HeyRuaHow to say “sorrow” in Irish
- Irish:
- dólás
- English:
- sorrow, contrition
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, first declension
- Pronunciation:
- “DOH-laws” /ˈd̪ˠoːl̪ˠaːsˠ/
- Plural:
- dóláis (sorrows)
- Genitive singular:
- dóláis, an dóláis (e.g. gníomh dóláis, act of contrition)
- Genitive plural:
- dólás, na ndólás (e.g. cuimhne na ndólás, memory of the sorrows)
What does “dólás” mean?
“Dólás” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- sorrow
- A feeling of deep sadness, grief or distress.Also: grief, dolour, affliction, tribulation.
“Dólás” with the article
The plural of sorrow in Irish is dóláis. Here is dólás after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Dólás” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using dólás, the Irish word for sorrow.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Sorrow in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for sorrow?
The Irish for sorrow is dólás (pronounced “DOH-laws”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is dóláis. Depending on context it can also mean contrition.
How do you pronounce dólás in Irish?
Dólás is said like “DOH-laws” (IPA /ˈd̪ˠoːl̪ˠaːsˠ/).
What is the plural of sorrow in Irish?
The plural of dólás is dóláis; with the article, na dóláis means “the sorrows”. The genitive plural is dólás, as in cuimhne na ndólás (memory of the sorrows).
Does dólás have more than one meaning?
Yes. Dólás can mean sorrow or contrition, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does dólás change to dhólás or ndólás?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) dólás becomes mo dhólás (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár ndólás (eclipsis).
How is dólás different from brón?
Brón is the everyday word for sadness, while dólás is more literary and intense, and also means religious contrition, as in gníomh dóláis.
Is there a proverb with dólás?
Yes: an áit a mbíonn an dólás bíonn an sólás ina aice, meaning consolation is never far from sorrow.
