Pronunciation Guide • Irish

How to Pronounce niamh

Difficulty: very hard

IPA Transcription

/niːv/

Why is it so hard to pronounce?

NEEV. One syllable from five letters. Irish has entirely different spelling rules from English. "Mh" in Irish = /v/ sound. So "mh" at the end is pronounced as "v". "ia" = long /iː/.

💡 Pro Tip for niamh

NEEV. Rhymes with "leave". One syllable.

Listen to the Native Audio

To hear the exact pronunciation of niamh by a native speaker, use the Pronouncer engine below.

Hear 'niamh' Audio Now →

Word Origins

The term niamh originates from Irish name meaning "bright". Understanding its etymology helps explain why it breaks standard pronunciation rules.