HeyRuaHow to say “ticklish” in Irish
- Irish:
- cigilteach
- English:
- ticklish, delicate
- Word type:
- adjective
- More ticklish:
- níos cigiltí
- Most ticklish:
- is cigiltí
- Plural:
- cigilteacha
- Pronunciation:
- “KIG-il-tyakh” /ˈcɪɟəl̠ʲtʲəx/
What does “cigilteach” mean?
“Cigilteach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- ticklish
- Sensitive to being tickled, so that touching makes you laugh or squirm.Also: sensitive to tickling.
1 other meaning: delicate
- 2delicate
- Needing careful handling because it could easily cause trouble or offence.Also: tricky, touchy, sensitive.
“Cigilteach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is cigilteach after páiste (child, masculine), after cos (foot, 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: cos chigilteach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: páiste cigilteach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, cigilteacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: cosa cigilteacha.
More ticklish, most ticklish, very ticklish
Tá mise níos cigiltí ná mo dheartháir. I am more ticklish than my brother.
| more ticklish | níos cigiltí | in the past tense: ní ba chigiltí |
|---|---|---|
| most ticklish | is cigiltí | in the past tense: ba chigiltí |
| as ticklish as | chomh cigilteach le | no change after chomh |
| very ticklish | an-chigilteach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too ticklish | róchigilteach | ró- lenites |
“Cigilteach” 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.
Ticklish in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for ticklish?
The Irish for ticklish is cigilteach (pronounced “KIG-il-tyakh”). It comes after the noun: páiste cigilteach, a ticklish child; cos chigilteach, a ticklish foot.
How do you say more ticklish and most ticklish in Irish?
níos cigiltí is more ticklish and is cigiltí is most ticklish. In the past tense they become ní ba chigiltí and ba chigiltí.
Why does cigilteach become chigilteach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So cos chigilteach (a ticklish foot) but páiste cigilteach (a ticklish child), because páiste is masculine.
What is the plural of cigilteach?
With a plural noun cigilteach becomes cigilteacha: páistí cigilteacha, cosa cigilteacha.
How do you say very ticklish in Irish?
an-chigilteach. Too ticklish is róchigilteach, and as ticklish as is chomh cigilteach le.
Does cigilteach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Cigilteach can mean ticklish or delicate, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the verb for 'tickle' related to 'cigilteach'?
The verb is 'cigil' (to tickle), and the noun 'cigilt' means tickling, as in 'Ná cigil mé!' (Don't tickle me!).
Can 'cigilteach' describe a difficult situation?
Yes, like English 'ticklish', it can mean delicate, as in 'ceist chigilteach' (a delicate question), though 'íogair' is more common for that.
