C1 Video: Can You Understand These Scottish Fans?

Accent: What do you think? (But they're mainly from Glasgow)

Subtitles: Yes.

Vocabulary & Pronunciation Guide

00:14 – the night (adverb phrase)

Meaning: Scottish way of saying tonight.

Example: We’re heading out the night.

00:31 – didnae (negative verb form)

Meaning: Scottish form of didn’t. The ending –nae replaces not.

Example: I didnae think they’d score four goals.

00:43 – buzzing (adjective)

Meaning: Feeling very excited or full of energy.

Example: The fans were buzzing after the match.

01:03 – the now / the noo (adverb phrase)

Meaning: Scottish way of saying now.

Pronounced /the noo/.

Example: I’ll call you back the now.

01:28 – the weans (noun)

Meaning: Children. It comes from wee ones (wee = small).

Example: The weans stayed up late to watch the match.

01:28 – wee (adjective)

Meaning: Very common Scottish word meaning small or little.

Example: He grabbed a wee snack before the game.

02:03 – arnae (negative verb form)

Meaning: Scottish form of aren’t, made by adding the –nae ending.

Example: They arnae ready to leave yet.

You Will Understand...Eventually

The confusion, sometimes even fear on the faces of new arrivals to Glasgow in their first conversation with a Scottish person (i.e. me) is something that still raises a smile when I think back.

From 2007 to 2010 I shared a flat with a steady stream of 20 somethings from all over the world.

I wasn't an English teacher at the time, so I didn't really know how to simplify my speech when talking to non-natives.

One day in fact, a new Spanish flatmate, Marga, told my girlfriend at the time, "I basically can't communicate with Derek."

Speaking to real natives like me was a rude awakening on how we really speak outside of English classrooms.

But you know something?

After a few weeks and months, even those with very little English made a lot of progress.

The 'Magic' Formula

To understand Scots (Scottish people), or any other native speaker, you have to get familiar with the rhythm, the sounds, and the expressions we actually use.

Learning a little about the culture helps a huge amount too.

Once you learn a few of these patterns, I promise everything becomes easier to follow.

If you already have a B2 level or above, keep listening, and keep watching these videos. Within a few weeks you should notice that you are understanding more and more.

There's no magic to this process.

It looks like this:

1. Try to understand

2. Get some help if you need it

3. Keep listening

If you'd like some help or to share your listening progress, tell us about it in the community.