ionndrainn
/ˈjɔ̃ũd̪ɾaɲ/
The Gaelic word for 'miss' is ionndrainn.
ionndrainn is a verb used to express feeling the absence of someone or something, or feeling a want or need for something.
Meaning: to feel the absence of someone or something, to feel the want or need of (verb)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The word ionndrainn functions as a verbal noun. Because of this, it is used within a 'Tha [noun] [prepositional pronoun]' construction. For example, to say 'You miss', you would say Tha ionndrainn ort, using the prepositional pronoun ort (on you).
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈjɔ̃ũd̪ɾaɲ/
Did you know?
- Because ionndrainn is a verbal noun, it shares the same grammatical structure as the words for 'hunger' and 'thirst', treating a lost loved one as a biological need.
- In traditional Gaelic poetry, the concept of missing someone is often linked to the landscape, treating the absence of a person as a void in the physical world.
- While ionndrainn describes missing someone, the Gaelic language possesses distinct words for 'longing' that describe a physical ache in the body, turning a mental feeling into a tangible pain.
Example sentences for Gaelic are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Catriona and Hamish are talking about their hometown.
- CatrionaA bheil thu a' ionndrainn an t-siud, a Hamish?Do you miss it there, Hamish?
- HamishTha, tha mi a' ionndrainn an t-siud gu mòr.Yes, I miss it very much.
- CatrionaTha mi a' ionndrainn an t-srathaလည်း.I miss the glen too.
- HamishTha sinn an dà chiseag a' ionndrainn an t-siud.We both miss it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “miss” translations and entries ionndrainn, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
