Samhain is pronounced "SOW-in," with "sow" rhyming with "cow," or "SAH-win." Both are correct, and both are close to how the word sounds in Irish and Scottish Gaelic. The one pronunciation that gives people away is "Sam-hain," which is what the spelling suggests to an English reader but not how the word has ever been said.
How Do You Pronounce Samhain?
You pronounce Samhain "SOW-in" or "SAH-win." The "mh" in the middle doesn't make an "m" or an "h" sound at all, and the word has two short syllables, or nearly one when Irish speakers say it quickly.
| Language | Spelling | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| English (most common) | Samhain | SOW-in or SAH-win |
| Irish | Samhain | SOW-in, said quickly, close to one syllable |
| Scottish Gaelic | Samhain | SOW-in, with a nasal "ow" |
| Manx | Sauin | SOH-in |
Why Isn't Samhain Pronounced "Sam-Hain"?
Samhain isn't pronounced the way it looks because Irish spelling works differently from English. In Irish, an "h" written after a consonant changes that consonant's sound, a process called lenition. An "m" followed by "h" stops being an "m" and becomes a soft "v" or "w" sound, and in Samhain that sound melts into the vowels around it to make the "ow."
The ending works the same way. The "ai" before the final "n" mostly tells an Irish reader how to say the "n," so the end of the word comes out as a short "in." Once you know that "mh" can sound like "w," a lot of Irish words start to make sense, and Irish spelling feels much less like a trick.
Samhain Pronunciation in Irish
In Irish, Samhain sounds like "SOW-in," said so quickly that it's nearly a single syllable. Samhain is also the ordinary Irish word for the month of November, so you'll hear it all year round in Ireland, not only at Halloween.
You can hear it in our short video:
Irish has three main dialects, from Ulster, Connacht, and Munster, and each says the word a little differently. The Teanglann Irish dictionary has a recording of Samhain in all three, which is the best way to hear the real thing.
The night of October 31 is Oíche Shamhna, "Samhain night," pronounced "EE-ha HOW-na." Notice the same trick again: "mh" turns into the "ow" sound in the middle of Shamhna.
Samhain Pronunciation in Scottish Gaelic
In Scottish Gaelic, Samhain is pronounced close to "SOW-in," with two clear syllables and a slightly nasal "ow." As in Irish, it's also the name of the month of November. You may see the older spelling Samhainn in Scottish books.
Samhain Pronunciation in Manx
In Manx, the language of the Isle of Man, the word is spelled Sauin and pronounced "SOH-in." On the Isle of Man, the night of October 31 is celebrated as Hop-tu-Naa, with carved turnip lanterns and songs sung door to door. Our guide to turnip jack-o'-lanterns has photos of Hop-tu-Naa turnips.
What Is Samhain Called in Welsh?
Samhain isn't a Welsh word, because Wales has its own name for the start of winter: Calan Gaeaf, pronounced roughly "KAL-an GUY-av." It falls on November 1, and the night before, Nos Galan Gaeaf, was known as a "spirit night" when ghosts were said to be out walking.
The other Celtic languages use the same kind of name. In Cornish it's Kalan Gwav, which Cornwall also celebrates as Allantide, and in Breton it's Kalan Goañv. All of them mean "the first day of winter."
Is It Wrong to Say "Sam-Hain"?
Saying "Sam-hain" isn't a crime, and plenty of people say it that way for years after meeting the word in a book. People will understand you. If you'd like to say it the way Irish and Scottish speakers do, though, "SOW-in" or "SAH-win" is the way to go, and it's a small way of honoring the culture the festival comes from.
How to Say Happy Samhain
To wish someone a happy Samhain, say "Happy SOW-in" or "Blessed SOW-in." In Irish you can say Oíche Shamhna shona duit, pronounced roughly "EE-ha HOW-na HUN-a ditch," which means "a happy Samhain night to you."
For longer wishes to write in cards or say at the table, see our Samhain blessings and chants, and our guide to what Samhain is covers the festival's meaning, history, and traditions.
Samhain Pronunciation FAQ
How do you pronounce Samhain?
Samhain is pronounced "SOW-in," rhyming with "cow-in," or "SAH-win." It is not pronounced "Sam-hain."
Is the "h" silent in Samhain?
The "h" in Samhain isn't pronounced on its own. In Irish, "mh" together makes a soft "v" or "w" sound, which blends into the vowels to make the "ow" in "SOW-in."
Do the Irish and Scottish pronounce Samhain the same way?
Irish and Scottish Gaelic speakers both say Samhain close to "SOW-in." Irish speakers tend to say it so quickly that it's almost one syllable, and Scottish Gaelic speakers give it two syllables with a nasal "ow."
What does Samhain mean?
Samhain is the Irish and Scottish Gaelic name for the festival of October 31 to November 1 and for the month of November. The name is usually read as "summer's end."
How do you say Samhain in Welsh?
Welsh doesn't use the word Samhain. The Welsh name for the first day of winter is Calan Gaeaf, pronounced roughly "KAL-an GUY-av," and the night before it is Nos Galan Gaeaf.
