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# lass

noun (a lass, lasses) — informal, UK dialect

«lass» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (informal, Scotland and northern England) A lass is a girl or young woman. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lass/#m1)
2. (informal) Lass is used as a friendly way to talk to a girl or woman, as in Thanks, lass. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lass/#m2)

### In the lessons

In everyday speech in Scotland, Ireland and the north of England, people say lass and lad for girl and boy. In old songs and stories, a lad and a lass fall in love, and bonny lass means pretty girl. The word is friendly and warm, not rude.

### Examples

- She's a clever lass. (UK dialect) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lass/#x1)
- Thanks, lass, that's very kind. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lass/#x2)
- The lads and lasses went to the dance. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lass/#x3)
- A bonny lass sang by the river. (Scots) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lass/#x4)
- Our Sarah's a lovely lass. (northern England) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lass/#x5)
- Come here, lass, and tell me what happened. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lass/#x6)
- And the lass whispered in his ear: [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lass/#x7)

### Note

Plural: lasses. Informal and regional; in standard English say girl or young woman. The boy word is lad. Lassie means the same; Lassie is also a famous dog in films.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «lass» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lass/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«lass» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/lass.html) on Mova free.