HeyRuaHow to say “to narrow” in Irish
- Irish:
- cúngaigh
- English:
- to narrow, restrict
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- cúngú (ag cúngú, narrowing)
- Verbal adjective:
- cúngaithe
- Pronunciation:
- “KOON-ghee” /ˈkuːŋɡiː/
What does “cúngaigh” mean?
“Cúngaigh” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to narrow
- To make something narrower or to become narrower.Also: make narrower, become narrow, constrict.
1 other meaning: restrict
- 2to restrict
- To limit or confine the scope or range of something.Also: confine, limit, narrow down.
“Cúngaigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Chúngaigh méI narrowed | Níor chúngaigh méI did not narrow | Ar chúngaigh mé?Did I narrow? |
| tú (you) | Chúngaigh túYou narrowed | Níor chúngaigh túYou did not narrow | Ar chúngaigh tú?Did you narrow? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chúngaigh sé / síHe narrowed | Níor chúngaigh sé / síHe did not narrow | Ar chúngaigh sé / sí?Did he narrow? |
| sinn (we) | ChúngaíomarWe narrowed | Níor chúngaíomarWe did not narrow | Ar chúngaíomar?Did we narrow? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chúngaigh sibhYou narrowed | Níor chúngaigh sibhYou did not narrow | Ar chúngaigh sibh?Did you narrow? |
| siad (they) | Chúngaigh siadThey narrowed | Níor chúngaigh siadThey did not narrow | Ar chúngaigh siad?Did they narrow? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cúngaíodh | Níor cúngaíodh | Ar cúngaíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | CúngaímI narrow | Ní chúngaímI do not narrow | An gcúngaím?Do I narrow? |
| tú (you) | Cúngaíonn túYou narrow | Ní chúngaíonn túYou do not narrow | An gcúngaíonn tú?Do you narrow? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Cúngaíonn sé / síHe narrows | Ní chúngaíonn sé / síHe does not narrow | An gcúngaíonn sé / sí?Does he narrow? |
| sinn (we) | CúngaímidWe narrow | Ní chúngaímidWe do not narrow | An gcúngaímid?Do we narrow? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Cúngaíonn sibhYou narrow | Ní chúngaíonn sibhYou do not narrow | An gcúngaíonn sibh?Do you narrow? |
| siad (they) | Cúngaíonn siadThey narrow | Ní chúngaíonn siadThey do not narrow | An gcúngaíonn siad?Do they narrow? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cúngaítear | Ní chúngaítear | An gcúngaítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Cúngóidh méI will narrow | Ní chúngóidh méI will not narrow | An gcúngóidh mé?Will I narrow? |
| tú (you) | Cúngóidh túYou will narrow | Ní chúngóidh túYou will not narrow | An gcúngóidh tú?Will you narrow? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Cúngóidh sé / síHe will narrow | Ní chúngóidh sé / síHe will not narrow | An gcúngóidh sé / sí?Will he narrow? |
| sinn (we) | CúngóimidWe will narrow | Ní chúngóimidWe will not narrow | An gcúngóimid?Will we narrow? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Cúngóidh sibhYou will narrow | Ní chúngóidh sibhYou will not narrow | An gcúngóidh sibh?Will you narrow? |
| siad (they) | Cúngóidh siadThey will narrow | Ní chúngóidh siadThey will not narrow | An gcúngóidh siad?Will they narrow? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cúngófar | Ní chúngófar | An gcúngófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ChúngóinnI would narrow | Ní chúngóinnI would not narrow | An gcúngóinn?Would I narrow? |
| tú (you) | ChúngófáYou would narrow | Ní chúngófáYou would not narrow | An gcúngófá?Would you narrow? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chúngódh sé / síHe would narrow | Ní chúngódh sé / síHe would not narrow | An gcúngódh sé / sí?Would he narrow? |
| sinn (we) | ChúngóimisWe would narrow | Ní chúngóimisWe would not narrow | An gcúngóimis?Would we narrow? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chúngódh sibhYou would narrow | Ní chúngódh sibhYou would not narrow | An gcúngódh sibh?Would you narrow? |
| siad (they) | ChúngóidísThey would narrow | Ní chúngóidísThey would not narrow | An gcúngóidís?Would they narrow? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Chúngófaí | Ní chúngófaí | An gcúngófaí? |
“Cúngaigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Chúngaigh an bóthar in aice leis an droichead.
The road narrowed near the bridge.
Cúngaíonn an abhainn ag an áit seo.
The river narrows at this spot.
Cúngóidh siad an cosán chun áit a dhéanamh do charranna.
They will narrow the path to make room for cars.
Chúngódh sé sin ár roghanna go mór.
That would greatly restrict our options.
Níor chúngaigh an chomhairle an tsráid fós.
The council hasn't narrowed the street yet.
Ar chúngaigh siad an bealach isteach?
Did they narrow the entrance?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To narrow in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to narrow?
The Irish for to narrow is cúngaigh (pronounced “KOON-ghee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is cúngú.
What is the verbal noun of cúngaigh?
The verbal noun of cúngaigh is cúngú, used after ag for the continuous: ag cúngú (narrowing). The verbal adjective is cúngaithe.
How do you say cúngaigh in the past and the future?
Past: Chúngaigh mé; negative Níor chúngaigh mé; question Ar chúngaigh mé?. Future: Cúngóidh mé; negative Ní chúngóidh mé; question An gcúngóidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of cúngaigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Chúngóinn (I would narrow); negative Ní chúngóinn; question An gcúngóinn?.
Does cúngaigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Cúngaigh can mean to narrow or to restrict, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the opposite of 'cúngaigh'?
The opposite is 'leathnaigh', to widen or broaden, as in 'leathnaigh siad an bóthar' (they widened the road).
Which adjective is 'cúngaigh' related to?
It comes from the adjective 'cúng', meaning narrow, so 'cúngaigh' means to make or become 'cúng'.
