Spanish Conversation · Level 106
59 words
Spanish word
ironía
Pronunciation
IPA/iɾoˈnia/
Meaning
- feminine nounirony
Example
No entendí su ironía.
I didn't understand his irony.
More examples
Ella respondió con ironía para evitar una confrontación.
She responded with irony to avoid a confrontation.
Core concept
A 'No smoking' sign in a room full of smoke.
Common phrases
tono de ironía
ironic tone
comentario con ironía
ironic remark
responder con ironía
respond with irony
Similar words
sarcasmo: Uses a cutting, contemptuous tone to mock and wound the listener.
mofa: Mocks someone with scornful laughter to belittle and dismiss them.
broma: Offers a joke intended to amuse others.
Definition in Spanish
Situación o expresión en la que ocurre o se dice algo que, por contraste con lo esperado, revela una crítica o un sentido distinto al literal.
Word origin
From Greek eirōneía 'feigned behavior' via medieval Latin, ironía now marks a contrast between expectation and reality that often implies criticism.
Usage tips
- A common exclamation is '¡Qué ironía!' and whether it sounds bitter or merely resigned depends on the speaker's tone and context.
Other meanings
- snide remarknoun
Opposites
- sinceridadsinceritynoun
- franquezafranknessnoun
Related words
- irónicoironicadjective
- ironizarironizeverb
- irónicamenteironicallyadverb