'Eh hud meh eh on a peh': The best of the best of those mouthwatering Dundee sayings

Dundonians have a defining, distinctive way of expressing themselves and communicating feelings. The ancient city’s characteristic accent can be heard in any Lochee bar or Hilltoon playground, or on any bus – where Dundee grannies have extraordinary ‘Eh?’ ‘Eh!’ nodding conversations. And to the trained ear they make perfect sense!

Goad, Eh’ve ait some pehs in meh time! 
Goodness, I’ve eaten some pies in my time!

Goota m’sicht. 
Perhaps you would consider going away?

Yer as yaiseless as a pile of snottirz. 
I don’t think you’ve got the hang of this.

A brah day fur pittin oot the washin’ on the greenie poles an’ puhllashees. 
Wash day.

Yir jecket’s on a shoogly nail. 
You are on your final warning.

Yir a lang time deid. 
Lighten up. Enjoy life while you can.

Perfect for locals and visitors to Dundee alike, Dundonians will no doubt recognise themselves in these phrases while tourists will have a momento to treasure.

Norman Watson

Dr Norman Watson was a journalist with The Courier in Dundee for 25 years and wrote more than 5,000 news features for the paper. He remains a Courier columnist and is now publishing giant DC Thomson’s first-ever company historian.

An award-winning author, his books include the best-selling Dundee: A Short History (2006), The Biography of William McGonagall (2010) and the internationally-acclaimed Dundee Dicshunury (2012). As an historian he has co-curated major exhibitions in Dundee, London and Edinburgh and in 2006 was invited to open the Scottish Parliament’s first-ever public exhibition.