séimh
/ʃeːvʲ/
The Irish word for serene is séimh.
séimh is an adjective used to describe someone or something that is peaceful or calm.
Meaning: peaceful, calm (adj)
How do you pronounce it?
/ʃeːvʲ/
Did you know?
- The root of séimh actually traces back to a word meaning 'thin'. It suggests a sense of serenity that is light, delicate, or unsubstantial rather than heavy or powerful.
- Because séimh can imply 'mildness', using it to describe food might suggest it is not spicy or harsh on the palate.
- In certain Irish dialects, séimh can function as an adverb to mean 'slowly' or 'smoothly', describing the manner in which an action is performed.
Examples in context
- Is duine séimh é.He is a calm person.
- Tá an t-aer séimh anocht.The air is serene tonight.
Example conversation
Conor and Aoife are walking by a lake.
- ConorAn bhfuil an lá seo séimh?Is this day peaceful?
- AoifeTá, tá an t-uisce go séimh.Yes, the water is calm.
- ConorIs maith liom an uair seo.I like this time.
- AoifeTá sé an-suímhach, a Chonaire.It is very relaxing, Conor.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry séimh, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries séimh, CC BY-SA 4.0.
