About Scots

Scots is spoken throughout Scotland and in parts of Ulster, in the north of Ireland. It is different from:

  • Scottish English, although they share many similarities due to their historically close relationship. Most speakers of Scots can also speak Scottish English, although the opposite is not true. 
  • Scottish Gaelic, to which Scots is not related at all. 

Our regional labels identify words, spellings and meanings which are used only or mainly in certain parts of Scotland. The map above shows all the Scottish regions we refer to. Together, these areas define the four traditional dialect regions of Scots, i.e. 

  • Insular (shetland and orkney);
  • Northern (northern, including north-eastern);
  • Central (east centralwest central, and south central); and
  • Southern (borders). 

We also use western highlands and islands and ulster to identify Scots forms found there.