HeyRuaHow to say “worn” in Irish
- Irish:
- caite
- English:
- worn, last, spent, past
- Word type:
- adjective
- More worn:
- níos caite
- Most worn:
- is caite
- Pronunciation:
- “KAH-cha” /ˈkatʲə/
What does “caite” mean?
“Caite” has four alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- worn
- Used so much that it is worn, frayed or shabby.Also: worn out, shabby, threadbare.
3 other meanings: last or spent or past
- 2last
- Describes the most recent week, month, year or similar period that has passed, as in 'an tseachtain seo caite'.Also: past, previous.
- 3spent
- Used up or consumed, such as money or time.Also: used up, consumed, exhausted.
- 4past
- In grammar, referring to the past tense.Also: past tense.
Other Irish adjectives for worn: seanchaite (worn out)
“Caite” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is caite after cóta (coat, masculine), after bróg (shoe, 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: bróg chaite. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: cóta caite.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, caite. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: bróga caite.
More worn, most worn, very worn
Tá an geansaí seo níos caite ná an ceann eile. This jumper is more worn than the other one.
| more worn | níos caite | in the past tense: ní ba chaite |
|---|---|---|
| most worn | is caite | in the past tense: ba chaite |
| as worn as | chomh caite le | no change after chomh |
| very worn | an-chaite | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too worn | róchaite | ró- lenites |
“Caite” 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.
Worn in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for worn?
The Irish for worn is caite (pronounced “KAH-cha”). It comes after the noun: cóta caite, a worn coat; bróg chaite, a worn shoe.
How do you say more worn and most worn in Irish?
níos caite is more worn and is caite is most worn. In the past tense they become ní ba chaite and ba chaite.
Why does caite become chaite?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So bróg chaite (a worn shoe) but cóta caite (a worn coat), because cóta is masculine.
How do you say very worn in Irish?
an-chaite. Too worn is róchaite, and as worn as is chomh caite le.
Does caite have more than one meaning?
Yes. Caite can mean worn, last, spent or past, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How do I say 'last week' or 'last year' with caite?
Use 'seo caite' after the noun: 'an tseachtain seo caite' (last week), 'an bhliain seo caite' (last year).
Is caite related to the verb caith?
Yes, caite is the verbal adjective of 'caith' (throw, spend, wear), so 'Tá an t-am caite' means the time is spent or over.
