What it means
A warm Scottish term of endearment, basically like love, darling, or pet. You hear it all over everyday chat with pals, family, coworkers, and folk behind the till, especially around Glasgow and across the Central Belt. Usually it lands soft and friendly, though with the wrong tone it can sound a bit patronising.
Usage examples
"Hen, is this the queue or are we aw just hovering like lost pigeons? Aye, it’s the queue. Sound, I’ll bide here then, cheers hen."
"Sit yourself down, hen, I'll put the kettle on and you can tell me all about it."
"Aw hen, don't you worry about the vase, it was cracked anyway and nobody liked it."
"You awright, hen, or has this Monday just kicked your soul up and down Sauchiehall Street?"
"Cheers, hen, I was looking right at the menu and still managed to order pure nonsense."
Where it comes from
It comes from the ordinary word hen, meaning a female chicken. In Scots and Scottish English, that everyday noun drifted into a pet name over time, much like love or pet in other parts of Britain. It’s been part of Scottish speech for generations and still sounds warmly local in daily chat.
Other ways to say it
Editors of this term
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We look after this expression together
If they say it where you live and something is missing here, bring it. A magikito looks at it and adds it.
- An example
- Your patch
- Your voice