Sassenach
2 synonyms and 2 antonyms for Sassenach, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — An English person, as spoken of by a Scot; used anywhere from teasing to genuinely hostile depending on tone.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use Sassenach
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
bloody Sassenach
a Sassenach accent
Marked as Scottish; an English speaker using it of themselves sounds jokey, and using it of others sounds borrowed.
Etymology
From Scottish Gaelic Sasannach, meaning Saxon or English, from the same root as Saxon.
Full origin of Sassenach →Frequently asked questions
Is Sassenach an insult?
It can be, but it is usually mild. Among friends it is banter about being English, while in an argument it becomes a genuine slur, and the delivery decides which one you are hearing.
What is the difference between Sassenach and Sasunnach?
They are spellings of the same Gaelic word. Sassenach is the anglicised form used in English writing, while Sasannach or Sasunnach is the Gaelic spelling.
Does Sassenach mean outlander?
No. It specifically means English or Saxon. The association with outsiders comes from its use in fiction, where it is applied to a foreigner in the Highlands, but the word itself names the English.
