On the Road
A basic, speculative, Ulster-Scots vocabulary on the theme of travel, towns and traffic.
roád [pronounced ROW-ADD] — direction, way, (also ‘road’, as English).
causey — route, road
gate — road, street
raa — street, terrace
deid-en — cul-de-sac
entrìe — narrow side-street
loanen — lane
loanie — laneway
avenue — private drive
rodden — minor road, back road (in the country)
pad — path
close — entry, passageway (in a town); farmyard, ‘street’ (on a farm)
yin-traiker causey — single carriageway
twa-traiker causey — dual carriageway
ganway — pathway
fitpad — pavement, footpath
cribben — kerb
cribben-stanes — kerb-stones
mottìrwey — motorway
clachan — village, hamlet, cluster of houses
toun — town
citie — city
pun — pound (for livestock markets)
diamond [pronounced DIE-MAUN] — the area bounded by a number of road junctions (often a market ‘square’)
croon o the causey — middle of the road
sindrins — fork in the road, junction
roonaboot — roundabout
(sax) roád ens — intersection of (six) roads
(sax) corners — intersection of (six) roads
turn — bend in road
car [pronounced KYAUR] — horse drawn vehicle
mottìr [pronounced MOW-THIR, or MO’ER (with glottal stop)] — car, motor-car
pushbike [‘push’ rhymes with ‘slush’] — cycle, bicycle, bike
mottìrbike — motorcycle, motorbike
tràictèr [pronounced THRAYKTHER] — tractor
truck — lorry
vaun — van
airyplane, plane — aeroplane, plane
railroád injun — railway train
dròme — airport
airfiel — airport
railroád traiks — railway lines
railroád sheddins — level crossing, railway points
staunce — station, stop, bus terminus
brig — bridge
coble — ferry
midstraik — central reservation
Ae Roád — One Way
Gate Narras — Road Narrows
Nae Waffs — No Signals
Stay — Stop
Stell — Stop
Gang — Go
Imore Lichts — Dip Lights
Nae Roád Oot — No Through Road
Fit-gangers — Pedestrians
Nae Ingaun — No Entry
Nae Pushbikes — No Cycling
Nae Richt Thraw — No Right Turn
Nae Ker Thraw — No Left Turn
Nae Owretákin — No Overtaking
Haul Ker — Keep Left
Fair Forrit — Ahead Only
T-Sindrins — T-Junction
Affset Sindrins — Staggered Junction
Twa-traiker Causey Quäts — Dual Carriageway Ends
Bäg Roád Aheid — Major Road Ahead
Gate Darg — Road Works
Bad Tùrn Cummin — Dangerous Bend Ahead
Leich Brig — Low Bridge
Lowden Raik — Reduce Speed
Hie Stent — Speed Limit
Nae Raik Stent — No Speed Limit
Huilie! — Slow! Go Slow!
Caa Cannie — Slow Down
Stye Sklent — Steep Gradient
Biggin Aheid — Construction Work Ahead
Stye Brae — Steep Hill
Mynn Skitein Stanes — Beware Loose Chippings
Pairkin — Car Park
Fair Forrits — Straight Ahead
Straucht On — Staight Ahead
Ingate Stentit — Access Limited
Gate A-biggin — Road Under Construction
Aisy — Slow
Wittins — Information
Trìppers — Tourists
Trìpper-Speirin Biroo — Tourist Information Centre
Leid Mearin — National Boundary
Muckle Waa’s — Ruined Historic Monument
Leuk-oot Hicht — Viewpoint
Haw — Large House, Mansion
Tha Mids — Centre
Lanngates — Country-bound
Til Doontoun — To Town Centre
Next: Far Frae Oor Faithers Lann
Previous: Daein the Messages
Contents: Ullans: The Magazine for Ulster-Scots, Nummer 3 Spring 1995