cionnas

Irish

Adverb

cionnas

1. Alternative form of conas (“how”)

Scottish Gaelic

Etymology

From Old Irish cindas; contraction of cia (“what, which”) + ionnas (“state, matter”). Cognate to Irish conas.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkʰʲũn̪ˠəs̪/

Adverb

cionnas

1. (Lewis, Sutherland, Ross-shire) how, what manner, by what means

   Cionnas a tha thu ag ionnsachadh na Gàidhlig? ― By what means are you learning Gaelic?

   Cionnas a tha sibh? ― How are you?

Usage notes

• Typical of northern Highland dialects such as the MacKay Country dialect, also used in Lewis as well as dè man. Only rarely heard elsewhere, and if so considered high register.

Synonyms

• ciamar
• dè mar (South Uist, Barra, Argyll)
• dè man (Lewis)