzies, for example would have originally been written with a yogh, i.e. McKenȝie and Menȝies.
=== Dates  ===
Dates, instead of being numerical, are sometimes referred to by the name of the feast day or by one of the terms listed below:
{| class="plain FCK__ShowTableBorders"
|-
| Term
| Meaning
| current, instant
| Same month (Sometimes used to mean "within 30 days" or a month.)
|-
| proximo
| next month
|-
| ultimo
| last month
|-
| penultimate day, penult day
| the day before the last day of the month
|-
| jajvii, jmjvii, mvii
| indicates the century, such as 1700s
|-
| eodem tempore, eod tempore
| at the same time (the same date)
|-
| eodem die, eod die, E.D.
| the same day
|-
| Gods die
| God’s day, the Sabbath
|-
| Feb 1st Sabbath
| Exact day of month not stated
|-
| Feb 2nd Sabbath
| Event took place in Feb on the 1st, 2nd, or&nbsp; (whatever) Sabbath in the month
|}
==Language resources==
=== Scottish Dictionaries  ===
To find definitions for other words that are unfamiliar to you, you can use one of several Scottish dictionaries:
Craigie, Sir William A. ''A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue, from the Twelfth Century to the End of the Seventeenth''. Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Press, 1937-. (FamilySearch Library{{FSC|403.41 Sco87c|disp=book 403.41 Sco87c.)}}
Dwelly, Edward ''Faclair Gàidhlig gu Beurla le Dealbhan/The Illustrated Gaelic–English Dictionary'' (various editions)
Graham, William. ''The Scots Word Book''. 3rd rev. ed. Edinburgh, Scotland: Ramsey Head Press, 1980. (FamilySearch Library {{FSC|185380|title-id|disp=book 427.9411 G76s}} 1980.)
Jamieson, John. ''A Dictionary of the Scottish Language.'' Edinburgh, Scotland: William Tait, 1866. (FamilySearch Library {{FSC|120119|title-id|disp=book 427.941 J242j}}.)
Warrack, Alexander. ''A Scots Dialect Dictionary''. London, England: W. &amp; R. Chambers, 1911. (FS Library book 427.9411 W25s.)
Robinson, Mairi, ed. ''The Concise Scots Dictionary''. Oxford, England: Aberdeen University Press, 1985. (Family Hhistory Library {{FSC|188877|title-id|disp=book 427.9411 C748c}}.)
{{Place|Scotland}}
==Description==
There are three officially recognized languages spoken in Scotland <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Scotland," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotland#:~:text=Scotland%20has%20three%20officially%20recognised%20languages, accessed 18 May 2023.</ref>
* '''English''' - a variety of English called '''Scottish Standard English'''. May have been influenced by Scots.
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scots_language '''Scots'''] - per the 2011 census, 63% of the population have no skills in Scots.
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_Gaelic '''Scottish Gaelic'''] - most spoken in the Western Isles by the majority of the population.
Other languages spoken include
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highland_English '''Highland English'''] - a variety of Scottish English
==Word List(s)==
* MacRisnidh, Steafan. ''Gaelic gold : a learner's dictionary/phrasebook.'' Glasgow: Lexus Ltd, 2017. '''''Available at:''''' [https://worldcat.org/title/986692684 WorldCat].
* Stevenson, James A. C. and Iseabail Macleod. ''Scoor-oot : a dictionary of Scots words and phrases in current use.'' London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2015. '''''Available at:''''' [https://worldcat.org/title/927168835 WorldCat].
