The hope for “taps aff” weather vs the expectation of the cold “dreich” cloudy weather. Scottish weather is always a big topic of conversation.
Cold, wet and windy is the the norm with Scotland but you can expect the ‘taps’ to be ‘aff’ when even a slight bit of sunshine shows it face. Who doesn’t love a Scottish summer when it comes around? However, predictably, the word “dreich” (Scots for grey, wet and damp weather) was voted the ‘most iconic Scots word’ a few years ago. No shock there then.
As per the University of Glasgow, there are 400 Scottish words for ‘snow’ and just over a hundred for ‘rain’, however, we have picked out the 37 best Scottish terms to describe Scotland’s beloved yet chaotic weather.
29. Flaggie
Did you know that Scots have over 400 ways to refer to snow? In this case a "flaggie" refers to a large snowflake. Photo: LdF via Canva Pro
30. Mochie
For the uncomfortable and damp clamminess you experience on a brutally warm and humid day. Photo: Aleksandr_Kravtsov via Canva Pro
31. Auld wives and pike staves
Yet another phrase for wet and miserable weather, this can be thought of as the Scots equivalent of "it's raining cats and dogs!" Photo: cascoly via Canva Pro
32. Sterrm
Have you ever seen the Scottish sky on a dark and clear Winter night? Then you've caught the spectacular sterrm which refers to stars. Photo: Sindre Strøm via Canva Pro