40 Regular words with totally different meanings in Scotland starting with “Hen”

By Thomas Mackay

Search and Trends Writer

Published 22nd Nov 2022, 15:42 GMT

Updated 13th Oct 2023, 13:05 GMT

If you live in Scotland or have Scottish friends then you may know the alternative and often ‘colourful’ meanings behind these everyday English words.

England is not far down South yet to the English people 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.

Usually this is a shortened version of the name Edward, like Ned Flanders from The Simpsons, but in Scotland it's used more often to refer to a young troublemaker or foolish person.

. Ned

Usually this is a shortened version of the name Edward, like Ned Flanders from The Simpsons, but in Scotland it's used more often to refer to a young troublemaker or foolish person. Photo: YouTube Screenshot via BBC Scotland, popculturegeek on Flickr

Are we referring to the steaming kettle or the iconic steam train? Nope. Steaming is one of Scotland's (many) words for being drunk e.g., "I'm pure steaming!"

. Steaming

Are we referring to the steaming kettle or the iconic steam train? Nope. Steaming is one of Scotland's (many) words for being drunk e.g., "I'm pure steaming!" Photo: elan7t50/ Damedeeso via Canva Pro

Although the act of greeting would normally refer to how we greet one another with a "hello" or handshake, here this means to be crying (often from laughter!)

. Greeting

Although the act of greeting would normally refer to how we greet one another with a "hello" or handshake, here this means to be crying (often from laughter!) Photo: Rgstudio via Canva Pro

The quintessential example of a Scottish word with a different meaning elsewhere; to ken is to know while in Scotland, but usually people associate it with Barbie's equally plastic boyfriend.

. Ken

The quintessential example of a Scottish word with a different meaning elsewhere; to ken is to know while in Scotland, but usually people associate it with Barbie's equally plastic boyfriend. Photo: Submitted

This usually means exactly what it says, how? But in Scotland (particularly in Glasgow) this acts as the question 'why?'

. How

This usually means exactly what it says, how? But in Scotland (particularly in Glasgow) this acts as the question 'why?' Photo: Isai Hernandez / PublicDomainPictures via Canva Pro

For many this word would conjure up imagery of the famous artist P Diddy, but when used in Scotland it may refer to a person's breasts or be used as a light way of calling someone silly.

. Diddy

For many this word would conjure up imagery of the famous artist P Diddy, but when used in Scotland it may refer to a person's breasts or be used as a light way of calling someone silly. Photo: Shamsuddin Muhammad via WikiCommons

Referring to a burn means referring to someone who's had an unfortunate incident with fire more often than not (perhaps they got too merry on bonfire night) but in Scotland it may refer to a small stream.

. Burn

Referring to a burn means referring to someone who's had an unfortunate incident with fire more often than not (perhaps they got too merry on bonfire night) but in Scotland it may refer to a small stream. Photo: IoanT via Canva Pro

This would technically refer to the arm of the Atlantic Ocean, the Baltic Sea, but in Scotland it's an expression to say that you're very cold.

. Baltic

This would technically refer to the arm of the Atlantic Ocean, the Baltic Sea, but in Scotland it's an expression to say that you're very cold. Photo: TobKatrina via Canva Pro

As opposed to being the roaster of excellent coffee beans for your morning brew, a roaster is someone who is making a fool of themselves.

. Roaster

As opposed to being the roaster of excellent coffee beans for your morning brew, a roaster is someone who is making a fool of themselves. Photo: ANTONI SHKRABA via CanvaPro

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.

. 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

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.

. 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

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.

. 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

You could be referring to the video-streaming site YouTube, the metro, or an idiotic person if you're in Scotland.

. 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

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!"

. 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

If it's your lunch break then you'll be away for your piece, this refers to a sandwich.

. 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

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".

. 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

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.

. 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

Usually this is a shortened version of the name Edward, like Ned Flanders from The Simpsons, but in Scotland it's used more often to refer to a young troublemaker or foolish person.

1. Ned

Usually this is a shortened version of the name Edward, like Ned Flanders from The Simpsons, but in Scotland it's used more often to refer to a young troublemaker or foolish person. Photo: YouTube Screenshot via BBC Scotland, popculturegeek on Flickr

Are we referring to the steaming kettle or the iconic steam train? Nope. Steaming is one of Scotland's (many) words for being drunk e.g., "I'm pure steaming!"

2. Steaming

Are we referring to the steaming kettle or the iconic steam train? Nope. Steaming is one of Scotland's (many) words for being drunk e.g., "I'm pure steaming!" Photo: elan7t50/ Damedeeso via Canva Pro

Although the act of greeting would normally refer to how we greet one another with a "hello" or handshake, here this means to be crying (often from laughter!)

3. Greeting

Although the act of greeting would normally refer to how we greet one another with a "hello" or handshake, here this means to be crying (often from laughter!) Photo: Rgstudio via Canva Pro

The quintessential example of a Scottish word with a different meaning elsewhere; to ken is to know while in Scotland, but usually people associate it with Barbie's equally plastic boyfriend.

4. Ken

The quintessential example of a Scottish word with a different meaning elsewhere; to ken is to know while in Scotland, but usually people associate it with Barbie's equally plastic boyfriend. Photo: Submitted

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