# lass

/ˈɫæs/ (US) · /lˈæs/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lass
Updated: 2026-05-31

## Definition

a girl or a young woman. It is a friendly word used mostly in Scotland and northern England.

For teachers: a girl or young woman. Primarily associated with Northern English and Scottish dialects; carries a familiar or affectionate tone.

## Examples

- She is a clever young lass.
- The old man smiled and asked the lass if she needed any help with her heavy bags.
- While the term is less common in standard southern British English, you will still hear locals in rural Yorkshire referring to any young woman as a lass in casual conversation.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used in Northern British dialects; often paired with 'young' as a fixed descriptive phrase.

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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.