# Scottish

/ˈskɑtɪʃ/ (US)

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

## Senses

### 1. relating to Scotland

adjective · CEFR A1

relating to the country of Scotland, its culture, or its things.

For teachers: pertaining to the nation, culture, or geography of Scotland.

- We enjoyed eating traditional Scottish food like haggis during our trip to Edinburgh.
- The museum features an extensive collection of Scottish landscape paintings from the nineteenth century.

Usage: Always capitalized as it is a proper adjective.

### 2. relating to people

adjective · CEFR A1

describing a person who was born in Scotland or has family from there.

For teachers: denoting a person of Scottish birth, descent, or nationality.

- My grandfather is Scottish, but he moved to London when he was young.
- The Scottish inventor James Watt played a crucial role in the development of the steam engine.

### 3. the people

noun · CEFR B1

the people who live in Scotland.

For teachers: the people of Scotland collectively; usually preceded by the definite article.

- The Scottish are known for their warm hospitality and proud history.
- The Scottish voted in the referendum to determine the future of their constitutional relationship with the United Kingdom.

Usage: Used with a plural verb when referring to the people as a group.

### 4. language

noun · CEFR B2

the type of English spoken in Scotland.

For teachers: the varieties of the English language spoken in Scotland, often characterized by distinct phonology and vocabulary.

- He speaks Scottish, so he uses some words that people in London might not know.
- Linguists study Scottish to understand how regional dialects evolve differently from Standard British English.

Usage: Often used to refer to the dialect rather than the Gaelic language.

## Examples

- I really enjoy listening to Scottish music.
- The restaurant specializes in traditional Scottish dishes like haggis and fresh salmon caught in local lochs.
- The museum features an extensive collection of Scottish textiles, showcasing the intricate patterns and historical significance of various regional tartans.

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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.