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!