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.
13. Empty
For most English speakers the word 'empty' would just mean that there's nothing inside whatever you're talking about, but here we use this like "an empty" when you've got the house to yourself e.g., "Come round to my place I've got an empty tonight!" Photo: Yuganov Konstantin via Canva Pro
14. Piece
If it's your lunch break then you'll be away for your piece, this refers to a sandwich. Photo: Iridenta Florescu via Canva Pro
15. Patch
On a good day this word will refer to a Pumpkin Patch or a stylish patch on your jacket, but on a bad day if your friends or loved ones abandon you then you have been "patched". Photo: alvarez via CanvaPro
16. Hen
Rather than refer to a specimen of poultry, if you hear the term "Hen" in Scotland it's often used affectionately to refer to a woman. Photo: Topaz777/ cyano66 via Canva Pro