Glasgow is a unique city in many ways, but the phrases we've developed over the years is one of our most special traits.
While all areas have their own little dictionaries that are hard to understand for others, Glasgow has some pretty strange words that are especially difficult to translate.
We've popped together a list of some of the most popular words here in the city - and if you know how to use them all, you must be a local.
Winch
If you’re lucky enough, you could get a good winch on a night out.
Now used further afield than Glasgow, winch originally was used in relation to ‘courting or dating’.
These days, a winch is usually a kiss.
Ginger
Not the Ron Weasley kind.
Here in Glasgow ginger refers to juice, usually of the fizzy variety.
Whether or not this is in relation to the orange colour of Scotland’s iconic Irn Bru is unclear, but if you want to fit in ask for a ginger next time you’re in a Glasgow shop.
Dinghy
Normally used to describe a small boat, being dinghied in Glasgow is a very different situation.
The term is used in a situation where someone has ignored you, either in person or through text.
For example: “I saw him on Sauchiehall Street and he absolutely dinghied me.”
Clatty
If anyone’s ever called you clatty, you need a wash.
This word is Glasgow slang for something - or something - that’s extremely dirty.
Let's look at an example: “I wouldn’t go round his house again it was pure clatty.”
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Riddy
If someone were to ‘take a riddy’, it would mean their face has gone very red due to embarrassment.
You could also describe someone in general as a riddy, if they have an embarrassing or ridiculous personality.
Your pal who always takes it too far on a night out and ends up face down on the street, they’re probably a bit of a riddy.
Swatch
No, not the popular watch selling chain.
Although, if you went shopping in Swatch in Glasgow you’d be having a swatch in Swatch.
Lets clear that up - a swatch in local terms is when you have a look at something.
For example: “Give me a swatch of your new shoes.”
Weans
A combination of the words ‘wee’ and ‘ones’ - weans describes children.
This phrase has fanned the flames of debate for decades, with opposing sides arguing over spelling.
Some argue wean (combination of wee and ane) would be correct, while others claim wain (rhyming with train or plain) would be the more accurate spelling.
Until Collins Dictionary chimes in on the issue, we won’t know for sure.
Geggie
Somehow now part of the Oxford English dictionary, geggie is used to describe someones mouth.
Most commonly, it would be used in the phrase: “Shut your geggie.”
Not the most polite word in Glasgow slang, you’re unlikely to hear this unless you’ve ticked someone off.
Gallus
You’d need to be pretty gallus to use this word in Glasgow.
The term describes an act of boldness, or doing something that's outside the box and a little bit cheeky.
Gallus is derived from gallows, used in the days of hanging - and was at one point used to describe someone who was deserving of being hanged.
