Meaning: Great. Example: “Me and Hamish went oot last night, it was pure barry.”placeholder image
Meaning: Great. Example: “Me and Hamish went oot last night, it was pure barry.”

15 old Edinburgh words and phrases that are in danger of dying out

By Rhona Shennan
Published 26th Nov 2020, 15:30 GMT

Edinburgh has a very colourful set of words and phrases - however, as the times change, our slang changes too, and some of our vocabulary is in danger of falling out of fashion.

Do you still use any of these words and phrases?

Meaning: The cinema. Example: “Me and your granny went to the pictures at the weekend.”

9. The pictures

Meaning: The cinema. Example: “Me and your granny went to the pictures at the weekend.” Photo: Shutterstock

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Bampot - mad; idiot. Is often shortened to just ‘bam’. Begbie, in Trainspotting, was the archetypal Edinburgh 'bampot'.

10. Bampot

Bampot - mad; idiot. Is often shortened to just ‘bam’. Begbie, in Trainspotting, was the archetypal Edinburgh 'bampot'. Photo: Third Party

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Meaning: Mouth. Example: “Ach, away an shut yer geggie.”

11. Geggie

Meaning: Mouth. Example: “Ach, away an shut yer geggie.” Photo: Shutterstock

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Meaning: Limp, stumble. Example: “Yer da is hirpling about after his fall.”

12. Hirple

Meaning: Limp, stumble. Example: “Yer da is hirpling about after his fall.” Photo: Shutterstock

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