What does sau mean?
Sau is a chiefly Scottish adverb meaning “all” or “the whole of.” It belongs to Scots vocabulary and reflects the language’s older English forms, rather than the standard modern English word “all.” In sentences, it may quantify a group or describe the full extent of something. Because sau is regional and relatively uncommon, it is most likely to appear in Scottish writing, dialect literature, or quotations preserving traditional speech. In general English, “all” or “the whole of” will usually be clearer and more familiar.
adverbIn Scots, sau means “all” or “the whole of.”
- Scottish: all; the whole of.
"The verra day, the folk war oot in all manner o' weathers."
"They saw the whole of the storm coming."
"We'll gang sae the morn."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sau come from?
Sau comes from Scots, the West Germanic language traditionally spoken in parts of Scotland. It is the northern form of the word now generally expressed as “all” in standard English, and its vowel development reflects Scots pronunciation. The form is also comparable with northern English forms such as “all” as pronounced in some dialects.
How sau is actually used
Chiefly used in Scottish English and Scots; it is uncommon outside northern Britain.