HeyRuaHow to say “to shorten” in Irish
- Irish:
- giorraigh
- English:
- to shorten, abbreviate, get shorter
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- giorrú (ag giorrú, shortening)
- Verbal adjective:
- giorraithe
- Pronunciation:
- “GYIR-ee” /ɟɪɾˠiː/
What does “giorraigh” mean?
“Giorraigh” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to shorten
- To make something shorter in length or time.Also: curtail, cut short, reduce.
2 other meanings: abbreviate or get shorter
- 2to abbreviate
- To shorten a word, text or story, or write it in a shorter form.Also: abridge, condense, summarise.
- 3to get shorter
- To become shorter, as days do in autumn.Also: grow shorter, draw in.
Other Irish verbs for to shorten: giortaigh (shorten)
“Giorraigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Ghiorraigh méI shortened | Níor ghiorraigh méI did not shorten | Ar ghiorraigh mé?Did I shorten? |
| tú (you) | Ghiorraigh túYou shortened | Níor ghiorraigh túYou did not shorten | Ar ghiorraigh tú?Did you shorten? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Ghiorraigh sé / síHe shortened | Níor ghiorraigh sé / síHe did not shorten | Ar ghiorraigh sé / sí?Did he shorten? |
| sinn (we) | GhiorraíomarWe shortened | Níor ghiorraíomarWe did not shorten | Ar ghiorraíomar?Did we shorten? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Ghiorraigh sibhYou shortened | Níor ghiorraigh sibhYou did not shorten | Ar ghiorraigh sibh?Did you shorten? |
| siad (they) | Ghiorraigh siadThey shortened | Níor ghiorraigh siadThey did not shorten | Ar ghiorraigh siad?Did they shorten? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Giorraíodh | Níor giorraíodh | Ar giorraíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | GiorraímI shorten | Ní ghiorraímI do not shorten | An ngiorraím?Do I shorten? |
| tú (you) | Giorraíonn túYou shorten | Ní ghiorraíonn túYou do not shorten | An ngiorraíonn tú?Do you shorten? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Giorraíonn sé / síHe shortens | Ní ghiorraíonn sé / síHe does not shorten | An ngiorraíonn sé / sí?Does he shorten? |
| sinn (we) | GiorraímidWe shorten | Ní ghiorraímidWe do not shorten | An ngiorraímid?Do we shorten? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Giorraíonn sibhYou shorten | Ní ghiorraíonn sibhYou do not shorten | An ngiorraíonn sibh?Do you shorten? |
| siad (they) | Giorraíonn siadThey shorten | Ní ghiorraíonn siadThey do not shorten | An ngiorraíonn siad?Do they shorten? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Giorraítear | Ní ghiorraítear | An ngiorraítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Giorróidh méI will shorten | Ní ghiorróidh méI will not shorten | An ngiorróidh mé?Will I shorten? |
| tú (you) | Giorróidh túYou will shorten | Ní ghiorróidh túYou will not shorten | An ngiorróidh tú?Will you shorten? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Giorróidh sé / síHe will shorten | Ní ghiorróidh sé / síHe will not shorten | An ngiorróidh sé / sí?Will he shorten? |
| sinn (we) | GiorróimidWe will shorten | Ní ghiorróimidWe will not shorten | An ngiorróimid?Will we shorten? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Giorróidh sibhYou will shorten | Ní ghiorróidh sibhYou will not shorten | An ngiorróidh sibh?Will you shorten? |
| siad (they) | Giorróidh siadThey will shorten | Ní ghiorróidh siadThey will not shorten | An ngiorróidh siad?Will they shorten? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Giorrófar | Ní ghiorrófar | An ngiorrófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | GhiorróinnI would shorten | Ní ghiorróinnI would not shorten | An ngiorróinn?Would I shorten? |
| tú (you) | GhiorrófáYou would shorten | Ní ghiorrófáYou would not shorten | An ngiorrófá?Would you shorten? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Ghiorródh sé / síHe would shorten | Ní ghiorródh sé / síHe would not shorten | An ngiorródh sé / sí?Would he shorten? |
| sinn (we) | GhiorróimisWe would shorten | Ní ghiorróimisWe would not shorten | An ngiorróimis?Would we shorten? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Ghiorródh sibhYou would shorten | Ní ghiorródh sibhYou would not shorten | An ngiorródh sibh?Would you shorten? |
| siad (they) | GhiorróidísThey would shorten | Ní ghiorróidísThey would not shorten | An ngiorróidís?Would they shorten? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Ghiorrófaí | Ní ghiorrófaí | An ngiorrófaí? |
“Giorraigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Ghiorraigh sí an sciorta le haghaidh na bainise.
She shortened the skirt for the wedding.
Giorraíonn na laethanta san fhómhar.
The days get shorter in autumn.
Giorróidh an múinteoir an ceacht inniu.
The teacher will shorten the lesson today.
Ghiorródh an bóthar nua an turas go mór.
The new road would shorten the journey a lot.
Níor ghiorraigh siad an óráid ar chor ar bith.
They didn't shorten the speech at all.
Ar ghiorraigh tú an aiste fós?
Did you shorten the essay yet?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To shorten in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to shorten?
The Irish for to shorten is giorraigh (pronounced “GYIR-ee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is giorrú.
What is the verbal noun of giorraigh?
The verbal noun of giorraigh is giorrú, used after ag for the continuous: ag giorrú (shortening). The verbal adjective is giorraithe.
How do you say giorraigh in the past and the future?
Past: Ghiorraigh mé; negative Níor ghiorraigh mé; question Ar ghiorraigh mé?. Future: Giorróidh mé; negative Ní ghiorróidh mé; question An ngiorróidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of giorraigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Ghiorróinn (I would shorten); negative Ní ghiorróinn; question An ngiorróinn?.
Does giorraigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Giorraigh can mean to shorten, to abbreviate or to get shorter, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the opposite of 'giorraigh'?
The opposite is 'fadaigh' (lengthen), from 'fada', just as 'giorraigh' comes from 'gearr' (short).
How do you say 'abbreviation' in Irish?
An abbreviation is 'giorrúchán', related to the verbal noun 'giorrú'.
