What does this slang term mean?

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Hen Meaning - Streetionary

Hen (noun / Scottish & Northern UK Slang)

(Also heard as: Hen do, Alright hen, Hennie)

Definition:

Hen is a friendly Scottish and Northern English way of addressing a woman or girl, a bit like “love” or “pet”. A “hen do” is a bride-to-be’s party with her female friends.

Where Hen Comes From:

The woman meaning comes from the female chicken and has been used for centuries. Writers record it from at least the 1600s. In Scotland, especially Glasgow, it remains a common everyday term of address.

How People Actually Use Hen:

You hear “you alright, hen?” in shops, buses and pubs. It is warm and casual. Most British people also know “hen do” and “hen night” even if they never use “hen” itself for a woman.

Is Hen Rude?

No. In Scotland it is friendly, though some outside the region may find it unfamiliar or patronising.

Examples in the Wild:

“Alright, hen? Can I help you?”
Meaning: A friendly greeting to a woman.
“We are going to Magaluf for Sarah’s hen do.”
Meaning: A bride-to-be’s party with her friends.
“Thanks, hen, you are a star.”
Meaning: Thanks, love, you have been great.