HeyRuaHow to say “wasteful” in Irish
- Irish:
- caiteach
- English:
- wasteful, consuming
- Word type:
- adjective
- More wasteful:
- níos caití
- Most wasteful:
- is caití
- Plural:
- caiteacha
- Pronunciation:
- “KATCH-ukh” /ˈkatʲəx/
What does “caiteach” mean?
“Caiteach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- wasteful
- Using up money or things carelessly or more than is needed.Also: extravagant, spendthrift, prodigal.
1 other meaning: consuming
- 2consuming
- Wearing away or using something up, as an illness or a fire does.Also: wasting, wearing.
Other Irish adjectives for wasteful: diomailteach (wasteful)
“Caiteach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is caiteach after fear (man, masculine), after bean (woman, 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: bean chaiteach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: fear caiteach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, caiteacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: fir chaiteacha; after other plurals it does not: mná caiteacha.
More wasteful, most wasteful, very wasteful
Tá sé níos caití ná a dheartháir. He is more wasteful than his brother.
| more wasteful | níos caití | in the past tense: ní ba chaití |
|---|---|---|
| most wasteful | is caití | in the past tense: ba chaití |
| as wasteful as | chomh caiteach le | no change after chomh |
| very wasteful | an-chaiteach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too wasteful | róchaiteach | ró- lenites |
“Caiteach” 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.
Wasteful in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for wasteful?
The Irish for wasteful is caiteach (pronounced “KATCH-ukh”). It comes after the noun: fear caiteach, a wasteful man; bean chaiteach, a wasteful woman.
How do you say more wasteful and most wasteful in Irish?
níos caití is more wasteful and is caití is most wasteful. In the past tense they become ní ba chaití and ba chaití.
Why does caiteach become chaiteach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So bean chaiteach (a wasteful woman) but fear caiteach (a wasteful man), because fear is masculine.
What is the plural of caiteach?
With a plural noun caiteach becomes caiteacha: fir chaiteacha, mná caiteacha. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very wasteful in Irish?
an-chaiteach. Too wasteful is róchaiteach, and as wasteful as is chomh caiteach le.
Does caiteach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Caiteach can mean wasteful or consuming, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the opposite of caiteach?
The usual opposite is tíosach or coigilteach, meaning thrifty or economical.
Which preposition goes with caiteach?
Use le or ar for what is wasted: caiteach lena chuid airgid, caiteach ar éadaí.
