HeyRuaHow to say “happy” in Irish
- Irish:
- sonasach
- English:
- happy, lucky
- Word type:
- adjective
- Happier:
- níos sonasaí
- Happiest:
- is sonasaí
- Plural:
- sonasacha
- Pronunciation:
- “SUN-a-sakh” /ˈsˠʊnˠəsˠəx/
What does “sonasach” mean?
“Sonasach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- happy
- Feeling or bringing happiness and contentment.Also: joyful, content, blissful.
1 other meaning: lucky
- 2lucky
- Having or bringing good fortune.Also: fortunate, prosperous.
Other Irish adjectives for happy: sona (happy)
“Sonasach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is sonasach after saol (life, masculine), after beatha (life, feminine) and after a plural.
séimhiú (the h) the ending
After a feminine noun the adjective gets a séimhiú, an h after its first letter: beatha shonasach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: saol sonasach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, sonasacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: beathaí sonasacha.
Happier, happiest, very happy
Tá sí níos sonasaí anois ná riamh. She is happier now than ever.
| happier | níos sonasaí | in the past tense: ní ba shonasaí |
|---|---|---|
| happiest | is sonasaí | in the past tense: ba shonasaí |
| as happy as | chomh sonasach le | no change after chomh |
| very happy | an-sonasach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too happy | róshonasach | ró- lenites |
“Sonasach” in a sentence: Irish examples
With a masculine noun, a feminine noun, a plural, a comparison and on its own.
Other adjectives in Irish
More everyday Irish adjectives to learn next.
Happy in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for happy?
The Irish for happy is sonasach (pronounced “SUN-a-sakh”). It comes after the noun: saol sonasach, a happy life; beatha shonasach, a happy life.
How do you say happier and happiest in Irish?
níos sonasaí is happier and is sonasaí is happiest. In the past tense they become ní ba shonasaí and ba shonasaí.
Why does sonasach become shonasach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So beatha shonasach (a happy life) but saol sonasach (a happy life), because saol is masculine.
What is the plural of sonasach?
With a plural noun sonasach becomes sonasacha: saolta sonasacha, beathaí sonasacha.
How do you say very happy in Irish?
an-sonasach. Too happy is róshonasach, and as happy as is chomh sonasach le.
Does sonasach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Sonasach can mean happy or lucky, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'sonasach' and 'sona'?
Both mean happy; 'sona' is the commoner short form, as in 'Nollaig shona', while 'sonasach' is related to the noun 'sonas' (happiness) and is a little more formal.
