Vocabulary · Scottish culture
Burns Night in English
B1
Burns Night in English: the Scottish evening for the poet Robert Burns, the symbols of Scotland, the Burns Supper menu and its speeches and songs. With British pronunciation (IPA) and examples.
Quick answer
The poet and the celebration
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Burns Night(n.)“Burns Night is on January 25th.” | a Scottish evening on 25 January | /bɜːnz naɪt/ |
| Robert Burns(n.) | Scotland's national poet (1759-1796) | /ˈrɒbət bɜːnz/ |
| national poet(n.) | a country's most famous writer of poems | /ˈnæʃənəl ˈpəʊɪt/ |
| Burns Supper(n.) | the traditional dinner for the poet's birthday | /bɜːnz ˈsʌpə/ |
| poet(n.) | a person who writes poems | /ˈpəʊɪt/ |
| poem(n.) | a piece of writing with lines and rhythm | /ˈpəʊɪm/ |
| birthday(n.) | the day you were born, every year | /ˈbɜːθdeɪ/ |
| celebration(n.) | a special event for a happy occasion | /ˌselɪˈbreɪʃən/ |
Scotland and its symbols
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Scotland(n.) | the country north of England | /ˈskɒtlənd/ |
| Scottish(adj.) | from Scotland | /ˈskɒtɪʃ/ |
| kilt(n.)“Men wear kilts on Burns Night.” | a knee-length skirt for Scottish men | /kɪlt/ |
| tartan(n.) | cloth with crossed coloured stripes | /ˈtɑːtən/ |
| bagpipes(n.) | a Scottish wind instrument with a bag | /ˈbæɡpaɪps/ |
| piper(n.) | a person who plays the bagpipes | /ˈpaɪpə/ |
| thistle(n.) | a purple, prickly flower, symbol of Scotland | /ˈθɪsəl/ |
| Gaelic(adj./n.) | an old Celtic language of Scotland | /ˈɡeɪlɪk/ |
| Highlands(n.) | the mountains of northern Scotland | /ˈhaɪləndz/ |
The Burns Supper meal
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| haggis(n.)“Haggis is the star of the Burns Supper.” | a sheep's stomach filled with meat and oats | /ˈhæɡɪs/ |
| neeps(n.) | a Scottish word for turnips | /niːps/ |
| tatties(n.) | a Scottish word for potatoes | /ˈtætiz/ |
| whisky(n.) | a strong drink for adults, made from grain | /ˈwɪski/ |
| Scotch(n.) | the same drink when made in Scotland | /skɒtʃ/ |
| cranachan(n.) | a dessert of cream, raspberries and oats | /ˈkrænəkən/ |
| shortbread(n.) | a sweet, buttery Scottish biscuit | /ˈʃɔːtbred/ |
| toast(n.) | a short speech to honour someone | /təʊst/ |
Speeches and expressions
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Address to a Haggis(n.) | Burns's famous poem about the dish | /əˈdres tə ə ˈhæɡɪs/ |
| Auld Lang Syne(n.) | Burns's song for New Year's Eve | /ɔːld læŋ saɪn/ |
| Slàinte mhath!(phrase) | a Gaelic wish for good health | /ˈslɑːntʃə ˈvɑː/ |
| Immortal Memory(n.) | the main speech about Burns's life | /ɪˈmɔːtəl ˈmeməri/ |
| Toast to the Lassies(n.) | a funny speech about the women | /təʊst tə ðə ˈlæsiz/ |
| lassie(n.) | a Scottish word for a girl | /ˈlæsi/ |
| laddie(n.) | a Scottish word for a boy | /ˈlædi/ |
Common mistakes to avoid
Scotch people ❌: say Scottish
A person from Scotland is Scottish or a Scot: She's Scottish. Scotch is only for a few products, like Scotch broth (a soup) or a Scotch egg. Many Scottish people do not like the word Scotch for people.
Haggis: a dish or an animal?
Haggis is a traditional Scottish dish: a sheep's stomach filled with meat, oats and spices. But a Scottish joke says it is a small wild animal of the Highlands, with shorter legs on one side to run around the hills! Some tourists believe it. At the table, haggis comes with neeps and tatties (turnips and potatoes).
Practice quiz
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Frequently asked questions
When is Burns Night?+
Burns Night is on 25 January, the birthday of the poet Robert Burns (born on 25 January 1759). It is very popular in Scotland. Scottish communities around the world, in Canada, New Zealand and the United States, also organise Burns Suppers.
Who was Robert Burns?+
Robert Burns (1759-1796) is Scotland's national poet. People also call him Rabbie Burns. He wrote in English and in Scots, a language of Scotland that is close to English. His most famous works are Auld Lang Syne (people sing it at New Year), A Red, Red Rose, Tam o' Shanter and the Address to a Haggis.
What do people eat at a Burns Supper?+
The traditional menu starts with a soup: cock-a-leekie soup, made with chicken and leeks. Then comes the star dish: haggis with neeps and tatties (mashed turnips and potatoes). For dessert, there is cranachan, made with cream, raspberries, oats and honey.
What happens at a Burns Supper?+
There is a fixed order. (1) The guests come in to the sound of the bagpipes. (2) Someone says the Selkirk Grace, a short prayer. (3) The haggis arrives in a procession; a guest reads the Address to a Haggis and cuts it open with a knife. (4) Everyone eats. (5) A speech called the Immortal Memory honours Burns. (6) The Toast to the Lassies and the reply follow. (7) Everyone sings Auld Lang Syne.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/vocabulary/burns-night
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.