A man from Glasgow tells a story | Watch With Teacher: C1 Level

Derek Newton
Aug 9
3 min read

Vocabulary Guide

1. mug (noun)

Meaning: A large cup with a handle, used for drinking hot drinks like tea, coffee, or hot chocolate.

Pronunciation: RP: /mʌɡ/ — Glaswegian: /mʌɡ/ (no big change)

Example: I poured myself a big mug of coffee before starting work.

Learner notes:

In everyday English, mug is the normal word for this kind of cup.
In UK slang, mug can also mean “a person who is easily tricked” — completely different meaning. Context will tell you which is intended.
The object meaning is safe to use in all situations; the slang meaning is more informal.

2. teuchter (noun – Scots English, somewhat derogatory)

Meaning: A word from Scots used by some in Central Scotland to describe someone from the rural Highlands (especially Gaelic-speaking areas), or anyone perceived as a country person or “highlander.”

Pronunciation: /ˈtjuxtər/ — the ch sounds like the ch in loch (a Scottish “ch”), not like "church."

Example: He went to Glasgow for university and the locals called him a teuchter.

Learner notes:

This term originated from Scots (a language closely related to English, spoken in lowland Scotland and parts of Ulster) and likely derives from Gaelic roots, though the exact origin is uncertain.
It’s traditionally derogatory, used mainly by Lowlanders to refer to Highlanders or rural Scots.

3. cunt (noun, very strong swear word)

Meaning (Scottish/Glaswegian informal use): Used casually to refer to a person, often without real hostility, especially when speaking about them in the third person.

Pronunciation: RP: /kʌnt/ — Glaswegian: */kʌnʔ/ or /kʌnt/ (often the t becomes a glottal stop)

Example: There’s this cunt in the pub who always sings at the jukebox.

Learner notes:

In Scotland and parts of Northern England, this word can be used among friends or in a humorous, neutral way, especially in working-class or male-dominated groups.
In most of the English-speaking world, it is considered extremely offensive. It's one of the strongest swear words in English and should be avoided in formal or mixed settings.
If you use it in the wrong context (e.g., with strangers, in the US, or in professional situations), it can cause serious offence.
Learners should focus on recognising it when listening, not on using it themselves unless they’re 100% sure about the social rules.

Glaswegian Accent Cheat Sheet

I used to have terrible problems understanding Spanish speakers from Anadalucía, until one day someone explained to me that they often drop the final s.

So instead of:

uno, dos, tres

(one, two, three)

They say:

uno, do', tre'

Almost instantly, this one small tip was enough to give my comprehension a massive boost.

So hopefully these tips on Glaswegian pronunciation can do something similar for you.

Here's a summary of the pronunciation features I covered in the video:

1. Vowel changes

down → /doon/
house → /hoose/
brown → /broon/

This switch to an “oo” sound happens with many ow words.

2. Auxiliary verbs

Affirmative

going to → gonnae

Negative

did not → didnae
cannot → cannae
have not → havnae
would not → wouldnae
should not → shouldnae

These are everywhere in everyday speech.

I've spent most of my life outside Scotland, so these contractions have never felt 100% natural for me to say, but they are very common in and around Glasgow.

I do say gonnae however, which feels much more comfortable to say in my accent than the more widespread (in the English speaking world) gonna.

3. Elision (dropping sounds)

The final T often disappears or becomes a glottal stop.
The start of “to” can also vanish in fast speech. Example: not to might lose both Ts, blending into something like “no’uh.”