cumha
/kuə/ ~ /kuː/masculine
The Irish word for longing is cumha.
cumha is a masculine noun used to express a melancholic desire.
Meaning: melancholic desire (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
/kuə/ ~ /kuː/
Did you know?
- In Irish traditional music, a 'cumha' is not just a feeling of longing but a specific type of slow, mournful air or melody designed to evoke sadness.
- The phrase cumha anam can be used to describe a 'soul-longing', suggesting a desire for something the speaker cannot name or a place they have never been.
- In some contexts, cumha can shift from a feeling of desire to a feeling of grief or lamentation, blurring the line between missing someone and mourning them.
Examples in context
- Tá cumha mór orm ar mo mhuintir.I have a great longing for my people.
Example conversation
Oisín and Siobhán are talking about their childhood home.
- OisínTá cumha agat don bhaile, a Siobhán?Do you have a longing for home, Siobhán?
- SiobhánTá, tá cumha an-láidir agam.Yes, I have a very strong longing.
- OisínIs mór an cumha atá agam freisin.I have a great longing too.
- SiobhánBáimse ansin arís go spoirt.I would love to be there again.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “longing” translations and entries cumha, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
