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ironía

irony

noun ee-roh-NEE-ah Rare
Communication Speech

Origin: from Greek eirōneia, 'feigned ignorance'

Usage Note

Ironía covers both verbal irony (saying the opposite of what is meant) and situational irony (la ironía del destino — the irony of fate). In Spanish rhetoric, ironía is closely linked to sarcasmo, though ironía is subtler. The adjective form is irónico/a. The written accent on the i breaks the -ia diphthong, giving a four-syllable word: i-ro-ní-a.

Examples

"Habló con ironía sobre su propia suerte."

Natural Translation

She spoke with irony about her own fate.

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