|
Glaswegian |
English |
Example
and
Translation |
|
Gadgie |
An old tinker derogatory
word for a townie. |
Gadgie
 |
|
Gaed |
Went |
|
|
Gallus |
Self-confident, daring,
cheeky. / Stylish.
Often used in a derogatory
manner for someone who thinks that they are
something special. |
He's pure gallus, by the way.
What a bloody arsehole that
guy is!!!! |
|
Galoot |
A stupid person |
Glasgow Galoot
in Uniform
 |
|
Game |
Used in the expression
'That's the game' it is a term of encouragement or
approval. (game is often pronounced gem) |
Go oan, down yer pint in
wan - that's the game.
Consume your pint glass of Tennent's Lager in one
and then puke up - that's brilliant! |
|
Gang |
Go |
|
|
Gawk |
Stare (in a stupid way) |
|
|
Gangs |
Runs |
A bairn maun creep afore it
gangs.
A youngster must achieve it’s first ASBO before it
can be considered worthy of membership to a gang.
[From A Midge in Your Hand is Worth Two Up the Kilt]
|
|
Gaun / Gawn |
Gone / Going |
|
|
Gaun yersel |
Go for it / |
Yer a rare wee dancer -
gaun yersel Jimmy.
You are very adepth at the eightsome reel - go on
swing those hips. |
|
GCSE |
General Certificate of
Substandard Education
GCSE
whimsical noun
A ‘pass’ at E level in Woodwork,
Knitting or Domestic Violence is good enough for
wild celebrations in any Ned household. A Ned with
two such passes is considered a genius - any with
more than two is a considered a bunty and dealt with
appropriately.
[From Ned Speak by
Stuart McLean] |
A Level -
GSCE Results . . . time to celebrate!
 |
|
Gear |
Clothes that a Ned or Chav wears / Illicit drugs |
Chavs in
Gear
 |
|
Geegaw |
Bauble / Inexpensive toy |
|
|
Geeing |
Hurrying someone up |
|
|
Geggy / geggie |
Mouth. Mostly used in the
phrase 'Shut yer geggy' |
Shut yer geggie the flies
ur gettin' in.
Would you please abstain from talking while I'm
listening to the football on television. |
|
Geeza |
May I please have? |
Geeza slug o' yer barbru.
May I partake in the pleasure of your Irn-Bru? |
|
Geezeabrek |
Give me a break (chance) |
|
|
Gemme |
Game / Up for it |
|
|
Gemmy |
A hard man / gang member |
|
|
Gen up |
Honestly. It's the truth. |
Ah saw a spaceship landing
and pink elephants goat oot - gen up.
I am drunk again. |
|
Get lifted |
To be arrested by the police |
|
|
Gibbering |
Talking nonsense |
|
|
Gie |
Give |
|
|
Gies |
Give me |
Gies a lick oh yer lolly
hen. Would you mind
sharing that delicious looking Strawberry and Vodka
Mivvie - Oh and do you hancy a quick shag too? |
|
Gin |
If |
Comin Thro'
The Rye by Robert Burns
Chorus.
O Jenny's a' weet, poor body,
Jenny's seldom dry:
She draigl't a' her petticoatie,
Comin thro' the rye!
1.
Comin thro' the rye, poor body,
Comin thro' the rye,
She draigl't a' her petticoatie,
Comin thro' the rye!
Gin a body meet a body
Comin thro' the rye,
Gin a body kiss a body,
Need a body cry?
Gin a body meet a body
Comin thro' the glen,
Gin a body kiss a body,
Need the warld ken?
Gin a body meet a body
Comin thro' the grain,
Gin a body kiss a body,
The thing's a body's ain. |
|
Ginger |
Any soft drink - such as
lemonade. |
|
|
Ginger Boatles |
Lemonade bottles |
 |
|
Girn |
Moan |
|
|
Gither (the) |
Together |
|
|
Glaikit |
Stupid / silly / looks stupid |
She's as glaikit as a
haggis in a graveyard.
She is a contender for idiot
of the month at the lunatic asylum. |
|
Glass cheque |
In the old days before
recycling was invented lemonade and beer bottles had
a refundable deposit. Kids would go round the houses
collecting 'unwanted' bottles. These were then taken
to the ice-cream van and exchanged for sweeties.
|
|
|
Glasgow Kiss / Glesca Kiss |
A headbut
Glasgow Kiss
A Glasgow Kiss is a greeting that is not exclusive
to Glasgow. Indeed many a Glasgow Kiss has been
given in Greenock, Glenrothes and even Geilenkirchen
(though Geilenkirchen Kiss doesn’t have the same
ring to it). A Glasgow Kiss is given by striking the
forehead against the beneficiary’s head. Targeting
the nose provides the most pleasing effect.
