Pronunciation: [skˈɒts] (IPA) 
The word "Scots" is spelled with the letters S-C-O-T-S. In IPA phonetic transcription, it is pronounced as /skɒts/. This means the "s" is pronounced with a /sk/ sound, followed by the vowel sound /ɒ/ (similar to the "o" in the word "hot"), and ending with the "t" sound. This spelling is typically used to refer to the people or language of Scotland, as distinct from Scottish Gaelic.
Scots is a term that refers to the variety of English spoken in Scotland. It is one of the three main branches of Insular Scots, alongside Scottish Gaelic and Scottish Standard English. Scots has a distinct linguistic history and is considered a separate language from Scottish English.
Scots is primarily spoken in Lowland Scotland and the Scottish Borders, but it also has a presence in Ulster, Northern Ireland due to historical migrations from Scotland. It has Celtic origins and evolved from the Old English spoken by the Anglo-Saxon settlers in what is now Scotland.
The vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation of Scots differ from those of Scottish English. It has a strong Germanic influence and contains numerous words, phrases, and idioms derived from Old Norse, Anglo-Saxon, and Dutch, reflecting Scotland's history of Scandinavian and Germanic contacts. Scots also has regional variations, such as Doric in the northeast.
Although English is the dominant language in Scotland, Scots has been recognized as a separate linguistic entity by the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. It is also used in literature, poetry, and songs, contributing to Scotland's rich cultural heritage.
In recent years, there have been efforts to promote and preserve the use of Scots, with campaigns advocating for its inclusion in education and media. Despite its historical significance and cultural value, Scots continues to face challenges in maintaining its status as a distinct language.
• Scotch.
• Same as Scotch.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "Scots" is derived from the Gaelic word "Alba" or "Albannach", which means "Scotland" or "Scottish". This Gaelic term was often used to refer to the people living in Scotland. Over time, the word "Albannach" was anglicized as "Scotis" in Latin and later evolved into "Scots" in English. The term initially referred to the Gaelic-speaking inhabitants of Scotland, distinguishing them from the English-speaking population.
