HeyRuaHow to say “left-handed” in Irish
- Irish:
- ciotógach
- English:
- left-handed, awkward
- Word type:
- adjective
- More left-handed:
- níos ciotógaí
- Most left-handed:
- is ciotógaí
- Plural:
- ciotógacha
- Pronunciation:
- “KIT-oh-gakh” /ˈcɪt̪ˠoːɡəx/
What does “ciotógach” mean?
“Ciotógach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- left-handed
- Using the left hand more naturally than the right.Also: southpaw, cack-handed.
1 other meaning: awkward
- 2awkward
- Clumsy or awkward in the way you handle things.Also: clumsy, ham-fisted.
Other Irish adjectives for left-handed: ciotach (left-handed)
“Ciotógach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is ciotógach after buachaill (boy, masculine), after bean (woman, feminine) and after a plural.
séimhiú (the h) the ending
After a feminine noun the adjective gets a séimhiú, an h after its first letter: bean chiotógach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: buachaill ciotógach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, ciotógacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: mná ciotógacha.
More left-handed, most left-handed, very left-handed
Tá sé níos ciotógaí ná a dheartháir. He is more awkward than his brother.
| more left-handed | níos ciotógaí | in the past tense: ní ba chiotógaí |
|---|---|---|
| most left-handed | is ciotógaí | in the past tense: ba chiotógaí |
| as left-handed as | chomh ciotógach le | no change after chomh |
| very left-handed | an-chiotógach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too left-handed | róchiotógach | ró- lenites |
“Ciotógach” in a sentence: Irish examples
With a masculine noun, a feminine noun, a plural, a comparison and on its own.
Other adjectives in Irish
More everyday Irish adjectives to learn next.
Left-handed in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for left-handed?
The Irish for left-handed is ciotógach (pronounced “KIT-oh-gakh”). It comes after the noun: buachaill ciotógach, a left-handed boy; bean chiotógach, a left-handed woman.
How do you say more left-handed and most left-handed in Irish?
níos ciotógaí is more left-handed and is ciotógaí is most left-handed. In the past tense they become ní ba chiotógaí and ba chiotógaí.
Why does ciotógach become chiotógach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So bean chiotógach (a left-handed woman) but buachaill ciotógach (a left-handed boy), because buachaill is masculine.
What is the plural of ciotógach?
With a plural noun ciotógach becomes ciotógacha: buachaillí ciotógacha, mná ciotógacha.
How do you say very left-handed in Irish?
an-chiotógach. Too left-handed is róchiotógach, and as left-handed as is chomh ciotógach le.
Does ciotógach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Ciotógach can mean left-handed or awkward, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the noun for a left-handed person?
A left-handed person is 'ciotóg', and the left hand itself is also 'ciotóg'. The opposite adjective is 'deaslámhach'.