[From Ned Speak by
Stuart McLean]
|
Glasgow Kiss

Glasgow Gay Kiss
 |
|
Glen |
Valley. The word comes
from the Gaelic language word gleann, |
Glencoe
Scotland
 |
|
Glesga or Glesca |
Glasgow - once the 'Second
City of the British Empire'.
With the Industrial
Revolution at the start of the 18th Century,
Glasgow excelled in of
soap-making, distilling, glass-making, sugar and
textiles. It became one of the richest cities in the
world. Though the average Glaswegian saw very little
of this wealth |
Looking
over the Squiggly Bridge to Glasgow City Centre
 |
|
Glesca Kiss / Glasgow Kiss |
A headbut |
|
|
Gliff |
Fright or startled |
|
|
Gloamin' |
Twilight |
Roamin' in
the gloamin' by Sir Harry Lauder
Chorus:
Roamin' in the gloamin' on the bonny banks o' Clyde
Roamin' in the gloamin' with my lassie by my side
When the sun has gone to rest
That's the time we love the best
Ach, it's lovely roamin' in the gloamin'
I've seen lots of bonnie lassies travelin' far and
wide
But my heart is centered now on bonny Kate McBride
And altho' I'm no' a man who throws a word away
I'm surprised mysel' sometimes at all I've got to
say.
One nicht in the gloamin' we were trippin' side by
side
I kissed her twice and asked her once if she would
be my bride
She was shy, so was I, we were baith the same
But I got brave and braver on the joumey comin' hame
Last nicht after strollin' we got hame at halfpast
nine
Sittin' at the kitchen fire I asked her to be mine
When she promised, I got up and danced the Hielan'
fling
I've just been at the jew'llers and I've picked a
nice wee ring |
|
Glow'ring
|
Shining |
|
|
G'night |
Goodnight |
|
|
Goan |
Going /
Gone |
|
|
Gob |
A spittle - particularly
one that contains have the spitters lings. |
|
|
Gob Shite |
Talking nonsense |
That's pure gob shite so it
is - Ah didnae kiss ma sister.
Damn - I didn't realise the curtains were open. |
|
Gomeril |
Stupid person |
|
|
Gonny / gonnae |
Going to / Will you |
Gonnae no' dae that.
Please refrain from kicking
my head. |
|
Gonnae / gonny |
Going to / Will you |
Gonnae no' dae that.
Please refrain from kicking
my head with your size 12 boots. |
|
Gowd |
Gold |
|
|
Gowpin or Goupin |
Throbbing with pain. |
Ah cannae walk anither inch
- ma feet are goupin. |
|
Greet |
Cry / weep |
|
|
Greetin' face |
Someone who is moaning or
crying |
A greetin' face wee lassie
. . .
 |
|
Greetin' |
Crying |
|
|
Gret |
Cried |
|
|
Groggy |
Light headed / faint |
|
|
Grot |
Derogatory term for girl/boy
friend |
|
|
Gub |
Mouth |
Shut yer gub you're doin'
ma heid in. Stop
speaking your giving me a headache. |
|
Guddle |
A mess. |
Get this bedroom fixed oot
- it's in a proper guddle. |
|
Gude |
Good |
A gude man maks a gude
wife.
Now that gay marriages have become acceptable, your
Mr Right could soon become your Mrs Right.
[From A Midge in Your Hand is Worth Two Up the Kilt]
|
|
Guid |
Good |
A Guid New Year to Ane An'
A' Traditional Song - Author Unknown
A Guid New Year to Ane An' A'
A guid new year to ane an' a'
An' mony may ye see,
An' during a' the years to come,
O happy may ye be.
An' may ye ne'er hae cause to mourn,
To sigh or shed a tear;
To ane an'a baith great an' sma'
A hearty guid New year.
Chorus
A guid new year to ane an' a'
An' mony may ye see,
An' during a' the years to come,
O happy may ye be. |
|
Guid-man |
Husband |
Typical Glaswegian Husband

|
|
Guid-wife |
Wife |
Typical Glaswegian Wife
 |