HeyRuaHow to say “happy” in Irish
- Irish:
- sona
- English:
- happy, lucky
- Word type:
- adjective
- Happier:
- níos sona
- Happiest:
- is sona
- Pronunciation:
- “SUN-a” /ˈsˠʊnˠə/
What does “sona” mean?
“Sona” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- happy
- Feeling or bringing contentment and joy.Also: content, joyful, glad.
1 other meaning: lucky
- 2lucky
- Fortunate or bringing good luck.Also: fortunate, auspicious.
Other Irish adjectives for happy: sonasach (happy)
“Sona” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is sona after saol (life, masculine), after óige (youth, 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: óige shona. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: saol sona.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, sona. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: óigí sona.
Happier, happiest, very happy
Tá sí níos sona anois ná riamh. She is happier now than ever.
| happier | níos sona | in the past tense: ní ba shona |
|---|---|---|
| happiest | is sona | in the past tense: ba shona |
| as happy as | chomh sona le | no change after chomh |
| very happy | an-sona | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too happy | róshona | ró- lenites |
“Sona” in a sentence: Irish examples
With a masculine noun, a feminine noun, a plural, a comparison and on its own.
Phrases with sona: Lá breithe sona duit (happy birthday), Lá na Máithreacha Sona (happy Mother's Day), Lá na nAithreacha Sona duit (happy Father's Day), Lá Fhéile Vailintín sona duit (happy Valentine's Day), Oíche Shamhna Shona (happy Halloween)
Other adjectives in Irish
More everyday Irish adjectives to learn next.
Phrases with “sona”
Happy in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for happy?
The Irish for happy is sona (pronounced “SUN-a”). It comes after the noun: saol sona, a happy life; óige shona, a happy youth.
How do you say happier and happiest in Irish?
níos sona is happier and is sona is happiest. In the past tense they become ní ba shona and ba shona.
Why does sona become shona?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So óige shona (a happy youth) but saol sona (a happy life), because saol is masculine.
How do you say very happy in Irish?
an-sona. Too happy is róshona, and as happy as is chomh sona le.
Does sona have more than one meaning?
Yes. Sona can mean happy or lucky, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'sona' and 'sásta'?
'Sona' means happy in a deep or lasting sense, as in 'saol sona', while 'sásta' means satisfied or pleased, as in 'Tá mé sásta leis'.
What is the opposite of 'sona'?
The traditional opposite is 'dona', as in the saying 'sona nó dona', meaning lucky or unlucky, happy or unhappy.
