Aye means yes, often replacing the latter in day-to-day life in Scotland.
Why do British people say aye?
‘ General impressions suggest that ‘aye’ means ‘yes’ in Scotland, a chunk of Northern England, and presumably Northern Ireland. But beyond that, the picture of where the word is spoken, and even where it was spoken in the past, gets fuzzy. Aye (usually spelled ‘ay’) was clearly Shakespeare’s preferred affirmative.
Why do they say aye?
ANSWER: Aye Aye a reply to a command or order the Navy, meaning “I understand and will obey.” The phrase “aye aye” is commonly heard today in the Navy. It is derived from a duplicate of the word “aye” which came into the English language in the late 1500s and early 1600s, meaning “Yes; even so.”.
Why do Scots say Ken?
“Ken” in Scots has widened its meaning to become the equivalent of English “know” but in older Scots it specifically meant “know by personal contact, experience, familiarity” as in “I ken him.
Is Aye English or Scottish?
Aye means yes; used in some dialects of British English.
Is it rude to say aye?
Aye is not a slang word, aye simply means yes. It can be used anywhere and an affirmative reaction is due.
Is it OK to say aye?
Aye simply means yes, so it can be used anywhere an affirmative reaction is due. You can say it if you agree with what your friend said. But it’s usually used in formal settings such as someone receiving an order from their superior, or as a funny comeback to someone acting like your superior.
Is Aye Irish or Scottish?
It is much used in Scotland, the north and Midlands of England, Northern Ireland, North Wales, as well as in Australia and New Zealand (where it may follow rather than precede a statement).
Is Aye Scottish or Geordie?
“Aye” is Geordie for “yes, and this entire phrase means “Why yes of course.” The “why” is added for emphasis. The “aye” itself is something that survived from Shakespeare’s time, a nod to the Old English that shaped much of what the Geordie dialect is today.
What does Muckle mean in Scottish?
large; much
(ˈmʌkəl ) Scottish. adjective. 1. large; much. adverb.
What do the Scottish call their wife?
Scottish Word: Geggie.
What do Scots call the toilet?
For the uninitiated, cludgie is a Scottish word meaning “toilet”, although probably not to be used in the politest of companies.
What do Scots call a baby?
bairn
What does bairn mean? Bairn is a Scottish or Northern English word for child.
Do Scottish people really say aye?
Scots are known for pronouncing traditional words in unpredictable ways. Listen out for “yes” pronounced as “aye”, “dae” as “do” and “dinnae” as “don’t“. It’s probably worth having a look through a guide to Scottish slang before your trip.
How do you say no in Scottish?
no = Cha chuir.
What is a Scotland accent called?
Scots is the collective name for Scottish dialects known also as ‘Doric’, ‘Lallans’ and ‘Scotch’ or by more local names such as ‘Buchan’, ‘Dundonian’, ‘Glesca’ or ‘Shetland’.
How do you reply to aye?
Yes, “aye-aye” is used as the affirmative confirmation to an order. So, if you’re Division Officer asks you whether you’ve had breakfast, the correct affirmative answer is “yes, sir.” Conversely, if that divo says that you should square away your cover (straighten your hat) the correct response is ….. “aye, aye, Sir.”
Why do we say scott free?
IN MACBETH you may recall the line “We have Scotched the snake, not killed it” – which means that the snake is scratched, or injured. So the original expression “Scotch Free” meant uninjured or even unmarked; it very quickly became Scot-Free because of colloquial speech.
What can I say instead of aye?
What is another word for aye?
| affirmative | okay |
|---|---|
| yea | yeah |
| indeed | truly |
| nod | agreement |
| concurrence | approval |
When did Aye become yes?
1570s
Aye and variants
The word aye (/aɪ/) as a synonym for yes in response to a question dates to the 1570s. According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, it is of unknown origin.
When did people start saying aye?
“Aye” appears suddenly about 1575 and is “exceedingly common” around 1600; it is initially written I and its origin, like yes, is uncertain. Ay is also found in Old Frisian, as well as Sater Frisian today (öäi, a’äi etc.).