HeyRuaHow to say “left-handed” in Irish
- Irish:
- ciotach
- English:
- left-handed, awkward, inconvenient
- Word type:
- adjective
- More left-handed:
- níos ciotaí
- Most left-handed:
- is ciotaí
- Plural:
- ciotacha
- Pronunciation:
- “KIT-ukh” /ˈcɪt̪ˠəx/
What does “ciotach” mean?
“Ciotach” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- left-handed
- Using the left hand more naturally than the right.Also: cack-handed, southpaw.
2 other meanings: awkward or inconvenient
- 2awkward
- Clumsy or lacking skill in the way you move or handle things.Also: clumsy, ham-fisted, inept.
- 3inconvenient
- Causing difficulty or trouble; not easy to deal with.Also: difficult, awkward, tricky.
Other Irish adjectives for left-handed: ciotógach (left-handed)
“Ciotach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is ciotach after buachaill (boy, masculine), after lámh (hand, 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: lámh chiotach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: buachaill ciotach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, ciotacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: lámha ciotacha.
More left-handed, most left-handed, very left-handed
| more left-handed | níos ciotaí | in the past tense: ní ba chiotaí |
|---|---|---|
| most left-handed | is ciotaí | in the past tense: ba chiotaí |
| as left-handed as | chomh ciotach le | no change after chomh |
| very left-handed | an-chiotach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too left-handed | róchiotach | ró- lenites |
“Ciotach” 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 ciotach (pronounced “KIT-ukh”). It comes after the noun: buachaill ciotach, a left-handed boy; lámh chiotach, a left-handed hand.
How do you say more left-handed and most left-handed in Irish?
níos ciotaí is more left-handed and is ciotaí is most left-handed. In the past tense they become ní ba chiotaí and ba chiotaí.
Why does ciotach become chiotach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So lámh chiotach (a left-handed hand) but buachaill ciotach (a left-handed boy), because buachaill is masculine.
What is the plural of ciotach?
With a plural noun ciotach becomes ciotacha: buachaillí ciotacha, lámha ciotacha.
How do you say very left-handed in Irish?
an-chiotach. Too left-handed is róchiotach, and as left-handed as is chomh ciotach le.
Does ciotach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Ciotach can mean left-handed, awkward or inconvenient, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is a left-handed person called in Irish?
A left-handed person is often called a 'ciotóg', and you can also say 'Tá sé ciotach'.
What is the opposite of 'ciotach'?
The opposite in the sense of right-handed is 'deaslámhach'.
