Phrase guide

royal burgh

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation, Scotland: /ˌɹɔɪəl ˈbʌɹə/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • General-American: /ˌɹɔɪ(ə)l ˈbɝoʊ/
  • General-American, nonstandard: /-ˈbɝɡ/
  • rhymes with -ʌɹə
  • rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)ɡ

1

noun

Meaning 1

A type of Scottish burgh founded by, or subsequently granted, a royal charter; these were legally abolished in 1975.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Scotland, historical

Examples

  • Most royal burghs were either created by the Crown, or upgraded from another status, such as a burgh of barony.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: burgh royal, royal borough

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From royal + burgh.

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: kuninkaallinen burgh — type of Scottish burgh founded by, or subsequently granted, a royal charter
  • French: burgh royal — type of Scottish burgh founded by, or subsequently granted, a royal charter
  • Japanese: 勅許自治都市 (chokukyojichitoshi) — type of Scottish burgh founded by, or subsequently granted, a royal charter
  • Scots: ryal burgh — type of Scottish burgh founded by, or subsequently granted, a royal charter
  • Spanish: burgo real — type of Scottish burgh founded by, or subsequently granted, a royal charter
  • Ukrainian: королівське мі́сто (korolivsʹke místo) — type of Scottish burgh founded by, or subsequently granted, a royal charter