Glaswegian....or What Was That Again?

A local told us that in the first month here we would perhaps understand every third word, and by the third month we’d be able to decipher what people were saying. That may have been overly optimistic. We will probably continue our default communication for some time to come: smiling, nodding our heads, asking a repeat or simply replying “dunno.” Or answering the somewhat simple “sitin-in or way?” (here or to-go) when ordering simple food or drink. Among the words that have stumped us are cullen skink (a popular smoked haddock chowder), geggie (mouth), chebs out (for women, showing off your chest), peely wally (pale-skinned), and mingin’ (gross). The use of “wee” is not a Hollywood stereotype but is uttered every other sentence "wuld you like a wee bag for that?" and is also shortened to apply to children as in pub signs advising “weans welcome.”