# hae

/hˈiː/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hae
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

a Scottish way of saying 'have'. You use it in the same way you would use the standard English word.

For teachers: A Scots variant of 'have', serving as both a main verb and an auxiliary in Scots and Scottish English dialects.

## Examples

- I hae a lot of work to do today.
- The old man told the children that they should hae more respect for their elders when visiting the village.
- While standard English has become the norm for formal writing in Edinburgh, many residents still hae a strong connection to the traditional Scots vocabulary used in daily conversation.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I hae to went" but "I hae to gae" — When using 'hae' as a modal of necessity, it must be followed by the base form of the verb, just like 'have to'.

## Usage notes

- Follows the same transitivity and auxiliary rules as 'have'; often appears in the negative form 'haena' (have not).

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.