If your accent is RP English, how do you pronounce “Glasgow”?

Wigeon · 2022-07-31T19:19:33+00:00

Settle an argument between DH and me: YANBU: Glasgow in an RP English accent is pronounced “Glarsgow” with a long “arr” or “arh” in the middle. Like the “a” in “car” (in an RP accent). YABU: Glasgow in an RP English accent is pronounced “Gl-ah-sgow”, with a short “ah”, like the “a” in “cat” (in an RP accent).

BurgundyZero · 09/04/2025 20:56

Glaz-go.

Anything else sounds very affected to my ear.

HueyLouisAndDewey · 09/04/2025 20:51

Glahs-go. Short ah sound.

EmotionallyWeird · 09/04/2025 20:50

YABU to use "ah" to represent a short A - "ah" sounds as if it should represent a long A, like in lah-di-dah.

I have a Southern accent but not as posh as RP, and I think I usually pronounce it Glahz-go, with what I mean by "ah" (a long A).

Smout · 09/04/2025 18:32

The correct pronunciation is, of course, Glesca

DuesToTheDirt · 09/04/2025 18:17

SenecaFallsRedux · 09/04/2025 00:43

That only works for non-rhotic speakers. Say that in a rhotic accent and it produces a pronunciation that no one has ever used for Glasgow.

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But these threads show that many (most?) people haven't the faintest idea what "rhotic" means.

Swiftie1878 · 09/04/2025 12:18

OneTC · 09/04/2025 11:38

How do you pronounce Paris?

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I’m talking UK, smarty pants 😂

(and in fact that might make Glasgow, “Glaz-ghee”) 😁

Floatlikeafeather2 · 09/04/2025 11:52

Wigeon · 31/07/2022 20:30

But is that glass as in “glars” with a long “A” or (RP) or “glas” with a short “A” (northern accent)?!

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Just a point - as a West Country person, now living in Cumbria, the flattest As in the country are definitely in the south west. For example, ordinary people who come from Bath don't refer to the place as Barth. They call it Baahth. Unless you're at the rugby, that is, when it's Baahff.

OneTC · 09/04/2025 11:38

Swiftie1878 · 08/04/2025 13:08

There’s no such thing now, thank god.
And it’s Glazgo.

It should be pronounced the way its residents pronounce it.

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How do you pronounce Paris?

SenecaFallsRedux · 09/04/2025 00:43

sanityisamyth · 08/04/2025 18:47

Glarz-go

That only works for non-rhotic speakers. Say that in a rhotic accent and it produces a pronunciation that no one has ever used for Glasgow.

hulahooper2 · 08/04/2025 19:03

there is 100% no ‘R’ in Glasgow

sanityisamyth · 08/04/2025 18:47

Glarz-go

anybloodyname · 08/04/2025 17:59

It’s glescae surely ! We all know that 🤭

FatOaf · 08/04/2025 15:07

RP is the generic accent of people from south east of England.

No it isn't. And people from the south-east of England don't have a generic accent. A chav from Chatham does not have the same accent as the Duke of Westminster.

ladygindiva · 08/04/2025 14:51

Yabu but I'm from Cornwall if that makes a difference ..

Surferosa · 08/04/2025 13:50

Swiftie1878 · 08/04/2025 13:08

There’s no such thing now, thank god.
And it’s Glazgo.

It should be pronounced the way its residents pronounce it.

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Yes this. Reminds me of the people visiting Edinburgh and pronouncing it as "Eh-din-berg".

Swiftie1878 · 08/04/2025 13:08

Wigeon · 31/07/2022 20:25

RP is the “standard” British accent, like you’d expect BBC newsreaders to have, and the “standard” pronunciation that foreigners are taught.

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There’s no such thing now, thank god.
And it’s Glazgo.

It should be pronounced the way its residents pronounce it.

TheOriginalEmu · 08/04/2025 12:55

FatOaf · 08/04/2025 11:30

Anyone else say Glaz-go
Yes, everybody who lives in Glasgow!

Don't they say Glaz-gie or Glaz-ga?

I'm amused by the thread title. Is "received pronunciation" spoken by more that about 100 aristocrats and social-media wannabee-aristocrats? I guess a lot of southerners think they speak RP, but they actually just speak with a southern accent. I'm not suggesting there is anything good about speaking RP, though: aristocrats are not positive role-models.

RP is the generic accent of people from south east of England. So yes, many more than 100.

Legomania · 08/04/2025 12:49

FatOaf · 08/04/2025 11:30

Anyone else say Glaz-go
Yes, everybody who lives in Glasgow!

Don't they say Glaz-gie or Glaz-ga?

I'm amused by the thread title. Is "received pronunciation" spoken by more that about 100 aristocrats and social-media wannabee-aristocrats? I guess a lot of southerners think they speak RP, but they actually just speak with a southern accent. I'm not suggesting there is anything good about speaking RP, though: aristocrats are not positive role-models.

RP is just shorthand for bog standard middle class Southern accent, not just ex-public school kids.

FatOaf · 08/04/2025 11:30

Anyone else say Glaz-go
Yes, everybody who lives in Glasgow!

Don't they say Glaz-gie or Glaz-ga?

I'm amused by the thread title. Is "received pronunciation" spoken by more that about 100 aristocrats and social-media wannabee-aristocrats? I guess a lot of southerners think they speak RP, but they actually just speak with a southern accent. I'm not suggesting there is anything good about speaking RP, though: aristocrats are not positive role-models.

Surferosa · 08/04/2025 10:50

frasersmummy · 31/07/2022 20:28

Lol at glarsgow Is the queen's English

It's glaz-go

It just is!

I say this but then all my family are from Glasgow! I didn't even know "Glars-gow" or however people are saying it was even an acceptable way of saying it. I'm just chuckling at the thought of any of my Glasweigan relatives or myself for that matter pronouncing it like that!

montysma1 · 08/04/2025 10:20

landoflostcontent · 31/07/2022 20:24

Anyone else say Glaz-go

Yes, everybody who lives in Glasgow!

CustardySergeant · 08/04/2025 10:17

How odd to revive a thread from 2022 about the pronunciation of Glasgow. 😕

CoffeeCantata · 08/04/2025 10:13

With a short 'a' as in cat. I also say Newcastle with a short 'a'.

My accent is RP and I live in the south of England. But I'd say 'Barth' for Bath. don't know why - it's illogical! I suppose I try to approximate to the locals' pronunciation of their hometown.

Btw - can any Salopians tell me for certain whether it's Shroesbury or Shroosbury? I always say Shroosbury....but you hear both said in the town.

Anyotherdude · 08/04/2025 09:53

Glahhhsgoe (Home Counties here)

Timshepherd · 08/04/2025 09:51

I’m from Hampshire and have always said Glasgow with a short a but always a long a in glass, grass, castle etc. My wife, who says castle with a short a tells me I’m inconsistent.