anam
/ˈɑn̪ˠəmˠ/masculine
The Irish word for soul is anam.
Anam refers to the spirit or essence of a person, which is often believed to continue to exist after the person has died.
Meaning: the spirit or essence of a person that is often believed to live on after the person's death (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of anam is anamacha.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈɑn̪ˠəmˠ/
Did you know?
- The word anam shares its distant roots with the Latin word 'anima', which is the origin of the English word 'animal'.
- The phrase anam cara means 'soul friend' and describes a person you share your deepest secrets with. In ancient Irish tradition, this was a spiritual bond that lasted beyond death.
- While 'soul' in English often carries a heavy religious weight, in Irish poetic traditions, anam is frequently used to describe the 'soul' or very core of a beautiful landscape or a piece of music.
Examples in context
- Tá mo anam ag éirí as mo chorp.My soul is leaving my body.
- Tá an anam fíor.The soul is real.
Example conversation
Niamh and Cathal are talking about spirituality.
- NiamhAn gcreideann tú in anam?Do you believe in a soul?
- CathalTáim cinnte go bhfuil anam ag gach duine.I am sure that every person has a soul.
- NiamhAn leanann an anam go dtí an tír eile?Does the soul continue to the other land?
- CathalIs é sin an creideamh, a Niamh.That is the belief, Niamh.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “soul” translations and entries anam, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries anam, CC BY-SA 4.0.
