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Beautiful Irish Words & Their Meanings

The Irish language is full of words that don’t quite translate — words for a kind of calm, a kind of joy, a kind of belonging. Here are some of the loveliest, grouped by feeling, with their meanings and a rough way to say each one.
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Pronunciations are an approximate guide for English speakers — Irish has several dialects, so treat them as a starting point rather than a rule.

Words for feelings & spirit

  • Grá

    love

    say it roughly: graw

  • Sonas

    happiness, good fortune

    say it roughly: SUN-us

  • Áthas

    joy, gladness

    say it roughly: AW-hus

  • Aoibhneas

    bliss, delight

    say it roughly: EEV-nyus

  • Suaimhneas

    peace, calm

    say it roughly: SOO-iv-nyus

  • Dóchas

    hope

    say it roughly: DOH-khus

Words for the heart & soul

  • Croí

    heart

    say it roughly: kree

  • Anam

    soul

    say it roughly: AH-num

  • Anam cara

    soul friend

    say it roughly: AH-num KAH-ruh

    Made famous by the writer John O’Donohue.

  • Draíocht

    magic, enchantment

    say it roughly: DREE-ukht

  • Saoirse

    freedom

    say it roughly: SEER-shuh

  • Síocháin

    peace

    say it roughly: SHEE-uh-khawn

Words for nature & light

  • Grian

    sun

    say it roughly: GREE-un

  • Gealach

    moon

    say it roughly: GAL-ukh

  • Spéir

    sky

    say it roughly: spair

  • Solas

    light

    say it roughly: SUL-us

  • Réalta

    star

    say it roughly: RAYL-tuh

  • Abhainn

    river

    say it roughly: OW-in

Terms of endearment

Irish is rich in affection. When you address someone directly, the first letter often softens — so grá becomes a ghrá, “my love.”

  • A stór

    my treasure, darling

    say it roughly: uh STOHR

  • A chuisle

    my pulse

    say it roughly: uh KHWISH-luh

    From a chuisle mo chroí — pulse of my heart.

  • Mo chroí

    my heart

    say it roughly: muh KHREE

  • A ghrá mo chroí

    love of my heart

    say it roughly: uh ghraw muh khree

Common questions

What is the most beautiful Irish word?
It is a matter of taste, but words that come up again and again include grá (love), aoibhneas (bliss), suaimhneas (calm, peace), draíocht (magic) and anam cara (soul friend).
What is the Irish word for soul?
The Irish word for soul is anam (roughly “AH-num”). It appears in the well-known phrase anam cara — “soul friend.”
What does “anam cara” mean?
“Anam cara” means “soul friend” — anam is soul and cara is friend. It describes a deep, trusted friendship of the soul, and was made widely known by the Irish poet and philosopher John O’Donohue.
How do you say “magic” in Irish?
The Irish word for magic is draíocht (roughly “DREE-ukht”). It once referred to the lore and arts of the druids, and still carries that sense of enchantment.
What does “a stór” mean?
“A stór” is a term of endearment meaning “my treasure” or “darling.” Stór literally means a store or treasure, so calling someone a stór is to call them precious.

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Lá Maith brings you a beautiful Irish word or line each morning, with its English meaning — and lets you keep the ones you love in a journal. A soft, daily way to gather the language. Free on the App Store.

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