We often get asked for quotes for complicated transcription work involving strong accents from across the UK and Ireland. Very often, English accent requests are broken down into ‘Geordie’ or ‘Scouse’, but Scottish accents are quite often simply referred to as ‘Scottish’! Our Scottish transcribers have very kindly produced this list for us of the main varieties of accents seen across Scotland.

A list of the main Scottish accents and the geographical areas where they are spoken:

1. Glaswegian

Geographical Area: Glasgow and surrounding areas

Characteristics: The Glaswegian accent is known for its rapid speech, use of the glottal stop (particularly for /t/ sounds), and a sing-song intonation. It’s considered one of the most distinct urban accents in Scotland.

Example Speakers: Billy Connolly, Armando Iannucci, Sharleen Spiteri & Amy Macdonald

2. Edinburgh

Geographical Area: Edinburgh and its suburbs.

Characteristics: The Edinburgh accent is often perceived as “softer” compared to Glaswegian. It tends to have clearer enunciation and a less pronounced use of the glottal stop.

Example Speakers: David Tennant and Shirley Manson

3. Aberdonian (Doric)

Geographical Area: Aberdeen and the northeast of Scotland, including Aberdeenshire and Moray.

Characteristics: The Aberdonian accent, also referred to as Doric, is notable for its distinctive vowel sounds and the use of words from Scots. It has a strong regional identity and can sound quite different from accents in the Central Belt. Dreich (referring to dreary weather) is a Doric word in very common use at certain times of the year.

Example Speaker: Annie Lennox

4. Dundonian

 Geographical Area: Dundee and surrounding areas in Angus.

 Characteristics: The Dundonian accent features a unique set of vowel pronunciations and a distinct rhythm. It shares some similarities with Glaswegian but has its own local slang and speech patterns.

Example Speakers: Brian Cox (Actor), Eilish McColgan

5. Invernesian

Geographical Area: Inverness and the Highlands.

Characteristics: The Invernesian accent is a Highland accent that is generally clearer and slower than many urban Scottish accents. There is often influence from Scottish Gaelic in the form of intonation and vocabulary. See East & West Highland accents below for further breakdown.

Example Speakers: Yvette Cooper, Sue Black

6. Shetlandic

Geographical Area: Shetland Islands.

 Characteristics: The Shetlandic accent is heavily influenced by the old Norse language, as Shetland has a Norse cultural heritage. The accent is distinct, with Scandinavian-like vowel sounds and unique intonations.

Example Speakers: Aly Bain, Amy Laurenson

7. Orcadian

 Geographical Area: Orkney Islands.

Characteristics: Similar to the Shetlandic accent, the Orcadian accent has Norse influences but with different intonation patterns. It has a unique set of vowel sounds and is more conservative compared to mainland Scottish accents.

Example Speakers: Gerda Stevenson, Robert Shaw

8. Fife (Fifer)

Geographical Area: Fife, a region on the east coast of Scotland.

 Characteristics: The Fife accent shares characteristics with other east-coast accents like Dundee but has a slower speech rhythm and some unique local expressions. It’s considered a milder form of the broader Scots dialect.

Example Speakers: Val McDermid, Craig/Charlie Reid (The Proclaimers)

9. West Highland

 Geographical Area: Western Highlands, including areas like Fort William, Skye, and Mull.

Characteristics: The West Highland accent is influenced by Scottish Gaelic, with a slow, musical intonation. It tends to be softer and clearer than the more urban Central Belt accents.

Example Speaker: Carol Kirkwood

10. East Highland

Geographical Area: Eastern Highlands, including towns like Nairn and Inverness.

Characteristics: Like the West Highland accent, the East Highland accent is influenced by Gaelic but tends to have fewer Gaelic features. It is often considered easier to understand than urban Scottish accents.

Example Speaker: Kevin McKidd

11. Borders Accent

Geographical Area: Scottish Borders, including towns like Hawick, Galashiels, and Peebles.

Characteristics: The Borders accent is less pronounced than many other Scottish accents and has a more lilting quality. It shares some similarities with northern English accents due to the proximity to England.

Example Speaker: Jack Lowden

12. Gàidhlig (Scottish Gaelic English)

Geographical Area: Gaelic-speaking areas in the Highlands and Islands, especially the Outer Hebrides.

Characteristics: English spoken by Gaelic speakers often has distinctive rhythm and intonation influenced by the Gaelic language. It can be quite different from English spoken elsewhere in Scotland, especially in terms of vowel pronunciation.

Example Speakers: Julie Fowlis, Karen Mattheson

13. Ayrshire Accent

 Geographical Area: Ayrshire, on the southwest coast of Scotland.

Characteristics: The Ayrshire accent is closer to Glaswegian but less harsh. It shares characteristics of other west-coast accents, with the use of Scots vocabulary and a rolling ‘r’ sound.

Example Speakers: Mark Prendergast, John Sessions

14. Stirling Accent

Geographical Area: Stirling and the surrounding areas of central Scotland.

Characteristics: The Stirling accent is a blend of Central Belt accents but tends to have clearer speech than the Glaswegian or Dundonian accents. It is slightly softer and less rapid in pace.

Example Speakers: Simone Lahbib

15. Perthshire Accent

 Geographical Area: Perth and the surrounding areas in central Scotland.

 Characteristics: The Perthshire accent shares features with other Central Belt accents but with a less pronounced glottal stop. It is often described as a neutral Scottish accent.

Example Speakers: Ewan McGregor, Alan Cumming

16. Lothian Accent

Geographical Area: East Lothian, Mid Lothian, and West Lothian (areas surrounding Edinburgh).

Characteristics: The Lothian accent is close to the Edinburgh accent but slightly more regional, incorporating more Scots vocabulary and local variations in pronunciation.

Example Speaker: Annette Crosbie

17. Dumfries & Galloway

Dumfries and Galloway is an area on the south west side of Scotland, bordering with England above Carlisle. Tends to be quite a soft accent. They use ‘the morrow’s morn‘ for tomorrow.

Example Speaker: Sam Heughan, Calvin Harris

Additional Pointers

Aye (inflection is imperative to determine meaning) and ken as in to know are used nationally.  There’s the day, as in How are you doing the day? and No instead of not, Will you no do that please.

Many places have a sharp intake of breath as an integral part of the conversation which can mean many things both positive and negative depending on the context. 

Within the above regions there are variations of the accent that are quite profound.  For example the accent in Dumfries is markedly different to Stranraer, which unsurprisingly has a slight Irish lilt to it, as the two towns are about 75 miles apart.

For expert, accurate human transcription of all Scottish accent audio and video recordings, please visit our website at www.tptranscription.co.uk. Happy to help!