doup
Very lowInformal, dialectal (chiefly Scottish and Northern English)
Definition
Meaning
The buttocks, backside, or bottom of a person.
Can refer to the rounded or curved underside of an object.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a regional colloquialism for 'buttocks'. Its use is often humorous or euphemistic, and it carries a childlike or rustic connotation. Not considered vulgar.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Exclusively used in certain British dialects (especially Scottish). Almost entirely unknown in American English.
Connotations
In the UK, it is a quaint, informal term. In the US, it would be incomprehensible to most.
Frequency
Extremely rare in standard British English and non-existent in American English corpora.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to [verb] one's doupon one's doupVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Keep your doup on the chair! (Scottish: sit still, be patient)”
- “He's all mouth and no doup (talks but doesn't act).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Never used.
Academic
Never used, except in linguistic or dialect studies.
Everyday
Only in very specific regional, informal contexts within the UK.
Technical
Not applicable.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The baby has a wet doup.
- Sit your doup down.
- I slipped on the ice and landed on my doup.
- He told the fidgeting child to park his doup.
- After the long hike, my doup was quite sore.
- In the local dialect, 'doup' is a common word for backside.
- The antique chair was beautifully carved, even on the underside of the doup.
- His humorous tale involved chasing a pig and ending up flat on his doup in the mud.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a Scotsman saying 'Och, I fell right on my DOUP!' – it rhymes with 'soup' and is just as informal.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE BODY IS A CONTAINER (the doup as the base or foundation).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with Russian 'дупа' (vulgar slang). The English word is milder and dialectal.
- No direct equivalent; use 'попа' (childish) or 'задница' (neutral) for translation, but note the register mismatch.
Common Mistakes
- Using it outside its specific dialectal context.
- Spelling it as 'doupe' or 'dowp'.
- Assuming it is universally understood in English.
Practice
Quiz
In which variety of English is the word 'doup' primarily used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is generally considered a mild, informal, and somewhat old-fashioned or dialectal term for buttocks. It is not vulgar.
You should avoid it, as it is not part of American English vocabulary and will likely not be understood.
It is pronounced /daʊp/, rhyming with 'soup'.
Almost never. It is confined to informal speech, dialect literature, or historical texts.