Scotland · adjective and adverb

braw

Fine, excellent, splendid, attractive, or impressive.

Uses your device’s built-in voice. Pronunciation is approximate because available voices and Scottish accents vary.

What braw means

Braw is a positive Scots word used for something that looks good, feels good, or deserves approval. Depending on the sentence, it can mean fine, handsome, splendid, excellent, or simply very good.

How it is used

It can describe weather, clothing, food, a view, a person, or an enjoyable occasion. The exact English equivalent changes with the noun being described.

Part of speech
adjective and adverb
Pronunciation
/brɑː/; vowel quality varies by dialect
Register
Informal or conversational Scots; also found in literature and cultural writing.
Variants
bra'

Examples

Each example is followed by its intended plain-English meaning.

That's a braw view from the hill.

That's an excellent or beautiful view from the hill.

We had a braw day out.

We had a very good day out.

What to watch for

Braw is broader than beautiful. Translating it as pretty in every sentence can miss meanings such as excellent, impressive, or enjoyable.

Related Scottish words

Definition source: Dictionaries of the Scots Language: braw. LocalMean paraphrases the source and adds fresh examples and usage guidance.