ironía
/iɾoˈnia/feminine
The English word "irony" is ironía in Spanish.
The word refers to a condition that is contrary to expectations.
Meaning: condition contrary to expectations (noun)
Which one should you use?
It is important not to confuse ironía with the adjective férreo. While ironía refers to the concept of irony, férreo is used to describe things made of iron or having the qualities of iron, such as un régimen férreo (an iron regime).
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
As a feminine noun, ironía is preceded by the feminine article la when used with a definite article, forming la ironía.
How do you pronounce it?
/iɾoˈnia/
Did you know?
- The Greek root of ironía is actually connected to the character 'Eirōnes', a stock figure in ancient comedy known for being a deceptive or mock-wise person.
- While English speakers frequently use 'ironic' to describe a strange coincidence, a Spanish speaker might avoid irónico in that context. They often prefer to use paradoja or coincidencia irónica to ensure the listener does not think they are being personally mocking or sarcastic.
- In certain literary contexts in Spanish, ironía can refer specifically to 'ironía socrática', a method of questioning that pretends to be ignorant to reveal flaws in an opponent's logic.
Examples in context
- Eres el único que no entiende la ironía de mi frase.You're the only one who didn't understand the irony of what I said.This sentence shows how to use ironía to describe the irony within a specific phrase.Tatoeba #1466693 by marcelostockle, translation #1467683 by GPHemsley
- "Literalmente", literalmente, puede significar "metafóricamente". El que "literal" signifique "metafórico" es también una literal ironía."Literally" can literally mean "metaphorically". "Literal" meaning "metaphorical" is also a literal irony.This sentence uses ironía to illustrate a situation where the meaning of a word is the opposite of its literal sense.Tatoeba #1370505 by marcelostockle, translation #463421 by Spamster
- La ironía es el primer indicio de que la conciencia se tornó consciente.Irony is the first sign that a consciousness has become aware.This sentence uses ironía to describe a philosophical observation.Tatoeba #3780423 by carlosalberto, translation #12467808 by Miktsoanit
- ¡No me digas! Resulta que el "experto" en automóviles no sabe cambiar una rueda.You don't say! Turns out the "car expert" doesn't know how to change a tire.
- ¡Cómo no! El jefe prometió que nos pagarían a tiempo, y ahora estamos todos sin sueldo.Of course! The boss promised we'd be paid on time, and now we're all unpaid.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Sources
- Wiktionary, “irony” translations and entries ironía, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ironía, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
