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”).

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 usually considered high register.

Synonyms

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