The Dundee things outsiders will never fully understand, according to Dundonians
- Andrew Batchelor
- 11 hours ago
- 2 min read
Dundee Culture recently asked followers a simple question that quickly exploded into a huge discussion online - “What’s the most ‘Dundee’ thing about Dundee that outsiders would never understand?”
Within hours, hundreds of Dundonians filled the comments section with words, phrases, food references and observations that instantly unlocked memories for people across the city.
From local dialect to iconic food choices and strange shared habits, the responses painted a hilarious and surprisingly emotional picture of Dundee life.
Circles!
One of the most common answers was the word “circles” instead of “roundabouts”. While many outside Dundee would simply call them roundabouts, countless locals insisted they will always be circles.
Others joked that a roundabout is something bairns play on in the park - not something you drive around.
Food and drink
Food also featured heavily throughout the discussion. “Cundie”, “pehs”, bridies, mince on a buttered roll and polony rolls were repeatedly mentioned as things outsiders simply don’t understand.
One commenter wrote “Mince on a buttered roll!!!!!!” while another simply responded with “Eh dinna ken 🤷♂️” - another phrase many Dundonians instantly recognised.
The city with a Goldilocks effect
The city’s close-knit nature was another major talking point.
One follower commented: “They wouldn’t understand that wherever in the world you meet someone from Dundee, it takes about 30 seconds to identify someone you both know.”
The comment quickly became one of the most liked responses on the post.
The dialect and phrases
Others highlighted unique Dundee sayings and pronunciations, including “cho cho”, “aplenaneanaingignaneana”, “chickenelly”, “the hoose on the bunker”, and debates around whether tea means dinner.
Several followers also pointed out that some phrases thought to be uniquely Dundonian may actually be more widely Scottish than many realise.
The discussion quickly became more than just a joke thread.
It turned into a celebration of Dundee’s identity, humour and shared understanding - the kind of small cultural details that instantly connect people from the city no matter where they are in the world.
The post has now attracted hundreds of reactions and comments, with many Dundonians continuing to add their own suggestions and memories to the growing list.
