HeyRuaHow to say “to shorten” in Irish
- Irish:
- giortaigh
- English:
- to shorten, abbreviate, get shorter
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- giortú (ag giortú, shortening)
- Verbal adjective:
- giortaithe
- Pronunciation:
- “GIR-tee” /ˈɟɪɾˠt̪ˠə/
What does “giortaigh” mean?
“Giortaigh” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to shorten
- To make something shorter in length or time.Also: cut short, make shorter.
2 other meanings: abbreviate or get shorter
- 2to abbreviate
- To shorten a word, text or name.Also: abridge, condense.
- 3to get shorter
- To become shorter, as days do in autumn.Also: grow shorter, draw in.
Other Irish verbs for to shorten: giorraigh (shorten)
“Giortaigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Ghiortaigh méI shortened | Níor ghiortaigh méI did not shorten | Ar ghiortaigh mé?Did I shorten? |
| tú (you) | Ghiortaigh túYou shortened | Níor ghiortaigh túYou did not shorten | Ar ghiortaigh tú?Did you shorten? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Ghiortaigh sé / síHe shortened | Níor ghiortaigh sé / síHe did not shorten | Ar ghiortaigh sé / sí?Did he shorten? |
| sinn (we) | GhiortaíomarWe shortened | Níor ghiortaíomarWe did not shorten | Ar ghiortaíomar?Did we shorten? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Ghiortaigh sibhYou shortened | Níor ghiortaigh sibhYou did not shorten | Ar ghiortaigh sibh?Did you shorten? |
| siad (they) | Ghiortaigh siadThey shortened | Níor ghiortaigh siadThey did not shorten | Ar ghiortaigh siad?Did they shorten? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Giortaíodh | Níor giortaíodh | Ar giortaíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | GiortaímI shorten | Ní ghiortaímI do not shorten | An ngiortaím?Do I shorten? |
| tú (you) | Giortaíonn túYou shorten | Ní ghiortaíonn túYou do not shorten | An ngiortaíonn tú?Do you shorten? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Giortaíonn sé / síHe shortens | Ní ghiortaíonn sé / síHe does not shorten | An ngiortaíonn sé / sí?Does he shorten? |
| sinn (we) | GiortaímidWe shorten | Ní ghiortaímidWe do not shorten | An ngiortaímid?Do we shorten? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Giortaíonn sibhYou shorten | Ní ghiortaíonn sibhYou do not shorten | An ngiortaíonn sibh?Do you shorten? |
| siad (they) | Giortaíonn siadThey shorten | Ní ghiortaíonn siadThey do not shorten | An ngiortaíonn siad?Do they shorten? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Giortaítear | Ní ghiortaítear | An ngiortaítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Giortóidh méI will shorten | Ní ghiortóidh méI will not shorten | An ngiortóidh mé?Will I shorten? |
| tú (you) | Giortóidh túYou will shorten | Ní ghiortóidh túYou will not shorten | An ngiortóidh tú?Will you shorten? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Giortóidh sé / síHe will shorten | Ní ghiortóidh sé / síHe will not shorten | An ngiortóidh sé / sí?Will he shorten? |
| sinn (we) | GiortóimidWe will shorten | Ní ghiortóimidWe will not shorten | An ngiortóimid?Will we shorten? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Giortóidh sibhYou will shorten | Ní ghiortóidh sibhYou will not shorten | An ngiortóidh sibh?Will you shorten? |
| siad (they) | Giortóidh siadThey will shorten | Ní ghiortóidh siadThey will not shorten | An ngiortóidh siad?Will they shorten? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Giortófar | Ní ghiortófar | An ngiortófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | GhiortóinnI would shorten | Ní ghiortóinnI would not shorten | An ngiortóinn?Would I shorten? |
| tú (you) | GhiortófáYou would shorten | Ní ghiortófáYou would not shorten | An ngiortófá?Would you shorten? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Ghiortódh sé / síHe would shorten | Ní ghiortódh sé / síHe would not shorten | An ngiortódh sé / sí?Would he shorten? |
| sinn (we) | GhiortóimisWe would shorten | Ní ghiortóimisWe would not shorten | An ngiortóimis?Would we shorten? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Ghiortódh sibhYou would shorten | Ní ghiortódh sibhYou would not shorten | An ngiortódh sibh?Would you shorten? |
| siad (they) | GhiortóidísThey would shorten | Ní ghiortóidísThey would not shorten | An ngiortóidís?Would they shorten? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Ghiortófaí | Ní ghiortófaí | An ngiortófaí? |
“Giortaigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
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 giortaigh (pronounced “GIR-tee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is giortú.
What is the verbal noun of giortaigh?
The verbal noun of giortaigh is giortú, used after ag for the continuous: ag giortú (shortening). The verbal adjective is giortaithe.
How do you say giortaigh in the past and the future?
Past: Ghiortaigh mé; negative Níor ghiortaigh mé; question Ar ghiortaigh mé?. Future: Giortóidh mé; negative Ní ghiortóidh mé; question An ngiortóidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of giortaigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Ghiortóinn (I would shorten); negative Ní ghiortóinn; question An ngiortóinn?.
Does giortaigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Giortaigh can mean to shorten, to abbreviate or to get shorter, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'giortaigh' and 'gearr'?
'Giortaigh' means to make shorter, while 'gearr' means to cut. You 'giortaigh' a story but you 'gearr' bread.
What does 'giorrúchán' mean?
'Giorrúchán' is an abbreviation, a related noun. 'Giortaigh' itself is used for shortening a text or word.
