The key to pronouncing Edinburgh like a Scot is to remember that we talk fast and don't dwell on the vowels. So the way we say it sounds more like “Edin-bra” with the second part said faster and softer than the first. Another place name that always seems to trip up the visitor is “Pitlochry”.
The correct pronunciation of Edinburgh is “Edin-burra.” The last part sounds like “brah” with a soft “r.” Unlike “Edinborough” or “Edin-burg,” this pronunciation aligns with the Scots language's influence.
“Auld Reekie” is an old nickname for Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland. It means “old smoky” in Scots language and originated from around the 16th and 17th centuries. Back then, Edinburgh's crowded Old Town was surrounded by city walls.
The correct term is Dunediner and refers to the old name of the town, Dunedin, although Edinburgher does seem to be used alot (mainly by Glaswegians). Seth, Edinburgh UK.
A SCOTSMAN Explains The SCOTTISH Accent(s) to a LONDONER
What is the colloquial name for Edinburgh?
The city itself enjoys a number of nicknames, most commonly being referred to colloquially as 'Auld Reekie', a Scots name translating as 'old smokey' on account of the prodigious number of chimneys that the city boasted, especially after the construction of the New Town.
“Hello” — Just like in English, Scots often use “hello” for a friendly greeting. “Hiya” — A more informal variant of “hello,” “hiya” is commonly used in casual conversations.
Some would say that they speak 'Scottish English'. Others might describe their speech as 'British English'. Regardless of what we call the way we talk, the people of Edinburgh come from a wide array of different backgrounds and experiences, and these have shaped the way they use language.
'J' has only relatively recently been considered a separate letter of the English (and Scots) alphabet. "Well into the 18th century, many dictionaries would have words beginning with the consonant 'j' in the same section as the vowel 'i'. So it's not surprising that it would be pronounced to rhyme with 'i'."
You'll notice that the FACE (roughly phoneme /eɪ/) vowel is pronounced [e(:)] optionally long and the DRESS (roughly phoneme /ɛ/) is pronounced [ɛ~ɛ̝] optionally raised. So the vowels are indeed very close to merging in Scottish English.
Wee is a quintessentially Scottish word meaning small or little. You'll often hear it used to add a touch of warmth to statements. For example, you might say I'll have just a wee cup of tea to politely ask for some tea, or Take a wee break to suggest a short rest.
Whit's fur ye'll no go past ye – Whatever is meant to happen will happen. Ma heid's mince – My head is mince, meaning I'm a bit confused. Yer oot yer face! – You're extremely intoxicated from the effects of alcohol.
Scottish accents can actually vary a good deal. Commonly Glasgow is considered one of the thickest accents in Scotland, while Edinburgh is perhaps the lightest - but the two are only about 50 miles apart!
Received Pronunciation (RP) is the accent of British English regarded as the standard one, carrying the highest social prestige, since as late as the beginning of the 20th century.
Many younger speakers in Scotland will use tap “r”s. The most common R sound in Scotland today is called an alveolar tap, written as [ɾ] in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). For many people, this R sound is one of the first things they will notice about Scottish speech.
