HeyRuaHow to say “narrow” in Irish
- Irish:
- cúng
- English:
- narrow, confined
- Word type:
- adjective
- More narrow:
- níos cúinge
- Most narrow:
- is cúinge
- Plural:
- cúnga
- Pronunciation:
- “koong” /kuːŋ/
What does “cúng” mean?
“Cúng” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- narrow
- Having little width from side to side.Also: tight, thin, slim.
1 other meaning: confined
- 2confined
- Limited or restricted in space or scope, as a narrow passage or a narrow outlook.Also: cramped, restricted, narrow-minded.
“Cúng” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is cúng after bóthar (road, masculine), after sráid (street, 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: sráid chúng. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: bóthar cúng.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, cúnga. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: sráideanna cúnga.
More narrow, most narrow, very narrow
Tá an doras seo níos cúinge ná an ceann eile. This door is narrower than the other one.
| more narrow | níos cúinge | in the past tense: ní ba chúinge |
|---|---|---|
| most narrow | is cúinge | in the past tense: ba chúinge |
| as narrow as | chomh cúng le | no change after chomh |
| very narrow | an-chúng | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too narrow | róchúng | ró- lenites |
“Cúng” 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.
Narrow in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for narrow?
The Irish for narrow is cúng (pronounced “koong”). It comes after the noun: bóthar cúng, a narrow road; sráid chúng, a narrow street.
How do you say more narrow and most narrow in Irish?
níos cúinge is more narrow and is cúinge is most narrow. In the past tense they become ní ba chúinge and ba chúinge.
Why does cúng become chúng?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So sráid chúng (a narrow street) but bóthar cúng (a narrow road), because bóthar is masculine.
What is the plural of cúng?
With a plural noun cúng becomes cúnga: bóithre cúnga, sráideanna cúnga.
How do you say very narrow in Irish?
an-chúng. Too narrow is róchúng, and as narrow as is chomh cúng le.
Does cúng have more than one meaning?
Yes. Cúng can mean narrow or confined, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'cúng' and 'caol'?
'Cúng' means narrow or confined, as in 'bóthar cúng', while 'caol' means slender or thin, as in 'lámh chaol'.
