HeyRuaHow to say “shy” in Irish
- Irish:
- cotúil
- English:
- shy
- Word type:
- adjective
- Shier:
- níos cotúla
- Shiest:
- is cotúla
- Plural:
- cotúla
- Pronunciation:
- “KUT-ool” /ˈkʊt̪ˠuːlʲ/
What does “cotúil” mean?
- shy
- Nervous and uncomfortable with other people, especially strangers.Also: bashful, timid, diffident, reserved.
Other Irish adjectives for shy: náireach (shy), cúthail (shy), cúlánta (retiring)
“Cotúil” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is cotúil after páiste (child, masculine), after girseach (girl, 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: girseach chotúil. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: páiste cotúil.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, cotúla. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: girseacha cotúla.
Shier, shiest, very shy
Tá Seán níos cotúla ná a dheartháir. Seán is shyer than his brother.
| shier | níos cotúla | in the past tense: ní ba chotúla |
|---|---|---|
| shiest | is cotúla | in the past tense: ba chotúla |
| as shy as | chomh cotúil le | no change after chomh |
| very shy | an-chotúil | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too shy | róchotúil | ró- lenites |
“Cotúil” 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.
Shy in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for shy?
The Irish for shy is cotúil (pronounced “KUT-ool”). It comes after the noun: páiste cotúil, a shy child; girseach chotúil, a shy girl.
How do you say shier and shiest in Irish?
níos cotúla is shier and is cotúla is shiest. In the past tense they become ní ba chotúla and ba chotúla.
Why does cotúil become chotúil?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So girseach chotúil (a shy girl) but páiste cotúil (a shy child), because páiste is masculine.
What is the plural of cotúil?
With a plural noun cotúil becomes cotúla: páistí cotúla, girseacha cotúla.
How do you say very shy in Irish?
an-chotúil. Too shy is róchotúil, and as shy as is chomh cotúil le.
What is the difference between cotúil and cúthail?
Both mean shy. Cúthail is the more common word, while cotúil is a near synonym that some speakers prefer.
Which preposition goes with cotúil?
Use le for the people someone is shy with, as in tá sé cotúil le strainséirí, 'he is shy with strangers'.
