Usually a supply of bafflement for outsiders, arriving in Scotland can imply coming into contact with some very uncommon place names. With many cities and villages having historical names that make little sense in case you do not dwell there or do not perceive Scottish pronunciation – it might probably typically be exhausting to ask for instructions.
A few of these locations owe their names to the Gaelic language, others to Scots or Norse and a few actually have a French affect. Which means that many locations have names that appear impenetrable to even those that have change into acclimatised to a few of our uncommon phrases and spellings.
Many cannot be pronounced phonetically whereas the silent letters, common 'ch' as in loch sounds and rolling 'R's can come throughout as complicated, which will be daunting for the informal traveller. Fortunately, the locals are affected person and often very happy to assist with a correction or two.
Listed below are among the locations that individuals can discover complicated to spell, say or simply perceive how their title happened.
Culzean - That is the fantastic title for an attractive clifftop fort in Ayrshire however outsiders will usually be confused when folks seek advice from it as 'Kull-ane' and not 'Cul-zeen'.
Ecclefechan - A delightfully named city in Dumfries and Galloway can seem to be an odd title to learn at first nevertheless it's comparatively simple to pronounce in case you keep in mind that most place names with a 'ch' are pronounced like 'loch' and never as in cheddar. So, 'eck-el-feck-han'. Straightforward.
Crossmyloof - Not notably exhausting to pronounce (Cross-ma-loof) the confusion comes right here from the place the origin of the title lies, and there are a lot of theories, one of many extra common is that the phrase 'loof' is claimed to be an archaic type of palm.
Ae – One other entry in Dumfries and Galloway is Ae, which is pronounced 'Aye', and is claimed to be the shortest place title within the UK.
Culross - Many Outlander followers will know the ache of asking for instructions to 'Cul-Ross' solely to have folks take a look at you want there isn't any such place. Actually, this place is shortened to 'Coo-Riss', which implies subsequent time you head there you'll be able to sound like a neighborhood.
Kirkcudbright - Yip, we're again in Dumfries and Galloway once more, this time within the charming city of Kirkcudbright. To this point so affordable sounding proper? Properly, what if we advised you it was in actual fact pronounced 'Kirk-coo-bree'?
Garioch - It is perhaps tempting to use your new-found data of the Scottish use of 'ch' right here however you need to most likely maintain off on that, Garioch falls below the remit of the Doric dialect and so this picturesque space of Aberdeenshire is definitely pronounced 'Geery' – and sure that goes for Glen Garioch whisky too.
Ballachulish - Anybody travelling to the attractive surroundings of the northwest Highlands may have come throughout the signal for this picturesque wee city and felt a bit confused when locals truly seek advice from it as Ball-a-hoolish.
Strathaven - Anybody wanting on the title of this little rural city within the Lanarkshire countryside could be forgiven for pondering it was comparatively easy to say, however as we Scots are so keen on being economical and shortening phrases and names wherever we will, you may discover it is truly pronounced 'Stray-ven'.
Wemyss Bay - This wee village on the southwest coast is massively common however in case you're visiting or are assembly somebody from there, it's pronounced 'Weems Bay' not 'We-miss Bay'.
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