neamh

See also: neamh- and nèamh

Irish

Etymology

From Old Irish nem, from Proto-Celtic *nemos (“heaven, sky”), from Proto-Indo-European *nébʰos. Cognate with Breton neñv, Cornish nev and Welsh nef.

Pronunciation

• (Munster) IPA^(key): /nʲavˠ/
• (Galway) IPA^(key): /n̠ʲavˠ/
• (Mayo) IPA^(key): /n̠ʲaw/
• (Ulster) IPA^(key): /n̠ʲãuh/

Noun

neamh f (genitive singular neimhe or nimhe)

1. heaven; sky, firmament
   • 1965, Church of Ireland, The Book of Common Prayer (Irish)‎^[1], Oifig an tSoláthair, retrieved 2 January 2026, page 2:

     Ár nAthair atá ar neamh, …

     Our Father, who art in Heaven …

Declension

Declension of neamh (second declension, no plural)

bare forms singular nominative neamh vocative a neamh genitive neimhe dative neamh neimh (archaic, dialectal) forms with the definite article singular nominative an neamh genitive na neimhe dative leis an neamh leis an neimh (archaic, dialectal) don neamh don neimh (archaic, dialectal)

Alternative declension:

Declension of neamh (second declension, no plural)

bare forms singular nominative neamh vocative a neamh genitive nimhe dative neamh nimh (archaic, dialectal) forms with the definite article singular nominative an neamh genitive na nimhe dative leis an neamh leis an nimh (archaic, dialectal) don neamh don nimh (archaic, dialectal)

Further reading

• Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977), “neamh”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla [Irish–English Dictionary], Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN
• Dinneen, Patrick S. (1927), “neaṁ”, in Foclóir Gaeḋilge agus Béarla [Irish and English Dictionary], 2nd edition, Dublin: Irish Texts Society, page 786; reprinted with additions 1996, →ISBN