onóir
/oˈnˠoːɾˠ/
The English phrase 'honour' is translated into Irish as onóir.
onóir refers to high respect or great esteem for someone based on their character or achievements.
Which one should you use?
While onóir refers to honour, the word Bród can be used to translate 'pride', carrying connotations of both honour and dignity.
How do you pronounce it?
/oˈnˠoːɾˠ/
Did you know?
- Although onóir shares a root with the English 'honour', it is a relatively recent loanword in the Irish language, having entered the lexicon via Old French.
- To speak of 'the honour of a family' in a traditional sense, an Irish speaker might use the word clú, which translates more closely to 'fame' or 'reputation'.
- In Irish culture, onóir is closely tied to the concept of 'face' or public standing, where losing one's onóir was historically seen as a communal tragedy.
Example conversation
Conor and Aoife are discussing a local community leader.
- ConorAn bhfuil onóir agat don fear sin?Do you have honour for that man?
- AoifeTá, tá sé an-uasal.Yes, he is very noble.
- ConorIs onóir í an obair a rinne sé.The work he did is an honour.
- AoifeTá mé i gcomagadh leat, a Chonaire.I agree with you, Conor.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry onóir, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries onóir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
