Family words in Scots (2024)

As an enthusiast deeply immersed in the linguistics of Germanic languages, particularly Scots, I can attest to the rich tapestry of linguistic diversity within this West Germanic language spoken predominantly in Scotland and Northern Ireland. My expertise is grounded in first-hand exploration and analysis of Scots Leid, a language that, despite lacking a standardized writing system, exhibits a fascinating array of dialects.

Now, let's delve into the intricacies of family terminology in Scots, exploring the various words used to denote family members and relatives. The Scots language, with its numerous variations, offers a distinctive lexicon for familial ties. Here's a breakdown of family terms in Scots, showcasing the linguistic nuances and regional diversity:

1. Family:

   • faimily, faimly, faimley, femaly, femily, femlie, faimlie

2. Parents:

   • parentis

3. Father:

   • faither, faether, fayther, feyther, fether

4. Mother:

   • mither, midder

5. Children:

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   • childer, bairns, bearns, weans, wanes, weanies

6. Son:

   • son

7. Daughter:

   • dochter, dauchter, douchter, da(a)chter, dother, dowter

8. Husband:

   • man, guidman, gud(e)man, geudman

9. Wife:

   • wife, wyfe, wifey

10. Brother:

    • brither, breethir, bridder, breeder, bruther

11. Sister:

    • sister

12. Uncle:

    • uncle, unkl

13. Aunt:

    • aunt, ant, awnt, awnte, antt, ante, aint, aynt, father-sister, mither-sister

14. Cousin:

    • brither-barin (parent's brother's child), sister-barin (parent's sister's child)

15. Nephew:

    • brither son, sister son

16. Niece:

    • brither douchter, sister douchter

17. Grandparents:

    • grandparents

18. Grandfather:

    • grand(d)a, gran(d)-daddy, grantschir, gran(d)faither, graundfather, grandy, granda, grandey

19. Grandmother:

    • grandmither, grandmidder, grandmammy, grandmamma, gran(d)minnie, grandame, grannam

20. Grandchildren:

    • gran(d)bairns, grandchilder, grandchildren, grand-weans

21. Grandson:

    • grandson

22. Granddaughter:

    • gran(d)-docther

23. Father-in-law:

    • gud(e)fader, gu(i)dfather, gudfadyr, gudfadir, goodfather

24. Mother-in-law:

    • gud(e)moder, gu(d)emother, guidmoder, goodmother

25. Brother-in-law:

    • gud(e)-brither

26. Sister-in-law:

    • gud(e)sister, guidsister, gudesuster, gudsystyr, goodsister

27. Son-in-law:

    • gud(e)son(e), guidson, gwdson, gudsonne, goodsonne

28. Daughter-in-law:

    • gud(e)-dochter, good-dochter, guid(e)-doghter

This lexicon not only reflects the linguistic richness of Scots but also serves as a testament to the cultural and familial ties embedded in the language. For further exploration and reference, the Dictionary of the Scots Language, available at , serves as an invaluable resource. It provides a comprehensive understanding of Scots vocabulary, including family words, and contributes to the preservation and appreciation of this linguistic heritage.