brón
/bˠɾˠoːn̪ˠ/masculine
The English word sorrow is translated into Irish primarily as brón. Wiktionary also lists cumha and tuirse.
Meaning: unhappiness (noun)
Ways to say it
| Irish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| brón | /bˠɾˠoːn̪ˠ/ (Munster) /bˠɾˠoːnˠ/ (Connacht) |
masculine |
| cumha | /kuə/ ~ /kuː/ (Connacht, Munster) | masculine |
| tuirse | /ˈt̪ˠʊɾˠʃə/ | feminine |
| ong | literary, masculine | |
| dólás | /ˈd̪ˠɔːlˠɑsˠ/ (Ulster) | masculine |
Which one should you use?
brón is the most common and general word for sorrow or sadness. cumha specifically implies a sorrow rooted in longing or yearning for someone or something. ong is a highly formal or poetic term for sorrow used primarily in literature.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
cumha and dólás are also available for expressing sorrow. ong is a highly formal or poetic term, and díomá is a formal term used to describe sorrow resulting from disappointment or regret.
How does it change in a sentence?
The gender of the noun determines the definite article used. Since brón and cumha are masculine, you use the article an brón or an cumha. Because tuirse is feminine, you use the article an tuirse.
How do you pronounce it?
/bˠɾˠoːn̪ˠ/
Did you know?
- The term tuirse treats sorrow as a physical state, merging the feeling of emotional grief with the sensation of bodily fatigue.
- In Irish tradition, cumha is often used to express a collective sorrow for a lost homeland, blending personal grief with national identity.
- In some contexts, tuirse does not just describe a feeling but refers to the audible act of complaining or lamenting one's pain.
Examples in context
- Tá brón ar an mhuintir.There is sorrow upon the people.
- Is mór an brón é.It is a great sorrow.
Example conversation
Oisín and Aoife are talking about a sad movie.
- OisínAn raibh an scéal go brón?Was the story sad?
- AoifeBa bhunús brón an scéal.The story was based on sorrow.
- OisínAn bhfuil brón ort anois, a Aoife?Are you sad now, Aoife?
- AoifeNíl, ach bhí sé go hiontach.No, but it was wonderful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sorrow” translations and entries brón, cumha, tuirse, ong, dólás, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
