HeyRuaHow to say “peaceful” in Irish
- Irish:
- sámh
- English:
- peaceful, pleasant, drowsy
- Word type:
- adjective
- More peaceful:
- níos sáimhe
- Most peaceful:
- is sáimhe
- Plural:
- sámha
- Pronunciation:
- “sawv” /sˠɑːvˠ/
What does “sámh” mean?
“Sámh” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- peaceful
- Calm, quiet and free from disturbance.Also: tranquil, calm, serene, quiet.
2 other meanings: pleasant or drowsy
- 2pleasant
- Easy and pleasant, giving comfort and ease.Also: easy, comfortable, restful.
- 3drowsy
- Sleepy and relaxed, ready to doze.Also: sleepy, languid.
Other Irish adjectives for peaceful: suaimhneach (peaceful), síothúil (peaceful), síochánta (peaceful), suaimhneasach (peaceful)
“Sámh” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is sámh after fear (man, masculine), after oíche (night, 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: oíche shámh. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: fear sámh.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, sámha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: fir shámha; after other plurals it does not: oícheanta sámha.
More peaceful, most peaceful, very peaceful
Tá an baile seo níos sáimhe ná an chathair. This town is more peaceful than the city.
| more peaceful | níos sáimhe | in the past tense: ní ba sháimhe |
|---|---|---|
| most peaceful | is sáimhe | in the past tense: ba sháimhe |
| as peaceful as | chomh sámh le | no change after chomh |
| very peaceful | an-sámh | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too peaceful | róshámh | ró- lenites |
“Sámh” in a sentence: Irish examples
With a masculine noun, a feminine noun, a plural, a comparison and on its own.
Phrases with sámh: Codladh sámh (sleep well), Codladh sámh (sweet dreams)
Other adjectives in Irish
More everyday Irish adjectives to learn next.
Phrases with “sámh”
Peaceful in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for peaceful?
The Irish for peaceful is sámh (pronounced “sawv”). It comes after the noun: fear sámh, a peaceful man; oíche shámh, a peaceful night.
How do you say more peaceful and most peaceful in Irish?
níos sáimhe is more peaceful and is sáimhe is most peaceful. In the past tense they become ní ba sháimhe and ba sháimhe.
Why does sámh become shámh?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So oíche shámh (a peaceful night) but fear sámh (a peaceful man), because fear is masculine.
What is the plural of sámh?
With a plural noun sámh becomes sámha: fir shámha, oícheanta sámha. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very peaceful in Irish?
an-sámh. Too peaceful is róshámh, and as peaceful as is chomh sámh le.
Does sámh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Sámh can mean peaceful, pleasant or drowsy, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the most common use of 'sámh'?
It is most often heard in 'codladh sámh', a peaceful sleep, as in 'Codladh sámh!' meaning 'Sleep well!'.
