England is not far down south but sometimes Scotland can seem like a different planet - as our colourful expressions and accents could leave any newcomer scratching their head.
Intriguingly, this isn’t just a case of ‘slang’ or Billy Connolly-esque accents as Scotland is considered a multilingual country. Native languages like Scots, Scottish Gaelic and of course English, all come together under an array of beautiful accents and dialects.
If you’re Scottish, or have lived here, then you’ll know well that we have developed our own style when it comes to using English – and so certain words don’t mean what the Collins Dictionary says they do in the context of Scotland.
To spare you asking for translations, here are 40 everyday English words and phrases with different meanings in Scotland.
9. Winch
A winch is an apparatus that uses a rope to pull or lift things, but in Scotland if you winch someone then it means you kissed them. Photo: George Marks/ Claudia_Bessa via Canva Pro
10. Fair
Being fair means being measured in balance in situations, or it could describe something being mildly a certain way e.g., it's fairly windy today. In Scotland, however, if it's "fair breezy outside" then it's a very windy day. Photo: JohnnyGreig via CanvaPro
11. Honking
Honking can refer to the sound a Goose makes or something you do in your car when you've got road rage, meanwhile honking in Scotland can mean it's really stinky e.g., your shoes are honking, throw them out. Photo: Hans via Canva Pro
12. Tube
You could be referring to the video-streaming site YouTube, the metro, or an idiotic person if you're in Scotland. Photo: Alexander's Images/ halbergman via Canva Pro