HeyRuaHow to say “to shorten” in Irish
- Irish:
- ciorraigh
- English:
- to shorten, maim
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- ciorrú (ag ciorrú, shortening)
- Verbal adjective:
- ciorraithe
- Pronunciation:
- “KIR-ee” /ˈcɪrˠiː/
What does “ciorraigh” mean?
“Ciorraigh” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to shorten
- To make something shorter in length or time, or to cut it back.Also: cut short, curtail, reduce, cut back.
“Ciorraigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Chiorraigh méI shortened | Níor chiorraigh méI did not shorten | Ar chiorraigh mé?Did I shorten? |
| tú (you) | Chiorraigh túYou shortened | Níor chiorraigh túYou did not shorten | Ar chiorraigh tú?Did you shorten? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chiorraigh sé / síHe shortened | Níor chiorraigh sé / síHe did not shorten | Ar chiorraigh sé / sí?Did he shorten? |
| sinn (we) | ChiorraíomarWe shortened | Níor chiorraíomarWe did not shorten | Ar chiorraíomar?Did we shorten? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chiorraigh sibhYou shortened | Níor chiorraigh sibhYou did not shorten | Ar chiorraigh sibh?Did you shorten? |
| siad (they) | Chiorraigh siadThey shortened | Níor chiorraigh siadThey did not shorten | Ar chiorraigh siad?Did they shorten? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Ciorraíodh | Níor ciorraíodh | Ar ciorraíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | CiorraímI shorten | Ní chiorraímI do not shorten | An gciorraím?Do I shorten? |
| tú (you) | Ciorraíonn túYou shorten | Ní chiorraíonn túYou do not shorten | An gciorraíonn tú?Do you shorten? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Ciorraíonn sé / síHe shortens | Ní chiorraíonn sé / síHe does not shorten | An gciorraíonn sé / sí?Does he shorten? |
| sinn (we) | CiorraímidWe shorten | Ní chiorraímidWe do not shorten | An gciorraímid?Do we shorten? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Ciorraíonn sibhYou shorten | Ní chiorraíonn sibhYou do not shorten | An gciorraíonn sibh?Do you shorten? |
| siad (they) | Ciorraíonn siadThey shorten | Ní chiorraíonn siadThey do not shorten | An gciorraíonn siad?Do they shorten? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Ciorraítear | Ní chiorraítear | An gciorraítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Ciorróidh méI will shorten | Ní chiorróidh méI will not shorten | An gciorróidh mé?Will I shorten? |
| tú (you) | Ciorróidh túYou will shorten | Ní chiorróidh túYou will not shorten | An gciorróidh tú?Will you shorten? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Ciorróidh sé / síHe will shorten | Ní chiorróidh sé / síHe will not shorten | An gciorróidh sé / sí?Will he shorten? |
| sinn (we) | CiorróimidWe will shorten | Ní chiorróimidWe will not shorten | An gciorróimid?Will we shorten? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Ciorróidh sibhYou will shorten | Ní chiorróidh sibhYou will not shorten | An gciorróidh sibh?Will you shorten? |
| siad (they) | Ciorróidh siadThey will shorten | Ní chiorróidh siadThey will not shorten | An gciorróidh siad?Will they shorten? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Ciorrófar | Ní chiorrófar | An gciorrófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ChiorróinnI would shorten | Ní chiorróinnI would not shorten | An gciorróinn?Would I shorten? |
| tú (you) | ChiorrófáYou would shorten | Ní chiorrófáYou would not shorten | An gciorrófá?Would you shorten? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chiorródh sé / síHe would shorten | Ní chiorródh sé / síHe would not shorten | An gciorródh sé / sí?Would he shorten? |
| sinn (we) | ChiorróimisWe would shorten | Ní chiorróimisWe would not shorten | An gciorróimis?Would we shorten? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chiorródh sibhYou would shorten | Ní chiorródh sibhYou would not shorten | An gciorródh sibh?Would you shorten? |
| siad (they) | ChiorróidísThey would shorten | Ní chiorróidísThey would not shorten | An gciorróidís?Would they shorten? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Chiorrófaí | Ní chiorrófaí | An gciorrófaí? |
“Ciorraigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Chiorraigh siad an cruinniú mar bhí sé ag éirí déanach.
They cut the meeting short because it was getting late.
Ciorraíonn an rialtas an buiséad gach bliain.
The government cuts the budget every year.
Ciorróidh mé an aiste go míle focal.
I will shorten the essay to a thousand words.
Chiorródh sé an turas dá dtógfadh sé an bóthar nua.
He would shorten the journey if he took the new road.
Níor chiorraigh siad an clár in aon chor.
They didn't shorten the programme at all.
Ar chiorraigh tú an scéal?
Did you shorten the story?
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 ciorraigh (pronounced “KIR-ee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is ciorrú.
What is the verbal noun of ciorraigh?
The verbal noun of ciorraigh is ciorrú, used after ag for the continuous: ag ciorrú (shortening). The verbal adjective is ciorraithe.
How do you say ciorraigh in the past and the future?
Past: Chiorraigh mé; negative Níor chiorraigh mé; question Ar chiorraigh mé?. Future: Ciorróidh mé; negative Ní chiorróidh mé; question An gciorróidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of ciorraigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Chiorróinn (I would shorten); negative Ní chiorróinn; question An gciorróinn?.
Does ciorraigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Ciorraigh can mean to shorten or to maim, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'ciorraigh' and 'giorraigh'?
'Giorraigh' is the usual verb for 'shorten', while 'ciorraigh' also means shorten or curtail but can carry the stronger sense of hacking or maiming. In the idiom about passing time on a journey, 'giorraigh an bóthar' is more common.
