How to Pronounce Niamh
How do you say Niamh?
NEEV
- IPA (US)
- /niːv/
- IPA (UK)
- /niːv/
neev
One syllable.
Is it NEE-am or NEEV?
- ✗ Not standard NEE-am: The 'mh' is not an M. In Irish spelling, 'mh' is a V (or W) sound.
- ✗ Not standard NYE-am: The 'ia' is a long 'ee' with a slight glide, never the 'eye' sound.
- ✓ Also accepted NEE-uv: A regional variant heard in parts of Ireland, especially the north. NEEV is the most widespread.
Niamh pronunciation in British vs American English
Niamh is said NEEV in every English accent. In Ireland you may also hear NEE-uv, a regional variant.
What does Niamh mean?
An Irish girl's name meaning 'brightness' or 'radiance'.
Where does Niamh come from?
From Old Irish Niam, 'lustre' or 'brightness'. Two Irish spelling rules explain the sound: 'ia' is a long 'ee', and 'mh' (an M softened by the H after it) is pronounced V. In Irish legend, Niamh Chinn Óir (Niamh of the Golden Hair) rides across the sea to carry the poet Oisín to Tír na nÓg, the land of eternal youth.
Niamh in a sentence
- Niamh is flying in from Dublin on Friday.
- We named our daughter Niamh after her grandmother.
- Niamh scored the winning goal in the final.