
April 6 is National Tartan Day! National Tartan Day is a US observance on April 6 each year. It commemorates the Scottish Declaration of Independence, from which the American Declaration of Independence was modeled on. It also recognizes achievements of Americans of Scottish descent. What do tartans (clothing worn by Scottish Highlanders with distinctive patterns determining specific clans) have to do with the Aurora Public Library District? Come check out the Scottish books display through the week of April 6 at the Aurora Public Library, where you’ll find books with Scottish heroes and lassies that take place on the moors and in the heather. Before you find your next great read, here are some common Scottish terms you should familiarize yourself with before you immerse yourself in the Scottish culture. (Please begin playing bagpipe music here.)

Before we get to the terms, it’s important to note how the words are pronounced. For instance, the ‘r’s’ are usually burred or rolled softly, sometimes the ‘th’ is dropped from the end of the word (with=wi’), or a ‘t’ is added instead of ‘-ed.’ Sometimes words can have different meanings, too, like ‘no’ can be ‘not’ or ‘no’ depending on the context of the sentence. I love reading books with Scottish characters and imagining their accents in my head as I read!
Aye = Yes Ken = Know
Bairn = Baby or Child Kip = Nap
Bampot = Idiot Kirk = Church
Bannock = Biscuit, Scone Lad/Laddie = Boy
Besom = Difficult Woman Laird = Lord
Bonnie = Pretty Lass/Lassie = Girl
Breeks = Trousers Morn = Tomorrow
Cauld = Cold No/Nae = Not
Claymore = Traditional Scottish Long Sword Och = Well
Corbie = Crow or Raven Oxter = Armpit
Fae = From Sassenach = Someone from England, an Outlander
Fash = Fuss or Bother Sup = Small Amount of Liquid
Forby = Besides Twa = Two
Heid = Head Wean = Child
Hogmanay = New Year’s Eve Wee = Small

Happy Reading!