Starz's Outlander, which is based on a series of books written by Diana Gabaldon, introduced the world to Scottish Gaelic culture, deeply rooted in storytelling and the rhythm of spoken tradition. Language in Gaelic communities has long been more than just a way to communicate; it is a carrier of memory and identity.The word Sassenach has been widely recognized after Outlander. It was first used in the Pilot episode, after Claire time-travels to 18th-century Scotland. She is referred to as a Sassenach by Dougal and the other MacKenzie men because she is an Englishwoman.Sassenach is a Gaelic slur used for an outsider or a foreign (English) person. Jamie and the other MacKenzie men used it to address Claire because she was an Englishwoman and an outsider in their Highlands. The term holds derogatory connotations, but Jamie eventually adopted it as a title of endearment for Claire, suggesting that her strangeness and English status charmed him, and he fell in love with her.More on Sassenach in Outlander in our story.What is the meaning of 'Sassenach' in Outlander? View this post on Instagram Instagram Post'Sassenach' in Outlander is a Gaelic word used by the Scottish Gaels, which means an outsider. The Gaels used the word 'Sasunnach,' derived from the Latin word Saxones, meaning Saxons who invaded Britain. In the 18th century, Scots changed Sasunnach to Sassenach, using it to describe both English people and Scottish Lowlanders. By the 20th century, the word was used as a derogatory slur for an English person, an outsider, or a foreigner. The use of such a derogatory slur in Gabaldon's series of fantasy books proves the author's intensive research into the Gaelic language and the Highlander culture. Gabaldon used Sassenach to describe her female protagonist in Outlander, an English woman who time-travels from the 20th century to 18th-century Scotland and stumbles across highlanders from Clan MacKenzie.While Claire is trying to understand the strangeness of her adventure, she is repeatedly referred to as a 'Sassenach' by Dougal and his men. Gabaldon explained the significance of this title in an interview with Town & Country:"Well, I had this English woman showing up, and I did know that Sassenach is in fact a fairly derogatory term for someone who is a foreigner, but specifically for an English person given the long and acrimonious relationship between England and Scotland. So, it seemed natural that someone would refer to Claire as a Sassenach.''Jamie gave his own spin to the word 'Sassenach' in Outlander View this post on Instagram Instagram PostWhile Dougal and the other Clan MacKenzie men were suspicious about the Sassenach who crash-landed into their world, it was love at first sight for Jamie. He certainly used the derogatory slur (and even adopted it as a nickname for his wife over the years), but the connotations behind his title were different from the other MacKenzie men. Claire's English-ness, which derived suspicion and ridicule from others, fascinated Jamie. Her strangeness stood her apart from the rest of the women at Castle Leoch, and Jamie was attracted to her. Claire even recognizes the difference in Jamie's use of Sassenach in Outlander, as Gabaldon reveals:"To start with, she has a slight idea that it’s a derogatory term, but she knows he’s plainly not trying to insult her. He’s just pointing out that she’s strange.''Jamie initially addressed Claire as a Sassenach to point out and likely to warn her about her strangeness. In one of the scenes from Season 1, he even advises her to stay on guard as she is an English woman in 'this part of the Highlands.'However, over the seasons, as Claire and Jamie got married and fell in love, the term 'Sassenach' became nostalgic, even sentimental for them. The once derogatory slur became 'a term of endearment' for one of the most epic love stories on television.Outlander will return with its eighth and final season on Starz in early 2026.For the latest scoops on your favorite TV shows and movies, follow Soap Central.