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Courtesy in Irish (Cúirtéis): Meaning, Pronunciation, Usage

‘cúirtéis’ also means: bow

The Irish for courtesy is cúirtéis, a feminine noun (plural cúirtéisí).
Updated October 2026Report a mistake

How to say “courtesy” in Irish

Irish:
cúirtéis
English:
courtesy, bow
Word type:
noun
Gender:
feminine, second declension
Pronunciation:
“KOOR-tyaysh”  /ˈkuːɾˠtʲeːʃ/
Various forms
Plural:
cúirtéisí (courtesies)
Genitive singular:
cúirtéise, na cúirtéise (e.g. cuairt na cúirtéise, the courtesy visit)
Genitive plural:
cúirtéisí, na gcúirtéisí (e.g. malartú na gcúirtéisí, the exchange of courtesies)

What does “cúirtéis” mean?

“Cúirtéis” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.

courtesy
Polite, respectful behaviour towards other people.Also: politeness, civility, good manners.
1 other meaning: bow
2bow
A gesture of respect such as a bow or curtsy made to someone.Also: curtsy, obeisance, salutation.

Other Irish words for courtesy: cúirtéiseacht (courtesy), córtas (courtesy)

“Cúirtéis” with the article

The plural of courtesy in Irish is cúirtéisí. Here is cúirtéis after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.

an chúirtéis
the courtesy
Lenition: c becomes ch after an (feminine noun)
na cúirtéisí
the courtesies
Plural: no change after na

“Cúirtéis” in a sentence: Irish examples

Common Irish sentences using cúirtéis, the Irish word for courtesy.

Ba cheart cúirtéis a léiriú do gach duine.
You should show courtesy to everyone.
Rinne sé cúirtéis don bhanríon.
He bowed to the queen.
Níl aon chúirtéis ag baint leis.
He has no manners at all.
Thug an tAire cuairt chúirtéise ar an scoil.
The Minister paid a courtesy visit to the school.
Labhair sí linn le cúirtéis mhór.
She spoke to us with great courtesy.
Bhí cúirtéis le brath ina gcuid cainte.
There was courtesy in the way they spoke.
Rinne na damhsóirí cúirtéisí ag deireadh an tseó.
The dancers bowed at the end of the show.

Other nouns in Irish

More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.

Courtesy in Irish: frequently asked questions

What is the Irish for courtesy?

The Irish for courtesy is cúirtéis (pronounced “KOOR-tyaysh”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is cúirtéisí. Depending on context it can also mean bow.

How do you pronounce cúirtéis in Irish?

Cúirtéis is said like “KOOR-tyaysh” (IPA /ˈkuːɾˠtʲeːʃ/).

What is the plural of courtesy in Irish?

The plural of cúirtéis is cúirtéisí; with the article, na cúirtéisí means “the courtesies”. The genitive plural is cúirtéisí, as in malartú na gcúirtéisí (the exchange of courtesies).

Does cúirtéis have more than one meaning?

Yes. Cúirtéis can mean courtesy or bow, depending on context; the first is the most common.

Why does cúirtéis change to chúirtéis or gcúirtéis?

Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) cúirtéis becomes mo chúirtéis (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár gcúirtéis (eclipsis).

How do I say 'to bow' using cúirtéis?

Use 'cúirtéis a dhéanamh', for example 'Rinne sé cúirtéis' means 'He bowed'.

Is cúirtéis the same as béasa?

Béasa means manners in general, while cúirtéis is courtesy or a gesture of respect such as a bow.

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