* [https://omniglot.com/language/phrases/scots.php#:~:text=Useful%20Scots%20phrases Useful Scots phrases] - Omniglot
* [https://theculturetrip.com/europe/united-kingdom/scotland/articles/30-phrases-and-words-youll-only-hear-in-edinburgh-and-scotland/#:~:text=Scottish%20Phrases Scottish Phrases] - Culture Trip
* [https://owlcation.com/humanities/Scots-Gaelic-words-and-phrases#:~:text=25%20Useful%20Phrases%20and%20Vocabulary%20in%20Scottish%20Gaelic 25 Useful Phrases and Vocabulary in Scottish Gaelic] - Owlcation
* [https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Scottish_Gaelic_phrasebook#:~:text=Scottish%20Gaelic%20phrasebook Scottish Gaelic phrasebook] - WikiVoyage
* [https://omniglot.com/language/phrases/gaelic.php#:~:text=Useful%20Scottish%20Gaelic%20phrases Useful Scottish Gaelic phrases] - Omniglot
==Alphabet and Pronunciation==
'''Alphabet'''
* [https://omniglot.com/writing/scots.htm#:~:text=Scots%20alphabet Scots alphabet] - Omniglot
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scots_language#:~:text=The%20vowel%20system%20of%20Modern%20Scots Scots Vowels and Consonants] - Wikipedia
* [https://omniglot.com/writing/gaelic.htm#:~:text=Scottish%20Gaelic%20alphabet Scottish Gaelic alphabet] - Omniglot
'''Pronunciation'''
* Dieckhoff, Henry Cyril. ''A pronouncing dictionary of Scottish Gaelic.'' Glasgow: Gairm, 1992. '''''Available at:''''' [https://worldcat.org/title/59961352 WorldCat].
* Robinson, Christine and Carol Ann Crawford. ''Scotspeak : a guide to the pronunciation of modern urban Scots.'' Edinburgh: Luath Press, 2011. '''''Available at:''''' [https://worldcat.org/title/754192919 WorldCat].
* [https://omniglot.com/writing/scots.htm#:~:text=Scots%20pronunciation Scots pronunciation] - Omniglot
* [https://forvo.com/languages/sco/ Scots pronunciation dictionary] - Forvo
* [https://omniglot.com/writing/gaelic.htm#:~:text=Pronunciation Scottish Gaelic Pronunciation] - Omniglot
* [https://forvo.com/languages/gd/ Scottish Gaelic pronunciation dictionary] - Forvo
==Language Aids and Dictionaries==
'''Dictionaries'''
* Speitel, Pauline Cairns. ''Concise Scots dictionary.'' Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2017. '''''Available at:''''' [https://worldcat.org/title/1013179107 WorldCat].
* ''Scots dictionary.'' Glasgow: HarperCollins Publishers, 2018. '''''Available at:''''' [https://worldcat.org/title/1077272738 WorldCat].
* Watson, Angus. ''The essential English-Gaelic dictionary.'' Edinburgh: Birlinn, 2005. '''''Available at:''''' [https://worldcat.org/title/56436731 WorldCat].
* Robertson, Boyd and Ian MacDonald. ''Essential Gaelic dictionary.'' London: Hodder Education, 2010. '''''Available at:''''' [https://worldcat.org/title/811402877 WorldCat].
* Gutt-Mostowy, Jan, Miroslaw Lipiński, and Tadeusz Gromada. ''Highlander Polish-English/English-Highlander Polish dictionary.'' New York: Hippocrene Books, 1995. '''''Available at:''''' [https://worldcat.org/title/33346264 WorldCat].
'''Online Dictionaries'''
* [https://glosbe.com/en/sco Dictionary English - Scots] - Glosbe
* [https://glosbe.com/en/gd Dictionary English - Scottish Gaelic] - Glosbe
'''Language Aids'''
* Maolalaigh, Roibeard Ó. ''Scottish Gaelic in twelve weeks.'' Edinburgh: Birlinn, 2015. '''''Available at:''''' [https://worldcat.org/title/949175258 WorldCat].
* Purves, David. ''A Scots grammar : Scots grammar and usage.'' Edinburgh: Saltire Society, 2002. '''''Available at:''''' [https://worldcat.org/title/49872271 WorldCat].
* Corbett, John and Christian Kay. ''Understanding grammar in Scotland today.'' Glasgow: Association for Scottish Literary Studies, 2009. '''''Available at:''''' [https://worldcat.org/title/434564044 WorldCat].
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_Scots#Grammar Scots Grammar] - Wikipedia
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_Gaelic_phonology_and_orthography Scottish Gaelic phonology and orthography] - Wikipedia
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_Gaelic_grammar Scottish Gaelic grammar] - Wikipedia
==Additional Resources==
* [https://omniglot.com/writing/scots.htm Scots Language] - Omniglot
* [https://omniglot.com/writing/gaelic.htm Scottish Gaelic Language] - Omniglot


== References  ==
== References  ==
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