How to pronounce Scottish
Say it like SKOT-ish. Scottish has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SKOT).
VoiceSpeed
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Scottish. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
US American/ˈskɑtɪʃ/SKOT-ish
UK British/ˈskɒtɪʃ/SKOT-ish
- SKOT
- ish
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Scottish pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SKOTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- ishKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of Scottish
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: SKOT-ish.
What does Scottish mean?
noun
- the dialect of English used in Scotland
- of or relating to or characteristic of Scotland or its people or culture or its English dialect or Gaelic language“Scots Gaelic”“the Scots community in New York”
Questions about saying Scottish
How do you pronounce Scottish?
Say SKOT-ish. The American pronunciation is /ˈskɑtɪʃ/. In British English it is /ˈskɒtɪʃ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Scottish?
Scottish has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SKOT). Broken into parts: SKOT · ish.
Is Scottish pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˈskɒtɪʃ/ (SKOT-ish).