The spelling of the word "sauchiehall" might seem unintuitive at first glance, but it can be easily explained through phonetics. In IPA phonetic transcription, the word can be spelled as /ˈsɔːxɪ.hɔːl/. The "sau-" corresponds to the vowel sound in "saw," or /ɔː/, while the "-chie" is pronounced like the "i" in "bit," or /ɪ/. The double "l" at the end is pronounced /l/ and elongates the second syllable. So, while it may appear tricky to spell, the phonetics behind "sauchiehall" are quite straightforward.
The word sauchiehall is derived from Scots, a dialect spoken in Scotland. It comes from the combination of two words: sauch, which means willow in Scots, and haugh, which refers to a low-lying meadow alongside a river. The name likely originated from the presence of willow trees growing along the River Kelvin, which runs through the area known as Sauchiehall Street in Glasgow, Scotland. Over time, the original Scots term sauchiehaugh was Anglicized and shortened to Sauchiehall.