How do you pronounce these Edinburgh place names?
Edinburgh has several place names around the city that are often mispronounced, usually due to their unusual spelling. Here are some of the most common ones, which are handy to know before a visit…
Edinburgh – You’ve got to get this one right! The name Edinburgh is frequently mispronounced by visitors due to the burgh part of the word. Burgh is a Scots word similar to borough, a type of town. It is pronounced bur-ruh. So therefore, the city name is said as Edin-bur-ruh. Some people say the second part a bit quicker so it sounds more like Edin-bruh. Both of these are generally acceptable ways to say it. However, the following are definitely incorrect: Edin-burg, Edin-burro and Edin-bro.
Princes Street – This is the main shopping street in Edinburgh. People sometimes add an extra s and refer to it as Princess Street, so don’t make that mistake. It’s Princes, like the plural of prince.
Calton Hill – A famous hill at the east end of Princes Street, where you can enjoy spectacular views of the city. Here is another case where an extra letter gets added. Some people incorrectly put in an r and say Carlton. So remember, it’s Cal-ton.
Cockburn Street – This street, which leads from the Old Town to Waverley Station, is one of the most famously mispronounced places in Edinburgh. We don’t say it as it’s spelled, it’s not Cock-burn. It’s actually Coe-burn.
Fettes College – A grand private school with amazing architecture, it often gets called Fetts, but the correct way to say it is Fett-is.
Bucchleuch – This district lies between the Old Town and Newington. You might read this as Buck-luck, but it’s pronounced Buck-loo.
Sciennes – Another Edinburgh district that’s tricky to say. It lies just south of the city centre, and is a popular residential area for students. It’s said as Sheens.
Dalry – This area of shops, restaurants and tenement flats in the west of Edinburgh looks as though it might be pronounced Dal-ree. However, we say Dal-rye.
Gorgie – Just beyond Dalry, we find another hard to pronounce district. Don’t say this with soft gs like Georgie. It’s Gor-gee with hard gs as in go or gum.
Saughton – Keep going west and we get to the Saughton area. At first glance, this may look like Saw-ton, but it’s actually said more like Sock-ton.
Carrick Knowe – There are a few places in Edinburgh with Knowe in the name, as it means mound or hill. Many people read it is Know, which is understandable. However, the correct way is like the word Now.
Corstorphine – This was formerly a separate village, but now is part of Edinburgh city. It’s all about knowing where to put the emphasis with this one. Also the e on the end is silent. So it’s Cors-TOR-fin.
So as you can see, Scottish place names and spellings can sometimes be confusing. But hopefully this guide will give you a head start!
