HeyRuaHow to say “humour” in Irish
- Irish:
- lionn
- English:
- humour, melancholy
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, third declension
- Pronunciation:
- “lyoon” /lʲuːn̪ˠ/
- Plural:
- lionnta (humours)
- Genitive singular:
- leanna, an leanna (e.g. cothromaíocht an leanna, the balance of the humour)
- Genitive plural:
- lionnta, na lionnta (e.g. teoiric na lionnta, the theory of the humours)
What does “lionn” mean?
“Lionn” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- humour
- One of the fluids of the body, especially in old medicine where the four humours were thought to control health and temper.Also: bodily fluid, body fluid, fluid.
“Lionn” with the article
The plural of humour in Irish is lionnta. Here is lionn after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Lionn” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using lionn, the Irish word for humour.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Humour in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for humour?
The Irish for humour is lionn (pronounced “lyoon”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is lionnta. Depending on context it can also mean melancholy.
How do you pronounce lionn in Irish?
Lionn is said like “lyoon” (IPA /lʲuːn̪ˠ/).
What is the plural of humour in Irish?
The plural of lionn is lionnta; with the article, na lionnta means “the humours”. The genitive plural is lionnta, as in teoiric na lionnta (the theory of the humours).
Does lionn have more than one meaning?
Yes. Lionn can mean humour or melancholy, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'lionn' and 'leann'?
'Lionn' is used for bodily humours, as in 'lionn dubh' (melancholy), while 'leann' usually means ale or beer; historically they are forms of the same word.
